International business degree overview

Students of international business study business from a global perspective. They learn how to work cross-culturally, how to manage multinational businesses, and how to turn local and national companies into international corporations.

The typical curriculum covers the following subject matter:

• International organizational leadership and human resource management
• International management consulting
• Cultural sensitivity and cross-cultural communication
• Global operations and logistics
• Global sales and marketing
• Global economics
• Global financial markets
• Researching competitors in the global business environment
• Business plan writing

Coursework often includes some foreign language studies, as well.

Associate Degree in International Business – Two Year Duration
International business degree programs at the associate level prepare students for entry-level/junior roles in the field. Many students who earn this degree, however, choose to apply the credits gained to further study in a bachelor’s degree program. In most cases, the associate curriculum is made up of classes in general education, international business, and business management. Here are some sample courses:

• English Composition
• Mathematics
• Computer Basics
• Communication and Public Speaking
• Psychology
• International Business Law
• Strategies for International Business
• Managing in Cross-Cultural Environments
• Global Trade and Marketing
• Financial Accounting Principles
• Introduction to Economics

Bachelor’s Degree in International Business – Four Year Duration
Graduates with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business may qualify for roles such as international sales manager, international marketing manager, international trade officer, human resources generalist, supply chain manager, and management consultant.

It is not uncommon for schools to offer program options in specific areas of international business. For example, students may be able to choose between concentrations that focus on:

• Trade and finance
• Import/export policies, trade controls, and banking in foreign markets
• International business law and cultural diversity issues in global communications, management, and marketing

These are some core courses that generally apply to all concentrations:

• International Business Environments – the specific concerns faced by international businesses in the areas of management, finance, and marketing
• International Trade – national and international trade policies and practices
• International Marketing – the challenges of international marketing, how culture influences marketing strategies
• International Organizational Management – managing different cultures
• International Banking and Finance – financial regulations and functions of multinational corporations
• The Global Supply Chain – global purchasing and related issues
• International Business Simulation – actual workplace scenarios that present the realities faced by global companies
• Strategies for Competing in International Business – building competitive advantages in the global marketplace
• Business Computer Applications – software used by business organizations
• Designing and Delivering Multimedia Presentations – practice sessions

Area Studies
Students of this discipline usually focus on a specific area or region of the world and study its histories, politics, economics, languages, and cultures.

Business Administration
Business administration includes overseeing finances, staffing, and contract negotiations. A business administration degree program, therefore, teaches students how to plan, organize, and direct all the activities of an organization.

Economics
Economics asks wide questions about world economies, how governments should respond to financial crises, how stock prices and exchange rates are set, and how to help people living in poverty. Students of the field learn how to apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to real-world issues.

Entrepreneurship
Students of entrepreneurial studies learn how to build, promote, and manage their own or others’ businesses. Common classes are entrepreneurial finance, foundations of entrepreneurship, investor relations and funding, new product design and development, and business plans.

International Relations
Students of international relations learn about international politics and institutions and the principles of diplomacy and foreign policy. They examine interactions between governments on several levels: political, economic, cultural, and militaristic.

In the current U.S. political climate, they may deliberate questions like: How has the Donald Trump presidency affected the world view of the United States? How have allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election impacted diplomatic and trade relations between the United States and Russia?

As its name implies, a degree in international business is concerned with teaching students how to do business internationally. This, of course involves understanding and working with a diversity of cultures within a diversity of political and social systems. It is not surprising, therefore, that graduates in this field come away from their studies with a particularly transferable set of skills:

• Communication – knowing how to convey information to different kinds of audiences
• A Multidisciplinary Approach – understanding that perspectives on issues may vary from country to country, region to region, and individual to individual
• Flexibility and Negotiation Skills – open-mindedness that will secure the most desirable outcomes
• Collaboration – capacity to work with many parties: government officials, business and organization leaders, and diplomats
• Critical Thinking and Creativity – the ability to think critically leads to successful analysis, creativity, and ultimately to solutions
• Cross-Cultural Appreciation – appreciation for different political values and cultural expectations facilitates negotiation and collaboration
• Organizational Leadership / Project Planning and Implementation
• Foreign Language Skills – the ability to communicate in one or more foreign languages is always valuable
• Accounting and Finance
• Business-oriented Computer Applications
• Marketing

International business graduates are welcome in virtually every business sector because of the diverse coursework that they complete in their degree programs. What they learn can be applied in occupational categories of every kind. Below is an alphabetical list of some of them. The categories in bold text represent those in which international business professionals are most likely to find jobs.

• Aerospace
• Agriculture
• Architecture
• Chemical
• Computer
• Construction
• Defense
• Electronics and technology
• Education
• Energy
• Entertainment
• Financial
• Food
• Government
• Healthcare
• Hospitality
• Information
• Manufacturing
• Management consulting
• Mass Media
• Mining
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
• Telecommunications
• Transportation – shipping companies and airlines
• Water