Japan Infrastructure and Global Leadership

Join us for an unforgettable experience exploring both ancient traditions and cutting-edge innovations in one of the most resilient and technologically advanced nations in the world. This study abroad experience begins during Winter semester with a special section of CCE 102—Sustainable Infrastructure, along with a 1-credit Japan Study Abroad Prep course. These courses will prepare students with foundational knowledge of global infrastructure systems, Japanese engineering practices, travel logistics, and cultural awareness. Immediately following winter semester, we will spend three weeks during spring term traveling throughout Japan to visit major civil and construction engineering sites in cities such as Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, Tokyo, Sendai, and Fukushima.

Site visits will include the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge (the world’s longest suspension bridge), the G-Cans underground flood control facility, the Tokyo Skytree, advanced recycling and energy facilities, and innovative urban developments such as Odaiba and Minato Mirai. We will also explore the country’s leadership in disaster recovery and resilience through visits to earthquake and tsunami memorials in Kobe and Sendai, and a full-day guided tour of the Fukushima region, where students will learn firsthand about post-disaster reconstruction and long-term infrastructure challenges. Students will be organized into teams to study the technical, cultural, and societal aspects of each site, examining how Japanese engineers address issues such as seismic risk, population density, aging infrastructure, and sustainability.

The program covers all major disciplines within civil and construction engineering: structural, transportation, geotechnical, water resources, environmental, and construction and facilities management. This program includes credit for CCE 102 (Sustainable Infrastructure) and is open to Civil Engineering and Construction and Facilities Management majors only.

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