The International Business Program

The International Business majors in the McKenna School will receive a comprehensive education in international business management. The program offers hands-on experience assisting firms with global marketing plans and export needs, as well as developing a high degree of language proficiency in at least one foreign language. Students will graduate with the requisite intellectual curiosity and critical thinking skills allowing them to ethically address complex real-world problems. 

What Can I Do With a Degree in International Business?

Depending on the minor chosen, International Business majors are trained for jobs in foreign exchange trading and analysis, global marketing careers, export-import operations, export compliance and operational excellence.

  • Curriculum strengths include global marketing, international trade, international finance, global management, international business, international law and international accounting.
  • The McKenna School offers SAP Business One certification. SAP’s comprehensive business software suite is utilized by thousands of prominent world class companies such as Kennametal Inc., Heinz Corporation, KPMG, Latrobe Specialty Steel Co. and Siemens.
  • The McKenna School encourages practical work experience in international development, manufacturing, program administration, customer service and research.
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Distinctive features of the McKenna School International Business Major  
  • Our job placements are exceptional. In 2015, 2 out of 2 students were placed. Likewise, the same repeated in 2016.
  • Rankings: The McKenna business seniors score exceptionally well on the ETS national undergraduate business field test. Out of 563 accredited (i.e., ACBSP and AACSB) business schools, we ranked overall in the top 15% of the nation in 2016.
  • Students typically develop proficiency in the primary business languages of Chinese and/or Spanish. Depending on career aspirations, international business students also concentrate their studies in either finance, accounting, marketing or operational excellence.
  • Attributable to our ACBSP accreditation, students receive in depth knowledge in 12 business core competency areas: Accounting, Management, Business Ethics, Marketing, Information Systems, Business Finance, the Legal Environment of Business, Statistics, Business Policies, Economics, Quantitative Skills and Global Dimensions in Business.
  • In 2015/16, McKenna students studied abroad in: Berlin, Costa Rica, Ireland, London, Paris and Taipei. For 2016/17, McKenna students will study in: Australia, Belfast, Berlin, Dublin, Greece, Hong Kong, London, Paris, Rome and Spain.
  • Class are small in size, and your adviser has a Ph.D. in international trade and international finance.
  • Students may join Women in Business, the Accounting Club, Pizza and Politics Club, the Finance Club, the Operations Excellence Club and Delta Mu Delta, the national Greek honor society for business majors. 
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International Business Major Requirements

College Core (48 credits)
TH 119 First Theology (freshman year) - 3 credits
Theology (200 Level) - 3 credits
Theology (300 Level) - 3 credits
History (100 Level)* - 3 credits
History (200 Level)* - 3 credits
PL 101 1st Philosophy - 3 credits
Philosophy Elective (PL 215 Ethics suggested) - 3 credits
Natural Science 100 Level with lab - 4 credits
Natural Science 200 Level with lab - 4 credits
EL 102 Language and Rhetoric (freshman year) - 3 credits
English Elective (Literature Course) - 3 credits
English Elective - 3 credits
Fine Arts (100 Level) - 3 credits
Foreign Language Intermediate Level - 3 credits
Foreign Language Intermediate Level - 3 credits
First-Year Seminar (additional hour) - 1 credit

* At least one History class must be a global topic.

Business Core (43 credits)
BA 100* Financial Accounting I (freshman year) - 3 credits
BA 170 Organizational Behavior (freshman year) - 3 credits
BA 220 Principles of Marketing (sophomore year) - 3 credits
BA 265 Management Information Systems (sophomore year) - 3 credits
BA 305 Business Ethics (junior year preferred) - 3 credits
BA 320 Corporate Finance I (sophomore year) - 3 credits
BA 340 Business Law (junior year) - 3 credits
BA 350 Statistics I (sophomore year) - 3 credits
BA 351 Statistics II or
     EC 360 Econometrics (sophomore year) - 3 credits
BA 495 Business Policy and Strategy (senior year) - 3 credits
EC 101 Principles of Microeconomics (freshman year) - 3 credits
EC 102 Principles of Macroeconomics (freshman year) - 3 credits
PS 100* Principles of American Politics - 3 credits
MA 109/111* Calculus I (freshman year) - 4 credits
BA 00P ePortfolio Requirement - 0 credit

* Satisfies core curriculum requirements in social sciences and mathematics.

International Business requirements (23-24 credits plus credits for required minor)
BA 150 Managerial Accounting (freshman year) - 3 credits
BA 250 Global Business Management - 3 credits
BA 353/EC 353 International Finance - 3 credits
BA 395 Global Marketing - 3 credits
Modern Language:
Two courses beyond the intermediate level or two classes of a second language - 6 credits
Choose 2 of the following courses:
PS 242 International Politics - 3 credits
PS 343 Comparative Politics - 3 credits
PS 375 International Law - 3 credits
BA 251 International Business - 3 credits
BA 525 Global Experience OE Around the World (2 credit class)
EC 351 International Trade - 3 credits

Minor requirement:
International Business majors must complete a minor in Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Operational Excellence, Politics or Economics. The minor will enhance and define the student's job prospects.

Note: Majors are encouraged, but not required to study abroad for one semester. Depending on the minor chosen, the total required for the Business Administration International Business major is 75-81, leaving one credit for an elective.

Minor in International Business (18 credits)
BA 102 Survey of Accounting (non-business majors only)
BA 100 Financial Accounting I and Managerial Accounting or BA 101 Financial Accounting II - 3-6 credits
EC 101 Principles of Microeconomics - 3 credits
EC 102 Principles of Macroeconomics - 3 credits
BA 250 Global Management - 3 credits
BA/EC 353 International Finance - 3 credits
BA 395 Global Marketing - 3 credits

If you are a finance, marketing, management or economics major, you must also take one of the following:
BA 251 International Business - 3 credits
EC 351 International Trade (economics majors must choose different course) - 3 credits
PS 242 International Politics - 3 credits
PS 343 Comparative Politics - 3 credits
PS 375 International Law - 3 credits
 
Business Portfoliointernational-business-portfolio
A Business Portfolio Must Be Completed Before Graduation  

Work to be included:

  • Business Ethics Paper written in BA 170 (First Year)
  • Updated Business Ethics Paper written in BA 305
  • Resume (Completed first year and updated each year.)
  • Experiential Project defined by major -- at least one
  • Information Systems Analysis Project
  • Oral Presentation from 300 level business class or above
  • Term paper written in 300 level business class or above
  • Optional: Professional Thesis  
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Accreditations and Affiliations
  • The McKenna School of Business has six programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). They are: Accounting, Business Education Information Technology, Finance, International Business, Management and Marketing. The Economics and Politics programs are not accredited through the ACBSP; however, all programs in the McKenna School have regional accreditation through the Middle States Association. The ACBSP is one of the two premier accrediting agencies for business schools worldwide. With a requirement for faculty professional development (e.g., publications and research) and courses primarily taught by faculty holding doctorates, the ACBSP is the leading business accreditation program devoted to teaching excellence and service to students.
  • The McKenna School is also a member of the Middle Atlantic Association of Colleges of Business Administration.
  • Students may be selected to become a member of the Theta Tau Chapter of Delta Mu Delta, the International Business Honor Society and join Women in Business
Internships and Careers in International Business
  • Outstanding job placements:
    Cevis Corporation
    Naval District Washington
    Classic Industries (OE)
    Pacific Trade International
    Consolidated Electrical Distributors
    PNC Bank
    DAX Resources
    PPG
    Electro Glass Product
    Thermo Fisher Scientific
    Federated Investors
    Third Wave Business Systems (SAP B1)
    Klingensmith Healthcare
    World Financial Group
    MWA Arizona (SAP B1)
  • Job Positions include:
    Account Representative
    Entrepreneur
    Associate Engineer in Operations
    Leadership
    Internal Sales
    Benefits Services Specialist
    International Customer Associate
    Bilingual Account Sales Associate
    Marketing Coordinator
    Continuous Improvement Specialist
    Product Development Coordinator
    Currency Trader
    SAP
    Digital Marketing Intern
    Treasure Management
    Export Compliance Officer
  • Superior Internships:
    Latrobe Specialty Steel
    Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
    Citibank in Honduras
    Babcock Lumber
    Center for Global Competitiveness
    Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
  • Learning Objectives

    In addition to core business courses, those graduating with a major in international business have gained an understanding of global business management, global marketing, international law, international trade and international politics, as well as third-level experience in a foreign language. International business majors are encouraged, though not required, to study abroad for a semester. Graduates are prepared for careers in international business, international policy, trade and international affairs, among others.