Inter American University of Puerto Rico

The Inter American University of Puerto Rico is a private, nonprofit higher education institution, with Christian roots. For over 100 years, it has been dedicated to preparing students in all branches of the humanities, social, and scientific work. It has served as a cultural bridge between North America and Latin America.

Rev. John Will Harris founded the institution in 1912, as an elementary and high school, as the Polytechnic Institute of Puerto Rico, in Lomas de Santa Marta, San Germán. It is there where the San Germán Campus is located today. In 1927, the first college class graduated. In 1944, the institution was accredited by the Middle States Association of College and Secondary Schools, becoming the first liberal arts college to receive such accreditation in Puerto Rico and outside the continental United States. This accreditation has been maintained through the years. The University offers academic programs in eleven academic units, namely: Aguadilla, Arecibo, Barranquitas, Bayamón, Fajardo, Guayama, Metropolitan, Ponce, and San Germán; and two professional schools, the School of Optometry and the School of Law. There also is an online academic offering with over 50 programs in Spanish and English. Currently, the Inter American University of Puerto Rico maintains an enrollment of about 40,000 students, representing 21% of the university student population and 35% of students enrolled in private institutions in Puerto Rico.

School of Aeronautics

INTER includes a School of Aeronautics dedicated to training professionals for the aviation industry, airport management, and airlines. The institution offers a Bachelor of Aviation Management and a Bachelor of Aircraft Systems Management (Professional Pilot), the only program accredited in Latin America by the prestigious Aviation Accreditation Board International (AABI). The School has its own hangar, modern flight simulators, and a fleet of ten aircraft for flight training. The School of Aeronautics is located at the Fernando Ribas Dominicci Airport in Isla Grande, San Juan.

School of Engineering

The Bayamón Campus offers Bachelor’s Degrees in Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, all three accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The Campus is also pursuing the accreditation of the Computer Engineering program. The accreditation helps to attest the commitment of the academic programs with continuous quality assessment and improvement. ABET accredits approximately 3,600 programs at over 700 colleges and universities in 29 countries. One of our most recent developments in graduate studies is the development of two new modalities of Master Degrees in Mechanical Engineering: Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, and Master in Engineering. In each modality, two specializations are offered: Aerospace and Energy. The campus also offers two specializations of master degrees in Electrical Engineering: The specialization in Control Systems and the specialization in Power Systems.

Department of Business Administration

Some of our Business Administration programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The Council is a leading specialized accreditation association for business education supporting, celebrating, and rewarding teaching excellence on a diverse and global scale. Please do not hesitate to ask for more information regarding this accreditation.

Other Academic Offerings in:

- Natural Sciences - Health Sciences - Communications - Information Technology - Biology and Biotechnology - Environmental Sciences and Chemistry - Social and Political Sciences - Education - Criminal Justice - Psychology - Tourism - Social Work

About Puerto Rico

The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States of America. Puerto Ricans are American citizens, thus, they share the same legal system and use the dollar (USD) as their official currency. If you are an international student, you must request a visa, which upon approval, will allow you to travel anywhere within the United States of America. The regional airports, as well as the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, offer flights to and from the most important cities in the United States, Latin America, and Europe.

Benefits of Studying in Puerto Rico

- High-quality education: Puerto Rico is governed by the exact same standards as higher education institutions in the USA. - Solid educational system: INTER is licensed by the Council on Education of Puerto Rico, and accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), which is the same association that serves higher education institutions in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, the Virgin Islands, and others. - Affordable and strategic education: The cost per academic credit is an average of one third when compared to public institutions in the USA, and complies with the same quality standards. Also, because of our Latin American idiosyncrasy and our political relationship with the USA, we offer a unique platform for the better understanding of both Anglo-Saxon and international civil rights. This flexibility further serves as an added value to the education that we offer our students, where they are geared towards becoming global citizens. - Bilingual experience: Puerto Rico has two official languages – Spanish and English – making INTER the optimal destination for those interested in learning Spanish, without having to completely rely or depend on it for their day to day activities and habitual functionality. - Privileged year-round climate: The temperature fluctuates within the 80°F range all year, which is ideal for sports and outdoor activities. There is an incredible cultural richness influenced by our European, African, and indigenous Taíno Indian traditions.