Bachelor of Science in International Business

 

Overview

The major in international business provides students 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. Students interested in a deeper knowledge of a single topic may choose to take most of their electives in either international finance, international strategy, or international marketing.

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, and Treasury, in addition to international institutions such as the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation.

Course Requirements

The following requirements must be fulfilled: a minimum of 120 credits, including University General Education, pre-business, business core courses, and international business major courses.

Students pursuing international business as a second major should reference the international business as a second major requirements section at the bottom of this page.

General education courses
UW 1020University Writing
6 credits taken in at least two writing in the disciplines (WID) courses in two or more separate semesters. 1
One critical analysis in the humanities course. 2
One scientific reasoning with laboratory course. 2
One course with an approved oral communication component. 2
Pre-business courses
BADM 1001
BADM 1002
Business Leader Foundations I
and Business Leader Foundations II 3
or BADM 1003 Business Leader Foundations for Transfer Students
BADM 3001Business Leader Career Strategy
BADM 4001Business Leader Launch
STAT 1051Introduction to Business and Economic Statistics
or STAT 1053 Introduction to Statistics in Social Science
or STAT 1111 Business and Economic Statistics I
or DNSC 1001 Business Analytics I: Statistics for Descriptive and Predictive Analytics
or APSC 3115 Engineering Analysis III
STAT 2112Business and Economic Statistics II
or STAT 2118 Regression Analysis
or STAT 2123 Introduction to Econometrics
or DNSC 2001 Business Analytics II: Predictive and Prescriptive Analytics
or ECON 2123 Introduction to Econometrics
ECON 1011Principles of Economics I
ECON 1012Principles of Economics II
One of the following sequences in mathematics:
MATH 1231
MATH 1232
Single-Variable Calculus I
and Single-Variable Calculus II
or MATH 1051
MATH 1252
Finite Mathematics for the Social and Management Sciences
and Calculus for the Social and Management Sciences
or MATH 1051
MATH 1231
Finite Mathematics for the Social and Management Sciences
and Single-Variable Calculus I
or MATH 1220
MATH 1221
MATH 1051
Calculus with Precalculus I
and Calculus with Precalculus II
and Finite Mathematics for the Social and Management Sciences
or MATH 1220
MATH 1221
MATH 1232
Calculus with Precalculus I
and Calculus with Precalculus II
and Single-Variable Calculus II
Business core courses
ACCY 2001Introduction to Financial Accounting
BADM 3501Financial Management and Markets
BADM 4801Strategy Formulation and Implementation
Two courses selected from the following:
BADM 2301Management Information Systems Technology
BADM 3103Human Capital in Organizations
BADM 3401Contemporary Marketing Management
or BADM 3401W Contemporary Marketing Management
BADM 3601Operations Management
BADM 4101Business Ethics and the Legal Environment
or BADM 4101W Business Ethics and the Legal Environment
International business major courses
BADM 1004The Age of Globalization
IBUS 3001Introduction to International Business
IBUS 3101Global Financial Environment
Seven courses selected from the following:
IBUS 3201International Marketing Management
IBUS 3301International Business Finance
IBUS 4202Regional Strategy for Multinationals
IBUS 4203Foreign Market Analysis
IBUS 4204The Cultural Environment of International Business
IBUS 4302International Banking
IBUS 4303International Monetary and Financial Issues
IBUS 4401Managing the Multinational Enterprise
IBUS 4402Managing in Developing Countries
or IBUS 4402W Managing in Developing Countries
IBUS 4403Oil: Industry, Economy, and Society
IBUS 4404Global Energy
IBUS 4405Global Disruptions
IBUS 4900Special Topics
or IBUS 4900W Special Topics
Electives
In general, students complete 40 credits in elective courses to reach the 120 credits required for the degree. 18 of those credits must be taken outside of GWSB. Elective courses may be applied to a GWSB concentration, a non-GWSB minor, or a GWSB or non-GWSB second major. Reference the GWSB undergraduate policies section for course restrictions.
Students are strongly encouraged to choose electives that have an international component, including language courses and courses on regions, international public health, international development, political science, public and nonprofit, geography, and sustainability.

1 Courses must be taken after completion of UW 1020  and in separate semesters.

2 See Undergraduate Education at GW for additional information regarding approved courses for this requirement.

3 First-year students take BADM 1001 and BADM 1002; transfer students take BADM 1003


International business as a second major

Students pursuing international business as a second major are required to complete the courses listed below. Non-GWSB students may declare international business as a second major directly with their home school advisor; a signature from a GWSB academic advisor is not required. 

BADM 1004The Age of Globalization
IBUS 3001Introduction to International Business
IBUS 3101Global Financial Environment
Seven courses selected from the following:
IBUS 3201International Marketing Management
IBUS 3301International Business Finance
IBUS 4202Regional Strategy for Multinationals
IBUS 4203Foreign Market Analysis
IBUS 4204The Cultural Environment of International Business
IBUS 4302International Banking
IBUS 4303International Monetary and Financial Issues
IBUS 4401Managing the Multinational Enterprise
IBUS 4402Managing in Developing Countries
or IBUS 4402W Managing in Developing Countries
IBUS 4403Oil: Industry, Economy, and Society
IBUS 4404Global Energy
IBUS 4405Global Disruptions
IBUS 4900Special Topics
or IBUS 4900W Special Topics