Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business
Majors Overview March 22, 2014Those interested in international business work should look into fields such as international sales, trade shows, distribution, and exports. Students will be prepared with a bachelor’s degree program in International Business, which teaches them foreign languages, allowing them to study abroad. Both Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) programs can be found.
B.S. Programs in International Business
Students enrolled in undergraduate International Business programs are trained to be able to manage companies or conduct business in various global markets. A study of diverse cultures will equip individuals with better knowledge about the country’s political systems, labor relations, business history, traditions and literature.
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a GED certificate or high school diploma. In some programs, students may have to complete some general education classes or be able to converse in a foreign language before they can seek admission.
Coursework
Coursework in an International Business program may include language concentrations where the focus of studies is on the current speaking trends and business aspects of languages. Some educational institutions offering the program may facilitate study abroad programs through strategic partnerships with organizations in other countries. Coursework may include topic areas such as:
•Writing for business
•Accounting
•Marketing strategy
•Business calculus
•Macroeconomics
•Information systems
•Business writing
Career Choices
Undergraduate International Business programs also include internships aimed at imparting hands-on experience to prospective global managers; internships could also transform into permanent job positions. Students who complete undergraduate International Business programs may choose from various employment options such as:
•Manufacturing
•Purchasing
•International sales
•Freight forwarding
•Export administration
Continuing Education Choices
Graduates from International Business programs can pursue continued education by earning master’s degrees in the field, wherein international instructors might teach them. Coursework in some programs is devised to help students with prior managerial experience; these programs may not take much more than a year to complete. Coursework may also include final projects to allow the application of the knowledge gained by students during the program in running an international business firm.
Bachelor’s degree holders may also continue education through enrollment in the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.). Students enrolled in some international business programs can choose to earn an MBA from an international school even as they complete an International Business master’s degree program within the U.S.
