London Liberal Arts Program (Summer)

Students enroll in one course from List A and one from List B:

List A

CAS AH 319: Arts and Media in Britain (4)

(Formerly CAS IP 406.) This course is designed as an introduction to the arts in Britain. The course should serve to widen specialist’s knowledge, and to provide non-specialists with an overview. The course should cover core elements on such subjects as funding, institutions, accessibility, and value of British Arts. Sierz. Syllabus

CAS EC 364: Economic Policy—A British Perspective (4)

(Prerequisite: CAS EC 101, or the equivalent.) The aim of the course is to develop in students the ability to apply microeconomic analysis to a range of economic problems and policies. On completion of the course, students should be able to integrate analytical and descriptive material to aid their understanding of the nature and causes of some key contemporary issues in modern advanced economies. In addition students will be familiar with the main microeconomic policies used within the UK and have some knowledge of relevant source material. The level of microeconomics in the course is intermediate and assumes students have completed an introductory one- or two-semester course in microeconomics. Syllabus

CAS PO 360: British Political Institutions (4)

(Also counts towards an International Relations (IR) major at BU. If you have any questions, please speak to your IR department advisor.) This course will introduce you to the main political institutions and actors in Britain. It will focus upon the historical and cultural context of British politics and detailed consideration will be given to competing political ideas and ideologies, divergent conceptual methods drawn from the social sciences and popular perceptions of British politics. The course aims to give you a fairly thorough knowledge of Britain, to prepare you for internships and to give you, hopefully, some enjoyment. Syllabus

CAS PO 534: Comparative British and American Constitutional Law: The British Legal System (4)

The aim of the course is to provide an introduction to British legal history, basic legal reasoning, and legal theory. It aims to describe the evolution of the Common Law of England, the legal system of England, and the legal profession of England, as well as to introduce you to the study of constitutions and constitutional systems of Government. The distinctions between law and politics, and between political science and the study of law, must be explored if we are to gain a useful understanding of our two important constitutional nations. The law and custom in early Britain, the impact of the Norman Conquest, the origins of the common law, and the English system of courts will be outlined. The development of the legal profession itself will also be examined. How this system came to be transplanted in America will be looked at as well as reviewing how the ‘English’ tradition changed direction in the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries. Syllabus

CAS PS 365: Psychology Applied to Social Issues (4)

Enhance students’ awareness of selected current social issues in Great Britain and the policies and strategies currently pursued by government to address them. Develop students’ critical appreciation of the contributions and limitations of psychological theory and research in understanding social issues and in informing potential intervention strategies to address them. Develop students’ repertoire of transferable skills in communication, presentation, and participation as a means of preparation for the demands likely to be made of them during their internship placements. Develop student study skills in presenting coherent and informed argument both verbally and in written work. Foster skills in self-organized and co-operative learning and develop ability for independent learning. Syllabus

CFA AR 514: Graphic Design in Britain (4)

Course focuses on the methods and procedures used in the practice of graphic design, and they will be studied in relation to the culture of England and the cultural diversity of London. (Laptop computer is mandatory.) Syllabus

COM CM 521: British and European Marketing Strategy (4)

A comprehensive overview of integrated marketing communications in the U.K. Focuses on advertising, sales promotion, public relations, and direct marketing. Using British and European case studies, students examine marketing strategy; brand identity; and market segmentation and product positioning within the framework of pricing, promotion, and placement relative to competition. Syllabus

COM JO 358: British Journalism, Culture, and Society (4)

This course aims to offer journalism students an introduction to the British information milieu they will encounter in their internships. The course will be an intensive study of British media in the context of the political, cultural, and social life of the United Kingdom. Syllabus

SHA HF 365: British Tourism: Knowing Britain Inside and Out (4)

(Not offered Summer 2011.) You can’t market a country as you would a breakfast cereal, nor can you work successfully in a country if you don’t understand what makes it tick. A country is unique, its peoples are unique, its attractions are unique. Britain is no exception. To be successful in tourism related businesses in Britain requires specialist marketing strategies and skills together with an extensive knowledge of the country and its culture. How does the provision of tourist related services differ in Britain? Why should I hold my annual conference in Britain rather than France, Bermuda, or Cancun? And can Britain deliver what my clients are looking for? We will examine all aspects of the British tourist industry through lectures, field trips, class discussions, and video presentations. You will acquire a basic core knowledge of Britain, be comfortable with British culture, and understand what Britain can deliver to your clients in both a leisure and business context. Charlton. Syllabus

SMG IM 345: International Management Environment (4)

(Prerequisites: CAS EC 101 and CAS EC 102, or the equivalent.) This course has been designed to appeal to students who wish to gain an international perspective on the environment faced by business organisations. In today’s business environment, with the pressures of an evolving global economy, managers must take into account the many ways in which differences are apparent when compared with the domestic scene. Managers must adapt their approaches to take account of the strong international competition, which is increasingly apparent and which is critical to successful business performance. They also need to be informed as to how firm strategies may be developed. It is a must for business students to learn the international dimensions of business activities in order to be successful in today’s business world. McLarty. Syllabus

List B

CAS AH 381: London Architecture and Urbanism (4)

Explores the evolution of urban form in London from the walled town of the Middle Ages to the modern city, discussing town planning and architecture in relation to urban, economic, and cultural history, and to the other arts. Syllabus

CAS EC 346: European Capital Markets (4)

Familiarizes students with the structure of the European financial system, covering the principal financial markets and institutions, and the analytical concepts and tools that help explain the processes of price formation and the behavior of participants in these markets. The major financial markets the course covers are spot and foreign exchange dealings, the Eurocurrency and Eurobond markets, futures and options, and swaps and options. Essential background theory is combined with an emphasis on actual events and activities of the major players. Syllabus

CAS EN 310: Introduction to Modern British and Irish Literature (4)

This course aims to provide the student with an appreciation of texts selected from a variety of representative and influential modern authors. Students will be provided with requisite contextual information regarding biographical, social, and political backgrounds to assist them with the development of the skills and vocabulary that are needed to foster competent and persuasive literary interpretation. Syllabus

CAS IP 401 International Brand Management (4)

This course aims to build upon core marketing studies undertaken to-date on branding, and to extend these into an in-depth exploration of the role of the brand manager and the role of brands in consumers’ lives. Specifically it aims to develop the following: an understanding of the role of the brand from the perspective of the organization, society and that of the consumer; the necessary skills to enable assessment of brand opportunities, develop appropriate responses, manage the implementation of branding decisions, and measure the effectiveness of these decisions; the ability to select from and apply appropriate academic models to support analysis and insight; and the ability to conduct and present work in a manner befitting a professional brand manager. Syllabus

CAS IR 392: Britain and the European Question:  The Confluence of History and Politics (4)

This course provides an overview of Britain’s relations with Europe between 1945 and 1992 in the context of on-going debates concerning national sovereignty and national modernization, losing an empire and maintaining a world role, and the “special relationship” with the United States. Syllabus

CAS SO 321: Contemporary Issues in British Welfare (4)

The course gives the student an overview of the history and structure of the British welfare state, including models of welfare development. The course will exam a number of key issues: health policy and the National Health Service; the personal social services; disability issues; poverty; inequality and the growth of “social exclusion”; old age, pensions, aging and the welfare state; the feminist critique of welfare states; and the question of whether welfare states have undermined the intact, nuclear family. It encourages students to adopt an analytical and critical focus upon issues which are currently controversial, and which raise important political, social, moral, and philosophical dilemmas. Syllabus

COM FT 318: British Television Studies (4)

Examines the content and form of British television, contrasting it with American television programming. Special emphasis on the study of genres and themes. Genres include fictional presentations, actuality, entertainment magazines, and variety shows, as well as children’s television and sport. Themes include gender, cultural diversity, and social class. Syllabus

COM JO 416: The Foreign Correspondent: International Reporting (4)

Syllabus

CAS AR 514: Graphic Design in Britain (4)

Course focuses on the methods and procedures used in the practice of graphic design, and they will be studied in relation to the culture of England and the cultural diversity of London. (Laptop computer is mandatory.) Syllabus

An elective from List B above.

COM CM 471: Internship in Advertising/PR (4) (Optional)

Jeff Conradi, Program Manager

Overseas Staff

• Robert Cumming, Chair of the Executive Board
• Alison Campbell, Director of London Programs
• Michael Peplar, PhD, Director of Studies
• Sarah Farrow, Assistant Director, Academic Affairs
• Michael Oliver, Associate Director, Student Life

Faculty

Courses are taught by British faculty and visiting Boston University faculty members who are experts in their fields. For a complete listing, please refer to the London-maintained website.