No. The philosophy of the minor is experiential and if you are not in Europe, you will not have the same experience as students who participate in the Semester in Antwerp program. Further, one of the required classes, COB 301, is only taught in Europe, and no substitutions will be allowed for that class. Therefore, the only way to earn the minor in European marketing is to study in Europe with the JMU Semester in Antwerp program.

Yes. There are only 30 slots, and they will fill quickly. You should apply early if you are interested.

Yes, under certain restricted circumstances. You must meet the equivalent of all the prerequisites for COB 300 or the European Marketing Minor, and there must be a slot available. We do not accept a student from another university if we do not have an available slot.

Follow these steps
Dial 011 to access an international line
Dial 1 for long distance
Dial 32, which is the country code for Belgium.
Drop the 0 from the Belgian area code
Dial the number.

For example, to call the main number at the student apartment from within Belgium, you dial the area code (03) and the number (220 4640), or 03-220-4640. To call the student apartment from the United States, dial 011 to access an international line, then 1 for long distance, then 32 for the country code, then drop the 0 from the area code and dial just 3, then dial the number. That is, dial 011-32-3-220-4640.

The weather in Belgium will fluctuate widely. During September, and perhaps even into October, it may be warm. On the other hand, Belgium is further north than any U.S. state except Alaska, so it may become chilly rather early. You should plan to bring clothes for all weather conditions. You will probably experience temperatures between 20 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. During summer, it is usually pleasant and can get quite warm, but during fall and spring, you will experience a wide range of temperatures.

Bring an umbrella and at least two pairs of comfortable walking shoes.

Europeans, in general, do not wear shorts, unless they are participating in athletic events (e.g., cycling, soccer). If you choose to wear shorts, sandals and a tank top, you will stick out as a foreigner, and perhaps bring unwanted attention to yourself. When it is warm, Belgian women wear short skirts rather than shorts.

Brand name running shoes are in vogue. If you own Nike, New Balance, or some other popular running shoes, you will be in style. They are also very comfortable for walking.
Black is a very common color in Antwerp. If you wore black shoes, socks, slacks, or skirts, you will blend in nicely.

You will need spending money for souvenirs, personal expenses (e.g., laundry), some meals, and any extra entertainment you choose to purchase. Many students enjoy dancing in nightclubs, but this is not cheap. Since there is no drinking age, students purchase alcohol, which can also be very expensive.

A frugal student who did not purchase too much alcohol, go dancing, or buy excessive souvenirs should be able to get by on $10 a day. Some students lived on a tight budget and others spent considerably more. If I were sending my own child, I would probably budget 10 to $15 a day or 75 to $100 a week, which would be adequate if she/he did not purchase alcohol or go overboard on souvenirs or travel. The Semester in Antwerp program will last for 15 weeks during the fall semester; 16 weeks during the spring semester; and 13 weeks during the summer semester.

No. You must register for all of the courses in Antwerp that are required to complete the minor. Since you may not substitute any courses taken in Harrisonburg (except for MKTG 380) for the minor, you must finish all coursework in Antwerp in order to receive the minor.

You must have junior standing (56 hours), a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, and be a non-business major (non-BBA major). Further, you must be formally accepted into the European Marketing Minor program. Before you arrive in Antwerp, you must have completed MKTG 380, which is the prerequisite for all of the other courses you will take in Antwerp. If any of these conditions are not fulfilled, you may not participate in the European Marketing Minor.

No. You must register for both COB 300 and COB 301 if you are a fall or spring semester student, or you must register for the marketing minor courses if you are a summer semester student.

No. For the fall and spring semester, you must complete all prerequisites before you may register for COB 300. If you have not been accepted into COB 300, you will not be allowed to participate in the Semester in Antwerp program. Check the Admission procedure page on our website.

For the summer program, you must complete MKTG 380 prior to arriving in Belgium. If you have not completed MKTG 380, you will not be allowed to participate in the Semester in Antwerp program.

Please contact Dr. Wright (wrightnd@jmu.edu). There is some important information you will need to learn before going to Belgium. Try to make it to the meetings, but if you absolutely cannot come, let Dr. Wright know.

You must attend three required meetings during the semester prior to your experience abroad. If you have been accepted to the Semester in Antwerp program, you will be notified about the meetings’ times and dates.

In addition, there will be a mandatory meeting sponsored by the Office of International Programs for all students going abroad. If you are accepted to the Semester in Antwerp program, the Office of International Programs will notify you of the meeting time. This is a mandatory meeting. To learn more, check the meetings and events calendar on the OIP website.