BUS 191 - FY Seminar: Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability

Christiansborg Palace
4 credits
Two weeks on campus, two weeks in Denmark
Prof. Rob Straughan and Prof. Elizabeth Oliver

Do corporations have an obligation to manage their social impact in addition to maximizing sales, profits and stock price? What happens when these objectives are in conflict with each other? BUS 191 seeks to explore the relative roles of businesses, not-for-profits, government and individual citizens in managing social and environmental impact. Significant time is spent exploring case studies and interacting with senior management of various companies. Recent examples include Carlsberg, Dr. Pepper-Snapple Group, Dunkin' Brands, Norden, Novo Nordisk, Pandora, Proctor & Gamble, Starbucks and Unilever. The class culminates with two weeks in Copenhagen visiting numerous Danish companies and developing a group research project on a topic chosen by the students. The time abroad also includes cultural excursions to places such as Frederiksborg Castle and Tivoli, dinners with Danish families, a harbor/canal tour, and a closing dinner featuring New Nordic cuisine.

The course is a First-year Seminar—no prerequisites.

Program Fee (paid to W&L):  $2,900 This fee includes: lodging, program fees, room, a few meals, ground transportation for class activities, admission to cultural sites, access to classrooms/PC lab.

Estimated Additional Costs: Airfare ($1200 estimate), books, other meals ($500), passport, cell phone, passport, visa (if applicable) and spending money.

For further details, please contact Professor Elizabeth Oliver, olivere@wlu.edu or Dean Rob Straughan, straughanr@wlu.edu.