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Course Descriptions
This page includes information for class offerings, course schedule layouts, projected costs, and sign-up information.
Class Offerings
This summer, we will be offering two different classes - Business 383 and Business 398.
International Business 383:
BUS 383 demonstrates actual international business, the economics, finance, marketing, and management components of business pertinent to international business. Course work begins with introductory material on the USCA campus prior to leaving. Once in Europe the course becomes a living/learning experience. The focus of coursework in Europe is business visits to local and multinational businesses. We tour operations, meet with management, and revolve remaining classwork on the visits. Presentations by economic and political experts supplement the visitations with background important to understanding the circumstances and opportunities unique to the emerging economies of Central and Eastern Europe.
This course is a required core course for all business students. Prerequisite: BUS 350
Business 398: Topics in International Business:
BUS 398 focuses on the opportunities and challenges facing emerging business in an international setting. Political and cultural influences are integrated into coursework. Students will visit Slovak and Czech or Austria businesses and use the case-study method to analyze situations presented to them by local business leaders, government officials, and USCA faculty.
This course counts as an upper level business elective in the student's program of study. No Prerequisites.
Course Schedule Layout:
On the USCA campus:
April and May, prior to leaving:
Foundation and core material classes held at USCA. These classes cover some of the course content needed for completion of the course which are best covered in a more "traditional" on campus environment. Classes will be arranged once a week in April, and for several days immediately prior to departure in May. Courses also cover background of the countries visited: politics, history, economics, sociological factors, literature, theater, and culture. Hey we even see a couple of commercial movies about the area.
Mid-May through beginning of Summer Session I:
Classes focus completely around business visits to local and multinational companies, tour the operations, and meeting with company management. In addition to local companies we have visited Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Philips, Volkswagen, Siemens, Phillip Morris, Bohemia Crystal, and, of course, can't go to Prague without a tour of the local brewery. Assignments pursue topics covered on the business visits. Outside speakers make presentations to and interact with students. Previous year’s speakers included a representative of the Czech Ministry of Development, the Slovakian Secretary of Education, receptions with the mayor of Kosice (2nd largest city in Slovakia), the publisher of a Czech business expatriate guide, and a U.S. lawyer who founded her own [highly successful] law firm in Prague.
Projected Costs:
The cost includes all travel expenses (including airfare, tours, ground transportation), all accommodations while in Europe, and several meals. Tuition is extra. Each year the costs change. Our costs are held to a minimum to make the trip more affordable for our students. It's not cheap, but travel never is. In perspective, this one of the best deals going! Truly... And in terms of the educational and "life" value, this is a best deal of a lifetime. Certainly it is the experience of a lifetime.
Scholarships are available and possible fundraisers may be used to help to reduce costs as well.
Prague becomes more expensive every year (because more and more people are catching on to its' beauty, mystery, and excitement). But it's still generally inexpensive in comparison to US standards. And our village in Stara Lubovna is very inexpensive. Trip spending money generally goes a long way!
Signup Information:
Space is limited to the first twenty five (25) students who apply for this program. So act quickly!
You must get in touch with Dr. Sanela Porca or Dr. David Harrison to sign up for this Program. A non-refundable deposit of $350 is required to reserve your space. If you have not completed the prerequisites for the BUS 383 class, make sure to register it in time to have it completed before our trip.
There you go! We're looking forward to an excellent trip this summer. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to learn, enjoy, and live "European"!
For more information please contact:
Dr. Sanela
Porca, B & E 225; (803) 641-3232 or email her at Sanelap@usca.edu OR
Dr. David Harrison,
B & E 227; (803) 641-3376 or email him at Davidh@usca.edu
Come by and see us in our offices. We love to talk about the trips.
