International Business (B.S.)

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Preparation for a career in international business requires an understanding of foreign cultures, language, and cross-cultural interaction skills, a broad background in business, an internship, and skills in a functional area of business. A student will gain further understanding of specific areas of business by concentrating in one of five areas: Accounting, Economics, Finance, Management, or Marketing. Please refer to the Department of Business website for additional information and requirements: www.etown.edu/depts/business/advising .

Student Learning Outcomes for International Business:

Demonstrate knowledge of fundamental theories and principles in each functional area.
Integrate and apply knowledge across functional areas.
Communicate clearly and concisely in written and verbal forms.
Develop oral proficiency in a foreign language.
Demonstrate awareness of cross-cultural differences and application of cross-cultural skills.

An international business major must complete the following requirements in the four components of the program:

Modern Languages

Requirements for the modern language component include 211 and 212 of a modern language and a minimum rating of Intermediate High/1+ on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) scale for French, German or Spanish. Those pursuing the Japanese language must achieve the designated level of the Japanese Foundation Proficiency Test. For the Chinese language, the requirements include CHN 211 and CHN 212 and at least six additional credit hours of Chinese language completed in China during the semester of study abroad.

Foreign Culture and International Interaction

Requirements for the foreign culture and international interaction component include:

BA 197 - Introduction to International Business
PS 245 - NCH International Relations
BA 257 - Exporting and Importing
BA 258 - Global Business Negotiations
EC 307 - International Economics or
EC 311 - Economic Development
BA 327 - International Financial Management
BA 337 - International Legal and Ethical Environment of Business
BA 497 - International Business Seminar
One other foreign culture and international interaction course, normally taken abroad

Business Studies

Requirements for the business studies component include:

And a minimum of 11 credits in one of the following concentrations:

If students choose to complete two or more concentrations, double counting of courses across concentrations is not permitted.

Accounting concentration:

Economics concentration:

Finance concentration:

BA 424 - Investments
Two other Finance electives

Management concentration:

BA 499 - Seminar in Management
Two other Management electives

Marketing concentration:

BA 416 - Marketing Management
Two other Marketing electives

Experiential Learning

To meet requirements of the experiential learning component, a student must complete an internship, and study abroad in a foreign country where the target language is spoken. The study-abroad requirement is at least one semester with a program approved by the Department of Business and the Office of Registration and Records.

Admission to the International Business major is limited to 25 first-year students each year in order to maintain the quality of the program and to provide the necessary assistance for each student. Transfers are permitted from within the College or from other institutions on a space-available basis.

First-year international business majors are selected by the Department of Business faculty. The selection process includes consideration of: 1) academic accomplishments, 2) motivation and aptitude, 3) preparation for international business study, 4) leadership and communications, and 5) interest in international business.

A prospective student must submit an application with all supporting documents to the Admissions Office before March 15. Applications received after March 15 only will be considered on a space-available basis.

Foreign students who are majoring in International Business should consult with the Director of the program during their first year to discuss their specific course requirements.

Admission to the International Business program does not imply that a student is guaranteed completion of the entire course of study. Generally, a student needs a 3.00 grade point average to qualify for a study-abroad program which is a requirement for graduation in this major.

For further information: Contact Dr. Hossein Varamini, Program Director.

Suggested first year courses:

Fall semester:

Spring semester:

Notes:

Specific entry-level course in language will be determined after results of language placement test are received. Students interested in completing a Spanish minor should speak with the Modern Language Department regarding the specific Spanish minor language level requirements.

Refrain from fulfilling the Western Cultural Heritage, Non-Western Cultural Heritage or Creative Expression requirements of the core before going abroad. This suggestion is because an International Business major could take some of the courses in these core areas during the study-abroad period.

If a student has an interest in accounting, he or she should enroll in the beginning accounting course (AC 101 ) in the first year.

Normally, by the junior year, a major in International Business chooses one of the following as an area of concentration: Accounting, Finance, Economics, Management, or Marketing.

International students are not required to take foreign language courses for their International Business major. However, students are required to take an Ancient or Modern Language to satisfy their core Power of Language - Other requirement.

EC 101 or EC 102 will fulfill both the International Business major requirement and the Social Sciences core requirement.

PS 245 will fulfill both the International Business major requirement and the Non-Western Cultural Heritage core requirement.

MA 251 will fulfill both the International Business major requirement and the Mathematics core requirement.

BA 270 and BA 271 should be taken in the second year. Students should take BA 270 in the fall and BA 271 in the spring.

For a suggested Four-Year Plan for the International Business major, visit www.etown.edu/depts/business/advising/four-year-int-business.aspx.