The George Washington University
School of Business: Undergraduate Programs

International Business

Overview

The BBA with a concentration in International Business provides undergraduates with the analytical tools and conceptual framework needed to understand the international financial, political, and economic environment, how that environment influences a firm’s strategy and performance, how culture plays a role in guiding a firm’s strategic activities, and how a firm can leverage home and host country resources to overcome challenges inherent in managing a multinational enterprise. The academic program allows students to understand international business from three interrelated perspectives: international economics and finance, international marketing, and international corporate strategy.

Career Options in International Business

This field provides the basic academic foundations for entry-level positions in international business, particularly in multinational corporations, international banks, and governmental agencies. Such organizations include the Export-Import Bank, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the Departments of Commerce, State, Treasury in addition to international institutions such as the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation.

Program of Study

All students are expected to complete a range of prerequisite classes that have a direct impact on later studies in International Business. During their first year, students take Microeconomics (ECON 11) and Macroeconomics (ECON 12), which provide students with basic economics skills and an understanding of principles that are critical to later coursework. These economics courses also prepare students for International Financial Environment (BADM 145), which is a prerequisite to all IBUS courses. During their junior year, students take courses in Basic Marketing Management (BADM 110), Financial Management and Markets (BADM 115), and Statistics (STAT 112 or 118). These courses provide students with the basic knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in upper-level International Business courses. Students whose native language is English should seriously consider coursework in a modern foreign language to fulfill their Field-Related Elective requirement, and other students may wish to do so as well. The Field-Related Elective is an upper-level course related to International Business but outside of the International Business Department; Level III and above in any language will fulfill this requirement.

All International Business students are required to complete Introduction to International Business (IBUS 160), which provides an overview of the basic topics studied in International Business. Students may then choose any three courses in the International Business department to complete their field of concentration. Students interested in gaining a broad knowledge of international business may choose courses across the various topical fields. Students interested in a deeper knowledge of a single topic may choose to take most of their coursework in either international finance or international marketing and strategy. The George Washington University Bulletin contains course descriptions.

Course Guidelines

Core Course:
  • BADM 145* International Financial Environment (Prerequisite: ECON 11 & 12)
Analytical Tools Elective (Choose One):
  • STAT 112 Business and Economic Statistics II (Prerequisite: STAT 51/53)
  • STAT 118 Regression Analysis (Prerequisite: STAT 51/53)
Field Tools Elective (Choose One):
  • Unrestricted/Student Option - See other Fields for other appropriate options. (Prerequisite: Varied)
Field Courses (Choose One):
  • IBUS 160* Introduction to International Business (Prerequisite: ECON 11 & 12)
  • IBUS 166 International Marketing Management (Prerequisite: BADM 110 & BADM 145)
  • IBUS 168 Foreign Market Analysis (Prerequisite: IBUS 160 & 166)
  • IBUS 171 International Business Finance (Prerequisite: BADM 115 & BADM 145)
  • IBUS 173 International Banking (Prerequisite: IBUS 171)
  • IBUS 175 Inernational Monetary and Financial Issues (Prerequisite: IBUS 171)
  • IBUS 190 Special IBUS Topics (Varied Prerequisites)
Field Related Elective (Choose One):

Note: The Field-Related Elective must be an upper-level course from any department with the exception of the following departments: ARTH, AH, FA, EMED, EFL, EXSA, EXSC, MUS, or TRDA.

  • Foreign Language - Level III and higher can be used (Prerequisites: VARIED)
  • ECON 169 Introduction to the Economy of China (Prerequisites: ECON 11 & 12)
  • ECON 181 International Trade Theory and Policy (Prerequisites: ECON 11 & 12)
  • ECON 182 International Macroeconomic Theory & Policy (Prerequisites: ECON 11 & 12)
  • ECON 185 Economic History & Problems of Latin Amer. (Prerequisites: ECON 11 & 12)
  • GEOG 120 World Regions: Problems and Prospects
  • GEOG 145 Cultural Geography (Prerequisites: GEOG 1)
  • GEOG 146 Political Geography
  • GEOG 154 Geography of the Middle East & North Africa (Prerequisites: GEOG 1/2)
  • MGT 252 Global Human Resource Management (INSTRUCTOR'S PERMISSION)
  • PSYC 125 Cross-Cultural Psychology (Prerequisites: PSYC 1, PSYC 12/13)
  • PSC 130 Comparative Politics: Western Europe (Prerequisites: PSC 1)
  • PSC 142 International Organizations (Prerequisites: PSC 3)
  • SOC 168 Economic Sociology (Prerequisites: SOC 1)

 

Or another course with permission of the field advisor
* Required
** Requires Permission of Field Advisor