This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.iastate.edu.
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://ivybusiness.iastate.edu/degree/international-business/
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon graduation, undergraduate students with a secondary major in international business will:
- Understand the global business environment and how it connects to their primary major
- Be effective communicators in intercultural and international settings
- Understand how culture, history, politics, and economics connect to business practices and operations both domestically and internationally
- 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 301 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 414 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)*
| |
| ACCT 496 | Accounting in the Global Economy | 3 |
| ENTSP 367 | International Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| ECON 355 | International Trade and Finance | 3 |
| ECON 385 | Economic Development | 3 |
| ECON 455 | International Trade | 3 |
| ECON 457 | International Finance | 3 |
| FIN 480 | International Finance | 3 |
| FIN 491 | International Study Course in Global Capital Markets | 3 |
| MGMT 472 | Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Organizations | 3 |
| MIS 495 | Executive Presentation and Analysis | 3 |
| MKT 448 | Global Marketing | 3 |
| MKT 492 | Comparative Marketing | 3 |
| SCM 466 | Global Trade Management | 3 |
| SCM 491 | International Live Case and Study Tour | 3 |
| SCM 473 | War and Peace and Supply Chains | 3 |
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 392X: 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.
Global Awareness (3 credits)
| |
| ANTHR 220 | Globalization and Sustainability | 3 |
| ANTHR 230 | Globalization and the Human Condition | 3 |
| ANTHR 336 | Culture and Capitalism | 3 |
| C R P 291 | World Cities and Globalization | 3 |
| C R P 376 | Rural, Urban and Regional Economics | 3 |
| C R P 429 | Planning in Developing Countries | 3 |
| DSN S 304 | Global Challenges: Intro to UN Sustainable Development Goals | 3 |
| INTST 235 | Introduction to International Studies | 3 |
| INTST 250 | The World’s Regions in a Global Context | 3 |
| INTST 350 | Topics in International Studies | 2-4 |
| MKT 484 | Technology, Globalization and Culture | 3 |
| POL S 381 | International Political Economy | 3 |
| SOC 348 | Global Poverty, Resources and Sustainable Development | 3 |
| SOC 411 | Social Change in Developing Countries | 3 |
| WGS 435 | Gender, Globalization and Development | 3 |
| WLC 119 | Introduction to World Languages | 3 |
| WLC 270 | Cultures in Transition | 3 |
Regional Focus*
Africa
Language*: WLC 107 Introduction to Swahili
Mid-East
Language*: Arabic
China
Language*: Chinese
India
Japan
See the Ivy College International Programs Coordinator for options.
Russia
Language*: Russian
Southern Europe
Spain
Language*: Spanish
Italy
Language*:ITAL 107 Intensive Beginning Italian
France
Language*: French
Northern Europe
German
Language*: German
UK
Latin America
Language*: Spanish or Portuguese
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 300 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 301 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 414 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)*
| |
| ACCT 496 | Accounting in the Global Economy | 3 |
| ENTSP 367 | International Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| ECON 355 | International Trade and Finance | 3 |
| ECON 385 | Economic Development | 3 |
| ECON 455 | International Trade | 3 |
| ECON 457 | International Finance | 3 |
| FIN 480 | International Finance | 3 |
| FIN 491 | International Study Course in Global Capital Markets | 3 |
| MGMT 472 | Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Organizations | 3 |
| MIS 495 | Executive Presentation and Analysis | 3 |
| MKT 448 | Global Marketing | 3 |
| MKT 492 | Comparative Marketing | 3 |
| SCM 466 | Global Trade Management | 3 |
| SCM 491 | International Live Case and Study Tour | 3 |
| SCM 473 | War and Peace and Supply Chains | 3 |
Global Awareness
Complete one of the two options below:
- Option 1:
- Option 2:
- 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 minor--see the Ivy International Programs Coordinator for more information.
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://ivybusiness.iastate.edu/degree/zminors-and-certificates/