Program Description
As an international business major at CMU, core business knowledge will be your foundation as you gain the cultural experience needed to navigate the world economy. You’ll pursue advanced foreign language training, study abroad and/or do an international internship. Importantly, you’ll receive personalized attention from faculty members who are accomplished scholars and internationalists with backgrounds that include sustainability and entrepreneurship.
Points of Pride
Over the past decade, CMU’s international business program has received substantial grant support from the Business and International Education Program of the U.S. Department of Education.
Put Your Degree to Work
As an international business graduate, you can work in a variety of domestic and international settings such as Dow Chemical, the U.S. State Department, Wells Fargo, Shanghai New Loncheng Group (China), Domino’s Pizza, Ohridska Banka AD (Macedonia), Edward Jones, HP Enterprise Services, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Chrylser, JPMorgan Chase, Switch, Army National Guard, Americorps, Peace Corps and ALDI.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics sample data
| Job | Median Pay | Job Growth through 2022 |
|---|
| Budget analyst | $69,280 per year | 6% (3,800 more jobs) |
| Interpreters/translators | $45,430 per year | 46% (29,300 more jobs) |
| Training and development manager | $95,400 per year | 11% (3,200 more jobs) |
Program Overview
The course listings below are a representation of what this academic program requires. For a full review of this program in detail please see our official online academic bulletin AND consult with an academic advisor. This listing does not include the General Education courses required for all majors and may not include some program specific information, such as admissions, retention, and termination standards.
(Click on the course name or number for a complete course description.)
International Business Major
To sign a major in International Business: See an advisor in the Department of Management.
Total: 36 semester hours
Common Body of Knowledge Courses I
(6 hours)
BUS 100
Essential Business Skills
3
Introduces students to the concept of a business, its disciplines, and essential business skills including decision making, team work, and oral and written communication. This course is approved for offering in a distance learning format.
MGT 499
Integrated Capstone-Strategic Management
3
An integrative capstone course applying and analyzing financial, marketing, supply chain and other business functions within a global strategic management perspective. This course may be offered in an online format. Prerequisites: 86 semester hours completed; BUS 300, 301; MGT/MKT 303; FIN 302; MKT 304; Tier 2 Admission to Professional Business Studies. Preference given to graduating seniors.
Common Body of Knowledge Courses II
(3 hours)
Select one of the following:
BUS 300QR
Applied Business Statistics
3
Applications of statistical analysis to support business decision making. Covers collection of business data, analysis of business datasets, and presentation of results. This course may be taught in an online format. Quantitative Reasoning. Prerequisites: STA 282 or 382; 26 hours completed.
BUS 503
Business Process Improvement
3
This course applies principles and practices of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) and other operations improvements that have been demonstrated to bring value to business. LSS builds on a business statistics foundation. Prerequisites: STA 282 or 382; 56 semester hours completed.
Required Courses I
(9 hours)
MGT 360
Managing Cultural Differences and Diversity in a Global Economy
3
Theories, procedures, and methodology for managing cultural differences and diversity in a global economy. Covers culture, diversity, international human resources and organizational behavior, and ethics. This course may be offered in an online format. Prerequisites: MGT 258 or MGT 312; 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on a signed major or minor.
MGT 365
International Business
3
Environment and operations of multinational business. Public policy issues and their influence on internal management. This course is approved for offering in a distance learning format. Prerequisites: 56 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor.
MGT 457
Seminar in International Business
3
A case study course for analysis and integration of international business functions in order to develop a cross-cultural perspective in dealing with global challenges. Prerequisites: completion of MGT 365; 86 semester hours completed and admission to the Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor. Recommended: ECO 372, FIN 573, and MKT 560.
Required Courses II
(6 hours)
Select two (2) courses from the following:
BLR 565
The International Legal Environment of Business
3
Examines global legal environments that affect business and international business relationships. Prerequisites: BLR 202 or BLR 235; 86 semester hours completed and admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on a signed major or minor or graduate status.
ECO 372
International Economics
3
Basic background in international trade theory and practices, exchange rates and balance of payments, and international monetary arrangements. Prerequisites: ECO 201 or ECO 204; ECO 202 or ECO 203.
FIN 573
International Finance
3
Role of financial manager in international corporations. Environmental problems of foreign exchange. Techniques for making investment decisions, financing marketing operations, long-term capital structure and flow of funds. Prerequisites: FIN 302 or FIN 332; 56 semester hours completed and admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor.
HSA 542
International Tourism
3
This course focuses on the strategic management of international tourism in hospitality organizations, associations, and government agencies. Prerequisites: 86 semester hours completed; admission to Professional Business Studies or listed on signed major or minor.
MGT 400
Global Concepts for Sustainable Development
3
Students will learn the basic concepts used in sustainable development and apply them through the use of cases and simulations. Prerequisites: ECO 301, ENV 101, MGT 365.
MKT 560
International Marketing
3
Policies and practices employed in international business. Considers problems of international payments, trade and investment with special emphasis on integrating managerial dimensions with related economic principles. This course is approved for offering in a distance learning format. Prerequisites: MKT 300 or MKT 304; admission to Professional Business Studies; senior standing; 86 semester hours completed.
Foreign Language Requirement
(6 hours)
Select hours at the 300 level or higher in a foreign language taught at CMU. Foreign students with native language different from English may substitute MGT or other appropriate courses subject to the approval of the major advisor.
Electives
(6 hours)
You must earn at least 3 credits in study-abroad, with international emphasis, international work experience, or completion of a comprehensive research project with international emphasis. If only 3 credit hours are earned abroad, select one of the following:
ANT 370/SOC 370
Global Environmental Issues
3
Social and cultural dimensions of global population issues, food and energy policies, destruction of indigenous lifeways, roles of multinational organizations, environmental racism, and environmental movements. Identical to SOC 370; credit may not be earned in more than one of these courses.
ANT 457/SOC 457
Globalization and Society
3
Effects of the global economy on the division of labor, transnational migration, social inequality, ethnic identities, gender relations, and other aspects of social organization. Identical to SOC 457; credit may not be earned in more than one of these courses. Prerequisites: SOC 100 or 201 or 221 or ANT 170.
BIS 260WI
Global Business Communication
3
A focus on business communication skills necessary for success in the global business environment. This course may be offered in an online or hybrid format. Writing Intensive. Prerequisite: BUS 100 or BIS 100.
ECO 380
Comparative Economic Systems
3
Comparative study of economic institutions in a world of politicoeconomic change. An analysis of capitalism, fascism, socialism, and communism. Recommended: ECO 201 or ECO 202 or ECO 203.
ECO 381
Patterns of Economic Development
3
A study of the problems, processes, and theories of economic change in today's less developed countries. Recommended: ECO 201 or ECO 202 or ECO 203.
FRN 335
French for Business
3
Designed for students interested in acquiring vocabulary related to business and in developing fluency in writing and reading business letters and reports. Recommended: FRN 202.
GEO 121
Human Geography and Globalization
3
This course is an introduction to human geography that provides geographical perspectives on population, the economy, politics, urbanization, and culture. This course may be offered in an online or hybrid format. This course may be offered as writing intensive. (University Program Group III-B: Studies in Social Structures)
GEO 317
Economic Geography
3
Principles and theories of economic geography, the global interrelationships of regional and local economic activities, and the effects of technology on spatial economic structures. Recommended: GEO 121, junior standing, or at least 3 credits in BUS, FIN, ECO, or MKT. (University Program Group III-B: Studies in Social Structures)
GEO 345
Political Geography
3
Areal characteristics and territorial problems of states, including internal regional relations, border disputes, and colonial areas. Selected world problems. Recommended: GEO 121.
GEO 346
Geography of the Developing World
3
A geographic analysis of the developing world focusing on processes of environmental, demographic, and socioeconomic change, particularly since World War II. This course may be offered in an online or hybrid format. Prerequisite: Junior standing. Recommended: 9 hours of social science courses.
GER 335
The Culture of the German Economy
3
Development of proficiency through readings, discussions, and translations dealing with the culture of the German economic system and Germany in world trade. Taught in German. Prerequisite: GER 312.
GER 336
The Culture of German Business
3
Development of proficiency through readings, discussions, and translations dealing with key areas of the German business culture such as management, marketing and corporate hierarchies. Taught in German. Prerequisite: GER 312.
HST 202
World History since 1400
3
A survey of selected political, economic, social, religious, intellectual, and cultural elements in the history of the world since 1400 CE.
PSC 150
Introduction to International Relations
3
Introduction to theoretical tools used in the field of international relations. May be offered as Writing Intensive. This course may be offered in an online or hybrid format. (University Program Group III-B: Studies in Social Structures)
PSC 351
International Relations
3
Classical and contemporary theories of international relations. War, terrorism, and genocide. International law and organizations. Global economics and world poverty. Ethics in international relations.
PSC 555
International Law I
3
Processes of international law; role in international relations and organizations; effects on individual rights in peacetime through cases, treaties, customs, and legal rules. This course is approved for offering in a distance learning format.
REL 101
World Religions: An Introduction to the Study of Religion
3
Basic forms of religious thought, practice, and expression studied as a component of human life; includes a survey of major religious traditions. This course may be offered in an online format. May be offered as Writing Intensive. (University Program Group I-A: Human Events and Ideas)
SPN 335
Spanish for Business
3
Designed for students interested in acquiring practical Spanish vocabulary related to business, and in developing writing, reading and speaking skills through business documents in Spanish. Recommended: SPN 202.