Travel-London

London 2012: Management, Marketing and the Cultural Olympics

July 28-August 7, 2012

BUS 399 (3 undergraduate credits)
MBA 612 or MBA 699 (3 graduate credits)

If you have ever dreamed of attending the Olympics, this summer course is your chance to not only fulfill that dream but also gain an inside perspective on the business side of the Olympics. The Olympic Games are considered to be one of the most complex sporting events in the world and as such provide opportunities to assess how management and marketing strategies are applied in a unique environment. Experiencing the event from a sports and cultural perspective and meeting a variety of industry professionals will serve to broaden your perspective on the business aspects of the sport industry. The unique multi-cultural environment that the Olympics brings will also provide a chance to explore the cultural impact of international sports and the Olympic movement.

The itinerary provides the opportunity to attend official Olympic events as well as meet with industry professionals who will share their expertise on a variety of related topics. In addition, you willl have time to experience the cultural aspects of the Olympics which will provide a broader view of the international impact of this event. We will also tour famous London sites such as the Tower of London, London Eye, and Windsor Castle. We will spend 10 nights in London and stay at the centrally located Celtic Hotel near Russell Square.

We anticipate high demand for this course and encourage you to plan early for this course, both financially and academically.

Faculty

Jo Williams, D.PE, Springfield College M.Ed, Springfield College, B.Ed, West London Institute of Higher Education (Brunel University). Professor Williams teaches sport management courses within the Business Administration degree. Her current research focuses on sport marketing and sponsorship. She is also involved in additional projects addressing sport management curricula innovations and assessment, and the development of discipline specific accreditation for sport management programs. She has published in a number of journals and conference proceedings. Dr Williams is a member of the North American Society for Sport Management and the Sport Marketing Association. Prior to joining the USM faculty in 2007, Dr. Williams served as a faculty member and administrator at Nichols College. She also spent several years working in the sport industry and was the tournament director of the McCalls LPGA Classic at Stratton Mountain, VT.

Heidi Parker, Ph.D. The Ohio State University, M.A.Ed. Western Carolina University, B.S. University of North Carolina Pembroke. Dr. Parker is a faculty member in the sport management program, housed within the University of Southern Maine School of Business. Her research centers on sport consumer behavior specifically focusing on factors that influence fan attitudes and perceptions. She has published in a variety of journals and presented her research at a number of academic conferences. Dr. Parker is a member of the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) and is the Vice President of Inclusion and Social Justice for the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport (NAGWS). She has taught a number of courses within her discipline including Sport Law, Sport Finance, Sport Consumer Behavior, Sport Research Methods, and Sport Management. Prior to coming to USM, Dr. Parker was a faculty member at Syracuse University.

Application

The application deadline for the London Olympics program was October 31, 2011. This program is full and has a waiting list. Please contact the Office of International Programs if you would like to be considered for a spot on the waiting list: international@usm.maine.edu.

Tuition and Fees

The program fee is $2985 plus the cost of tuition and fees. The program fee includes accommodation, airfare, scheduled in-country travel and local transportation, tickets to approximately three Olympic events, field trips, some meals, and comprehensive insurance through iNext.

Not included in the program fee is the cost of tuition, fees, books, academic supplies, food, or other personal expenses. Three credits of tuition is $759 and three credits of regular university fees, including the ACCSB specialty accreditation fee, is $197. Three credits of graduate tuition is $1140 and three credits of regular university fees, including the ACCSB specialty accreditation fee, is $320. All participants on USM travel programs receive the in-state tuition rate regardless of residency.

All participants will be automatically registered for a payment plan. The $200 deposit will go towards the cost of the program and the remaining balance will be due as follows:

50% of the balance due Friday, March 23, 2012

Remaining balance due Monday, April 23, 2012