Huntsman Program First-Year Seminar in International Studies and Business

Catalog description

This is a course for first-year students in their first semester. Will be required for, and limited to, incoming students in the Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business, which is a coordinated dual-degree program jointly administered by the College of Arts and Sciences and the Wharton School. The course is being offered for the first time in Fall 2020 and will be co-taught by the Huntsman Faculty Directors, Professor Rudra Sil (Department of Political Science, School of Arts & Sciences) and Professor Harbir Singh (Management Department, Wharton School). The course offers a shared understanding of some fundamental concepts, theoretical frameworks, and long-term historical trends that relate to both the study of business on a global scale and the social scientific analysis of contemporary issues. The first section (module) of the course, to be led by Professor Sil, will provide a broad overview of the evolution of global political economy across diverse historical eras, from the Industrial Revolution to the challenges of economic governance in the post-World War II era to the emergence of (and questioning of) the "Washington Consensus" in the post-Cold War era. Throughout, students will learn about varied developmental pressures and shifting international environments within which the relationships between markets and governments have been organized. The second section (module), to be led by Professor Singh, will delve into the complex challenges and opportunities faced by firms and businesses operating on a global scale. With the aid of case studies, this section will address approaches to decisions and processes that affect the rise and fall of comparative advantage, while paying attention to evolving organizational structures, business strategies, the emergence of inter-firm networks and large business organizations, including multi-national…