Overview
Program dates: July 6, 2009 - August 14, 2009
The program is scheduled over six weeks in summer with courses on Monday through Thursday each week and opportunities to explore Europe both independently and through group field trips.
The Organizers
Oberlin College works with the Center for European Studies at the University of Maastricht. Maastricht, a city of 150,000 inhabitants, is located in the dynamic Limburg region of the Netherlands just north of the French-speaking city of Liege, Belgium and just west of the German city of Aachen. At the center of the Cologne-Brussels-Luxembourg triangle, the location offers opportunities to visit international institutions such as the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Court of the Justice, the International Criminal Court and NATO along with a wide variety of cultural institutions and business operations.
The Courses
Each three week session, you will elect to take one course. Each course will be credited, by Oberlin College, as 3 social science credits.
ECON 901 - Economics of European Integration
First session. This course provides a deeper understanding of the vicissitudes of European co-operation and integration. Topics to be dealt with include the history of the EU, the economic theory of custom unions and common markets, the international market program, economic and monetary union in the EU, its agricultural policy and external economic relations.
ECON 902 - International Management
First session. This course will focus on the (strategic) management of international firms and organizations acting in foreign markets. It will consider the development of strategies regarding products and markets, competitive behavior which affects internationalization and its evolution, and the dynamics of competition in international markets. It will also study the requirements resulting from the globalization of industries and markets, national responsiveness and possible strategic reactions.
ECON 903 - Intercultural Communication
Second session. This course is designed to make students aware of how culture can affect communication. Students will move towards an analysis and understanding of what happens in intercultural encounters. The emphasis will be on avoiding attribution mistakes and on evolving towards a more accurate interpretation of the others' intentions when communicating. This course will include a group fieldtrip to a multicultural organization.
ECON 904 - European Culture: History and Art
Second session. This course will address the history of the idea of Europe. It will address European cultural and linguistic diversity and its political consequences. The theory and practice of democracy in Europe will be discussed as will the relationship between Europe and the Third World. This course will include a group fieldtrip to Antwerp.
ECON 905 - Law and Politics: Current Topics in the European Union
Second session. The course will give an introduction to the process of the European integration. The course will start with the history of the EU and proceed through an introduction into the law of the European Commission and the EU. Topics covered will include the internal market, the four freedoms, the EMU, and the enlargement of the EU. Finally, the links between the EU and its member states will be examined. This course will include a group fieldtrip to Brussels.
The Facilities
Courses are conducted on the campus of the University of Maastricht. Housed in historical buildings, classroom and library facilities are modern and sophisticated. Housing is provided near campus in the well-appointed International Student Dormitory. Students are responsible for their own meals but have access to modern kitchens in the dormitory along with laundry rooms, internet connections and recreational facilities. The Dormitory is part of a medical complex and provides convenient access to medical care - should it be needed -- from English-speaking practitioners. Public transportation within Maastricht, the Netherlands and Europe is efficient and relatively inexpensive. Students can easily arrange to rent or purchase a bicycle for their stay if they choose to try an important part of the Dutch lifestyle.
Costs
Tuition: $3,600 for 6 credit hours. The fee covers field trips, course materials - including all books, use of the university library and computer facilities.
Housing: Students will be housed in either single-occupancy rooms (with shared kitchen) or double-occupancy rooms (with built-in kitchens). The total cost of $1,150 (single) or $975 (double) covers all six weeks and includes bedding and free use of the laundry room, wireless internet connections and recreational facilities (swimming pool plus tennis and basketball courts).
Travel: Students must arrange for their travel to and from Europe. Discounted (student) fares may be available through the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE). Detailed information on optional group transportation from the nearest airport (Brussels) will be communicated to accepted participants.
Deposit: A $750 nonrefundable deposit will be required two weeks after notification of acceptance in the program. The remainder of the program costs will be billed to student accounts before the end of the Spring Semester.
Specific requirements
Contact
Professor Barbara J. Craig
Economics Department
23 Rice Hall
Oberlin College
Oberlin, OH 44074
e-mail: barbara.craig@oberlin.edu
phone: (440) 775-8766
fax: (440) 775-6978
