Undergraduate Current Students | Stern Around the World in USA

With a history, culture, and geography that is completely distinct from that of the continental United States, the state of Hawai’i is a rich study in how the past influences the opportunities and challenges of the present. This class examines how the modern business environment of Hawai’i came to be through the lens of corporate imperialism, labor rights and immigration, indigenous values, and how the primary drivers of the Hawaiian economy impact its land and people. We will work with organizations in Hawai’i to better understand how these dynamics are reflected in current-day situations. 

The class will culminate in a required week-long trip to Hawai’i in January 2027, where students will meet their clients, finalize their projects, and engage in immersive learning of the concepts introduced throughout the semester.

Course Overview

BSPA-UB 137: Business in Hawai'i: Land, Labor and Cultural Legacy
3 credits | Class Days: Mondays & Wednesdays 3:30pm - 4:45pm
Course: Full Fall Semester | Travel: Required trip to Hawai'i in January 2027
Instructor: Professor April Gu (ag918@stern.nyu.edu)

Course Objectives
TBD

This course includes a required trip to Hawai'i (O’ahu Island) during January 2027. 

This 3-credit course satisfies the Global Experience Requirement.  It can also count towards:

• Sustainable Business Elective - Practicum (P) Course
• General Stern Elective

*Please note: a max of one SAW travel course can be applied per concentration or minor

Eligibility

This course is open to NYU Stern students who meet the following prerequisites:

• Must be in good academic and judicial standing with Stern and NYU
• Must be enrolled at Stern in New York City during the semester you take the course
• Important Notes:
  • This course is only open to NYU Stern students.
  • Seniors who plan to graduate in January - the final grade for this course will not be available until after the January trip
  • First Year students are not eligible to enroll in this course
• No application required! But attending or viewing an Info Session is required when enrolling in this course (requires Zoom sign-in via NYU SSO).
• Enrollment is done through Albert for this course. This SAW course has two registration periods:
  • Priority Registration: During the first week of course registration, only Stern students who meet the requirements listed above, and also have NOT already satisfied their Global Experience Requirement, will be able to register or waitlist for this course.
  • Regular Registration: Starting the second week of registration, the course registration and waitlist will open to all other Stern students who meet the requirements above - pending available space in the course and/or waitlist.
    • Enrollment is open to NYU Stern students who meet the requirements and is first-come, first-served, based on your registration time and the registration schedule listed above.
    • If the course fills up, there will be a Waitlist. Set up ‘Edit Swap’ function on Albert to ensure you’re not stuck on the waitlist
    • If you successfully enroll, you will be contacted via email with next steps. See additional details below.

Program Timeline

**You will arrange your own flights to and from Hawai'i. Please view the sample itinerary below, note the required program start and end times and plan your flights accordingly to account for arrival and transportation to the hotel.  You must plan to arrive into Hawai'i early enough in the day so that you can check in on time for the official start of the program at the group hotel.  Late arrivals and early departures are not permitted.  You will be expected to stay with the group until the official end of the program. 

Estimated Expenses

Please note: Although you will register for this 3-credit course as part of your Fall schedule, NYU tuition and registration fees do not cover the additional fees for the trip.

The Housing & Program Fee will be required of all participants* (see scholarship info below).  It will be added to your Fall 2026 Bursar bill, which will be due in early August.  Please check the NYU Bursar’s website for the Fall 2026 payment deadline.  Please note: the Housing & Program Fee is non-refundable after the Fall 2026 drop/add period unless the trip is canceled by NYU Stern.

The Travel, Housing & Program Fee covers:

• Group hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii
• Some meals as noted on itinerary
• Local group transportation
• Group excursions 

SAW: USA Stern Global Immersion Scholarship

*All Stern undergraduate students who register for this course will be automatically evaluated for a Stern Global Immersion Scholarship. 

• This need-based award is to help cover the additional travel cost of participating in this program. Awards granted to eligible students with demonstrated financial need will cover up to the cost of the Housing & Program fee for the travel portion of the class.  Following is the SAW: USA Housing & Program fee and (if awarded) the allocation for the air travel (Travel allocation) for Fall 2026:
  • Housing & Program Fee (does not include flight): USA: TBD - Approx. $2,800
  • Travel allocation (if awarded): USA: TBD- Approx. $1,000
         *You will arrange your own flights to and from Hawai'i
• Students must have a current FAFSA or CSS Profile application on file with NYU to be considered for an award. Students will be notified if they will receive a Stern Global Immersion Scholarship - and if so, the amount - according to the schedule above.
• *Note: Only one SAW Global Immersion Scholarship will be granted per qualifying student.  If you have already applied a Global Immersion Scholarship to a different SAW course you will not receive any Global Immersion Scholarship funds for this course.   

Travel ID and Health Insurance Requirements

Travel ID: Participants must show valid identification at the airport checkpoint in order to travel. For U.S. Citizens this means a valid Real ID Driver License or photo identity card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Non-US citizens can show their valid passports.  Please view the TSA website to see the full list of IDs accepted for domestic air travel.  

Health Insurance: Participants must have valid health insurance in order to participate in this domestic course/trip. NYU requires that all students registered in degree-granting programs maintain health insurance. Most likely you already have the required coverage, but you will be asked to submit your valid insurance coverage information to confirm your enrollment in the course.