Bentley University
AC-5: Immersive Experience

Principles of Geology in Iceland: The overall goal of this course is to introduce non-science-major undergraduate students to fundamental principles of Earth Science and to build and apply that knowledge through hands-on field-based and classroom activities. An additional goal is to increase Earth science literacy of students, citizens, and future business leaders so that they can make more informed decisions about Earth resources, natural hazards, and the relationship between humans and their geologic environment. Special emphasis for Bentley Abroad version of this course in Iceland will be volcanic activity related to plate boundaries and hot spots, glacier fluctuations and related jökulhlaups, stream flow processes, geysers, geothermal energy, and global climate change on a variety of time scales.

Coastal Geology of Cape Cod: A field-oriented course investigating various ecosystems of Cape Cod, focusing on the variety and types of organisms found in each area and their interrelationships with their natural surroundings. The ecosystems to be studied in this one-week intensive course on Cape Cod include sandy beaches and dunes, salt marshes, estuaries, rocky intertidal habitats, saltwater and freshwater ponds, and a rare Atlantic White Cedar swamp.

Global Climate Change in New Zealand: Examines basic concepts of weather and climate, such as structure of the atmosphere, ocean and atmospheric circulation, and latitudinal and seasonal changes in relationship to distribution of land and water bodies on Earth. Also considered are temporal changes in large-scale climatic phenomena, such as atmospheric carbon dioxide, glaciations, sea level change, monsoons, impact of volcanoes, El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Greenhouse Effect, stratospheric ozone depletion, desertification, as well as human impacts on climate.

EC 3900 France nuclear power: spring break immersive experience: The trip was part of the Special Topics in Energy Economics & International Markets course, which examines economic theory, empirical perspectives and the political economy of energy supply and demand. Students will also participate in a group research project that critically examines a major energy policy issue facing New England, France or the nation.The goal is for students to acquire economic fundamentals and the institutional knowledge needed to implement sound economic decisions pertaining to various energy alternatives.

In 2016, Bentley Service Learning and Civic Engagement Center and Bentley's History Department led a trip of students to the Amazon in Ecuador for an intensive trip where they participate in the construction of doctor’s housing, further developed their leadership skills, and connected their learnings in the community with their learnings in the classroom, thus enhancing their academic experience through service-learning. More opportunities are being developed for future International Service-Learning trips.