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.
*Students are responsible for a current passport and necessary immunizations. Visit the University of Utah’s Travel Clinic to find out what immunizations are needed. We are continuing to monitor the ever-evolving COVID-19 situation. All programs are subject to change.
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.
Experience + Exploration
Gain real-world experience working in the field of health and economic development in Kpong, Ghana. Learn and apply new skills, including systems thinking, community engagement, innovation, and entrepreneurship. After, explore the University of Oxford’s vibrant surroundings, gain a deeper appreciation for the interplay of tradition and innovation that defines this esteemed university.
Why go?
- Gain valuable leadership experience
- Work one-on-one with faculty from University of Utah faculty based in Utah and Ghana
- Stand out by participating in a learning abroad course
- Enjoy learning about a new culture
- Expand your horizons, travel, and gain new friends from the US and Ghana
- Become familiar with ecological and systems thinking in the social and behavioral sciences
- Cultivate an understanding of how to conceptualize and apply multiple influences that impact economic development in an emerging economy
- Gain experience evaluating and making strategic recommendations for helping businesses respond to contextual challenges
- Learn strategies for framing the cultural, political, economic, and structural landscape environment
- Understand the basic elements of behavior and social theory and how they relate to business development
- Improve oral and written presentation skills
Dates
West Africa and University of Oxford Learning Abroad Dates
June 10 – July 5, 2024
Taught by Stephen C. Alder, Ph.D, MBA.
Program Fee
$5,950
Fee includes all accommodations, most meals, in-program transportation, all excursions, and travel insurance.
Not included: Transportation to and from the program, some meals, and incidentals. Participants are financially responsible for international travel clinic visits, immunizations and medications, and visa processing fees.
Excursions
Our excursions expose students to a range of different experiences and enable them to gain a sense of the wonderful country of Ghana. Students gain an understanding of Ghanaian culture while exploring health, economic development, entrepreneurship, history, art, eco-tourism, and much more. Our expeditions enable students to delve into a different culture and be able to appreciate everything that Ghana has to offer.
- Cape Coast – Elmina Slave Castle and Kakum National Park
- Tamale – Elephant safari in Mole National Park, Larabanga Mosque
- African bead and fabric making
- Additional excursions on culture and economy
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
Program Leaders and Staff
Stephen Alder, Ph.D., MBA
Executive Director, Center for Business, Health, and Prosperity, Special Advisor for West Africa Programs, Office for Global Engagement
Annie Smith
Coordinator, Administrative Programs
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.
Connect With Us
Follow us on Instagram @ecclesglobal to see what our current students are doing abroad, check out our blog, and attend one of our upcoming info sessions to learn more.
Questions?
For questions regarding the Ghana Program, please contact bhp@utah.edu.
For students from countries other than the U.S., please contact Buzz Welch for more information.