- San Jose, Costa Rica
Projects with Underserved Communities (PUC) is a year-long, three course sequence where students work with international communities to assess, design and implement development projects. The projects vary each year depending on the detailed assessments that are conducted during the fa semester. PUC project teams have successfully worked on several projects with communities in Ghana, Peru, and Papua New Guinea. Projects have ranged from installing water-saving toilets and faucets at a school to creating a stove using repurposed saw dust.
Sponsored by Cockrell School of Engineering
Course(s)
- E S 177M - Projects with Underserved Communities
Academic Information
Students earn 5 credits of coursework when they complete the PUC sequence. The summer implementation travel course is one credit. Students should work with their individual departments to determine how the credits will count towards their degree. Courses must be taken for a grade and are factored in to the UT GPA.
Faculty
Students travel with Technical and Cultural Advisors, the advisors are confirmed in the spring semeseter and can be UT faculty, staff or engineering professionals.
Language(s) of Instruction
English
Eligibility
- Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance
- Engineering and Social Work students are welcome to apply.
- Applications typically due in early March.
- See program website for details.
- Prerequisites of the fall and spring PUC courses.
Service Learning/Internship
- Service Learning - Yes
- Internship - No
Open To
Cockrell School of Engineering
Program Cost
Students are responsible for the costs of international travel (home to foreign airport), in-country living expenses (including lodging, food, and international airport departure fees), and pre-departure immunization, health insurance, visa and application fee requirements.
Dates:
This program may require participation for an entire academic year.
- Program: May 12, 2024 to May 26, 2024
- Instructional: May 12, 2024 to May 26, 2024
- Final Deadline: May 12, 2024
Application Code
355149
Program Coordinator
Stephanie Cushey
Additional Resources
Program Website
Frequently Asked Questions
Next Step
Please check PUC webpage for more information including access to application for 2023-2024. Please note application usually opens in January for the following academic year.