Bentley University
AC-5: Immersive Experience

Bentley offers various courses that have immersive week-long or longer programs that allow students to directly apply information and skills they are learning in class through travel study experience. Some of these courses are abroad and some of them are domestic.

NASC 3900: Earth Systems and Sustainability in Iceland
Earth systems science explores the interactions among the atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere, and the natural processes that cycle matter through those “spheres”. Understanding Earth’s systems and cycles allows us to develop practices for resource extraction, consumption, and waste disposal that allow for economic growth while maintaining environmental sustainability. In this international travel course, we will explore Earth systems science and sustainability in Iceland, a geologically fascinating, geographically isolated, resource-limited (and resource-abundant) country with a commitment to social and environmental sustainability.

NASE 334 Coastal Geology of Cape Cod
This is a one-week field-based course that studies the geologic origins, coastal processes, environmental systems, and human impacts on Cape Cod. Through field observations, measurements, data collection and analysis, students will learn about the dynamic coastal landscape and the geologic processes that formed and continually alter the coastline. Participants will study the beaches, seacliffs, coastal wetlands and environmental geology at various locations on the Cape, and compare the dynamic coastal environments along the Atlantic Seashore, Cape Cod Bay and Nantucket Sound. Students will gain an understanding of the different geologic processes, development hazards and environmental protection challenges that each location represents.

MG3900: Responsible Leadership for Sustainable Development in South Africa: Looking out for People, Place & Profits
Sustainable Development is defined as “development which meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The interest in, and practice of, sustainable development has embraced the understanding that it is not about how companies spend their profits, but rather how they generate their revenue. In particular, how their revenue generating activities impact people (employees and society), place (locale and the environment) and profits (organizational and stockholder financial benefits) – the triple bottom line. The notion of responsible leadership has risen as the guiding star for achieving sustainable development. This faculty-led course will focus on how culturally conditioned values, attitudes, beliefs and norms of behavior influence the development of responsible leaders, and their ability to achieve sustainable development in South Africa, an area of significant change and rapidly adapting management practices. The course offers students the opportunity to be part of the positive changes in South Africa by engaging in a team work project with a local organization. In addition, students will visit other businesses – from large corporations to small local entrepreneurial ventures; cultural sites such as the Mandala Museum and Robben Island; a Fairtrade farming cooperative; and a big five game park for a sunset and sunrise game drive. Students will attend two pre-travel sessions focused on Culture and Sustainable Development, spend 14 days in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa, and complete two papers post trip.

NASE 318: Global Health Challenges in a Changing World
Health, the environment and prosperity are inextricably entwined, and their entanglement can ensnare entire countries in cycles of poverty and disease. This course will explore the environmental and institutional determinants of public health at the community level, emphasizing the Ghanaian experience. We will study how disease keeps people poor and how poverty affects disease risk. Environmental stewardship is key to maintaining healthy living conditions and sustaining development without destroying resources and ecosystem services essential to the livelihood and well-being of communities. We will examine the diverse forces effecting changes in climate, landscape and society, and how they in turn affect public health and development, as well as practical solutions to these problems involving both existing and emerging technologies. Each topic will be illustrated with specific examples from Ghana and we will get to experience firsthand the issues we discuss during one week of travel in Ghana during Spring break.

GLS 325: Global Transportation and Tourism
This course introduces students to the tourism and hospitality industry with special emphasis on the role of passenger transportation. We travel to Poland and Germany: two of Europe’s strongest economies, basing our studies in Warsaw, Krakow, and Munich. We examine each city's numerous diverse tourism offerings and well-developed transport infrastructure. We consider tourism in the context of contemporary events, including economic recession, currency fluctuations, and security challenges. Specific themes stimulating tourism at these locations include religion, food, drink, sports, architecture, and war. Recognizing the historical development of tourism in Europe, students will also gain insights on the industry’s growth potential for the future. We also look at tourism’s many economic, social, and environmental impacts on the host location though our class project exploring first-hand insights from local residents. This travel study experience will help prepare students for professional involvement in a variety of capacities with stakeholders in the tourism and transportation industries.

Link above for International Courses.
For domestic courses: https://catalog.bentley.edu/undergraduate/courses/nase/