Undergraduate Current Students | Stern Around the World in Panama

This Fall 2024 semester course takes place in New York. Then from Saturday, January 4th – Thursday, January 9th, 2025, you will take a class trip to Panama.

Observe and study the intricacies of the Panama Canal from an operations management point of view. Process techniques and strategies abound within this fascinating operation. Although the canal is certainly the country’s major attraction, financial revenues from the canal have allowed Panama to emphasize other developments, including extensive real estate projects and major tourism improvement.

The specific topics that will be studied include:

• The Panama Canal and its effect on the global shipping supply chain

• History of the building of the canal and the independence of Panama 

• Real Estate Development 

• Economic growth in the tourism industry

• Urban development and infrastructure of major cities

No application required! But attending or viewing an Info Session is required when enrolling in this course (requires Zoom sign-in via NYU SSO). 

• Enrollment is only open to NYU Stern students who will be Sophomores and up in Fall 2024.
• Enrollment is done through Albert for this course - first-come, first-served, based on your registration time.
• If the course fills up, there will be a Waitlist. Set up ‘Edit Swap’ function on Albert to ensure you’re not stuck on the waitlist
• If you successfully enroll, you will be contacted via email with next steps. See additional details below.
• Important Notes:
  • Seniors who plan to graduate in January - the final grade for this course will not be available until after the January trip.

Course Overview

OPMG-UB 312: Operations in Panama: A man, a plan, a canal. Panama.
3 credits | Class Meeting Day/Time: Wednesdays from 9:30am-12pm starting October 23rd
Course: Full Semester | Travel: Required trip to Panama in January 2025
Instructors: Professor Harry Chernoff (hchernof@stern.nyu.edu) & Professor Kristen Sosulski (ksosulsk@stern.nyu.edu)

With its inauguration in 1914, the Panama Canal changed the world. It had a more astounding effect on global shipping than any other event in the history of world trade. It was the impetus for Panama becoming an independent country, and more recently, a world trade and banking center.

The history of the building of the canal is a most interesting one involving a number of world powers and spanning over 30 years. The French are credited with the start of the canal, and the US with the completion. It was the largest engineering feat of the 19th and 20th centuries and is recognized as one of the seven modern wonders of the world by the American Society of Civil Engineers. This vital link in the world shipping supply chain is a unique combination of simplistic physics applied on a gigantic scope. It literally changed the world’s shipping patterns, influenced developing countries, and served as the primary driver for economic growth in remote areas. The newly completed Panama Canal Expansion project (2016) has allowed larger ships to pass through the new expanded locks, and has had major effects on major ports throughout the United States and the rest of the world. 

The canal is now only part of Panama’s main engine for economic growth. The country is fostering new developments by global banking corporations and real estate industry giants through new government support systems and tax incentives. At the same time, Panama is promoting the start-up of small entrepreneurial businesses, which are beginning to thrive. It has grown faster than any Latin American economy in recent years, and 2011 Doing Business Report ranked Panama the highest in Central America for ease of doing business. With help from The World Bank to promote economic growth, Panama is ripe for new business ventures.

This 3-credit course can count towards:

• Operations Concentration Elective
• General Stern elective

*Please note: a max of one SAW travel course can be applied per concentration or minor

Eligibility

This course is open to NYU Stern students who are Sophomores and up in Fall 2024 and meet the following prerequisites:

• Must be in good academic and judicial standing with Stern and NYU
• Must be enrolled at Stern in New York City during the semester you take the course
• Important Notes:
  • Seniors who plan to graduate in January - the final grade for this course will not be available until after the January trip
• Viewing an Info Session is required when enrolling in this course (requires Zoom sign-in via NYU SSO). 

Program Timeline

**You will arrange your own flights to and from Panama. Please view the sample itinerary below, note the required program start and end times and plan your flights accordingly to account for customs and transportation to the hotel.  You must plan to arrive into Panama early enough in the day so that you can check in on time for the official start of the program at the group hotel.  Late arrivals and early departures are not permitted.  You will be expected to stay with the group until the official end of the program. 

Estimated Expenses

Please note: Although you will register for this 3-credit course as part of your Fall schedule, NYU tuition and registration fees do not cover the additional fees for the trip to Panama.

The Housing & Program Fee will be required of all participants* (see scholarship info below).  It will be added to your Fall 2024 Bursar bill, which will be due in early August.  Please check the NYU Bursar’s website for the Fall 2024 payment deadline.  Please note: the Housing & Program Fee is non-refundable after the Fall 2024 drop/add period unless the trip is canceled by NYU Stern.

The Housing & Program fee covers:

• Group Hotel in Panama
• Daily breakfast in hotel, other meals as listed on itinerary
• Local transportation
• Group excursions

Need-based Travel Scholarships

All Stern undergraduate students who register for this course will be automatically evaluated for a Stern Global Immersion Scholarship. 

• This need-based award is to help cover the additional travel cost of participating in this program. Awards granted to eligible students will cover up to the cost of the Housing & Program fee for the travel portion of the class.  Following is the SAW: Panama Housing & Program fee and (if awarded) the allocation for the air travel (Travel allocation) for Fall 2024:
  • Housing & Program Fee (does not include flight): Panama: TBD - $1,900 Estimate
  • Travel allocation (if awarded): Panama: $900
         *You will arrange your own flights to and from Panama. 
• Students must have a current FAFSA or CSS Profile application on file with NYU to be considered for an award. Students will be notified if they will receive a Stern Global Immersion Scholarship - and if so, the amount - according to the schedule above. 
• *Note: If you have already received a Global Immersion Scholarship for another SAW short-term program, you will still be automatically considered for a scholarship for this program as well.  However funds are limited and second scholarships cannot be guaranteed. If a second scholarship is awarded it will be minimal and will only cover a small portion of the program fee. 

Passport and Visa Requirements for All Participants

Passports: You must have a passport valid for more than six months beyond the dates of the trip.  More information on how to renew or obtain a U.S. passport can be found on the U.S. Department of State's website. If you are an international student please contact your Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  All NYU students are welcome to contact the NYU Office of Global Services (OGS) for assistance as well.

Visas: U.S. passports valid for more than six months beyond the dates of travel do not need a visa to enter Panama. If you are not a U.S. citizen, please consult Panama’s visa requirements.  If you have questions, please contact the NYU Office of Global Services (OGS).

It is your responsibility to apply and receive the appropriate visas for your passport in a timely manner for the trip. Trip Program Fee refunds are not provided if you fail to secure your visa.