Bridging the American Divides

Bridging the American Divides is an elective designed for Columbia Business School students to gain a better understanding of the causes and consequences of the American divides and what might be done to help bridge them as future business leaders. A primary focus will be on the linkages between business decisions and practices and how they impact the divides. The course also examines how each of us plays a personal role in directly or indirectly enabling and fueling the divides. Co-taught by Professors Todd Jick and Bruce Usher, the course will be comprised of two sections which are taught together and will include numerous guest presenters, extensive class interaction, and a four-day visit to Youngstown, Ohio. Travel will take place from November 3-7, and the program fee of $950 will cover lodging and meals during the trip (the fee does not cover airfare). This course is application-based only. The application is available at https://www8.gsb.columbia.edu/chazen/secure/students/bridging-the-american-divides/application. Students will be notified of enrollment after the course matching process but before the first add/drop round.