International Business
- Bachelor of Science
- Minor
-
Side Navigation
International Business majors in the McKenna School 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 develops a high degree of proficiency in at least one foreign language. Students will graduate with the requisite intellectual curiosity and critical thinking skills to ethically address complex real-world problems. Curriculum strengths include:
- Students take a variety of courses specific to international business, including global marketing, international trade, international finance, global management, international business, international law, and international accounting.
- All International Business students receive training to pass the NASBITE International Certified Global Business Professional exam.
- All International Business students are required to complete a minor. Most graduate with a minor in Operational Excellence, through which they receive training towards Six Sigma Green Belt certification.
- The McKenna School trains students to become SAP Business One certified. SAP’s comprehensive business software is used 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.
Undergraduate Programs
What Can I Do With a Degree in International Business?
All McKenna School International Business majors complete a minor in a complementary field. 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. Many International Business majors also join the McKenna School’s unique SAP program, which trains students to become SAP Business One certified. This training leads to excellent careers with global and international companies who rely on SAP’s business software suite, such as Kennametal Inc., Heinz Corporation, KPMG, Latrobe Specialty Steel Co. and Siemens.
Curriculum Requirements
-
Requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree in International Business
Business Core (45 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 and BA 350A Excel Lab (sophomore year) - 4 credits
BA 351 Statistics II and BA 351A Excel Lab - 4 credits
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 (32-38 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 -
Requirements for a Minor in International Business
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 creditsIf 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
Job Placements and Careers
-
Job Placements and Internships
Our students have secured jobs and internships in several areas of international business and related fields. Some include:
Attivo Group (SAP B1)
Carpenter Technology
Celeritech (SAP B1)
Center for Global Competitiveness
Citibank in Honduras
Classic Industries (OE)
Consolidated Electrical Distributors
DAX Resources
Electro-Glass Products
EY
Federated Hermes
Klingensmith Healthcare
Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Naval District Washington
Pacific Trade International
PNC Bank
PPG
Qualtrics
The German Marshall Fund
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Third Wave Business Systems (SAP B1)
World Financial Group -
Careers
There are many career options in international business including:
Account Representative
Associate Engineer in Operations
Benefits Services Specialist
Bilingual Account Sales Associate
Consultant in Financial Services
Continuous Improvement Specialist
Currency Trader
Customer Success Consultant
Entrepreneur
Export Compliance Officer
Internal Sales
International Customer Associate
Leadership
Marketing Coordinator
Product Development Coordinator
Research Services Sales Development
Sales Lead Specialist
Treasure Management
Accreditation
The McKenna School of Business has seven undergraduate programs and one graduate program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). They are: Accounting, Business Education Information Technology, Business Economics, Finance, International Business, Economics, Management, Marketing and the Master of Science in Management: Operational Excellence graduate program. Three programs in Business Data Analytics (launched Fall 2020), Sports Management (launched Fall 2021) and Business Administration (launched Fall 2021) are in candidacy for accreditation.
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. 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.
The McKenna School is also a member of the Middle Atlantic Association of Colleges of Business Administration. The Politics and Criminal Justice 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.
Distinctive Features of the McKenna School International Business Major
The McKenna business seniors score exceptionally well on the ETS national undergraduate business field test. Out of 496 accredited (i.e., ACBSP and AACSB) business schools, we ranked overall in the top 19.8% of the nation in 2018. For International Issues, the McKenna School scored in the top 15.6% of the nation in 2018.
Depending on career aspirations, international business students also concentrate their studies in either finance, accounting, marketing, politics, economics or operational excellence. Students typically develop proficiency in at least one of the primary business languages, Spanish and/or Chinese.
The International Business programs has a 100% job placement rate based on a 100% response rate from 2013 to 2018 with median starting salaries over $50,000 the last four years.
McKenna students study worldwide, e.g., recent placements include Australia, Belfast, Dublin, Berlin, Greece, Hong Kong, London, Paris, Rome, Spain, United Kingdom, Taiwan, Shanghai, Chengdu, Mexico, Greece, Australia, and more. Numerous study-abroad opportunities have included internships with large multinational corporations. Other travel opportunities include the McKenna School’s annual academic “OE around the World Trip” and service trips with campus ministry to Taiwan, PR China, Guatemala, and Brazil.
Personal Statements/Testimonies
Taylor Wahl, C'24
Junior, International Business Major @ Saint Vincent College
Hometown:
“During my time at Saint Vincent College, I have learned skills that no other school could provide. The McKenna School of Business has allowed me to work hands-on with different programs including SAP Business One. Saint Vincent has helped me to diversify my portfolio even before graduation. I feel extremely confident about entering the workforce due to the countless advantages SVC has provided.”
Alexandra Gerstel, C'21
Software Account Manager @ Stellar One Consulting
Hometown:
“If you are thinking about pursuing a major in International Business, Saint Vincent College is where you need to be. The International Business major required two foreign languages or an advanced level of courses in one language. This enabled me to be able to study in Taiwan and Mexico. I was also able to study Global Business in England, Italy, and Spain– even while completing the SAP program! I now work for an awesome company that implements all kinds of software and AI innovative technology and I serve as an Account Manager to over 45 enterprise accounts. I use all the experiences as a Saint Vincent International Business major and get to speak Mandarin Chinese and Spanish to a few of our foreign accounts where I generate inside sales for the company. My experiences at SVC and the information I got to learn also empowered me to open my own clay earring business called Preciosa Clay Earring Company where I now have a certificate to operate as a Limited Liability Corporation.”
Raylen Welling, C'19
Account Executive, Research Services @ Qualtrics
Hometown:
“The International Business Major at SVC challenges students to become more well-rounded thinkers by exposing them to marketing, finance, politics, language, leadership, and more. During my time at SVC I also had the opportunity to study abroad, allowing me to further expand my horizons. My experience at the McKenna school and relationships I have built with my professors, advisors, and other staff is unmatched to any of my friends or colleagues who attended other schools.”
Faculty
Christian Kalhöefer, Ph.D.
Professor of Finance
christian.kalhoefer@stvincent.edu
Ms. Martha Fusco
Instructor, Business Administration
martha.fusco@stvincent.edu
Mr. James Kunkel
Executive Director of the Small Busineess Development Center
james.kunkel@stvincent.edu
Gary Quinlivan, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics
gary.quinlivan@stvincent.edu
Mr. Michael Arabia
Adjunct
michael.arabia@stvincent.edu
Mr. Michael Barron
Adjunct
michael.barron@stvincent.edu
Mr. Joshua Miller
Adjunct
joshua.miller@stvincent.edu