Nov 21, 2024

Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

International Business (B.S.)

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

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 seven areas: Accounting, Data Analytics, Economics, Family Business and Entrepreneurship, Finance,Talent Management, Marketing, or a self-designed concentration. Please refer to the School 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 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:

Foreign Culture and International Interaction

Requirements for the foreign culture and international interaction component include:

BA 197 - Introduction to International Business 4.00 credits.
BA 257 - Global Logistics 2.00 credits.
PS 150 - NCH Introduction to Comparative Politics 4.00 credits. or
PS 245 - NCH International Relations 4.00 credits.
EC 307 - International Economics 4.00 credits. or
EC 311 - Economic Development 4.00 credits.
FIN 327 - International Financial Management 4.00 credits.
BA 337 - International Legal and Ethical Environment of Business 4.00 credits.
BA 497 - International Business Seminar 4.00 credits.
Foreign Culture & International Interaction (FCII) course - this course is about a country’s culture, history, or civilization, and is normally taken abroad.

Business Studies

Requirements for the business studies component include:

A non-credit program, Backpack-to-Briefcase (completion is managed via JayWeb)
AC 101 - Introduction to Accounting 4.00 credits.
EC 101 - SSC Principles of Macroeconomics 4.00 credits.
EC 102 - SSC Principles of Microeconomics 4.00 credits.
BA 105 - Managerial Communication and Student Career Preparedness 1.00 credit.
MKT 215 - Principles of Marketing 4.00 credits.
MA 250 - MA Sports Analytics 4.00 credits. or
MA 251 - MA Probability and Statistics 4.00 credits.
BA 260 - Introduction to Data Visualization 2.00 credits.
BA 265 - Management and Organizational Behavior 4.00 credits.
BA 240 - Strategic Managerial Decision-Making and Critical Analysis I 2.00 credits.
BA 241 - Strategic Managerial Decision-Making and Critical Analysis II 2.00 credits.
AC 210 - Cost Management Accounting 4.00 credits.
FIN 325 - Corporate Finance 4.00 credits.
BA 470-474 - Internship in Business Variable (0.00 to 4.00) credit(s).

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

Entrepreneurship and Family Business Concentration

FBE 380 - Entrepreneurship 4.00 credits.
Two additional Entrepreneurship and Family Business Electives

Finance concentration:

FIN 424 - Investments 4.00 credits.
Two additional Finance electives

Talent Management concentration:

BA 499 - People Analytics Seminar 4.00 credits.

Two of the following electives:

BA 365 - Talent Management 4.00 credits.
BA 430 - Advanced Legal Issues for Managers 4.00 credits.
HON 205 - HNR HUM Leadership Theory and Personal Narrative 4.00 credits.
PSY 235 - Social Psychology 4.00 credits.

Marketing concentration:

MKT 416 - Marketing Management 4.00 credits.
Two additional Marketing electives

Self-Designed Concentration:

A student who is majoring in International Business and wishes to declare a self-designed concentration will ordinarily need to do so in writing after completing 48 credit hours. The student will consult with his/her faculty advisor to prepare the proposal and the supporting documents. The student will submit a program of study and the supporting documents to the Dean of the School of Business, who will review it together with the Curriculum Review Committee (School committee). If approved by the Curriculum Review Committee, the proposal will be reviewed by all business faculty via School meeting. Once the proposal is discussed and voted on by the schoolfaculty, the Dean informs the student and faculty advisor about the decision.

The proposal for a self-designed concentration must have the following components:

A personal statement of intent (300-word minimum) that explains the reason for requesting the self-designed concentration; the statement of intent should include the reason/rationale for the request and the expected learning outcomes;
List of the courses the student intends to complete

For the self-designed concentration to be approved, it should meet the following criteria:

Be composed of no less than 11 credit hours
Include at least 8 credit hours taken at Elizabethtown College
Include at least 8 credit hours unique to this concentration (cannot be counted for any other major, minor, concentration, or CORE)
Demonstrate a cohesive plan of rigorous study (for instance, through taking the 300- or 400-level courses/and or courses related to a common theme/field of study)

The Dean of the School of Business and the faculty advisor must approve any changes to the self-designed concentration.

See more information on concentrations here: https://www.etown.edu/dept/business/advising/ibconcentrations.aspx

Modern Languages

Requirements for the modern language component include 211 and 212 of a modern language and a minimum grade of C- is required in 212 level course or higher (placement) to demonstrate oral proficiency. Those pursuing the Japanese language must achieve the designated level of the Japanese Foundation Proficiency Test.

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 School of Business and the Office of Registration and Records. Students qualify for study abroad after they have completed the 212 level of a modern language.

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 School 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, or Dr. Cristina Ciocirlan Program Co-Directors.

First Year Suggested Courses:

FYS 100 - First-Year Seminar 4.00 credits.
EN 100 - PLE First Year Writing 4.00 credits.
AC 101 - Introduction to Accounting 4.00 credits.
BA 105 - Managerial Communication and Student Career Preparedness 1.00 credit.
BA 197 - Introduction to International Business 4.00 credits.
EC 101 - SSC Principles of Macroeconomics 4.00 credits.
EC 102 - SSC Principles of Microeconomics 4.00 credits.
Two Language courses (211 and 212) (8 credits total)

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 Language Program regarding the specific Spanish minor language level requirements.

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

If students are interested in Accounting, they 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, Data Analytics, Economics, Family Business and Entrepreneurship, Finance, Talent Management, Marketing, or a self-designed concentration.

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.

Other requirements:

EC 101 or EC 102 will fulfill both the International Business major requirement and the Social Sciences core requirement.
PS 150 or 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 240 and BA 241 should be taken in the second year. Students should take BA 240 in the fall and BA 241 in the spring.

Internships are registered in the semester in which they end, therefore cumulative internship experiences (micro, virtual) will be registered when the student achieves the desired 120 hours tracked by the department/program governing the internship discipline.

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