Bridging the American Divides

Please note that this course has a program fee of $1,400 (charged as additional tuition). Reach out to Chazen ([email protected]) with any questions. Bridging the American Divides is a fall semester elective designed for Columbia Business School students to gain a better understanding of the causes and consequences of the American divides—and how to address those divides as business leaders. A primary focus will be on the linkages between business decisions and practices, and these divides. The course also examines how each of us plays a personal role in directly or indirectly enabling and fueling the divides. A wide variety of business issues and social impacts will be discussed, likely to include globalization, immigration, job loss, and divides including race, income, geography, education, media, and politics. The course will be held in-person and relies heavily on student participation in discussions. Students should only take the course if they can actively engage in all the assignments and class discussions. It is not a course for “observers.” Class sessions will be followed by a four-day visit to Youngstown, Ohio, where students will engage in a variety of learning activities. During the trip, students will have the opportunity to engage with local individuals working in business, community, government, religious, and nonprofit organizations. You should be comfortable meeting and speaking with individuals in a context that is very different from Columbia Business School, and you will be expected to engage in the course and on the trip in an open and thoughtful manner. Application only. Trip is October 30-November 3. Course applications are due on May 15, 2026.