International Political Economy Student Opportunities
Students studying international political economy at Carthage have many opportunities to enrich their education.
J-Term
January Term, or J-Term, is a month-long period of study in January in which all academic departments offer innovative courses on campus, as well as study tours in other countries. IPE majors can gain valuable global experience by traveling abroad during J-Term. Carthage economics, finance, management, marketing, and modern languages professors regularly lead study tours to such destinations as China, Sweden, southern Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, and England, where students meet executives and see firsthand how global businesses operate.
A. W. Clausen Center for World Business
The Clausen Center has brought in such prominent speakers as Bruce DuMont, Chicago radio/television host and founder of the Museum of Broadcast Communications; authors David and Julie Eisenhower; scientist Sergei Khrushchev; CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider; and actor Daniel J. Travanti. Students have also had the opportunity to meet with retired executives from Mobil Oil and Snap-on Inc., and members of the Wisconsin legislature.
Learn more about the Clausen Center
Many prominent speakers have also come to Carthage through the College’s Business and Professional Coalition, which comprises the leading business, civic, professional, and governmental leaders in southeastern Wisconsin. The coalition meets regularly for luncheons at Carthage that feature speakers and discussion. Carthage business, economics, and IPE students may be invited to these presentations. Guest speakers have also met with students in their classes.
Learn more about the Business and professional coalition
Smeds Executive Internship Program
The Smeds Executive Internship Program allows Carthage students to apply their coursework in real-world settings and enables companies and organizations to employ students for real-work projects while evaluating them as potential employees. Participating companies/organizations have included FexEd, Snap-on Global, KPMG, Charles Schwab, Lavelle Industries Inc., the U.S. Department of State, Abbott Laboratories, Johnson Controls, Diversey, Deloitte, the Milwaukee Symphony, Jockey International, and more.
Learn more about the smeds executive internship program
Student Organizations for Hands-on Learning
Carthage IPE students can get involved in a number of student organizations dedicated to putting what’s learned in the classroom into practice. Join Velocity Consulting, Enactus, Model United Nations, Mock Trial, and more.
See more IPE Student Organizations
Past Programs
ESPN’s Lester Munson Visits Carthage
During his three-day stay as a Johnson Distinguished Visitor in March 2014, Mr. Munson met with classes, talked with business leaders at Carthage’s Business and Professional Coalition, and gave a public presentation. The latter drew a large crowd at the Tarble Arena.
Christina (Wright) Bruff ’04 speaks about life at the U.S. Department of State
Christina Bruff currently serves as economic development and multilateral affairs officer in the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs’ Office of Economic and Regional Affairs. She serves as the bureau lead on development issues in sub-Saharan Africa, including advising on the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals; managing the Africa – Women, Peace, and Security small grants program; leading bureau policy on and response to gender-based violence issues; and coordinating the policy papers and logistics for multilateral events such as the UN General Assembly and African Union Summits. She met with various classes on her visit.
James Bittman: ‘Finding Your Own Pot of Gold’
James Bittman, Chapman Executive in Residence at Carthage and faculty member at the Options Institute and the Illinois Institute of Technology, spoke at Carthage on Wednesday, March 17, 2010. He gave a presentation on options trading.
Brady Corporation Supports Enactus
In September 2009, the Brady Corporation Foundation awarded the Clausen Center a grant of $150,000 to support the Carthage chapter of Enactus. This global organization emphasizes community service along with business education. Faculty adviser David Schlichting of the Department of Business Administration has been highly effective in working with our students to develop a dynamic, growing chapter.
Lincoln Bicentennial Leader Visits Carthage
Eileen Mackevich, Executive Director of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, was the Johnson Distinguished Visitor at Carthage at the end of April 2009. A wide range of community, as well as College events, took place, including coverage through Scripps Howard News Service and ‘The China Post’ as well as Milwaukee and local media. Ms. Mackevich is the founder and long-term director of the Chicago Humanities Festival and was a public affairs commentator on WBEZ Public Radio in Chicago.
Governor Doyle and Cabinet Visit Carthage
In June 2008, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle and his Cabinet visited Carthage. A breakfast meeting co-sponsored with the Kenosha Area Business Alliance (KABA) provided a superb opportunity for a comprehensive review of state policies and challenges regarding the economy, education, transportation, and other matters.
Great Lakes Forum — Professors Gartner, Hegrenes, Mast and Schlack
The Great Lakes face distinctive invasive species challenges. On Dec. 2, 2008, Prof. Robert Schlack of Economics analyzed the new Great Lakes Compact. Earlier, Prof. Jerry Mast of Political Science addressed policy aspects, while Profs. Tracy Gartner and Scott Hegrenes of Biology and Environmental Science focused on scientific dimensions. Research, as well as publication work, continue in the summer and fall of 2009. This major initiative is supported by Root-Pike WIN (Watershed Initiative Network) and the Wisconsin Sea Grant Program.