Academic Program
While in Belgium during the Fall or Spring Semsester, 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 six different
countries: Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Germany, and England.
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. 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, Luxembourg, Germany, Holland,
and Italy. 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, and numerous museums and historical sites.
 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 two four-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 Switzerland,
Holland, France, 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
and Virgin Express
are discount airlines that offer cheap student fares.
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