The University of Utah Center for Business, Health, and Prosperity offers students the opportunity to participate in learning abroad experiences in Ghana in partnership with the David Eccles School of Business Eccles Global Program.
Course Information
Students enroll in ENTP 5800/6800: Prosperity Promotion and Entrepreneurship, a 10-week course on prosperity-based development, with an opportunity to work on business strategy with local entrepreneurs in Ghana over Spring Break. The course is open to undergraduate and graduate students from all majors, and a business background is not required.
Questions? Contact bhp@utah.edu.
ENTP 5800/6800: Prosperity Promotion and Entrepreneurship
This course focuses on building prosperity as a means of addressing global poverty.
During this course, students study how value creation through innovation and entrepreneurship can improve health and well-being across impoverished communities. Students are trained in and practice consulting, business strategy, and development methods to prepare them for real-world prosperity promotion.
By completing this course, University of Utah students can fulfill their International Requirement (IR) and/or obtain academic credit as part of a community-engaged, hands-on learning experience abroad.
Learn, Gain Hands-on Experience, and Explore!
Students take ENTP 5800: Prosperity Promotion and Entrepreneurship (3 credits) during Fall or Spring Semester and experience a week in Ghana, Africa during spring break. Students engage with local Ghanaian entrepreneurs to address real-world business challenges.
Excursions include cultural and ecological in-country activities.
Program Fee
Undergraduate: $4,415 | Graduate: $4,450
The program has limited enrollment. The fee above includes tuition for three credit hours, airfare, in-country transportation, lodging, excursions, most meals, and travel insurance. Scholarship opportunities through the Center for Business, Health, and Prosperity are available here.
In addition to the program fee, students are responsible for passports and visas, travel immunizations and medications, some travel meals, and incidentals such as souvenirs.
Dates
2025 Spring Dates for Travel
Spring Break in Ghana: March 7 – 16, 2025*
Locations across Ghana include:
Ensign Global College in Kpong (Host)
Cape Coast / Gulf of Guinea
Accra (Capital of Ghana)
Mole National Park
Instructor: Stephen C. Alder, Ph.D., MBA
Program Leadership: Stephanie Dutson, Jon Murphy
*Please note dates are approximate at this time. Course meets weekly prior to Spring Break.
Projects
Students prepare for hands-on prosperity promotion through business strategy consulting.
Past projects have included:
Cedi Beads
Ukalliks Ltd
Volta Credit Union
Barah Farms
Momzi
Gloria Rego Investments
XOcraft
“The entire trip was rewarding. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Everything was so new and something I had not encountered before. The whole point of taking this course is to experience something new, different, and unique.” ~ Dorothy Yeh, Fall 2022
“If you are looking for the opportunity to travel during your college experience, I would 100% recommend the student programs offered by the Center for Business, Health, and Prosperity. Ghana is beautiful, the people are wonderful, and the food was great!” ~ Kelsey Rudd, Fall 2021
“We learned about the benefits and downfalls of foreign aid, microfinance, and how entrepreneurship can drive economic and social development. We spent 10 days in Ghana, and it was absolutely incredible. There’s so many applied experiences, it’s not about the classroom. It’s about doing.” ~ Alexander Becraft, Fall 2019
“I think for this course one of the benefits students get is specialized hands-on experience. It is similar to many workplace environments with teamwork. Even if you do not go into consulting, that teamwork is important. It felt good to dive into the experience.
Sometimes we talk about businesses and how they work in the classroom, but there is nothing quite like boots on the ground. And this was boots on the ground.” ~ Emily Best, Fall 2022
“The experience to go work in Ghana and be immersed in their culture was life-changing. Everyone is so happy, so dedicated, and working so hard. It helps change your whole directive towards life and makes you want to make an impact.
Many people come to school not just to better their own careers, but to better the world around them. This course was the best way to do that.” ~ Tim Dudley, Spring 2023
Experience Highlights
- Partner with local entrepreneurs and organizations
- Immerse yourself in Ghanian culture
- Learn the history of the slave trade at Elmina Castle
- Travel to Mole National Park for an elephant safari
- Build relationships that last a lifetime
- Positively impact local communities in Ghana
