FALL 2015

TSEM 102 - Towson Seminar: World Business Environment and the United States

Prof. Don Kopka, Ph.D.Assistant Professor, Management Dept.

Section 001: Monday-Wednesday, 2:00 to 3:15 pm LA 3120

Course web page: http://pages.towson.edu/kopka/towson_seminar.htm

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Contact InformationProfessor Kopka

Management Dept.

Office: ST 114B

Office Hours: Monday – Wednesday - Friday,

11:00 am to 12:00 pm

email: dkopka@towson.edu

Office phone: 410-704-3234

Cell phone: 410-497-4424

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What is this course about?Considers the World Business Environment and the United States in order to develop students’:

• Understanding of challenges for Americans and American businesses in the World Business Environment

• Critical thinking capabilities• Oral and written communications

capabilities• Appreciation for diverse viewpoints,

values, and cultures• Research capabilities

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To start, a couple of quizzes

Daily show – “Spot the Africa”http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/myb4mb/spot-the-africa

World Awareness Quiz

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What does Professor Kopka do?

Eats Crickets

Drinks Beer

Teaches in Towson, Vietnam, and Panama

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BeginningsSTUDENT INFORMATION SHEET

– What are you interested in learning about the world business environment and the United States?

– What experience do you have writing research papers? (Describe on back of information sheet)

– You MUST have and use a towson.edu email account for this course

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Textbooks

Zakaria, Fareed, The Post-American World, Release 2.0, New York: W. W. Norton, 2011.

Articles from handbook for TSEM 102 Readings, Instructor: Dr. Donald Kopka

Kopka’s Course Web Pagehttp://pages.towson.edu/kopka/towson_seminar.htm

• Go to Kopka’s course web page indicated above for “TSEM –World Business Environment and the United States,” to download, print, read syllabus and course schedule; available by Sunday afternoon, August 30, 2015

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• Syllabus and schedule discussed on Monday August 31, 2015

READINGS• For Monday, August 31, 2015

– Articles in reading handbook:

• “Idea and Value Exchange Worldwide: American Culture in the World,” Margaret J. King and Jamie O’Boyle, Journal of American & Comparative Cultures, March 1, 2002, pp. 1-8.

• “The American Century,” Henry Luce, Life Magazine, 17 February 1941, retrieved January 25, 2015 http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article6139.htm

• “The Myth of American Exceptionalism,” Stephen M. Walt, Foreign Policy, October 11, 2011.

• Be prepared to answer any of the following quiz questions:

1. Explain each of the four cultures.

2. What are components of American culture?

3. What did Henry Luce mean by “The American Century?”

4. What is the meaning of American Exceptionalism?

5. What are the Myths of American Exceptionalism?9