- Overview
- Location and Housing
- Academics
- Experiential Learning
- Faculty and Staff
- Costs
- Dates
- Additional Information
Plus3 is students' first chance to study abroad at Pitt. This two-week, three-credit interdisciplinary experience includes group travel with Pitt students, a Pitt faculty member, and a Pitt Program Assistant to one of seven locations. First-year students will be provided with a firsthand glimpse of globalization through industry-specific company tours, Q&A sessions with executives, academic lectures, and cultural visits.
Tentative locations for Plus3 2023 are:
- Argentina: Healthcare Management
- Costa Rica: Coffee and Bananas
- Cyprus: Global Industries
- Ecuador: Chocolate and Flowers
- Germany: Automobiles and Manufacturing
- South Korea: Smart Systems
- The Netherlands: Concept to Consumer
- Vietnam: Globalization & Development
When completing an application for Plus3, students will be asked to note their "top 3" locations.
Information Sessions
Tentative Locations at a Glance
Argentina: Healthcare Management
This program will provide you with first-hand knowledge of the impacts of globalization on healthcare in a middle-income country. You will focus first on understanding major themes in global healthcare, such as global burden of disease, determinants of health, food security, and health and economic inequality. Background on Argentina's history and politics with provide you with a foundation to use during your site visits within the healthcare industry and Q&A sessions with industry stakeholders. By the end of this you will have an understanding of the mechanisms of delivering, financing, and managing healthcare in Argentina.
- Who: Pitt Business students, School of Nursing students
- Past site visits included Universidad Austral, Hospital Universitario Austral, a healthcare-related NGO, a pharmaceutical factory, primary healthcare centers, and both public/private hospitals
- Cultural activities have included hop-on-hop-off bus tour of Buenos Aires, La Boca neighborhood, a tango lesson, street art tour, a visit to Recoleta Cemetary, a visit to an Estancia, Plaza de Mayo, the ESMA museum, the MALBA museum, and the Evita museum
- Locations will include Buenos Aires, Pilar, and Tigre
Costa Rica: Coffee and Bananas
The second-most sought-after commodity in the world, coffee, moves through a complex global web on its way to consumption. This location gives students an in-depth look at both large-scale and small-scale coffee growing, processing, and exportation. Background on Costa Rica’s history and politics will give provide a knowledge base for company visits that will explore engineering practices, environmental impacts, and international marketing. Q&A sessions with company executives and representatives will allow a deeper dive into business and engineering practices and to better understand the interdependencies in the global market.
- Who: Pitt Business students, Swanson School of Engineering students
- Past company visits included Cafe Britt, Cafe Rey, Life Monteverde, and Institutio Nacional del Cafe
- Past cultural activities included a trip to Monteverde (cloud forests and coffee plantations), Poas Volcano, La Paz Waterfalls, and activities with local Costa Rican students
- Locations: San Jose, Monteverde, various areas neighboring San Jose
Cyprus: The Crossroad of Global Industries on a Mediterranean Island
- Who: Business and Engineering students
- Company visits may include: IT/Gaming (Wargaming, Logicom, Block.co), Shipping (MSC Ship Management, Petronav Ship Management, Celestyal Cruises, Royal Caribbean), Energy (Exxon Mobil, Noble Energy, Schlumberger, Haliburton, Cyprus Hydrocarbons), Heavy Industry (Portland Cement, Petronlina and VTTi, Government Desalination and Power Plants), and others
- Cultural activities may include: Tours of the capital city Nicosia and costal cities Limassol, Larnaca, and Paphas. Visits to Ancient Kourion, the Tomb of the Kings, Aphrodite’s Rock, Ayia Napa Sea Caves and Marina, Medieval Kourion Castle, the Limassol Marina, and the Blue Flagged Beaches of Cyprus.
- Locations: This program will be based in Nicosia (with excursions to surrounding areas).
Ecuador: Chocolate and Flowers
Ecuador is a major player in both the chocolate and flower global markets, and this equatorial nation provides the best firsthand experience on the global supply chain of two of the most unique commodities in the world. Through this program, students will gain background on Ecuador’s cultural and economic history that will provide valuable context as we visit companies, explore the chocolate and flower markets, and learn about sustainable agriculture and business. Students will taste, smell and witness first-hand many aspects of the chocolate and floral supply chains.
- Who: Pitt Business (Oakland campus) students, University of Pittsburgh Johnstown Business students
- Site visits may include: A rose farm, a cacao agroforest, a coastal cacao plantation, a chocolate processing factory and packing center, and the Guayaquil shipping port.
- Cultural activities may include: A tour of Colonial Quito, visit a hummingbird reserve, Amazonian-style pottery making, walk in lush cloud forests at 8000 feet, tour coast of Ecuador, and stay at an Amazonian Rain Forest Field Station.
- Locations: Quito, the Andes Amazon Field School
Germany: Automobiles and Manufacturing
Known for quality and precision, the automobile industry in Germany is a case study in German culture, business practices, and exportation. Based in Augsburg, students will explore Germany’s historical and political background during lecture sessions and use this knowledge as context for company visits while exploring everything from car manufacturing to global marketing departments. Q&A sessions with company executives and representatives will provide a deeper understanding of business and engineering practices and better grasp the interdependencies of the global market.
- Who: Pitt Business students, Swanson School of Engineering students
- Past company visits have included Audi, Eurocopter, Donauworth, Riegele, and Fujitsu Technical Solutions
- Past cultural activities have included dinner at an authentic Bavarian Restaurant, a visit to the 'Deutsches' Museum, and a concentration camp in Dachau.
- Locations: Augsburg and more
South Korea: Smart Systems
Smart systems are what’s driving technology to be even more efficient. Digital devices working together as smart systems can sense, act upon, and communicate about a situation. They can recognize patterns, make predictions, and support human decision-making. Students will benefit from seeing how South Korea is not only manufacturing this technology but also how they are implementing into their daily life. Students will understand how this is being marketed and from a business perspective will understand how that is helping to drive the Korean economy. We will travel to the following cities: Seoul, Gyeongju, Ulsan and Busan.
- Who: Pitt Business students, Swanson School of Engineering students
- Potential company visits include Oracle, Woori Investment and Securities, KPMG, Samsung Mobile, Riot Games, Hyundai, BASF, Air Busan, Korea Technology and Finance Company and Korea Southern Power Company.
- Potential university visits include Seoul National University or Yonsei University or Busan University of Foreign Studies
- Cultural visits may include in Seoul the Royal Palace visit, Seoul Tower and traditional market, DMZ tour and Han River Cruise, and cultural visits in Gyeongju.
The Netherlands: Concept to Consumer! Aviation, Fabrication, Flood Control, Floriculture, and Food
- Who: Business and Engineering students
- Locations: Amsterdam (with excursions to surrounding areas) and include an array of cultural and professional visits.
Vietnam: Globalization & Development
Vietnam’s developing economy is highlighted against its deep history that both shape this Asian country’s present. Lectures will focus on Vietnam’s historical and political background to provide context for company visits where you will learn about business and engineering practices. From entrepreneurship to exportation practices, these visits will give you a firsthand look at development occurring in Asia. Q&A sessions with company executives and representatives will allow you to dig deeper into the challenges facing international firms and to better understand the interdependencies between engineering and business management. While you will be based in Ho Chi Minh City, past groups have traveled to various parts of Vietnam, including the Mekong Delta.
- Who: Business and Engineering students
- Locations: Ho Chi Minh City
Student Blogs + More Information
Want to learn more? Check out the Pitt Plus3 Blog for past participant experiences:
Lodging in each location is unique, but you will be housed in shared bedrooms in a centralized hotel or apartment. On each Plus3 location at least one meal a day will be covered by the program fee (generally breakfast or lunch, depending on location).
Plus3 Academics
Plus3 is a 3-part program that occurs during the spring term with international travel the first two-weeks in May. Business students receive three credits for the completion of a Plus3 program.
- Pre-Departure Classes – Approximately four or five cohort meetings with your faculty leader and program assistant in the spring term will help to prepare you for your time abroad. These sessions are mandatory for all participants.
- Field Study – Company visits, guest lectures lectures, and a reflection blog comprise the academic portion of your two weeks in-country.
- Post-Program Project – You will complete a project (details determined by the faculty member) that acts as a summary for your experience.
Optional language classes at Pitt prior to departure
Students interested in the Germany location are encouraged (but not required) to take some langauge courses here at Pitt prior to departure. Two recommended courses are:
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GER 0101 – Beginning German 1 (3 credits)
- Elementary German 101 meets three times a week, and while class periods will focus on speaking and listening, you will do the writing, reading, and most of the grammar practice at home. Students are expected to study regularly on their own to keep up with the material. In this course you will learn how to interact in German from the first day on. For example, you will learn how to ask questions and give basic information about yourself, how to ask for directions, how to say the time and make an appointment, how to find an apartment and how to respond to an invitation. You will learn the necessary grammatical structures and vocabulary, but also find out about cultural differences, e.g. regarding greetings, forms of address, and punctuality. Students will be working towards the A1-Exam of the Goethe Institut, which follows the Common European Framework of Reference and is accepted worldwide.
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GER 0001 – Elementary German 1 (Intensive) (5 credits)
- This Elementary German course meets five times a week and is the next best thing to studying abroad. You will learn how to interact in German from the first day on. For example, you will learn how to ask questions and give basic information about yourself, how to ask for directions, how to say the time and make an appointment, how to find an apartment and how to respond to an invitation. You will learn the necessary grammatical structures and vocabulary, but also find out about cultural differences, e.g. regarding greetings, forms of address, and punctuality. Students will be working towards the A1-Exam of the Goethe Institut, which follows the Common European Framework of Reference and is accepted worldwide.
This program provides students with the opportunity to apply concepts and tools acquired in BUSSPP 0020 abroad. Students work in teams on research projects, and business environment and practices abroad are compared to those in the U.S. The program abroad includes visits, lectures, and cultural excursions during a two-week study period in Ecuador under the guidance of a faculty member.
This program provides students with the opportunity to apply concepts and tools acquired in BUSSPP 0020. Students work in teams with engineering students on research projects. Business environment and practices abroad are compared to those in the U.S. The program abroad includes company visits, lectures, and cultural excursions during a two-week study period in Costa Rica under the guidance of a faculty member.
This program provides students with the opportunity to apply concepts and tools acquired in BUSSPP 0020. Students work in teams with engineering students on research projects. Business environment and practices abroad are compared to those in the U.S. The program abroad includes company visits, lectures, and cultural excursions during a two-week study period in Germany under the guidance of a faculty member.
China: "During my time abroad in China, I learned so much more than I thought I could in just two weeks. Listening to business professionals speak about supply chain management, marketing smartphones in China, big data aggregation, and logistics was fascinating and helped deepen my understanding of such valuable concepts.” - Haley McArthur, Plus3 China 2018
Costa Rica: "During my two weeks in Costa Rica, I gained in-depth exposure to Costa Rica’s coffee supply chain, interacted with the Costa Rican people and learned about their unique way of life, and gained an appreciation for a country different from my own, all in just a few brief but fulfilling weeks.” - Phil Missan, Plus3 Costa Rica 2018
Germany: "We learned so much more in these immersive two weeks than we could have done in a semester long class. On our site visits of SGL, BMW, KUKA, Continental and Hörauf & Kohler, we were exposed to the inner workings and behind the scenes operations of almost every aspect of the automotive supply chain.” - Gemma Skidmore, Plus3 Germany, 2018
Italy: "The Plus3 program placed me far outside my comfort zone, exposed me to a new continent, country, and culture, and showed me real life examples of both business and engineering. While the food, sights, and people were all beautiful, the trip was challenging in ways that helped me to grow both personally and academically.” - Shelby Smith, Plus3 Italy 2018
Vietnam: "Along with new experiences, I gained valuable skills from Plus3 that will help me in my future business endeavors. Through traveling to a country on the other side of the world I learned adaptability first-hand. Every day I had to be able to adapt to the group’s plans and be ready for any situation.” - Kate McAssey, Plus3 Vietnam 2018
Each location has a designated faculty member and program assistant that will lead workshops, oversee academics and logistics, and travel with you in-country. The faculty and program assistants for Plus3 2023 programs will be announced in fall 2022.
Rick Moslen
I’m Rick, and I’m an International Programs Manager at Pitt Business. I have managed international programming, advised & taught international students, and helped others strengthen their cultural competancies for over seven years. My international interests began as an undergrad, and since then I’ve explored over 26 countries and have experienced everything from presenting on a panel at a music festival in Spain, to studying traditional dance music in Peru, to getting chased by monkeys in Malaysia (not recommended), to hiking to the top of Table Mountain in South Africa. Fun fact: I love turbulence on planes (it’s like getting rocked to sleep).
Feel free to contact me at rickmoslen@business.pitt.edu or 412-383-5476.
Schedule an appointment
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Items Billed by Pitt |
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|---|---|---|
| Program Fee & Tuition | $5200 | $5400 |
| Study Abroad Fee | $300 | $300 |
| Total Billed by Pitt | $5500 | $5700 |
Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs |
||
|---|---|---|
| Additional Spending Money | ~$100-$500 (depending on location and your own spending habits) | |
- Lodging for orientation in Pittsburgh and time abroad
- Tuition for three credits
- Roundtrip international airfare*
- In-country transportation
- Excursions
- Most meals
- Visa (where applicable)
- International Health Insurance
*Round trip airfare consists of departure from Pittsburgh and return to Pittsburgh or to a hub. (A list will be provided to students after acceptance.)
While your program fee will cover most of your expenses, keep in mind that you are also responsible for the following:
- Study Abroad Fee ($300)
Scholarships
Pitt Business students can apply for a Pitt Business International Scholarship. More information is available here. Please note that the application deadline for the Pitt Business International Scholarship is the same as the program application deadline.
Dates for Plus3 2023 are May 5-19. Students will be required to report to the University of Pittsburgh on the 5th (designated time, based on location, will be determined in spring 2023).
Application requirements
- First year, first semester students enroleld full-time in Pitt Business
- Students must complete 24 credits earned at Pitt before the program start date
- Students must have a clean judicial record
- Minimum of a 2.75 GPA at the end of the first semester
Passports
Students must have applied for a passport or already hold a valid passport by the application deadline. A valid passport means that it will not expire within 6 months after the program (by November 20). If a student has a new or renewal passport processing, they must upload documentation that they've expedited that process and are waiting for a new passport to arrive.
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Students can apply at the Allegheny County of Dept. of Court Records or at your local post office (check your post office's website for more details).
City County Building
414 Grant Street
Monday-Friday from 8:30 am to 4pm, Wednesdays until 7pm.
Application: www.us-passport-service-guide.com - Check out our helpful Passport Guide for more information.
Disciplinary Record
- One or more disciplinary violations on a student's record will trigger an additional review.
- Students with any drugs and alcohol-related violations will not be eligible to participate in Plus3.
- Students under active disciplinary sanction at the time of application and/or during the program are not eligible to study abroad.
