Global Immersion

The Global Immersion program embeds students within foreign markets, exposing them firsthand to the most pressing challenges facing international businesses. These seven-day travel courses take students out of the classroom and into the heart of today’s biggest business questions, such as global health, Brexit, and the impact of technology in business, and more.

Typically held during the January Intersession, Spring Break, start of Summer term, or at the end of Summer term, Global Immersion is an intense, one-week, two-credit course, with some engagements held at a university abroad. Classroom work is supplemented with on-site visits to government offices and corporate partners. Students collaborate with business leaders to examine a particular industry problem from the businesses’ perspective. Students learn firsthand how businesses are adapting to emerging political developments and how political outcomes impact business decisions and strategy. Topics include technology, financial systems, health care systems, innovation, sustainability, and organizational management strategies, and social impact.

For students interested in a global immersion without the travel component, the Virtual Global Immersion is an opportunity to work on an international business challenge with graduate business students from an overseas partner institution.  The 8-week Virtual Global Immersion is a cross-cultural collaboration that takes place entirely online via synchronous class sessions.  These weekly synchronous sessions incorporate faculty lectures from each institution, cultural activities, virtual business site visits, and group project work to give students a truly international educational experience in which they learn firsthand from one another about the business culture in each of their respective countries.

Global Immersion Offerings

Chile—Business in Latin America: (BU.003.903.91)

Join us for a seven-day travel course examining business in Chile. Students will gain insight into Latin American business trends and opportunities. With a focus on sustainability and innovation, students will meet with government agencies, corporate businesses, and academic institutions to gain varied perspectives on Chile’s business and economy.

Date: January Intersession
Location: Santiago, Chile
Faculty: Luis Quintero, PhD

To participate in the Chile Global Immersion, students need to be prepared to graduate no earlier than the Spring term.  Registration for January Intersession courses opens in April.

Virtual Global Immersion: Peru - Cross-Cultural Teaming on Business Challenges  (BU.003.930.41)

In this eight-week Virtual Global Immersion, graduate students from both Carey and CENTRUM Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP) work together in cross-cultural teams on an international business challenge. At the start the course, the students from each school are introduced to their teammates and learn about the scope of the real-world business challenges they will tackle together. In preparation for their collaboration, the students are guided through effective multicultural team-building principles to create a team contract and develop their project work plan.  Over the following weeks the students explore the variances between their respective countries’ business environments and share their own perspectives about the project topic. Lectures are delivered by faculty from each academic institution. Weekly synchronous class sessions include virtual business site visits, workshops, expert panels, and cultural enrichment activities to complement the intensive team project work.

Date: Spring, Term 1 (January - March)
Location: Online
Faculty: James Calvin, PhD

To participate in the Virtual Peru Global Immersion, students need to be prepared to graduate no earlier than the Spring term.  Registration for Spring I courses opens in November.

Italy—Health Care in Europe: Models, Regulation & Business  (BU.003.904.91)

In this global immersion, students will gain insights into European health care models and will analyze similarities and differences with U.S. models. They will explore the diverse landscape of public and private health care models in Europe, understand the regulatory aspects (both at the country and EU levels), and become acquainted with the business dynamics within the health care sector. Drawing from varied perspectives, such as government agencies, corporate businesses, health care providers and clinics, and/or academic institutions, students will develop a well-rounded view of different health care models in Europe. This course includes two pre-departure lectures (accessible remotely), with a week-long travel component in Milan, Italy (including a day-trip to Bologna).

Date: Spring Break
Location: Milan, Italy
Faculty: Mario Macis, PhD

To participate in the Italy Global Immersion, students need to be prepared to graduate no earlier than the Spring term.  Registration for Spring I courses opens in November. Note that required travel for the Spring Break Immersion may conflict with some Spring 1 final exams. 

UK—Technology & Society through a Behavioral Economics Lens (BU.003.906.91) 

Does social media make us happier? Are hidden fees exploitative? Can online marketplaces mitigate discrimination? Using a behavioral economics lens, this course will explore how technology platforms impact our wellbeing. Through interactive panels, discussions, and hands-on project work, you will learn to apply insights from behavioral economics to understand and improve technology's societal implications. We will connect with tech companies, consulting firms, entrepreneurs, and policy leaders; with the UK Behavioural Insights Team – a leading behavioral policy organization – as a key course partner. Students are expected to actively participate throughout the course, to contribute to a thoughtful learning experience for the class as a whole, and to complete a group project during the trip proposing changes to a product or policy based on behavioral economics principles to enhance societal wellbeing. This course includes two pre-departure lectures (accessible remotely), with a week-long travel component in London, United Kingdom

Date: Spring Break
Location: London, United Kingdom
Faculty: Michael Luca, PhD

To participate in the UK Global Immersion, students need to be prepared to graduate no earlier than the Spring term.  Registration for Spring I courses opens in November. Note that required travel for the Spring Break Immersion may conflict with some Spring 1 final exams.

Germany: Finance and Fintech in the EU (BU.003.911.91 & BU.003.916.91)

This  course is offered to Carey Business School students interested in learning more about European financial markets, including the local fintech industry. It aims to develop in-depth knowledge of the European financial system through a partnership with the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management (FSFM). Both Carey Business School faculty and FSFM professors will provide classes on the history and current status of the financial system in Europe and compare those systems to the U.S. financial landscape. Activities will also be aimed at local fintech and startup industries. Corporate and government organization visits will complement lectures and case studies.

Date: Late May (Week after Spring II finals)
Location: Frankfurt School of Finance and Management (FSFM)
Faculty: Yuval Bar-Or, PhD

This course consists of two 1-credit co-requisites: BU.003.911.91 (1 credit) in Spring II and BU.003.916.91 (1 credit) in Summer.

To participate in the Germany Global Immersion, students need to be prepared to graduate no earlier than the Summer term. Registration for Spring II courses opens in November.

United Kingdom—Navigating Strategic Crises  (BU.003.900.91)

Whether financial collapse, public health emergencies, infrastructure failure, or geopolitical tension, business leaders across all industries face a variety of risks that can quickly evolve into crises. Using recent events in both the United Kingdom and continental Europe as case studies, students in this course will sharpen their skills to manage effectively through a wide variety of challenging business situations. This immersion will consist of on-site visits and lectures with government agencies and corporate partners examining the UK’s finance, health care, and logistics industries. This course is open to 30 students.

Date: Late July (Week after Summer finals)
Location: London, United Kingdom
Faculty: Rick Smith, PhD

To participate in the United Kingdom Global Immersion, students need to be prepared to graduate no earlier than the Summer term. Registration for summer immersions open in March.

Peru—Community and Societal Impact  (BU.003.907.91)

In this global immersion, students will gain insights into issues of international social and environmental impact, aligning with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.  The course aims to empower students to create positive changes in local businesses and communities while examining the role of social impact work in Peru. Students from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School will attend two synchronous, virtual pre-departure lecture sessions to begin working together on team projects related to community and social impact.  Then they will travel to Lima, Peru, between Sunday, 3 August, to Saturday, 9 August 2025, to continue their project group work in person and to attend lectures with faculty from CENTRUM Pontificia Universidad Católica Del Perú (PUCP) Graduate Business School.  They will also gain varied perspectives through site visits and presentations from government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and local businesses.

Date: Early August
Location: Lima, Peru
Faculty: James Calvin, PhD

To participate in the Peru Global Immersion, students need to be prepared to graduate no earlier than the Summer term. Registration for summer immersions open in March.

Navigating Innovation in India  (BU.003.908.91)

This course offers students an immersive experience in India, a dynamic and rapidly growing economy. Students will explore the Indian innovation ecosystem, gaining insights into the unique consumer preferences, cultural nuances, and business practices that drive success in this diverse market. Through incubator and customer visits, guest lectures, and hands-on activities, students will deepen their understanding of how to navigate the complexities of doing business in India. The course culminates in an entrepreneurship challenge where students will pitch a startup idea—either a novel concept or an adaptation of a successful US model tailored to the Indian market. This experience will equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a global business environment, particularly within the context of emerging markets.

Date: January Intersession (starting in 2026)
Location: Hyderabad, India
Faculty: Supriya Munshaw, PhD

To participate in the India Global Immersion, students need to be prepared to graduate no earlier than the Spring term. Registration for January Intersession courses opens in April. This course is intended to be offered every other year (next offered in January 2028).

Eligibility

To participate in these courses, students must be currently enrolled as a graduate student at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and have completed 12 credits.*

*The 12-credit requirement can be waived, per course faculty approval, if students demonstrate significant industry experience in the subject matter or international business.

Enrollment varies per program, but is generally limited to 26 students with a minimum of 20 students. Tuition, international residency fees, and nonrefundable deposit are applicable to all students, regardless of status.