All courses are subject to confirmation.
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Brand & Product Management
(48 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits)
Course description: This course provides training in understanding brand management and the key stages of new product development, from idea generation to the implementation of new concepts and strategies.
It prepares executives to make decisions regarding brand management as a key differentiator for products.
The course covers topics such as brand meaning and essence, brand associations, brand health, and brand architecture.
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From Steam to AI - Economic and Business History
(48 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits)
Course description: This course examines the evolution of the global economy from the Industrial Revolution to the present day. It is an interdisciplinary exploration of the nature, origins, causes, and effects of global change on human well-being since 1800.
The course covers both developed and developing countries and draws on economic history, demographics, and statistical data to explain how the global economy came to be where it is today, focusing on the successes and failures of several key countries and regions.
The text quantifies long-term changes in global income and population, and covers the various phases of modern economic growth, the impact of major historical events on the global economy, and the evolution of global economic institutions.
Throughout the course, the case of the Latin American economy is discussed in greater detail to facilitate a comprehensive assessment of it: what factors and obstacles have hindered its modernization.
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Gender and the Environment
(45 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits)
Course description: Environmental issues affect different populations to varying degrees. Furthermore, current policies designed to address these issues often exacerbate gender- and identity-based inequalities. In this course, students will examine gender inequalities related to water pollution, climate change, and agricultural fumigation, and analyze the connection between women/femininity and nature through the lens of ecofeminism.
Offered through USAC.
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Geopolitical Risk & Business
(48 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits)
Course description: This course will provide students with an analytical toolkit to produce intelligence briefings and reports to help organizations navigate challenging situations.
We aim to bridge the gap between industry and academia, helping students develop professional skills to support their future employment and career development.
To take advantage of this opportunity, participants must demonstrate advanced English language skills.
The course is primarily intended for students of political science, international relations, international trade, and business administration.
A general understanding of global affairs will help students succeed in this course, although students may enroll without prior knowledge of geopolitics.
Students will be required to read relevant literature and political risk industry reports before participating in practical exercises.
Classes are designed to be interactive, and participation will be taken into account when grading student performance.
Participants will receive training to improve their writing and analytical skills in a feedback-oriented environment.
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Global Civil Society
(48 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits)
Course description: This course aims to provide students with both a conceptual and empirical framework so they can form an opinion about the existence, functions, transformative potential, and challenges faced by civil society activism in an increasingly globalized world.
In a field of study dominated by the examination of relations between nation-states within a context that is characterized as either entirely anarchic or moderated by the activities of intergovernmental organizations, we aim to focus on a group of non-governmental actors: domestic and international civil society organizations, social movements, and networks of transnational activism.
Our reflection is prompted by a few deceptively simple questions:
- Is there such a thing as a global civil society?
- How global is global civil society?
- What are its sources of power and legitimacy?
- What impact does this have on an international stage that has not given it a leading role?
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Global Management
(48 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits)
Course description: The objective of this course is for each student to be able to learn, understand, and apply the fundamentals of managing organizations in global contexts.
Students will complete a range of specific activities related to each of the key managerial concepts and gain hands-on experience with practical applications relevant to today’s complex business world.
By the end of the semester, students will:
- Understand the global framework and environment in which modern organizations must thrive.
- Be able to assess how companies perform on the global stage.
- Be able to critically analyze organizational case studies in each of the four functions of management (planning, organizing, leading, and controlling).
- Understand the core competencies that managers must develop to succeed, gain a thorough understanding of the skills, abilities, and tools required in today’s competitive and global environment, and be able to identify and apply appropriate management techniques and tools for managing organizations in global contexts.
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Human Rights and Armed Conflicts
(48 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits)
Course description: This course provides a basic introduction to international human rights, their conceptual and historical foundations, and the institutions designed to protect them.
It also focuses on the international legal framework governing armed conflict—including humanitarian law, human rights law, and international criminal law.
The purpose of the course is to provide an understanding of the legal challenges posed by current and future armed conflicts by analyzing and evaluating specific contemporary cases from around the world.
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Intercultural Negotiation
(45 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits)
Course description: The foundation of successful intercultural negotiation lies in the advanced knowledge and application of various tools. Traditional negotiation strategies are not effective in multicultural settings. Students will explore various readings, case studies, and mock negotiations to acquire the theoretical knowledge and skills needed to negotiate successfully in multicultural settings.
Offered through USAC.
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International Business: Latin America
(45 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits)
Course description: This course will help students gain a better understanding of the global business environment and enable them to develop effective management strategies across a range of international market environments in Latin America. In particular, we will focus on the role of culture in leadership, communication, motivation, negotiation, decision making, HRM practices, and the management of a multicultural workforce abroad or at home. Latin America, stretching from Mexico to the southernmost tip of Argentina and Chile (including Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Brazil, and Uruguay, among others), possesses a unique character, with business techniques and processes that must be adapted to its complex and rich cultural diversity, which is also reflected in the way business is conducted there.
Offered through USAC.
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International Human Rights
(48 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits)
Course description: This course examines the international human rights system and its institutional framework, from its philosophical foundations to its contemporary challenges.
The first part of the course introduces the concept of human rights, their historical development, and the main international legal instruments that form the foundation of the international human rights system.
It analyzes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the core human rights treaties, including civil and political rights and economic, social, and cultural rights.
The second part focuses on the institutional mechanisms for the protection and promotion of human rights, including UN bodies, treaty bodies, special procedures, and regional systems, with particular emphasis on the Inter-American human rights system.
The course also examines the crucial role of civil society organizations and advocacy networks in promoting and enforcing human rights.
Throughout the course, we will explore key questions:
- How do human rights institutions operate?
- How effective are they in protecting and promoting human rights?
- How do states fulfill their human rights obligations?
- What role do non-state actors play in the human rights system?
- How do regional and global mechanisms complement each other?
- What are the current challenges facing the international human rights system?
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International Project Management
(48 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits)
Course description: The course is structured around the key stages of the project lifecycle, providing a framework for progress: strategic framework, identification, definition, planning, preparation for execution, execution, monitoring and control, and closure or conclusion.
It also highlights the various key areas of knowledge essential for effective project management—including objectives, costs, time, quality, human resources, communications, and risks—by presenting valuable techniques and tools for each stage.
Furthermore, the field has evolved to incorporate new trends in project management while continuing to play a crucial role in providing a rigorous methodology for achieving objectives during project development and execution.
Specifically, there is a greater emphasis on using collaboration tools, improving communication and team management, and leveraging technological support, particularly in the context of virtual and geographically dispersed teams.
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Latin American Social Revolutions
(45 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits)
Course description: This course examines the chain of events and circumstances that led to profound social and political changes in Latin America during the 20th century, including the highly influential context of the Cold War years, the socio-political situation in the region that gave rise to the Peronist Movement in Argentina and its downfall, and the subsequent rule of military juntas. It will also analyze the development of Uruguay’s highly successful Swiss-style democracy and the complex circumstances surrounding the emergence of Marxist-oriented armed groups in the early 1960s, as well as the escalating social violence that led to the Uruguayan civil-military dictatorship of the 1970s and 1980s. The connections between these two processes will also be examined, as well as the influence on them of the Cuban Revolution, Allende’s Chile, and the Brazilian case during the same period.
Offered through USAC.
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Voices of Latin American Women
(45 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits)
Course description: This course introduces the concept of gender and focuses on the role of local feminist organizations in the struggle for gender equality. It offers an opportunity to explore the human rights situation for women in Uruguay and the Río de la Plata region. The course will analyze the main struggles of women’s movements in Uruguay, from the end of the dictatorship (1985) to the present. By inviting key figures from cultural and political life, attending special events, and visiting women’s NGOs, the group will have the chance to discuss these topics firsthand with women who are actively involved in these movements.
Offered through USAC.
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Modern Latin American Society
(45 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits)
Course description: This course examines key issues shaping Latin American society today, including gender, race, indigenous resistance, immigration, and the drug trade. First, students will evaluate each topic’s historical development, current characteristics, and manifestations in cultural products such as art, film, and telenovelas. Then, using local news sources and interviews with area residents, they will analyze how these issues affect Uruguay and Argentina. By the end of the course, students will be able to discuss the relationship between politics, economics, society, and culture, and how broader Latin American issues affect different regions in different ways.
Offered through USAC.
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Natural Resource Management
(45 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits)
Course description: This course addresses the major challenge facing life on Earth in the 21st century: how to preserve and protect natural resources worldwide while developing approaches to maintain and manage the environment in ways that meet our needs and ensure our continued survival. Due to the threats posed to our planet by dwindling resources and climate change, the management of natural resources is of extreme importance and requires rethinking human interactions with the environment and balancing uses, needs, and values in the area of natural resources.
Offered through USAC.
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Operations Management
(45 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits)
Course description: This course covers business management principles as they apply to the operations of all types of organizations across various industries. The course provides an introduction to and exploration of a wide range of issues in operations management for both manufacturing and service industries. Learn key strategies of operations management, including effective planning, problem solving, and decision making; management in a globalized and culturally diverse environment; and human resources and talent management. Whether you are a major manufacturer, a small business owner, or simply want to pursue a career in management, understanding the principles of operations management is critical to success.
Offered through USAC.
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Rio de la Plata, People and Culture
(45 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits)
Course description: This course offers a comprehensive historical and cultural introduction to the Río de la Plata region—primarily Uruguay and Argentina, including southern Brazil—from pre-Hispanic times to the present. It covers, up to the 1850s, the pre-conquest Indigenous populations, the Spanish conquest and settlement, colonial institutions, the British invasions, Spanish-Portuguese rivalry, and the independence movements; from the 1850s to the 1950s, it examines waves of European immigration, the development of export-driven economies, democratization processes, and the creation of Latin America’s first welfare state in Uruguay; and from the 1950s to the present, it analyzes the impact of the Cuban Revolution, the rise of the Tupamaro urban guerrilla movement in Uruguay, and other contemporary issues. The course also explores the founding of Buenos Aires and Montevideo, as well as the influence of European migration on the cultural patterns that shape the identity of the Río de la Plata region, including iconic regional features such as gauchos, mate, tango, asado, and soccer, all studied from a historical-cultural perspective.
Offered through USAC.
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Sales Strategic Management
(48 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits)
Course description: The Strategic Sales Management course aims to provide students with the essential skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the dynamic field of sales.
Throughout the course, students will develop a deep understanding of the principles and practices that underpin effective sales strategies.
The primary objectives include developing the ability to analyze market trends, identify customer needs, and formulate strategic approaches to meet sales targets.
Students will also become proficient in utilizing various communication channels, refining their skills in oral presentations, written communication, and the use of multimedia tools to effectively convey sales messages.
In addition, the course aims to foster a strategic mindset, encouraging students to critically evaluate and adapt sales strategies in response to changing market conditions.
By the end of the programme, students will be well-prepared to make strategic contributions to sales initiatives, demonstrating a nuanced understanding of customer relationship management, market dynamics, and the broader business context.
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South America in Turmoil
(48 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits, spring and fall semesters)
Course description: This seminar will seek to highlight the social and institutional challenges facing the region.
First, we will briefly discuss the changing political and ideological landscape of the past thirty years.
Second, and because it is essential to understand political behavior, partisan support, and cross-national differences, we will provide an introductory overview of the relevant theories that explain voters’ attitudes and preferences, as well as how political actors structure representation and demands.
Third, we will focus on the foundations of democratic consolidation and the risks of authoritarian tendencies.
Finally, we will focus on social evolution, new forms of political participation, and the conflicts that may arise from competing views, discrimination, or inadequate representation.
Throughout the seminar, particular emphasis will be placed on the recent wave of social unrest and protests that have spread across the continent.
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Sports Marketing
(45 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits)
Course description: This course covers topics related to the specialized field of sports marketing and its role in society. The focus is on the business and marketing management of sports teams and leagues. Topics include sports sponsorships, endorsements, naming rights, licensing, facility design and the fan experience, merchandising, ticket sales and pricing, fan passion, and the role of gambling in sports, among others. In addition to the assigned readings, sports and business films and documentaries will be used throughout the semester to facilitate discussions on various aspects of sports marketing from a variety of perspectives.
Offered through USAC.
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Startups and Entrepreneurship
(45 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits)
Course description: The entrepreneurial spirit is inherent in every student and cannot be taught. Students will cultivate this natural entrepreneurial spirit through practical skills training and by experiencing the process of turning ideas into products. Students will explore a variety of frameworks and concepts used in innovation, business, and management. Guest speakers will also be featured throughout the course to ensure students gain valuable insights into the software, tourism, and food industries.
Offered through USAC.
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Strategy and Competition
(64 contact hours, 7 ECTS credits)
Course description: In this capstone course, students apply and integrate the management knowledge, tools, and skills they have acquired throughout their studies to develop business strategies that take into account industry structure and a company’s resources and capabilities, with a particular focus on the practical feasibility of the proposals they develop.
This is achieved through the extensive use of Harvard Business School-style case studies.
Fieldwork at a specific company—usually in an industry undergoing some sort of transition—is required.
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Sustainability in Latin America
(45 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits)
Course description: The environment is central to our lives, and preserving it is one of the major global challenges facing humanity. What are the risks? How do we identify them? And what are some of the solutions for improving environmental sustainability? Topics include concepts of sustainable development, the planet’s limits, environmental policies, and alternatives beyond development.
Offered through USAC
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Women's Health: Global Health and Human Rights
(45 contact hours, 6 ECTS credits)
Course description: This course will explore global issues in women's healthcare, with a focus on understanding the unique health and wellness needs of women and the challenges they face when navigating healthcare systems.
Offered through USAC.