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International Business

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International business is a multidisciplinary field dedicated to understanding how to successfully formulate and execute commercial activity that spans national borders.  Contemporary issues related to environmental concerns, political instability, and human rights have made international business decisions more complicated for organizations, leading to a global re-evaluation of how business should be conducted internationally. Whether you desire a career working internationally or simply want to understand how the broader business environment affects fundamental organizational decisions for domestic firms, our International Business program provides a broad global perspective to inform your world view and help you develop business acumen through an exploration of how business intersects with politics, economic considerations, and culture.

Undergraduate Secondary Major in International Business

For undergraduate curriculum in business, secondary major in International Business.

Administered by the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship.

The major is designed to provide a strong common foundation in international business with two required international overview courses. In addition, students are encouraged to take additional coursework with relevance to their business and career interests, with business-specific courses spanning numerous functional areas and general cultural classes covering numerous regions of the world. Students also have the opportunity to shape their international exposure via multiple study abroad options or via additional coursework at Iowa State.

For information on the secondary major in International Business, make an appointment through Navigate to see the Ivy College of Business International Programs Coordinator, located in 2139 Gerdin Business Building or email ivyintl@iastate.edu.

For more information on the undergraduate secondary major in International Business, please visit: https://www.ivybusiness.iastate.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/international-business/. 

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, undergraduate students with a secondary major in international business will:

  1. Understand the global business environment and how it connects to their primary major.
  2. Be effective communicators in intercultural and international settings.
  3. Understand how culture, history, politics, and economics connect to business practices and operations both domestically and internationally.
  4. Develop intercultural skills required for success in business.

Secondary Major in International Business

In addition to the basic business degree requirements (https://catalog.iastate.edu/collegeofbusiness/#curriculuminbusinesstext), the requirements for the secondary major in International Business are met by successful completion of the following:

International Overview (6 credits)

BUSAD 3010 Introduction to International BusinessThis course focuses on the principles and practice of international business across functional areas, with an emphasis on comparing the legal, political, economic, and cultural dimensions of domestic and international business.

MGMT 4140 International Management . The nature and economic role of the multinational firm and entrepreneurial ventures, including the impact of legal, political, and cultural variables upon firm performance and managerial activity; case studies illustrate interdependent nature of functional areas of business projected across national boundaries.

Business Focus (6 credits)*

Select two courses from the list below:
ACCT 4960Accounting in the Global Economy3
ENTSP 3670International Entrepreneurship3
ECON 3550International Trade and Finance3
ECON 3850Economic Development3
ECON 4550International Trade3
ECON 4570International Finance3
FIN 4800International Finance3
FIN 4910International Study Course in Global Capital Markets3
MGMT 4720Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Organizations3
MIS 4950Executive Presentation and Analysis3
MKT 4480Global Marketing3
MKT 4920Comparative Marketing3
SCM 4660Global Trade Management3
SCM 4910International Live Case and Study Tour3
SCM 4730War and Peace and Supply Chains3
*

Additional business-focused courses incorporating an international travel component may be able to be applied towards fulfilling this requirement with approval of the Ivy International Programs Coordinator.

Global Engagement, Awareness, and Regional Perspective Requirement

Students can fulfill this portion of the IBUS major by completing one of the three options outlined below:

  • Option 1:
    • One semester abroad, earning at least 12 credits AND
    • BUSAD 3920X: Contextualizing Your International Experience (3 cr.), taken the semester after returning from abroad^ AND
    • One course from the approved Global Awareness courses below §
  • Option 2:
    • One faculty-led study abroad program (may use a course from the Business Focus to meet this) AND
    • One Regional Focus course from the list below with relevance to the chosen study-abroad program AND
    • One course from the approved Global Awareness courses below §
  • Option 3:
    • Plan of study approved by the Ivy International Programs Coordinator
      • Please note, in some instances international travel may not be required to fulfill the IBUS major--see the Ivy International Programs Coordinator for more information.
^

In the event that students complete their semester abroad during their final semester, this class may be taken concurrently.

§

Course(s) may be taken while studying abroad.

Global Awareness (3 credits)

Select 3 credits from the list below:
ANTHR 2200Globalization and Sustainability3
ANTHR 2300Globalization and the Human Condition3
ANTHR 3360Culture and Capitalism3
CRP 2910World Cities and Globalization3
CRP 3760Rural, Urban and Regional Economics3
CRP 4290Planning in Developing Countries3
DSNS 3040Global Challenges: Intro to UN Sustainable Development Goals3
INTST 2350Introduction to International Studies3
INTST 2500The World's Regions in a Global Context3
INTST 3500Topics in International Studies2-4
MKT 4840Technology, Globalization and Culture3
POLS 3810International Political Economy3
SOC 3480Global Poverty, Resources and Sustainable Development3
SOC 4110Social Change in Developing Countries3
WGS 4350Gender, Globalization and Development3
WLC 1190Introduction to World Languages3
WLC 2700Cultures in Transition3

Regional Focus*

Africa

Language*: WLC 1070 Introduction to Swahili

AFAM 3100Africa to 18803
AFAM 3110Africa under Colonial Rule3
AFAM 3550Understanding Sub-Saharan Africa3
RELIG 3580Islam3
Mid-East

Language*: Arabic

ARABC 3750Arab Culture3
ANTHR 3350Anthropology of the Middle East3
HIST 4350History of the Modern Middle East3
POLS 3500Politics of the Middle East3
RELIG 3580Islam3
RELIG 3590The Quran3
China

Language*: Chinese

CHIN 3720Introduction to Chinese Culture3
CHIN 3750China Today3-4
ECON 3870Economies of China and India3
HIST 2070Chinese Civilization3
HIST 3360Ancient China3
HIST 3370Modern China3
POLS 3420Chinese Politics3
India
WLC 3520Religions of India3
ECON 3870Economies of China and India3
RELIG 3580Islam3
 Japan

See the Ivy College International Programs Coordinator for options.

Russia

Language*: Russian

HIST 4210History of Russia I3
HIST 4220History of Russia II3
POLS 3490Politics of Russia and Eastern Europe3
RUS 3750Russia Today3
 Southern Europe
POLS 3460European Politics3
RELIG 3320Catholicism
Spain

Language*: Spanish

SPAN 3210Spanish Civilization3
SPAN 3230Spain Today3
Italy

Language*:ITAL 1070 Intensive Beginning Italian 

CLST 4030Roman Civilization3
France

Language*: French

FRNCH 3200France Today3
FRNCH 4760French Culture and Society in English3-4
HIST 4190History of Modern France3
Northern Europe
POLS 3460European Politics3
 German

Language*: German

GER 3200Germany Today3
GER 3300German Literature and Culture3
GER 4760Topics in German Cultural Studies3-4
HIST 4240History of Modern Germany3
UK
HIST 3270History of the British Empire3
POLS 3480British Government and Politics3
Latin America

Language*: Spanish or Portuguese

HIST 3400Colonial Latin America3
HIST 3410Modern Latin America3
HIST 4410History of Modern Mexico and Central America3
POLS 3430Latin American Government and Politics3
PORT 3750Brazil Today3
RELIG 3320Catholicism3
SPAN 3220Latin American Civilization3
SPAN 3240Latin America Today3
*

Relevant university-level foreign language courses can be used to satisfy a Regional Focus requirement. Please note that sign language courses are not considered an approved foreign language.

Fifteen of the 18 credits required for the International Business secondary major must not be used for the primary major.

Students are limited to three business majors/degrees/minors within the Ivy College of Business. This limit is on business majors/degrees/minors only and does not apply to multiple majors/degrees/minors taken outside the Ivy College of Business.

Undergraduate Minor in International Business

Students with a major in the Ivy College of Business may earn a minor in International Business by completing 15 credits of approved coursework. The minor requires one course from the approved International Overview courses, two courses from the approved Business Focus courses, and by completing the Faculty-Led Global Awareness track, or the Foreign Language Global Awareness track, or through a plan of study approved by the Ivy International Programs Office. The minor must include at least six credits in courses numbered 3000 or above taken at Iowa State University with a grade of C or higher. The minor must include at least 9 credits that are not used to meet any other department, college, or university requirement. Students with declared majors have priority over students with declared minors in courses with space constraints.

International Overview (3 credits)

Choose one course from the list below:

BUSAD 3010 Introduction to International Business. This course focuses on the principles and practice of international business across functional areas, with an emphasis on comparing the legal, political, economic, and cultural dimensions of domestic and international business.

MGMT 4140 International Management. The nature and economic role of the multinational firm and entrepreneurial ventures, including the impact of legal, political, and cultural variables upon firm performance and managerial activity; case studies illustrate interdependent nature of functional areas of business projected across national boundaries.

Business Focus (6 CREDITS) *

Select two courses from the list below:
ACCT 4960Accounting in the Global Economy3
ENTSP 3670International Entrepreneurship3
ECON 3550International Trade and Finance3
ECON 3850Economic Development3
ECON 4550International Trade3
ECON 4570International Finance3
FIN 4800International Finance3
FIN 4910International Study Course in Global Capital Markets3
MGMT 4720Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Organizations3
MIS 4950Executive Presentation and Analysis3
MKT 4480Global Marketing3
MKT 4920Comparative Marketing3
SCM 4660Global Trade Management3
SCM 4910International Live Case and Study Tour3
SCM 4730War and Peace and Supply Chains3
*

Additional business-focused courses incorporating an international travel component may be able to be applied towards fulfilling this requirement with approval of the Ivy International Programs Coordinator.

Global Awareness

Complete one of the two options below:

^

Relevant university-level foreign language courses can be used to satisfy a Regional Focus requirement. Please note that sign language courses are not considered an approved foreign language.

Students are limited to three business majors/degrees/minors within the Ivy College of Business. This limit is on business majors/degrees/minors only and does not apply to multiple majors/degrees/minors taken outside the Ivy College of Business.

For more information on the undergraduate minor in International Business, please visit: https://www.ivybusiness.iastate.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/minors-and-certificates/.