BUS 281 Business in the Pacific Rim

The world has seen some dramatic economic and financial changes in the past decade.  One of the biggest stories has been the remarkable growth of the “emerging” economies, in particular the BRIC (Brazil,Russia, India, China) nations.  This short term study abroad course, comprising a 1 credit-hour STA course in the fall semester and a 4 credit-hour winter term course, considers the impact of growth in these economies on global growth and balance. The central focus of the two linked courses is to ensure students study (in the fall) and observe first-hand (in the winter) how business is conducted and to understand the influences of economic development and of evolving global business trends on various diverse Asian economies. Through their fall research and their winter travels, we also expect students to gain a better sense of differing business and economic systems, and of the challenges facing developing countries in balancing rapid urbanization and industrialization with their traditional rural economic base.

Students on this course gain immensely from a deeper understanding of the significant opportunities, and of the challenges, brought about from a flatter, better connected world – with significantly conflicting opinions on the future growth prospects in the developing world relative to developed economies.  Our course explores the impact of emerging markets using the perspective of influential works from the contemporary finance and economics literature.

Credits

4

Cross Listed Courses

This course (BUS 281) is also cross-listed as FIN 281

Prerequisite

Fall prep course for short-term study abroad course (the proposed GBL 181)

Course Types

Short-Term Study Abroad Course (Winter-Term)

Offered

• Winter

Notes

This winter-term course has been running with an experimental course number for over 15 years, and now needs a permanent course number with review.

1. Student Learning Outcome #1: Students will evaluate their self-learning from independently exploring these multiple countries and culture therein (linked to Global Engagement Student Goal #2: Develop self-awareness and self-confidence through exposure to and reflection on difference).
2. Student Learning Outcome #2: Students will demonstrate a deeper understanding of the significant opportunities, and of the challenges, brought about from a flatter, better connected global business and trade environment (linked to Global Engagement Student Goal #7: Analyze the interconnectedness of global systems).