Learning by Location
Your Travel Itinerary
Year 1
Indianapolis, Indiana
Summer
Your journey will begin on Butler University’s campus in Indianapolis—home to the Indy 500, pro sports, and a vibrant arts and food scene.
As you settle into your first year as a college student, you’ll take First-Year Seminar, a yearlong foundational course to develop reading, writing, critical thinking, and oral communication skills. You will take a globally focused introduction to environmental studies that is required of both Environmental Studies and International Business majors. You’ll also take the physical well-being course “Outside in Indiana” as you get to know the University and the city.
This summer you will also begin Butler Overseas’ professional development program. You’ll get the chance to meet both your academic advisor and career mentor while living in the residence halls and experiencing campus life.
London, England
Fall
Next, you’ll travel to London, a multicultural global hub shaped by its imperial history. International Business students will get their first taste of global commerce here while Environmental Studies students will explore the environmental legacies of empire, with London as a highly relevant location for each topic.
You’ll also complete First-Year Seminar this semester alongside the same students and instructor you had over the summer. All students will take a foundational course on how science and technology shape social, cultural, and political forces as well as a quantitative course with business calculus.
London might also be your first experience living alongside roommates in an apartment. It’ll give you a sense of independence in the city while also having the guidance and confidence that comes with staying at London’s IFSA site.
Rome, Italy
Spring
Two thousand years of art, architecture, and urban planning make Rome an ideal backdrop for studying Environmental Studies and International Business. All students will take an Italian language course in Rome and get plenty of practice learning the language through apartment living.
You’ll also take a course that explores art and architecture as instruments and manifestations of cultural and political power. Core business courses such as accounting and microeconomics take place at this stage for all students, while International Business students will also take statistics.
Rome’s IFSA site also provides opportunities for activities such as classes to learn how to make authentic Italian cuisine or chances to join a cultural exchange aperitivo, where you can connect with Italian university students at a local coffee bar to practice your Italian and forge new friendships.
Year 2
Indianapolis, Indiana
Summer
Butler’s commitment to hands-on learning doesn’t stop during the second summer. Back in Indianapolis, your cohort will continue diving into major-centric coursework.
If you’re an Environmental Studies student, you’ll take a course that introduces you to Geographical Information Systems (GIS), an industry-standard software that captures, analyzes, and maps different kinds of data in relation to the earth’s surface. If you’re an International Business student, you’ll take one of the Lacy School of Business’ keystone programs—the Real Business Experience—where you’ll form teams, create a business idea, and start and run your real business under the guidance of a professional mentor.
Finally, all students will study both macroeconomics and a lab-based environmental science course before preparing for your study abroad trip to South Africa.
South Africa Trip
Summer
South Africa’s breathtaking landscapes, diverse wildlife, and complex colonial legacy make it a compelling location for Butler Overseas’ short-term summer abroad experience.
While exploring sites such as Johannesburg or Durban, you’ll explore issues of environmental justice and how pollution and environmental degradation disproportionately affect poor and marginalized communities in post-apartheid South Africa. You’ll not only learn to understand these challenges but also see the efforts of activists seeking to address them through field trips and meetings with guest speakers.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Fall
In Buenos Aires, one of the Americas’ most diverse cities, you’ll strengthen your Spanish while studying international business and global climate.
While all your coursework will be in English, you’ll take a Spanish language course this semester that fits your level of experience. The Buenos Aires IFSA site has both apartment and homestay accommodations if you’re eager to challenge yourself. Environmental Studies students may even have time to take an additional Spanish course in pursuit of a Spanish minor.
All students will continue quantitative skills courses like statistics or accounting, as well as a course on the international business environment. Environmental Studies students will also study climate, conflict, and community in Latin America in this vibrant, welcoming country.
Merida, Mexico
Spring
Merida’s pre-Columbian and colonial history offers a rich setting to explore the cultural and environmental impacts of European contact with the Americas.
You’ll continue your language and culture courses, and all students will stay in a local home for true cultural and language immersion. You’ll be placed with approved families, and you may also share your space with one other Butler student during this homestay semester.
It’s at the Merida IFSA site that you will finalize your professional and career development sequence so you’re prepared to begin seeking internships. As you study the economics of development and sustainable development, instruction will be especially focused on the UN Sustainable Development goals.
Year 3
Indianapolis, Indiana
Summer
Whether you’re an Environmental Studies student or an International Business student, your third summer in Indianapolis will be centered around career-relevant internships.
You and your whole cohort will study marketing and environmental ethics as you get real-world experience in the city. With Butler’s connections, you’ll be in close proximity to all the things Indianapolis is known for, such as its rapidly-growing healthcare sector; prominent businesses such as Eli Lilly, Corteva Agriscience, and Salesforce; and established professional sports headquarters.
This last summer in Indy, International Business students will also take an introduction to information technology while Environmental Studies students take another lab-based environmental science course.
Sydney, Australia
Fall
The coastal city of Sydney provides vast opportunities for internships and easy access to some of the most stunning natural environments in the world.
As you jump back into apartment living at the Sydney IFSA site, you’ll also be taking a wide range of electives of your choosing. International Business students will be hard at work at their second internship, and if you’re an Environmental Studies student, you can choose to either complete a second internship or do a research project.
International Business students will also take corporate finance this semester while Environmental Studies students take an environmental science course that explores Australia’s unique ecosystems.
Kandy, Sri Lanka
Spring
Surrounded by Kandy’s sacred temples and natural beauty, you’ll complete a capstone project that will bring closure to your unique educational journey.
The Kandy IFSA site will be your last location with a homestay, and you and your cohort will all take a Sinhala language course for this last leg of Butler Overseas. All students will take a business analytics course and a capstone course for their major, while Environmental Studies students will take a course on global food systems and International Business students take international finance.
With its serene atmosphere and spiritual culture, Kandy is the perfect place to reflect on how far you’ve come before heading back to the United States for graduation.