The Evening News

For J-term: Global Business (BUSN 714)

Berlin, Germany
(January 3 and February 7, 2009, Minneapolis; January 9 – 18, 2009, Berlin)

Increasingly, businesses are challenged to operate on a global stage. Evolving business strategies reflect the emergence of economic regions as firms seek international product, raw material and labor markets; and define their competitors, customers, brands and organizations globally. Global business platforms affect government and international politics, call for global vision and global leadership skills, and leverage global brands and technology for growth.

This course explores the development of global business platforms at the example of German firms headquartered in Berlin and in comparison to US-based and international firms

The travel to Berlin is intended to introduce students to business practices in a foreign country; to expose participants to the social and cultural context of German business; to provide participants an opportunity to observe foreign businesses of varying scale, scope and mission in a quasi laboratory setting; to provide students with a basis for comparison in their study of global platform businesses operating from different regions of the world; to help participants identify the social, political, economic and psychological variables, which explain the behavior and organization of north American and European global platform businesses.

Applications will be accepted beginning May 5, 2008.
Academic advisor approval is required to apply
Counts toward fulfilling one elective course requirement
Instructor: Dr. Heino Beckmann at 651-962-4080 or h9beckmann@stthomas.edu
Student Life: Deborah Cornell at 651-962-4225 or dlcornell@stthomas.edu

Download Berlin Program & Course Description

Download Off-campus Application

Download Off-campus Policies and Procedures

Download Off-campus Medical Report

For J-term: Global Financial Services: Hong Kong (FINC 714)

Hong Kong, China
(January 10 - 18, 2009)

FINC 714 is an MBA seminar course that provides students an exposure to a range of advanced topics related to the financial services industries. Hong Kong is unqustionably the center of the emerging Asian market. The primary langauge is English.

While Japan has a developed economy which is recognized by inclusion in the Morgan-Stanley Europe, Australia, and Far East (EAFE) index of developed economies, Hong Kong over the past ten years -- since its establishment as a Spcial Administrative Region by the People's Republic of China -- has developed into the leading financial, banking, logistics, and transportation hub of the China Region, an emerging market. Further, since fundamenetal issues of market globalization and integration are present the Hong Kong course offers students a chance to see the effects of globalization and integration in a very personal way.

Applications will be accepted beginning May 5, 2008.
Prerequisites: FINC 600; academic advisor approval is required to apply
Counts toward: FINC 714; elective course
Instructor: Dr. Michael F. Sullivan, mfsullivan@stthomas.edu

Download Hong Kong Program & Course Description

Download Off-campus Application

Download Off-campus Policies and Procedures

Download Off-campus Medical Report

For J-term: THE GREAT BOOKS SEMINAR: GREAT THINKERS WHO SHAPED BUSINESS CIVILIZATION (BETH706)

http://www.stthomas.edu/business/about/ethics/greatbooks.html

This one week, three-credit course is based on the world-renowned Aspen Institute Executive Seminar. It uses selected writings of great classic and contemporary thinkers as a beginning point for an intensive, focused discussion with peers on the enduring ideas and ideals of world civilization, the problems and opportunities of today and the issues to be faced in the years ahead. In a sense, the readings function as case studies in leadership and leadership values.

The readings revolve around such universal human concerns as justice, rights, liberty, equality, power, leadership, democracy, and community. Discussion and debate are spirited as students get to know one another in a retreat-like environment.

Orientation and Closure
A one-hour orientation is held about six weeks prior to each seminar and a one-hour closure session is held about six weeks subsequent to each seminar.

For whom is this program designed?
The nature of the discussion and study topics requires that participants be at or near the completion of their MBA degree. Designed to serve as the culmination of the degree program, the Great Books Seminar will provide participants with unique insight and perspective that will last long after they receive their diplomas.

This seminar qualifies as a three-credit management concentration course for MBA students. It may qualify as an elective for other St. Thomas graduate business programs; students should first seek approval from their advisors.

The seminar is limited to 20 participants, with priority given on a first-come, first-served basis to current students. If space is available, the seminar will be open to alumni. We are able to offer alumni reduced tuition.

January 2009 Dates

January 4-9, 2009: Law and MBA
Moderators: Professors Ken Goodpaster and Charles Reid
Mandatory Orientation for January Session: November 20, 2008*, 4 - 5:30 p.m. Minneapolis Campus- Terrence Murphy Hall
*Orientation scheduled by appointment for those who register after November 20. Registration closed after December 12. Orientation is considered the first day of class, refund schedules on tuition start on the date of November 20th.
Closure meeting for January session: February 12, 2009 4-5:30 pm Minneapolis Campus

January 11-16: MBA
Moderators: TBA
Mandatory Orientation for January Session: November 20, 2008*, 4 - 5:30 p.m. Minneapolis Campus- Terrence Murphy Hall

*Orientation scheduled by appointment for those who register after November 20. Registration closed after December 12. Orientation is considered the first day of class, refund schedules on tuition start on the date of November 20th.
Closure meeting for January session: February 12, 2009 4-5:30 pm Minneapolis Campus

Seminar Cost:
Tuition (3 credits-MBA students) $ 2,247
Lodging & meals $ 975
Aspen books/materials, etc* $ 400
TOTAL $ 3622

*A $400 nonrefundable deposit will be incurred one week following the orientation session. You may deposit at the orientation session. Cancellation rates will be imposed on a rolling basis. Room and board contracts and royalty fees require this policy.

For more information, please call Jill Eifert at (651) 962-4211 or cobethics@stthomas.edu.

For J-term: MKTG714 – International Marketing

Managers around the world are looking at questions of when and how to conduct business outside of their home market. Is international growth an imperative for a firm or a costly diversion? How attractive is a market? Which market should a company approach first and how? What are the decisions your company’s overseas competitors are asking about entering your markets – and how will you respond? Building on cases, lectures, guest speakers and interactive activities we will explore these and related questions.

Instructor: Jonathan Seltzer
Mpls, Saturdays, Jan 3-31, 2009
8am – 5pm

For spring 2009: BLAW615 - Business, Law and Ethics in the European Union

http://www.cebcglobal.org/Services/StudyAbroad2009.htm

Application materials may be submitted after September 2008.

Experience the challenge of negotiating an international contract while exploring the dynamics of global business in the European Union. This course focuses on globalization and its impact on business with a particular emphasis on EU and U.S. business and legal perspectives, ethics and culture. The classroom component of the course begins in Minneapolis, Minnesota and ends in Trier, Germany. In Minneapolis, you will meet German business students via e-mail and begin the process of negotiating a contract.

You will then travel to the heart of the EU - Brussels, Belgium - where you will meet with the German students and learn through on-site interactive visits, cultural immersion, discussion and reflection. This adventure includes meetings with executives from multi-national companies, government officials and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and will address business, legal, business ethics and corporate social responsibility issues as well as economic, socioeconomic, political and cultural issues within the European Union and their impact on conducting business in a global economy. The course ends in Trier, Germany, where you will attend classes and finalize your contracts.

The University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business (UST-OCB) and the Center for Ethical Business Cultures (CEBC) jointly offer this 3-credit MBA course.

Three classroom sessions prior to your departure for Europe. (Minneapolis).
o Session 1: 3 hours (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM) February 14, 2009
o Session 2: 6 hours (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM/1:00 PM – 4:00 PM) March 14, 2009
o Session 3: 6 hours (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM/1:00 – 4:00 PM) April 18, 2009

May 25 – June 6, 2009 - Study in Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany.

For spring 2009: MKTG714 - Nonprofit Marketing

Thursdays 6 PM – 9 PM
Instructor: Christine M. Bennett, Ph.D., Benn3352@stthomas.edu

Course Description
This course will cover fundamental marketing theories and their application in the nonprofit sector. Key topics include understanding the relationship between marketing and the mission of the organization, positioning the organization, identifying marketing problems, recognizing legal and ethical issues, evaluating and improving the marketing strategies of current nonprofit organizations and designing and managing the marketing mix. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the marketing process and applying marketing principles to real organizational settings.

Objectives
- To describe the latest trends and issues in nonprofit marketing, relating to technology, ethics, and business and government partnerships.
- To gain experience working on marketing problems in nonprofit organizations.
- To demonstrate an understanding of the fundamentals of marketing and the distinctive applications to the nonprofit sector through preparation of a marketing plan for a non-profit organization.

For spring 2009: Aristotle Fund - FINC717

Application Deadline for 2008-2009 Academic Year: To be determined (probably March 2008)

This class of graduate finance students in the Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas manages an investment fund. The class was made possible by a generous gift from an anonymous donor to the University. The donor made a monetary gift to the University with the intention of this money being actively managed by graduate students. The students are Investment Managers for this designated piece of the University’s endowment fund (now called the Aristotle Fund).

This fund provides students with “real” money to manage and requires a serious commitment. The students selected for this course will inherit an investment portfolio from the current year's class on September 1, 2009. The student managers will be responsible for the performance of the fund from September 1, 2009 until May 31, 2010. Students registered for this course will be invited to observe the current year's class to prepare for ownership of the portfolio. The student managers as a group will invest the fund in whatever investments they choose as a result of research, visit with corporate management and the use of various investment-management services.

Before they are selected to join the investment team, students must first complete core courses in finance and investment theory. At a minimum, the student should have completed FINC 600 and have completed or be concurrently registered in FINC 713 in the fall of 2009. While the students will not take home any portfolio profits, they will gain strong credentials for their résumés and will have had the chance to work directly with leaders in the investment community.

If you are interested in participating in this fund, send your resume, a letter establishing your personal objectives in working with this fund, two letters of recommendation (one must be from a UST faculty member) and a copy of your transcript to the address below. The course is limited to twelve students and admission to the program is competitive. Historically, select students will be asked to attend a personal interview in April and those students selected for this class will be notified in early May. Please send your application materials to:

Attn: Dr. Mary S. Daugherty
The Aristotle Fund
University of St. Thomas
2115 Summit Ave., MCH 350
St. Paul, Minnesota 55105
Email – msdaugherty@stthomas.edu
651-962-5122

You are invited to attend a class if you are interested in applying. Please contact Dr. Mary Daugherty for dates/times to visit.

For spring 2009: MGMT733 - Funding the Health Care System

Gain an overall understanding of managed care organizations, how they function and their relationships with other providers. Topics include managed care definitions; attributes of managed care models; history of managed care; health plan perspective, including underwriting, rate setting, payment methodologies and new product design; contracting issues for providers; the economics of managed care; and the future of managed care.

This course will be taught using a web-enhanced pedagogy. Some class sessions will be conducted using web-based discussion media. Permission required. Contact Dr. Jack Militello at jfmilitello@stthomas.edu or 651-962-4146.

Instructor: Mark Fisher
Time: Wednesdays 6-9pm.
Location: Mpls campus

For spring 2009: FINC 714 –Wealth Management

Course Description: This course will focus on the key areas of institutional wealth management; financial and retirement planning, risk management, investing and investment advisory services, estate planning and tax planning, with a particular emphasis on the products and services offered by institutions and providers of financial products and services. Emphasis will be placed on the theory and practical application of these concepts and how they fit into the context of the broad financial services industry.

Course Objective: The intention of this course is to provide the student with a broad, fundamental understanding of the concepts, and issues of a broad, comprehensive personal wealth management program from the perspective of the institutional provider as well as from the perspective of the consumer of financial products and services.

Instructor: Samual Rouman
Mpls, Wed, 6-9pm

For spring 2009: BCOM 802 - Public Affairs for the Corporate Executive

Presents a broad view of corporate relations with politicians, government regulators, advocacy groups and the media. Explores issues such as building grass-roots support for public policy issues, management of public affairs crises, and use of public policy to enhance corporate image. Case study analysis and presentation by guest lecturers enhance classroom experience.
Instructor: Erich Mische
Mpls, Monday, 6-9pm