International Business

The secondary major in International Business will be discontinued Spring 2026 pending Board of Regents State of Iowa approval.

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 minor 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 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. Students in the minor will learn valuable international management skills that complement their primary area of study and prepare them for business positions with international responsibilities. The minor requires one course (International Management), one course from the approved Foundational courses, and three courses from the approved Elective courses. In addition, the minor requires the completion of an international experience (i.e., a semester abroad earning at least 12 credits, a summer abroad earning at least 3 credits, a credit-bearing faculty-led international course, or an approved international experience) or a plan of study approved by the Ivy International Programs Coordinator. For students who want to be ready for a global career, earning the minor in international business provides a recognizable credential preparing them to make their mark on the world stage.

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.

Required Course (3 credits):

MGMT 4140

International Management

3

Foundational Course (3 CREDITS):

Choose one of the following courses:
MGMT 4220	Negotiation and Conflict Resolution	3
MIS 3400	Project Management	3
MKT 3670	Consultative Problem Solving	3

Elective courses (9 credits):

ACCT 4960	Accounting in the Global Economy	3
ENTSP 3670	International Entrepreneurship	3
FIN 4800	International Finance	3
FIN 4910	International Study Course in Global Capital Markets	3
MKT 4480	Global Marketing	3
MKT 4840	Technology, Globalization and Culture	3
MKT 4920	Comparative Marketing	3
SCM 4660	Global Trade Management	3
SCM 4730	War and Peace and Supply Chains	3
SCM 4910	International Live Case and Study Tour	3
ECON 3550	International Trade and Finance	3
ECON 3850	Economic Development	3

International Experience:

Complete one of the following two options:

• Option 1:
  • A semester abroad earning at least 12 credits, a summer abroad earning at least 3 credits, a credit-bearing faculty-led international study course, or an approved international internship. 
• Option 2:
  • Plan of study approved by the Ivy International Programs Coordinator
    • International travel may not be required to fulfill the IBUS minor--see the Ivy International Programs Coordinator for more information.

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