Winter Break in Iceland:
Green Energy Intensive
Effective December 2024, this program is no longer Drexel Sponsored, though students can apply directly through
The Green Program and speak with their academic advisor about transfer credit.
This intensive course in Iceland focuses on energy plants and their impact on the environment. This course is a 50+ hour intensive program held in partnership with The GREEN Program and Reykjavik University's Iceland School of Energy and students from all majors are encouraged to participate. During the course students will take classes taught by faculty on topics related to sustainability, hydro power, geology, bio-fuels, and geothermal energy. The course emphasizes hands on learning and also includes renewable energy facility visits to a hydro power plant, a geothermal power plant, a wind farm and a bio-fuel location. Students will visit various energy facilities to examine their operation and better understand how these facilities impact the environment and serve society. Before each power plant visit, students will attend a lecture at Reykjavik University on power production and its role in fueling economies and its potential impacts on the environment. During the course, students also form interdisciplinary groups and develop a final Capstone Project on a specific renewable energy problem and solution which they present for evaluation at the end of the course.
Check out this Drexel Alumni Industry Mentor of The Green Program, Maxine Dixon
Students first participate in the Intensive Iceland Course Abroad and, after completion, will continue the course on Drexel's campus during winter term. Students will then synthesize their knowledge from Iceland into models that describe potential scenarios for energy development, and how energy extraction impacts the environment and society.
Program Partner: This program is offered in partnership with The GREEN Program. While GREEN offers other program locations, Iceland is the only Drexel sponsored option.
Credit/Registration: Students may receive transfer credit for ENVS 1 credit by requesting a transcript from The Green Program
Optional 3 credit Add-On: Students are encouraged to also take the corresponding online course ENVS 304: Energy and Environment: Iceland, 3 credits (standard letter grade) during winter term.
Pre-requisites: This program is open to all on-campus students. There are no pre-requisites.
Arrival Date: December 12, 2023
Departure Date: December 19, 2023
Students are fully responsible for any independent travel outside of program dates.
Tentative On-site Itinerary
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Day 1
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Capstone Project Launch
Intro to Energy class
A systems approach to economics class
Visit the Reykjanes Peninsula |
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Day 2
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Hydroelectric and Geothermal Class
Reykjavik University energy efficiency tour
Lava caving excursion; Capstone project development
Tour hydroelectric and geothermal plants
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Day 3
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Energy economics class
Capstone development
Community service project;
Energy and the environment class
Hot spring river hike and expedition
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Day 4
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Super Jeep excursion to Highlands + Golden Circle Tour
Gullfoss and Geysir visits
Winter wilderness camping & Northern Lights
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Day 5
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Super jeep tours to examine highland ecosystems
Capstone development
Visit Iceland’s Golden Circle
Visit hydroelectric plant and windpower experiment
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Day 6
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Biofuels class at base of famous Eyjafjallajokull volcano
Visit hydroelectric power plant at a local farm
Biofuel tour
Glacier Hike
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Day 7
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Finalizing Capstone Projects
Final presentation capstone projects at Reykjavik University
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Day 8
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Iceland Farewell and final packing + Airport departures
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Due September 30 - $2,100 Advance Payment + $25 application fee
Due November 1 - $2,100 Final Payment
All payments are non-refundable unless declined admission or program cancels for unforeseen reasons.
Click to learn about The GREEN Program Scholarship
Included in Program Fee:
- 7 nights lodging
- In-country transport to program sites
- All program visits and activities
- Meals
- On Call emergency assistance insurance
Not Included in Program Fee (approx $1000):
- Round trip airfare
- Spending money
- Passport
- Visa (if applicable) - not required for US citizens.
- Graduate students will be billed the normal per-credit rate for this course.
ICA Financial Aid: Students may request an Adjusted Cost of Attendance by submitting the ICA program fee and estimated out of pocket expenses listed above to Drexel Central (via askdrexel). Doing so could make students’ eligible for additional financial aid. Students may also be eligible to apply for Drexel's
ICA Scholarships.
Pell Grant recipients may apply for the federally funded
Gilman Scholarship, which has two application cycles with deadlines in October and March. Students do not need to be accepted into the ICA in order to apply to Gilman.
- Students will be required to attend a group pre-departure orientation.
- US Citizens are not required to obtain a visa for Iceland. Other nationalities should check the Iceland Embassy website for visa requirements.
