International Business

Degree Options

Bachelor of Science in Business and Administration degree with a major in international business.

Description of Program

The international business major prepares students for work in organizations whose owners, employees, customers and/or suppliers are not confined to the borders of one nation. Those who choose this major will learn about marketing goods and services around the world, global distribution networks, exchange rates and the different forms of ownership and financing that exist in non-U.S. countries. They will consider the dramatic impact of culture on the behavior of individuals in organizations and on the contracting and negotiating process of international trade. They will compare the business climate of developed and underdeveloped nations and learn how companies compete in a global business economy. International business students are exposed to ethical issues and the impact of business decisions on global ecology. The curriculum requires a strong foundation of language and culture, history, geography and political science along with the business core classes. International business students are required to include an international experience in their program.

The International business major is designed for students seeking specialized education in operations of international enterprises, international banks and government agencies. Such organizations include all forms of business; the departments of Commerce, State, and Treasury; international institutions such as the Export-Import Bank, World Bank and Overseas Investment Corporation; and several state and local agencies.

Requirements for Major

Non-business requirements:

• The IBUS major recommends PSY 001 or ENSP 35/36 to fulfill the Life/Behavioral Science AOI.
• Geography 3 (World Regional Geography)
• Political Science 65 (Comparative Politics)
• Foreign language
• Two area study courses

Students must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than their native tongue. Proficiency can be demonstrated by college credit or equivalent, including certification exam credit, for a language through the intermediate level (second year, college level). Non-English native speakers demonstrate foreign language proficiency implicitly by taking their classes in English while at Drake.

The area study consists of two courses focused on a region of the world: Africa, Asia, Europe, or Latin America, or two globally oriented courses focused on a topical area: Cultural, Political, Religious, or Economic studies.

Business requirements:

• Economics 130 (International Economics) or Economics 175 (Developing Economies)
• Finance 170 (International Finance)
• Marketing 170 (Global Marketing)
• Management 170 (International Management)
• Six functional area credits

The functional area credits consist of 6 credits, beyond the business core, selected from one functional area: accounting, actuarial science, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, insurance, marketing, information systems, management, business law, or human resources (HR functional area courses need to be chosen from an approved list of courses). Alternately, six credits from an international internship may be applied to meet this requirement.

International experience requirement:

Each student in the IBUS major is required to have an international experience. This requirement is not designed to add more credits, but to specify the context in which some credits will be earned. The international experience can be one of the following:

• Semester study abroad
• Study abroad seminar course(s) totaling 6 or more credits.
• Internship abroad
• Internship in the US with a significant international focus

International students satisfy this requirement by earning their degree at Drake.

Participation in a semester-abroad program is highly encouraged.The best time for this experience is in the spring of the sophomore year or the fall or spring of the junior year. A semester abroad requires careful identification of courses abroad that satisfy graduation requirements and careful scheduling of courses before and after the study-abroad semester. Students work with their advisers and with the Center for International Programs and Services to select study-abroad programs and to schedule classes.