Undergraduate Global Studies Courses 2011-12

BMGT 398K - London: Business of British Design and Culture

Term January
Tentaive Program Dates First scheduled activity in London is Tuesday, January 3rd
Last scheduled activity in London is Thursday, January 19th
Destination(s) London, U.K.
Professor Mary Harms
Anticipated program fee $3090 (this program is abroad longer than some others)
Application To apply, please click here

This interdisciplinary course will provide students with an essential global focus on the world of design, innovation and marketing and their economic symbiotic interrelationship. Since the Industrial Revolution, London has been an important leader in contemporary design and marketing, and remains so today. Among the over 700 creative companies operating in the city are a multitude of world-renown full-service design and marketing firms with global reach, such as Pentagram, Saatchi & Saatchi, and Arnold Worldwide. In addition, London is home to an extraordinary array of relevant museums and galleries, including the Victoria and Albert Museum—the best and oldest museum dedicated to design and the decorative arts—as well as the highly influential Design Council, and its Design Museum.

Participants in this course will gain:

  1. An increased understanding of how the global business environment affects design, innovation and marketing, and vice versa.
  2. An increased awareness of the influence of culture and history on design.
  3. A broader world-wide perspective of design and marketing in an holistic experiential way.
  4. An introduction to design and marketing leaders, opening potential internationally-oriented career paths and employment contacts.

The course will feature daily site visits and instructor-led discussions along with presentations by the practitioners at a variety of design and marketing firms, museums, research and architectural firms and organizations dedicated to the merger of design and marketing as related to business strategy and global economics. Students will live in flats in central London.

The global immersion experiences are three-credit courses and typically meet degree requirements (advanced studies requirement of the University, BMGT major requirements, electives, etc,). Some courses may be eligible to fulfill major-specific requirements (confirm with your Smith School academic advisor). Students are expected to attend pre-departure meetings and complete the required readings prior to departure. The course has a comprehensive set of readings required of all participants regardless of course registration. Additional readings are assigned based on type of course registration. Mandatory pre-departure meetings will be scheduled.

The Winter 2012 program fee is $3090.

Included: UMD Tuition (same for every student), $250 Education Abroad fee, lodging and travel within the country.

Not included: personal expenses, meals, trip insurance and international airfare.

Education Abroad will suggest a group flight itinerary that each student is responsible for purchasing independently. Although flight costs are not guaranteed and will vary, we will make every effort to keep airfare to a minimum. Students are advised to purchase refundable tickets and travel insurance to counter any inconvenience caused by a change in the program's itinerary. Once admitted, you should expect to purchase the flight for the program a few weeks later, usually in mid-October.

Payment information

The program fee is divided into four separate charges over the course of the fall semester:

  1. A non-refundable $50 application fee is payable online at the time of application via MyEA.
  2. Upon admission, a $250 non-refundable deposit is paid online via MyEA. Applicants: if admitted to the program, you are responsible for paying this deposit, which is non-refundable under any circumstances.
  3. UMD $250 Education Abroad Fee charged to the student's UMD account.
  4. The remaining balance will be charged simultaneously to the student's UMD account upon registration for the course.

All four charges add up to the published program fee.