UC Center, London

The course provides a comprehensive examination of the processes of European integration and offers a critical analysis of EU policies in their broader historical, political, and economic contexts. This  analysis is undertaken considering the peculiar and often problematic relationship between Britain and European integration, which culminated in the country’s decision in June 2016 to leave the EU altogether. Given this momentous referendum result, which will shape the UK for decades to come, the course analyzes in explicit terms the costs and benefits of ‘Brexit’. The course is divided into four parts: Part I gives an insight into the main historical currents and key institutional mechanisms. Part II analyses the main policies, which continue to shape the integration processes of the EU including the Single Market (SEM), Cohesion, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), as well as Economic and Monetary Union (i.e. the Euro). In Part III the course focuses on the EU’s external policies which influence non-EU countries, as well as future member states, ranging from External Trade to enlargement and the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). The fourth part summarizes the effects of EU integration on the UK and discusses to what extent Brexit (the UK’s decision to leave the European Union) will be beneficial or detrimental to the country’s future.

This course compares the National Health Service in the United Kingdom and the health system in the United States of America. The course explores differences in the way health systems are funded, delivered, and conceptualized. The course draws commonalities between the National Health Service and the United States health systems and explores their differences. The course examines recent health policy developments and a variety of theoretical critiques.

This course contextualizes London as a vibrant world center of popular music innovation. The inter-cultural dialogue between Britain and America is explored to examine the history of popular musical forms. To understand the impact of genres such as Blues, Jazz and Rock ‘n’ Roll, concepts such as the Black Atlantic will emphasize music as a medium of cultural exchange, and the importance of investigating the wider political and social dimensions in which music is made. Post-World War II revolutions in popular music made London and the UK a creative hub in global music culture because of the settlement of diasporic peoples. The course will therefore explain the cultural frameworks for the emergence of Pop, Punk, Ska, Reggae and Hip Hop. An examination of contemporary London’s dynamic musical effervescence is also investigated. This is an interdisciplinary course examining the historical, sociological, aesthetic, technological, and commercial elements of contemporary (mainly North American and British) popular music. Therefore, the course deals specifically with the origins and development of USA and UK popular music, particularly in the post-1945 era, and focuses upon topics including the relationship between style, subculture, and music, in addition to the impact of new technologies on music production and marketing. Audio–visual resources and a field trip are combined with lectures and in-class discussions.

The Internship Workforce course provides students with an overview of working in the United Kingdom. The course looks at the changing organizational structures of work in Britain. It examines the social and economic changes that affect the workplace in the UK. Topics covered include: sociology of work, trade unions, oppression at work, generational changes at work, and the future of work. An internship while studying in London provides an opportunity to experience a “hands on” working situation and a different perspective on the workplace and working practices, while developing professional skills.

The Introduction to Global Entrepreneurship course answers every aspiring entrepreneur’s most pressing question: How do I turn my idea into a business? The course answers this question by taking a high level, international overview of the entrepreneurial path - from identifying an opportunity opening for business, running the business, and selling the business. This includes exploring the mind-set of relevant stakeholders, such as entrepreneurs, investors, board members, founders, employees, customers, and even friends and family, as well as organizations of all sizes in both the public and private sectors. Moreover, the course equips students with skills to plan, launch, and grow a business, all while making good decisions along the way.

This course introduces the works of William Shakespeare, both on the page and on the stage. The course studies at least three key primary texts – The Tempest, Measure for Measure, and Othello – and combines close reading with an introduction to some theoretical approaches and a strong sense of how the plays operate in contemporary culture. Special emphasis is placed on London, both as the city in which these plays first premiered and as the city it is today, and how that inflects and inspires modern stage productions.

In the 21st century, no one is exempt from Brand Management. Celebrities and consumer brands, politicians, and even nations are engaged in managing perceptions to persuade others in order to achieve their goals. How do we create, project, and then leverage brand identity? What are the techniques of brand management in our complex contemporary society? How does technology change our approach to brand management and understanding? This course provides students an overview of the history of brand management, as well as an overview on brand development, research, and management structures for sales, marketing, and advertising, and will explore techniques of persuasion. It examines how brands influence perceptions in order to retain power. It will review specifics of brand equity and brand identity, the techniques of storytelling, and marketing by association. The course considers the winners and losers of the branding game by exploring examples from business, politics, and celebrity.

The Digital Technology and Work course provides students with an overview of how digital technology is reshaping work and organizations, with a focus on the United Kingdom. The course looks at the role of technology at work over time, drawing out case studies on digital technologies in relation to work, entrepreneurship, and the economy. In addition to this, it examines the broader social and economic changes that technology is creating. Topics covered include: the role of technology at work over time, digitalization and its impacts, artificial intelligence at work, the platform and the gig economy, social media and influencing, and the future of work. The course will develop students’ understanding of technology and work, providing a range of examples and case studies that can be used in other contexts. Throughout the course, the students are introduced to different critical approaches to understanding digital technology that can be applied elsewhere.

The course develops a systematic understanding of the key areas of the world economy – trade, investment, and finance – and how they impact on each other. Theory is applied to international economic events, issues, and trends. As the international economic environment is dynamic in nature and is impacted by real world developments in business, politics, and finance, the course coverage is updated periodically to include current real world evidence as well as recent academic and empirical findings.  As such, during the semester topics to be analyzed include Brexit (Britain’s exit from the European Union), the political economy of immigration, and the return of resource nationalism.

The course provides an overview of working in the United Kingdom and examines the changing organizational structures of work in Britain. It examines the social and economic changes that affect the workplace in the UK. Topics covered include the sociology of work; trade unions; oppression at work; generational changes at work.