Course Name

Course Name: Economics Study Abroad
Course Prefix: Econ
Course Number: 4850
Submitted by (Name & E-Mail): Cliff Nowell, cnowell@weber.edu

Current Date: 11/2/2011
College: Business & Economics
Department: Economics
From Term: Spring 2012

Substantive

new	Current Course Subject N/A Current Course Number

New/Revised Course Information:

Course Title: Economics Study Abroad

Abbreviated Course Title:

Course Type:

LEC

Credit Hours: or if variable hours: 1 3

Contact Hours: Lecture 3 Lab Other

Repeat Information: Limit 1 Max Hrs 6

Grading Mode: standard

This course is/will be:

a required course in a major program
a required course in a minor program
a required course in a 1- or 2- year program
elective

Prerequisites/Co-requisites:

Econ 2899 and BSAD 2899

Course description (exactly as it will appear in the catalog, including prerequisites):

This course is designed for students who will study economics at one of the international partner universities of the Goddard School of Business and Economics as part of an extended study abroad visit. Students will explore the international economic institutions, business culture, and applications of economic theory to countries outside of the US. Students will study international economics as offered through a partner university (or other university with department chair approval). Prerequisite: Econ 2899 and BSAD 2899.

Justification for the new course or for changes to an existing course. (Note: Justification should emphasize academic rationale for the change or new course. This is particularly important for courses requesting upper-division status.)

Study abroad provides students with a unique opportunity for high impact, high intensity learning in a setting that cannot be simulated in the classroom. One simply cannot understand economics without understanding the global economy. Study abroad provides an opportunity for students to experience globalization in many aspects. The quote below from the Institute for the International Education of Students best justifies study abroad in economics:

"At its best, study abroad: Enriches and diversifies undergraduate education by offering courses, programs, and academic learning of the sort not available on the home campus; provides U.S. students with a global outlook that emphasizes the ties among nations and cultures, the universality of human values, and the necessity of working together; enhances career preparation by teaching cross-cultural and workplace skills of value to today's employers; and deepens intellectual and personal maturity, fosters independent thinking, and builds self-confidence."
~ Dr. William Hoffa, International Education Consultant

ECON 4850 is designed to help the Goddard School of Business and Economics achieve the Learning Outcome: Global Viewpoints with the learning objectives A. Understand norms and protocol that differentiate business practices among countries and B. Demonstrate a moderate level of global competency. ECON 4850 is similar to ECON 3150 Business Studies Abroad - International Finance in that it focuses on economic course content taught at a university abraod. However, ECON 4850 is more general than ECON 3150. ECON 4850 is intended to give credit to students who take economics content courses at any of the GSBE partner universities. ECON 3150 only applies to International Finance taught at Fachhochschule Hof, Germany.

The attached syllabus provides an example of an economics course that students might take at a partner university. The sample syllabus covers an International Trade course at Blaise Pascal University in Vichy, France. The instructor at the partner university will determine course content including readings and course requirements. Based on those materials, a determination will be made whether this course can substitute for a specific WSU course. In the case of the sample syllabus, in conjunction with material provided by Blaise Pascal University, the course would substitute for ECON 3110 International Trade.

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INFORMATION PAGE
for substantive proposals only

1. Did this course receive unanimous approval within the Department?

true

If not, what are the major concerns raised by the opponents?

2. If this is a new course proposal, could you achieve the desired results by revising an existing course within your department or by requiring an existing course in another department?

Revising ECON 3150 could achieve the same goal. However, all of the GSBE departments are introducing a similar course with a common number 4850. To better signal the nature of the course within the context of the GSBE and the college's learning outcomes, the department decided to change the course number (this seems to preclude a mere revision).

3. How will the proposed course differ from similar offerings by other departments? Comment on any subject overlap between this course and topics generally taught by other departments, even if no similar courses are currently offered by the other departments. Explain any effects that this proposal will have on program requirements or enrollments in other department. Please forward letters (email communication is sufficient) from all departments that you have identified above stating their support or opposition to the proposed course.

If students were to take courses in other subjects tuaght within the GSBE, they coudl enroll in appropriate study abroad courses. Other departments will offer similar courses that cover marketing, manangement or accounting subject matter taught at GSBE partner unviersitites abraod. All of these courses will carry the common number 4850.

4. Is this course required for certification/accreditation of a program?

If so, a statement to that effect should appear in the justification and supporting documents should accompany this form.

5. For course proposals, e-mail a syllabus to Faculty Senate which should be sufficiently detailed that the committees can determine that the course is at the appropriate level and matches the description. There should be an indication of the amount and type of outside activity required in the course (projects, research papers, homework, etc.).

Econ 4850
Economics Study Abroad-International Trade

Instructor: Cliff Nowell
Office: WB 201
Phone: 626-6488
E-mail: cnowell@weber.edu

Course Description:

This course will be conducted in Vichy France with our partner institution, Blaise Pascal University. All instruction will be in English. Students will attend class during the Fall semester (September 3-December 14). The focus of this class will be on the theoretical models of economics and international trade as applied to the European Union. This course will be a direct substitute for Econ 3110, International Trade.

Learning Outcomes: After completing the course, the students will be able to discuss the pros and cons of free trade vs. protectionism. Students will gain an understanding of trade policies, including tariﬀs, quotas, voluntary export restraints, and customs union. This course will help students gain an understanding of basic microeconomic and international trade principles through written, oral and graphical communication, the use of abstract logic and reasoning to analyze the behavior of individuals and ﬁrms, and the analysis of governmental policies and their eﬀect on market outcomes and social well-being.

Textbook: This text will be assigned during the first day of class by your instructor at Blaise Pascal University.

Meeting: This class will meet for 3 hours each week. The exact time schedule will be determined by our partner institution at Blaise Pascal University.

Grading: Grading will be by written examination given at the end of the semester at Blaise Pascal University. You Blaise Pascal University instructor will communicate this grade to your Weber State University instructor and you will be assigned this grade for the course.