Academic Catalog 2024-2025

International Business

Faculty

Odile J. Streed, program director

Program Coordinators in International Business

Odile J. Streed, chair
Karin Hillstrom
Jiani Jiang
Gay G. Rawson
Jan Pranger
Jorge E. Scarpin
Rebecca Stewart

Program Coordinators in International Business

Ricardo Augusta, Segovia, Spain
Uta Knoche, Universität Hannover, Germany
Laura Sabbado da Rosa, Université de Rennes, France

Most large and many emerging businesses do business across international borders. They earn and spend foreign exchange, operate under different laws, and deal with more cultural issues than domestic business does.

The interdisciplinary international business major offers students the broad liberal arts foundation essential to understanding the complexities and cultural differences of an increasingly global marketplace. Specific discipline-related coursework is designed to provide students the knowledge, skill, and abilities needed to succeed in a competitive world.

In addition to language proficiency, cultural understanding is an important dimension of the major. Students gain both understanding and proficiency in one of four language areas: Chinese, French, German, or Spanish. English is an option for international students for whom English is a second language. These foreign students could satisfy both study and work abroad requirements in the United States. Additionally, providing that they fulfill their language requirement as indicated below, students wanting to study in an English-speaking country abroad or students who want to complete their internship requirement with an English-speaking multinational firm abroad could also choose those options. Upon approval by the director of the international business program, additional languages could also be considered to fulfill the language requirement for this major.

The international business major offers six optional concentrations: marketing, finance/economics, management, regional studies: Europe, regional studies: Asia, and regional studies: Latin America. This major includes a comprehensive set of business and language courses, required study abroad experience(s) including at least one business course taken abroad, a minor in one language or the equivalent number of credits in more than one language and an international internship. Students must take supporting and foundation business classes prior to enrolling in upper-division business courses (300 and 400 level). Permission may be granted by the instructor for students to concurrently take one foundation or supporting class with upper-division courses. It is recommended that students take the MATH course prior to economics and accounting courses.

IBUS 390 Academic Internship taken for credit are 1-12 credits (up to 12 credits toward graduation: up to 3 credits toward completion of an international business major).

Programs Offered

Major

Courses

IBUS 301  -  Intro to International Trade,  3 credits.  

This course will familiarize students with the international business environment by examining global business practices in marketing, finance and management. It will expose students to a variety of cultural norms, ethical standards and legal frameworks pertaining to intellectual property laws, contracts, arbitration, bribery and corruption. The course will also review key trade agreements and institutions that regulate global trade and initiate students to the principles of global sourcing and exporting.

Frequency: Alternate Years - 1st Semester  
Corequisites: PEAK 400  
This course is PEAK Required  
IBUS 380  -  Special Topics,  0-4 credits.  

Courses covering various topics of interest in this particular discipline are offered regularly. Contact department or program chair for more information.

Frequency: Not offered on a Regular Basis  
Repeatable: Yes  
IBUS 390  -  Academic Internship,  1-8 credits.  
Frequency: Every Semester  
Repeatable: Yes  
IBUS 480  -  Independent Study,  1-4 credits.  

This course provides an opportunity for individual students to conduct in-depth study of a particular topic under the supervision of a faculty member. Contact the department or program chair for more information.

Frequency: Not offered on a Regular Basis  
Repeatable: Yes  
IBUS 487  -  Directed Research,  1-4 credits.  

This course provides an opportunity for individual students to conduct research in a specific area of study, completed under the direction of a faculty mentor. Specific expectations of the research experience to be determined by the faculty. Repeatable for credit. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

Frequency: Not offered on a Regular Basis  
Repeatable: Yes