International Business Courses
Posted on April 10th, 2013 by Jenny FrankelYou may have a pretty good idea of what standard business coursework looks like. There are classes on accounting, management, human resources, etc. But what about international business? When you study international business in the US your coursework looks a little different. Some of the titles seem similar, but when business crosses borders it’s a whole new world, so to speak. Below are just a few of the many international business courses you may come across while working toward your degree.
Basic International Business Courses
While every institution has their own unique approach to international business, most will feature some of the following courses in their undergraduate programs.
- Globalization and Business
This interdisciplinary introductory course covers the positive and negative effects that globalization has had on traditional business models and practices. The 21st century has made many of the old models obsolete, so anyone hoping to succeed in international business needs to recognize the most effective opportunities to thrive in the current global marketplace.
- Global Management and Corporate Strategies
In this introductory course, you learn about the idea of an international business. What is it? What can it do? What does it mean? In other words, this class covers a lot of big picture issues in international business. Topics may include the environment of the global marketplace, global competition, and strategic multinational alliances.
- International Human Resources Management
Just like it sounds, this course deals with all the usual HR concerns, but in the global context. Among other things, this course presents how healthcare is handled differently in different countries and what that might mean for an international business.
- International Trade
Global business courses of this type deal with global means of payment, international credit systems, shipping concerns, and insurance policies.
- International Business Law and Ethics
In this type of course you learn about legal frameworks in different countries and how they operate in international disputes where jurisdictional issues are involved. You also grapple with ethical issues like intellectual property, environmental concerns, and unorthodox business practices.
- Global Marketing
Here you learn about the nature of advertising in the context of different cultures. When extending a business into a new nation or even starting a business there from scratch, international businesspeople must engage with social, political, cultural, and religious considerations, not to mention the varying legal considerations that apply across borders.
Regional International Business Courses
Though the above courses will inevitably have some overlap with the traditional business school coursework, some courses are completely unique to regions outside the US. Depending on the particular focus of the institution and their international business program, you might find classes on business practices in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, or Europe. Some may even localize to an individual country like China or Brazil. Students who know exactly where they want to do business are advised to take these sorts of courses in their respective areas of interest.
Advanced International Business Courses
Once you’ve entered the graduate level of international business, the coursework becomes much more specialized to the institution and to your chosen specialization. You can expect to see such courses as International Entrepreneurship, Global Currency, International Mergers and Acquisitions, International Business and Sustainability, and International Real Estate.
This is just a sampling of the many courses available in international business programs across the US. When considering potential schools, it’s important to look at the courses they offer to make sure there are opportunities to address your interests.
