Study Abroad with Penn State Abington
Spring 2025: Climate Change and Organizational Communication in Japan
Organizations and governments worldwide are being affected by climate change, from the automobile industry transitioning to electric vehicles to coastal communities needing to adapt to the threats of increasingly erratic and dangerous weather. Its robust economy, unique organizational culture, and close relationship between its people and ecology make Japan a prime example of how modern industrial countries need to communicate and adapt collectively in a changing climate.
In this faculty-led embedded course (PSYCH (GS, IL), BIOL (GN), or CAS (GH, IL), students will travel to Japan to explore the country’s unique climate issues and the people and organizations working toward a more sustainable future. Ecology, human behavior, and communication impact climate change, and you will learn how climate change - as both a political issue and a physical reality - impacts organizational and government communication and practice, which can alter human behavior and the environment.
We will start in the southern Japanese city of Fukuoka, known for its ancient temples, beaches, and late-night food stalls. Our partners from Seinan Gakuin University will help us explore the city and its sustainability leaders through walking tours, company visits, and student-to-student discussions. We will then take a high-speed bullet train to Tokyo for professional visits and group discussions.
Meiji Shire
Travel Itinerary (subject to change)
- March 5, 2025: Depart from Abington
- March 6: Arrive in Fukuoka
- March 7: Walking tour and orientation
- March 8: Activities and company visit
- March 9: Optional cultural tours/Free day
- March 10: Activities and company visit
- March 11: Activities and company visit
- March 12: Train to Tokyo and walking tour
- March 13: Optional cultural tours/Free day
- March 14: Activities and company visit
- March 15: Return to United States
Glover Garden Lookout
Expenses
Estimated Cost: $4,750 ($4,000 for Pell Grant recipients) charged to your university bursar account upon enrollment in the course.
The course fee includes all ground transportation to/from Abington and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York as well as all ground transportation within Japan, round-trip airfare, lodging, guided tours, and daily breakfast. The cost does NOT include lunches, dinners, and optional tours or free time activities.
Scholarships and financial support may be retroactively available from Penn State and others. Underwriting for each program is provided by Penn State Abington to maximize opportunities for our students to study abroad. Contact he Office of Global Programs for more information: [email protected]
Travel Documents
A valid passport is required for international travel. Non-U.S. citizens may require a visa in addition to their passport. Non-U.S. citizens should consult their embassy for information and may ask the Office of Global Programs for guidance.
Tokyo Tower and Skyline
About Embedded Courses
Traditionally, study abroad meant that students spent a semester in another country and attended classes at an accredited university. Short-term, faculty-led courses with an international travel component are viable alternatives since they offer solid academic international experiences at a reasonable cost with a reduced time commitment.
Students who are enrolled in a faculty-led embedded course are taking an internationally focused class that includes 10 days of travel. These programs are anchored on Penn State Abington’s campus with travel occurring during semester breaks. Course material and lectures prepare students both academically and culturally for the short international excursion to the country of focus in the program.
The goal of the courses with an international travel component is to embed the students into the life and culture of the university and the country they visit. Therefore, including international faculty and students at the host institution in activities is a highly regarded and critical component of all of Abington’s faculty-led programs.