International Business
The international business major provides students with a rigorous foundation for success in today's global business environment. Recognizing that career placement and early stage career success depends on strong skills (e.g. accounting, marketing, finance, human resources, operations, information systems, or entrepreneurship), the international business major must be combined with another major in Carlson. The international business major enhances the student's chosen other major with a comprehensive understanding of the additional complexity and contingencies required when conducting business across international borders.
View a full 4-year catalog of program requirements and course descriptions.
Major Curriculum
Major Requirements:
Note: ALL courses for the major must be taken as A-F grading.
I. Language Study Requirement
At least two college years (four semesters) of a foreign language (or equivalent).
II. International Business Foundations: 3 Courses
MGMT 3040: 2 Credits; The International Environment of Business (must be taken at the Carlson School)
- AND -
Choose TWO of the following:
(1-2 courses may be double-dipped for the primary major and the IB major)
| Course | Credits | Title & Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 5310 | 2 | International Accounting (prereq: ACCT 5101, 5102 or concurrent) |
| FINA 4621 | 2 | The Global Economy (prereq: FINA 3001) |
| FINA 4622 | 2 | International Finance (prereq: FINA 3001, 4121, 4221) |
| IBUS 3010 (abroad) | 4 | Global Entrepreneurship in Cuba |
| IBUS 3080 (abroad) | 4 | Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility in Costa Rica |
| IBUS 4010 (abroad) | 3 | Management of Technology in the Middle East |
| IBUS 4050 (abroad) | 4 | Managing Innovation and Change: Sustainability in Brazil (prereq: MGMT 3001 or 3010) |
| IBUS 4082W (abroad) | 4 | Brand Management in Italy (prereq: MKTG 3010, 3040) |
| MGMT 3900 | 3 | International Business Communication |
| MKTG 4080W | 4 | CAPSTONE: Marketing Strategy: Taking a Global Perspective (prereq: MKTG 3010, 3040 and 12 MKTG elective credits) |
III. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT BREADTH: 2 Courses
Choose ONE International Political Economy (IPE) Survey Course:
| Course | Credits | Title & Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| APEC 3007 | 3 | Applied Macroeconomics: Policy, Trade, Development (prereq: APEC 3006 recommended) |
| APEC 5751 | 3 | Global Trade & Policy (prereq: APEC 3001, 3006 recommended) |
| ECON 4307 | 3 | Comparative Economic Systems |
| ECON 4401 | 3 | International Economics (prereq: ECON 1101, 1102) |
| GEOG 3331 | 4 | Geography of the World Economy |
| GLOS 3415W | 3 | Global Institutions of Power: World Bank, IMF, and WTO |
| HIST 3419/GLOS 3219 | 3 | History of Capitalism: Uneven Development Since 1500 |
| POL 3410 | 3 | Topics in Comparative Politics: Intro to Political Economy (topics change, students should petition) |
| POL 3835 | 3 | International Relations |
| POL 3872W | 4 | Global Environment Cooperation |
| POL 4481 | 3 | Governments & Markets (prereq: POL 1054) |
Choose ONE Socio-Cultural (S-C) Survey Course:
| Course | Credits | Table & Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| AGRO 3202W | 3 | Environment, Global Food Production and the Citizen |
| AMST 4301 | 3 | Workers and Consumers in the Global Economy |
| ANTH 3003 | 3 | Cultural Anthropology |
| ANTH 3005W | 4 | Language, Culture, & Power |
| ANTH 3212 | 3 | Globalization and Inequality (Cross-listed with GLOS 3212) |
| ANTH 4031W | 4 | Anthropology and Social Justice (prereq: ANT 1003, 1005) |
| ANTH 4053 | 3 | Economic Anthropology |
| ANTH 4121 | 2 | Business Anthropology |
| GEOG 3379/GLOS 3303 | 3 | Environment & Development in the Third World |
| GLOS 3602 | 3 | Other Worlds: Globalization and Culture (prereq: GLOS 3101, 3144) |
| GLOS 3701/GEOG 3381W | 4 | Population in an Interacting World |
| GLOS 4221/SOC 4321 | 3 | Sociology of Globalization: Culture, Norms, and Organization |
| POL 3873W | 3 | Global Citizenship and International Ethics |
| SPAN 3105W | 3 | Introduction to the Study of Hispanic Cultures (prereq: SPAN 3015, Spanish major or minor) |
| SPAN 3510 | 3 | Issues in Hispanic Cultures (topics change, students should petition) |
Students may choose to use internship credits from their semester abroad program in this section. The internship must have an academic, 3-6 credit-bearing component.
IV. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT DEPTH: 2 Courses
Students may choose to use a 3XXX business level language course taken at the University of Minnesota or abroad as one of their depth classes. Classes chosen should align with your primary major or the country of your study abroad. These courses satisfying the IB Depth requirements may not be double dipped with the Business Foundations.
| Course | Credits | Title & Additional INformation |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 5310 | 2 | International Accounting (prereq: ACCT 5101, 5102) |
| ANTH 3005W | 4 | Language, Culture, & Power |
| ANTH 3023 | 3 | Culture and Society of India |
| FINA 4621 | 2 | The Global Economy (prereq: FINA 3001) |
| FINA 4622 | 2 | International Finance (prereq: FINA 4121, 4221) |
| GCC 3001 | 3 | Grand Challenge: Can We Feed the World Without Destroying It? |
| GCC 3002 | 3 | Grand Challenge: Beyond Atrocity: Political Reconciliation, Collective Memories and Justice |
| GCC 3003 | 3 | Grand Challenge: Seeking Solutions to Global Health Issues |
| GCC 3005 | 3 | Grand Challenge: Global Venture Design: What Impact Will You Make? |
| CC 3010/5010 | 3 |
Global Climate Challenge: Creating an Empowered Movement for Change |
| GCC 3017 | 3 | Grand Challenge: World Food Problems: Agronomics, Economics and Hunger |
| GEOG 3161/GLOS 3921 | 3 | Europe: A Geographic Perspective |
| GEOG 3379/GLOS 3303 | 3 | Environment & Development in the Third World |
| GLOS 3415W/SOC 3417W | 3 | Global Institutions of Power: World Bank, IMF, & WTO |
| HIST 3468 | 3 | Social Change in Modern China |
| MGMT 3900 | 3 | International Business Communication |
| MKTG 4080W | 4 | CAPSTONE: Marketing Strategy: Taking a Global Perspective (prereq: MKTG 3010, 3040 and 12 MKTG elective credits) |
| MM 3001 | 3 | Manufacturing in a Global Economy |
| MM 4035 | 3 | Global Supply Chain Technology (prereq: MM 4102 or professional experience) |
| PA 4414 | 3 | Child Labor and Education |
| POL 3477 | 3-4 | Political Development |
| POL 4481 | 3 | Governments and Markets |
| PORT 3603W | 3 | Portuguese-Speaking Cultures in Translation |
| PSY 3301 | 3 | Cultural Psychology |
| OLPD 3380 | 3 | Developing Intercultural Competence |
V. MGMT 4500
MGMT 4500; 2 credits; Senior Seminar in International Business (prereq: semester abroad)
VI. INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT
CHOOSE BETWEEN:
A) A study abroad program of at least one full semester in length.
- OR -
B) An international experience that meets the Carlson School's requirement of all students plus an internship with an international organization. Students completing an approved international internship will need to register for a one credit independent study course. Please speak with your advisor for further information.
Please note that all classes are not offered every semester. Please check the class schedule on One Stop for details.
Minor Curriculum
International Business Minor: 12 - 16 credits
I. International Business Foundations: 3 Courses
MGMT 3040: 2 Credits; The International Environment of Business (must be taken at the Carlson School)
- AND -
Choose TWO of the following:
(1-2 courses may be double-dipped for the primary major and the IB major)
| Course | Credits | Title & Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 5310 | 2 | International Accounting (prereq: ACCT 5101, 5102 or concurrent) |
| FINA 4621 | 2 | The Global Economy (prereq: FINA 3001) |
| FINA 4622 | 2 | International Finance (prereq: FINA 3001, 4121, 4221) |
| IBUS 3010 (abroad) | 4 | Global Entrepreneurship in Cuba |
| IBUS 3080 (abroad) | 4 | Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility in Costa Rica |
| IBUS 4010 (abroad) | 3 | Management of Technology in the Middle East |
| IBUS 4050 (abroad) | 4 | Managing Innovation and Change: Sustainability in Brazil (prereq: MGMT 3001 or 3010) |
| IBUS 4082W (abroad) | 4 | Brand Management in Italy (prereq: MKTG 3010, 3040) |
| MGMT 3900 | 3 | International Business Communication |
| MGMT 4500 | 2 | Senior Seminar in International Business (prereq: semester abroad) |
| MKTG 4080W | 4 | CAPSTONE: Marketing Strategy: Taking a Global Perspective (prereq: MKTG 3010, 3040 and 12 MKTG elective credits) |
II. International Environment Breadth: 2 Courses
Students may choose to use a depth course from the International Business co-major for one requirement in this section. A student may choose one depth and one breadth, or two breadth. Business language courses are not an option for the IB minor as a depth offering.
Choose ONE international Political Economy (IPE) Survey course:
| Course | Credits | Title & Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| APEC 3007 | 3 | Applied Macroeconomics: Policy, Trade, Development (prereq: APEC 3006 recommended) |
| APEC 5751 | 3 | Global Trade & Policy (prereq: APEC 3001, 3006 recommended) |
| ECON 4307 | 3 | Comparative Economic Systems |
| ECON 4401 | 3 | International Economics (prereq: ECON 1101, 1102) |
| GEOG 3331 | 4 | Geography of the World Economy |
| GLOS 3415W | 3 | Global Institutions of Power: World Bank, IMF, and WTO |
| HIST 3419/GLOS 3219 | 3 | History of Capitalism: Uneven Development Since 1500 |
| POL 3410 | 3 | Topics in Comparative Politics: Intro to Political Economy (topics change, students should petition) |
| POL 3835 | 3 | International Relations |
| POL 3872W | 4 | Global Environment Cooperation |
| POL 4481 | 3 | Governments & Markets (prereq: POL 1054) |
Choose ONE Socio-Cultural (S-C) Survey course:
| Course | Credits | Table & Additional Information |
|---|---|---|
| AMST 4301 | 3 | Workers and Consumers in the Global Economy |
| ANTH 3003 | 3 | Cultural Anthropology |
| ANTH 3005W | 4 | Language, Culture, & Power |
| ANTH 3212 | 3 | Globalization and Inequality (Cross-listed with GLOS 3212) |
| ANTH 4031W | 4 | Anthropology and Social Justice (prereq: ANT 1003, 1005) |
| ANTH 4053 | 3 | Economic Anthropology |
| ANTH 4121 | 2 | Business Anthropology |
| GEOG 3379/GLOS 3303 | 3 | Environment & Development in the Third World |
| GLOS 3602 | 3 | Other Worlds: Globalization and Culture (prereq: GLOS 3101, 3144) |
| GLOS 3701W/GEOG 3381W | 4 | Population in an Interacting World |
| GLOS 4221/SOC 4321 | 3 | Sociology of Globalization: Culture, Norms, and Organization |
| POL 3873W | 3 | Global Citizenship and International Ethics |
| SPAN 3105W | 3 | Introduction to the Study of Hispanic Cultures (prereq: SPAN 3015, Spanish major or minor) |
| SPAN 3510 | 3 | Issues in Hispanic Cultures (topics change, students should petition) |
Students may choose to use internship credit from their semester abroad program in this section. The internship must have an academic, 3-6 credit-bearing component.
III. International Experience Requirement
An international experience that meets the Carlson School requirements of all students will fulfill the minor requirement.
IV. Language Study Requirement
Additional language beyond high school is highly recommended, but not required for the minor.
Please note that all classes are not offered every semester. Please check the class schedule on One Stop for details.
Career
A career in international business involves thinking globally about the business environment. A global mindset involves a multifaceted approach to understanding cultural differences, governing bodies, and financial variances that are experienced in the international market place. International business primarily deals with managing multinational business and turning local and national companies into international success stories.
Sample Careers for International Business Majors:
- Customs Broker
- Export Sales Representative
- Global Sourcing Specialist
- International Account Representative
- International Buyer
- Product Manager
- International Trader/Broker
Companies that Hire International Business Majors:
There are many different types of companies that hire international business majors. Typical companies include most multinational companies, U.S. companies with an international presence, or companies that do business outside of the United States.
