Seminars

About the Program

Unique! Current! Informative! These are key adjectives that describe the wide range of seminars which we teach at Concordia University. If you are looking to hone your skills, look no further. Concordia's seminars offer you in-depth and interactive study that can improve your knowledge in selected subjects and help you become more productive.

All seminars are taught by professors possessing professional experience and superb knowledge in their field. Classes meet on the Concordia University campus in Portland on Friday and Saturday (from 5 pm to 9 pm on Friday and from 8 am to 5 pm on Saturday).

While each seminar has its own content and format, they may include speakers, panels and a variety of interactive group projects. So, one can enroll in a single seminar or enroll in a series of seminars. Early registration is encouraged since courses may close due to enrollment limits. No meals are provided with tuition, however, the dining hall is open Fridays 5 pm to 6:30 pm and on Saturdays 11 am to 1 pm and again from 5 pm to 6 pm for your convenience.

College Credit

1 credit seminars

If you choose to receive baccalaureate or graduate - level credit for the seminars, you must register in advance for the course through the registrar's office.

You can also register on-line during open registration times.

Undergraduate seminars are listed with a SOM 451 prefix
Graduate level seminars are listed with a SOM 551 prefix

Seminar Descriptions

School of Management

SOM 451 and 551 (One credit each)

SOM Seminars - Spring 2012

Get Organized!

Bill Meade
April 13-14, 2012

Course description: This very applied seminar focuses on overcoming the feeling being overwhelmed by work. The key tool to get rid of stress and pressure is an organizing system called GETTING THINGS DONE. If you want to attend this class, please:

  1. Obtain an ebook or paperback copy of David Allen's GETTING THINGS DONE and read chapters 1 through 3.
  2. Look over professor Meade's blog http://restartgtd.com. Key posts for seeing the impact of GTD are: Theory of the perfect GTD desk, and Meade's before/after.
Over Friday night (5:00 pm to 9:00 pm) and Saturday (9:00 am to 5:00 am) the class will experientially investigate GTD. We will map out the GTD workflow, and then discuss how to transpose each box in the flow chart into real systems. For example, we will have an in-class demonstration of Evernote.com as a general reference filing system. If you wish, you are encouraged to bring a box of papers to scan so that you can scan your paper into your computer while you are in the workshop. If you know you want a scanner, buy one before the workshop, and we will help you get it running on your laptop.

By the time the class ends Saturday student should be able to see light at the end of the tunnel. That is, they will see that it is possible that overwhelmed Outlook in-boxes can be converted into a trusted system. Students exit the seminar feeling that their minds are clear with a list of projects and "next actions" to start on Monday morning.

Leadership Challenge

Doug Denton
July 13-14

Determine your own leadership style by:

  • studying leaders
  • using exercise to demonstrate different leadership styles
  • lecture
  • videos
  • discussions
You will not be bored and you will not sit in a chair all day. This class requires active participation from each member.

Storytelling in Business

John Szczepanski
September 7-8

From boardrooms to showrooms, stories inspire and motivate. As marketers, we engage in a craft as old as human culture itself. This course explores the structures, themes and imagery of storytelling as they apply to the disciplines of marketing research and promotion. Guest speakers will illustrate examples of storytelling in their work, and students will learn and practice techniques to help better connect with audiences in meaningful ways.