Student Course Credit Options
Internships are open to all majors university-wide (rising juniors, seniors, and graduate students).
Students have two options for course credit through Learning Abroad (BUS 5880) or The Hinckley Institute (HNKLY 4903). The internship goals, experience, and pricing are the same for both programs.
Learn and lead in one of the fastest-growing economies in the world!
The Center for Business, Health, and Prosperity is focused on integrating innovation and entrepreneurship with health-enabling practices in pursuit of economic, social, and political well-being. Prosperity science is all about discovering what makes this type of progress happen and the ways to expand it.
The Prosperity Science Internship program is a unique opportunity for students to develop real-life skills to support their future career and educational goals. Interns work with sponsoring organizations (government organizations, non-profits, or entrepreneurs) to help them improve prosperity while earning university credit. Stand out from the crowd with a summer internship in one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Click here for more info.
Prosperity Science Internship in Ghana
The Prosperity Science Internship (ENTP 5850 / HNKL 4903) is a unique opportunity for students to develop real-life skills to support their future career and educational goals. Interns work with sponsoring organizations (government organizations, non-profits, community health agencies, and/or entrepreneurs) to help them improve prosperity while earning university credit. Students of all majors have the opportunity to stand out from the crowd with a summer internship in a dynamic international setting.
Prior to returning to the U.S., students then have the option to visit the University of Oxford, absorbing its rich history and studying current efforts to enhance the growth of global markets, access to healthcare, and overall prosperity, including in West Africa.
Projects
Students engage in projects through innovation and entrepreneurial approaches that improve health and well-being across impoverished communities. Past projects have included:
Instructor and Leadership
Instructor:
Stephen C. Alder, Ph.D., MBA.
Program Leadership:
Stephanie Dutson
Jon Murphy
Projects are assigned to students each year that help them gain a greater understanding of public health and development in Ghana. Students will take on leadership roles as they develop and complete their projects during the length of the class.
Dates
2025 Summer Semester and Internship in Ghana and Oxford:
June 9 to June 28, 2025
Optional week in Oxford, England:
June 29 to July 4, 2025
*Please note dates are approximate at this time.
Taught by Stephen C. Alder, Ph.D, MBA.
Program Fee
Fee includes all accommodations, most meals, in-program transportation, all excursions, and travel insurance.
Experience Highlights
Our excursions expose students to a range of different experiences and enable them to immerse themselves in the rich culture, natural beauty, and developing economy of Ghana. Previous excursions have included visits to:
- Elmina Slave Castle
- Kakum Canopy Walk
- Volta Dam/Lake Volta
- Mole National Park (elephant safari)
- Larabanga Mosque
- Coconut Grove Beach Resort
- Shai Hills Resource Reserve
- Local shops, markets, and businesses
What Our Students Say
“I loved every second of my internship and felt so lucky to intern in such a beautiful place with such amazing people. I gained valuable experiences working alongside professionals in my field and by engaging with local communities. I was able to get out of my comfort zone and further develop my communication and leadership skills. I wouldn’t have traded this once-in-a-lifetime experience for anything!”
~ Tessa
“The best part of my internship in Ghana was the people that I’ve met, the new culture that I was exposed to, and the eye-opening field trips that we went on during our time in Ghana.”
~ Shunzhang
“I love to look back on the beautiful days I spent in Ghana. A month filled with love from others, passion for developing communities, and an endless supply of the best mangos in the world! I would go back in a heartbeat if ever given the opportunity again.
~ Callie
“This experience has been transformative, eye opening, and one of the most worthwhile and immersed months of my life. I am so grateful that I decided to come here and, in doing so, learned more about my leadership style, how to make it globally applicable, and the ways that global health can be legitimately applied in real life situations. I will definitely miss being in this beautiful country.”
~ Quincy
“I feel that I have changed significantly throughout my time in Ghana. Not only did I acquire a significantly higher understanding of business, community health, development, and other crucial ideas from the coursework, but I also gained more cultural understanding.
Furthermore, I feel that my comfort zone has been stretched and I am now a lot more comfortable in new situations. I feel better about being in another country, interacting with people who are not from the same culture/background as me, and being in places that I am not used to.”
~ Brooke
Passport Requirement
Students are responsible for obtaining their own passports and any applicable visas.*
*Go to travel.state.gov to renew or apply for your passport. Passport processing times are currently delayed. Processing is taking 10 to 12 weeks, so make sure to apply early! Click here for more information on processing times.
Questions?
For questions regarding the Summer Internship and/or Course in Ghana Program, please contact bhp@utah.edu or the individuals listed above.
Impact and Prosperity Epicenter
1755 E. Student Life Way
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
Phone: 801.213.1704
Email: bhp@utah.edu