Academic Program

While in Belgium during the Fall or Spring Semester, you will take COB 300 (12 hours) and COB 301 (3 hours) for a total of 15 hours.  After completion of the semester, you will earn a concentration in European Business, regardless of your business major, and you will make consistent progress toward your degree.  Participating in the semester should not delay your graduation at all.

Concentration in European Business

All business students who pass COB 300 and COB 301 as part of the James Madison University Semester in Antwerp program will earn a Concentration in European Business, regardless of their major.

COB 300 will be taught in the context of the European marketplace, and COB 301 will give explicit instruction on the European Union, European business practices, and European culture.  In addition, as a part of the semester experience, students will visit businesses, governmental institutions, and cultural settings in various parts of Europe like Belgium, France, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Germany, and Czech Republic.

The totality of the experience will result in a deep understanding of European business practices.  Because of this, students will earn a concentration in European business.

Program Philosophy

The operating philosophy of the JMU in Antwerp program is experiential. You will learn about business theory or the European business environment in class, and then you will take field trips to actual businesses, governmental institutions, or cultural settings.

For example, you will study distribution, then you will visit the Port of Antwerp, the second largest port in Europe.  Similarly, you will learn about business ethics and operations, then visit the Antwerp Diamond Trading Center. Or you will learn about the institutions of the European Union in class, then visit these institutions in Brussels and listen to lectures by European diplomats and politicians.

International field trips are planned to France, Spain, Turkey, and Greece in the Fall semester and France, Spain, Germany, and Czech Republic in the Spring semester. Field trips within Belgium are planned for Brussels, Brugge, Ghent, Liege, and other cities. While in Antwerp, you will visit the Diamond District, the Port of Antwerp, G. Bastin Chocolate Atelier and numerous museums and historical sites.

UFSIA

While in Antwerp, you will attend classes at the historic University of Antwerp, and stay in apartments near the University of Antwerp. You will get to experience student life as the Europeans experience it. The University of Antwerp is home to students from across Europe. Primarily a business school, the University of Antwerp specializes in European Integration and the effects of economic and monetary union.

As an added bonus, you will have three three-day weekends for travel on your own. Since Belgium is centrally located within Europe, you are just a few hours' train ride away from many historic European destinations in countries like Holland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, etc. Students may want to take advantage of traveling across Europe with discounted student train tickets. One popular choice is the Eurail pass, which allows unlimited travel over specific days. Ryan Air, Easy Jet, and Virgin Express are discount airlines that offer cheap student fares.