International Business Major

 

International Business Major

Illinois State University is the only public university in Illinois offering a major in international business.

The major offers a challenging academic foundation complemented by structured cultural experiences. A minor in international business is also available only to students who major in the College of Business.

All businesses in the United States face radically different global environments in which international knowledge and expertise are prerequisites for survival and success. The international business program at Illinois State provides its majors a strong combination of international education, experience, global contacts, and career opportunities to meet these challenges. Students are also encouraged to pursue summer internships. The International Business Club sponsors a variety of social and professional events throughout the year and majors also meet and interact with students from partner universities in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Canada.

Careers

The graduate's basic career path would be to enter a management-training program based on the specific business concentration studied. From there, the graduate's career would evolve, with paths possibly leading to managing responses to foreign competitors; international exporting and importing; multinational operations; global sourcing; manufacturing, and distribution; international joint ventures; assignments abroad; and numerous other options.

Curriculum

International business is an interdisciplinary program, combining core courses in general business and foreign languages with advanced courses in international business. Students choose a specific concentration from marketing, finance, insurance, management, business information systems, or accountancy. Advanced courses in business look not only at international activities in the different majors, but also at the way cultures affect business and the legal environments of different countries. This highly competitive program also gives students significant options for multicultural interaction with students from other countries. All International Business majors must complete foreign language coursework at least through the second year. By combining study of foreign language with experience through summer study abroad, students can effectively bring their foreign language skills to the level of fluency needed to be competitive.

Study abroad

Students may earn course credit through summer study abroad in programs sponsored by the College of Business in Europe, Latin America, Japan, and Canada. The educational experience is enhanced by living with host families or students in these countries. Additional study abroad opportunities are available through the Office of International Studies. This office maintains current information on student travel and study abroad and a reference library outlining international opportunities. Academic programs for a summer session, a semester, or a year abroad are available to Illinois State Students.

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