International Business Major

Through the study of International Business, one develops an understanding of the global environment and how businesses must adapt to that environment if they are to succeed. The Shidler College of Business International Business program has been ranked in the Top 20 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. Courses stress general environmental issues; (e.g., developments in training relationships between nations as well as focusing on specific functional area issues such as determining which foreign markets an organization should enter). Students may opt for one of two tracks:

Track 1 - Marketing / Management

Students will explore ways in which the functional disciplines of marketing and management are affected by the international business environment. Students should first take:

• Mkt 381: Multinational Marketing
• Fin 321: International Business Finance

Then students should take Mgt 343 (Comparative Management: US/Japan), and two major electives which focus on international issues of specific interest to marketing/management professionals. Such electives include Mgt 342 (Multinational Business Management), Mgt 460 (Asia-Pacific Business Practices), Asan 312 (Contemporary Asian Civilization), PolSc 320 (International Relations), or BLaw 360 (International Business Law).

Track 2 - Finance / Business Economics

Students will gain an understanding of how firms adapt their domestic practices to the international finance and economic environment. Students should first take:

• MKT 381: Multinational Marketing
• FIN 321: International Business Finance

Students should then take international business economics (BEc 461) and two major electives which focus on issues of specific interest to professionals who work primarily in international finance; for example, Fin 331 International Banking Finance, Econ 405 Comparative Economic Systems, or BEc 470 Dynamics of Asian Business.

Because of its relatively unstructured and highly interdisciplinary nature, the International Business major does not provide undergraduate students with sufficient knowledge to enable them to "practice" international business upon graduation. The trend is to first place graduates in domestic positions with international responsibilities, then place them in overseas positions.

As a result, students must select a double major in a specific functional area such as marketing or finance. This allows them to reach a sufficient level of understanding in a functional area and apply for entry level positions in the functional field (e.g., as a marketing manager).

International Business majors may also proceed to graduate school to pursue a degree in or related to international business. This allows students to continue developing functional area expertise while honing their knowledge of international business, making them more employable.

Finally, it is recommended that students continue to develop their language skills. Developing proficiency in a foreign language will greatly increase the likelihood of an overseas position, while demonstrating commitment to the International Business field.

Major Requirements

International Business Course Requirements (15 credit hours, all with "C-" or better)

Note that International Business may be taken only as a double major only (that is, along with one of the other business majors)

• FIN 321
• MGT 343 or 342
• MKT 381
• And any two of the following:
  BUS 477 (3 credits only), BLAW 360, FIN 331, 344, 360 (if taught with international focus), 389, 470, 490C;
  IR 469; MGT 342, 344 (if taught with international focus), 350B, 460;
  MKT 361 (if taught with international focus), 411C; ANTH 416; ASAN 312, 320; ECON 405, 410, 415, 460, 461;
  POLS 306, 315, 316; TIM 324, 325, 361, 362, 421, 442; Third-year foreign language (301-302)

Also required is an integrative, international experience as met by one of the following:

• An international internship (BUS 395). This could be either an internship in a foreign country or a domestic internship with a multinational corporation.
• A directed reading/research course (399) with an international focus under the supervision of a Shidler College of Business faculty member.
• Participation in an international exchange program or BUS 477.
• Completion of the third year of a foreign language.

Department of Management and Industrial Relations Website

For more information on our courses, go to Course Listings.

For more information on a Bachelor Degree Program Sheet, go to http://www.manoa.hawaii.edu/ovcaa/programsheets/.