
International Business students prepare for globalized world
Monday, February 3, 2025
BY JUSTIN ERICKSON, '25 BSB
No matter what field students pursue, they will interact within a globalized business environment. The International Business Co-Major prepares students to navigate the world of business beyond the borders of the United States.
Enhancing Students' Current Studies
As a Co-Major, International Business complements a student’s choice of major. Co-Majors are taken alongside a primary major, with an increased workload that differentiates them from minors. International Business electives allow students to focus the Co-Major to specific areas of interest, allowing each student to take an individualized path.
“This Co-Major provides the opportunity to see business from multiple perspectives,” said Svjetlana Madzar, Senior Lecturer. “Students engage in discussions of global issues and will learn to understand the world better.”
Coursework that Broadens Perspectives
MGMT 4505: Seminar in International Business allows students to reflect on their study abroad experiences. At the end of the half-semester class, students give three group presentations.
The first presentation is to compare two different countries from an economic lens, with students presenting on countries they have actually visited. Then, students give a presentation on cultural differences between their two countries. Finally, students present a market entry proposal for a company from one country to the other.
“These presentations allow a long-term exploration of countries that students have visited,” said Madzar. “Students can reflect upon what they have seen and learned.”
International Business electives are broad, providing students the opportunity to choose their own niche within the major.
“I plan to go into global sourcing,” said Sophia Rajan, ‘25 BSB. “Learning about the different ways countries do business with each other, as well as their differences in culture, is the most interesting part of the Co-Major for me, and definitely the highlight of my classes.”
Students declaring after Fall 2023 must take two semesters of a foreign language course to complete the Co-Major. This requirement allows students to further immerse themselves in a culture beyond their own, and many students choose to pursue a language minor.
Experiencing Different Cultures with an International Experience
Students with the International Business Co-Major are required to study abroad for a full semester. Studying abroad for an extended period of time will help students navigate uncomfortable situations and learn to persevere.
Sarah Mikhelson, ‘25 BSB, spent a semester in Madrid, Spain. Her program was fully immersed, therefore she took classes with students from around the world.
“One of my biggest takeaways from my experience is understanding how their businesses ran,” said Mikhelson. “They are very relationship-based, so if I walked into a department store everyone knew who I was after two or three visits.”
Opportunities for Extracurricular Involvement
Students looking to dive further into international business can join several student groups related to the subject matter. The Global Business Nexus is one such student organization.
“The goal of the Global Business Nexus is to provide more insight about international business, especially to underclassmen,” said Aleah Anderson, ‘26 BSB, Co-President and Co-Founder of the Global Business Nexus.
GLOBE is another student organization at the Carlson School. GLOBE connects underclassmen students with an exchange student from another country.
“It’s really great to have the opportunity to meet students from all around the world,” said Anderson. “It’s really helped me gain insights on how to interact with people from different countries and cultures.”
Impact Beyond the Classroom
The International Business Co-Major gives students an upper hand in their industry of choice. As students learn about the differences in cultures across the world, they also learn about the differences between themselves and other business students.
“Students will learn how much they differ from a typical person who is applying to the same job as they are,” said Madzar. “They will learn how to communicate what they bring to the table that other students cannot.”
At the same time, the International Business Co-Major prepares students for interacting with others of different backgrounds in their careers.
“One day, you’re going to work on a group project internationally,” said Mikhelson. “You might get frustrated with your team, but it's important to realize how they grew up and what they learned through life, and how that might be different.”
Understanding business in a global context is especially imperative for students in the Twin Cities. With 17 multinational Fortune 500 companies, the Twin Cities are a hub for global business.
“I always tell my students that you can be as local a company as you can imagine, but you’ll always be influenced by the world,” said Madzar. “There are so many things going on in the world that can influence our economy, so you need to have a broader picture. We are all citizens of the world, even if we never move from our little town.”