Guiding Penn State students to career development, community engagement, and experiential learning in Pittsburgh
The Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center at Penn State offers students a variety of engaged scholarship and community engagement opportunities. We work with faculty and staff from Penn State colleges, institutes and Commonwealth campuses to direct students to promising capstone projects, volunteer opportunities, and engagement related to their independent study or current course work.
Penn State students can gain valuable experience and knowledge through community services projects, internships, and immersive learning experiences in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh region provides urban learning experiences within driving distance from all Penn State Commonwealth campuses, and the University Park campus.
Opportunities for Students:
City Semester Pittsburgh
City Semester Pittsburgh is a unique learning experience for Penn State students of all majors and backgrounds who would like spend a semester learning about sustainability in Pittsburgh’s urban setting. Students can apply to the program and earn credits while exploring real-world issues in climate action, architectural design, clean energy, landscape architecture, urban equality, education, and more.
Learn more about City Semester Pittsburgh
High-Performance Building Summer Program
First- and second-year university students are invited to spend three weeks in Pittsburgh for a cross-cultural educational program with students from Northern Ireland. Through a combination of lectures from high-performance building experts, hands-on activities, and site visits, students will learn the latest in high-performance building design.
Learn more about the High-Performance Building Summer Program
Pittsburgh Internships
Through our internship program, Penn State students are matched with industry partners for in-person or remote internships. Students will have the opportunity to gain real-world work experience in various fields and connect with diverse communities, while earning credits and contributing to the local community.
Student Class and Club Visits
Many Penn State groups and classes travel to Pittsburgh to visit the Center, where they engage with local professionals and practitioners in their field (many of whom are Penn State alumni). Students connect with potential employers and mentors for experiences and advice.