Europe Term - Business (Fall 2012)

Courses | Locations | Accommodations | Program Dates | Cost | Next Steps/Contact

Highlights

• International Business focus
• Interaction with Christians from various backgrounds and nationalities
• Extensive travel throughout Central and Western Europe

Program Description

Europe Term – Business is an academic program of residential study and travel in Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Great Britain, and France. The program emphasizes an integration of serious academic study and interaction with business students and business and political organizations throughout the European Union. Students spend significant periods of time at several study bases: Goethe Institute (four sites in Germany), Schloss Heroldeck (Millstatt, Austria), and Lycee Notre Dame de la Paix (Lorient, France).  There will be one week of free travel in mid-October.  The program is sponsored by the Department of Business and Economics and is open to students of all majors.   

Courses

(15 credits total)

BUS324 Consumer Behavior (3 credits)
GES101,102Z Intercultural Engagement (1 credit)
BUS371G International Business (4 credits)
COM310K Communication, Technology and Society (3 credits)
GERxxx German Language and Culture (4 credits)

Prerequisites for acceptance: one Business Course (preferably Principles of Marketing), and a GPA of 2.5.

Locations

• Goethe Institute (Göttingen, Mannheim, Bremen, Freiburg): Subgroups move to one of four locations in Germany for four weeks of classic intensive German and culture studies.  Tom Johnson commutes between the sites.
• Schloss Heroldeck, Millstatt, Austria: This chateau-style castle complex overlooks the beautiful Millstättersee near the town of Millstatt, Austria. Students share meals, activities, lodging, and chapel facilities at the complex, while studying Communication, Technology and Society with Dr. Peggy Kendall. 
• Lycée Notre Dame de la Paix, Lorient (Brittany) France.  Students will attend classes and events in a collaboration between post-bac students at one of France’s highest ranked private institutions. In addition, there will be field trips to some key business sites in Brittany. Home stays with French families will be arranged by the hosts.

Semester Calendar

Students begin the term during the last week of August in Germany, attending courses at the Goethe Institute in one of four different locations in Germany.  The whole group will reassemble in late September at Schloss Heroldeck, living and studying in the chateau-style castle and study center.  After a week of free travel, students will visit key business and cultural sites in Paris, London, Edinburgh, Prague, and Vienna.  A highlight of this part of the course will be a home-stay with a French family in Lorient, France.  The French students who will host the Bethel group in Lorient will come to Bethel University for two weeks in the spring of 2013 to be hosted by the Europe Term students and the Department of Business and Economics.  Students will complete their studies around December 7th.

Accommodations & Meals

Lodging varies based on the location, ranging from dormitories at the Goethe Institute to a castle in Austria; hotels in Great Britain and the Czech Republic; homes in France and hostels in Germany.  Meals vary as well, from informal dining centers to occasional formal banquets.  Students will be exposed to a broad range of international cuisines.

Cost

Students pay the equivalent of Bethel tuition, room (junior level), and full board, plus an additional program fee estimated at 10-15% of tuition/room/board.  Program fee covers tuition, basic room, twenty weekly meals, round trip airfare to Europe, program study travel within Europe, fees for required study excursions and required site visits, costs for guest lectures, study tours and a portion of the expenses during free travel.  Costs not covered include passport, immunizations, books and supplies, beverages, snack money, spending money, laundry money, independent excursions or sight seeing, and all non-study related travel including weekends.

Requirements

• Minimum sophomore standing
• Prerequisite of one business course, preferably Principles of Marketing.
• Minimum 2.5 GPA
• See application for additional policies

Next Steps

• Talk with your academic advisor – off-campus study should complement your field of study.
• Ask questions – feel free to contact Off-Campus Programs/International Studies (x2372) for any additional information, or contact the Business Department: Professor Tom Johnson, AC 227, x6423, tl-johnson@bethel.edu
• Obtain an application from CC320A.

Important Dates

August 29 – December 7, roughly a week earlier than the dates for Bethel’s fall semester.

Applications include a $50 nonrefundable application fee.  A $250 confirmation deposit will be required two weeks after acceptance to hold the spot.

Nov 2	Application deadline
Nov 22	Students notified of acceptance
Apr 15	Mandatory Study Abroad Orientation
May	Pre-departure Meetings
August	Final program payment due with Fall 2012 bill
Aug 29	Tentative departure date
Dec 7	Tentative return date