BUS 391 - Corporate Social Responsibility Practicum

Credits: 4
Planned Offering: Spring, 2014

Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing and any one of the following: ACCT 320, BUS 211, BUS 221, ECON 210. Students with relevant practical experience (e.g., CSR or not-for-profit management internships) are also encouraged to apply even if lacking the perquisite courses noted. BUS 304, Modern Professional Communications, is recommended. The course provides students an opportunity to explore corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability challenges from within an organization. The course is taught in Denmark, regarded as one of the most progressive economies in terms of CSR implementation. Initial reading, discussion, and research in the winter term prepare students to be matched with a Danish organization grappling with a CSR issue. Students work in small groups (four students) in a consultative capacity with a sponsoring Danish organization’s decision makers. Students also participate in larger group discussions of issues confronted during the practicum and reflect on their experiences in both a personal journal and group blog. Sponsoring organizations include both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, and the nature of the issues varies from sponsor to sponsor. Straughan, Oliver.