International Business Program

All programs offered by the Foster College of Business, Bradley University, are accredited by the AACSB International: The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Faculty: Bond (Coordinator), Crowe, Griffin, Highfill, Iyer, Rubash.

The international business program is interdisciplinary, integrating international studies and foreign languages with business. Supplementing the academic program are opportunities for participating in internships with international companies, study abroad programs, and internationally oriented business outreach programs.

The objective of the international business curriculum is to provide opportunities for students to gain competence in various aspects of global business operations. In addition, a broad training incorporating international studies and foreign language will make the student better prepared to assume managerial positions with business enterprises. Most international business majors will seek employment with companies engaged in international business activities, such as exporters and multinational corporations. Other potential employers include international business intermediaries (banks, trading companies, research and consulting firms, transportation agencies, port authorities, and so on), international economic institutions, and state and federal agencies.

The need for a separate curriculum in international business is reinforced by growing internationalization and globalization of American business and interdependency of world economies. Today, businesses find themselves in intense competition with foreign companies here at home. More direct involvement in international business comes in the form of global sourcing activities, exporting, licensing and technology transfer, and foreign direct investment. A variety of small and large companies in the manufacturing, service, and agricultural sectors currently participate in international business.

Students may study international business at Bradley University in three ways. First, students may major in international business leading to an undergraduate baccalaureate degree. Others may pursue international business in addition to another major outside the Foster College of Business. Still others may take as electives one or more courses in international business.

Graduation Requirements

International Business Major Requirements

In addition to the University and Foster College of Business requirements, students enrolled in the international business major must fulfill the following requirements:

Foreign Language - 12 hrs.

• For French, German, or Spanish: 12 hours at 200 level or above, with 3 semesters in the same language.
• For Portuguese, Russian, Hindi, or Mandarin: 12 hours at the 100 level or above, with all credits in a single language.

International Studies - 12 hrs.

• IS 103, 104 Introduction to International Studies - 6 hrs.
• Area Studies* - 6 hrs.
  • Africa: IS 340, 440, 448
  • Asia: IS 182, 385
  • East Asia: HIS 107, IB 204, IS 285, 318, 381
  • Europe: IS 330, 331
  • Globalization: IS 410, 475
  • Latin America: HIS 105, IS 322, 323
  • Middle East: HIS 104, IS 363
  • Russia/CIS: HIS 103, IS 353, 355, 359
  • South & Southeast Asia: IS 373

* An IS course used to satisfy the Non-Western Civilization or Social Forces and Institutions Gen. Ed. requirement may be counted toward the Area Studies requirement in International Business.

International Business - 12 hrs.

• IB 206 Introduction to International Business - 2 hrs.
• IB 323 International Financial Management - 3 hrs.
• IB 390 International Monetary Economics or IB 391 International Trade* - 3 hrs.
• IB 346 Global Marketing Management - 3 hrs.
• IB 402 Global Trade Management - 3 hrs.

* Satisfies the FCB Economics elective requirement.

A Second Major or Minor in Business - minimum 12 hrs.

Complete a minor or second major in the FCB (or in Economics) with a minimum of 12 unique credit hours. For disciplines without a minor, the student may develop specialization in a business discipline by completing 12 hours within a single business discipline. The courses chosen must be approved by the student’s major advisor. In either case, these courses are in addition to the FCB core classes.

Study Abroad - 4 hrs.

In addition to the above requirements, each international business major is required to earn at least four semester hours (or the equivalent) of college credit while enrolled in one or more approved study abroad programs.

Other Requirements

1. The total number of semester hours required for the international business major, including college and university requirements, is 130 hours.
2. International business majors must plan their schedules to include Introduction to International Studies I and II (IS 103 and 104) as well as two Area Studies offerings (courses dealing with Latin America, Europe, Africa, Russia, Commonwealth of Independent States, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, or East Asia). Problems of the Developing World (IS 275) may be taken as one of the Area Studies requirements. Students can fulfill their area studies requirements as part of non-Western civilization and social forces and institutions courses as long as they select those courses that are in the approved general education curriculum.
3. International business majors must complete a total of 12 semester hours of foreign language study:
   For French, German, or Spanish, the 12 hours must be at the 200 level or above. It is recommended that students concentrate on the best proficiency possible in one foreign language, but it is possible to take 9 hours in one language and 3 hours in another. Those students who have previously studied a foreign language must take the placement test given by the Department of Foreign Languages. Students who place at the 300-level should consult with the chair of the Department of Foreign Languages to determine the best sequence of courses for them. These students will have the opportunity to take several of their required courses in specially designed courses such as Commercial Language, Introduction to Translation, Civilization and Culture, Spanish Interpretation, Everyday and Idiomatic French, and so on. International business majors especially interested in achieving an advanced level of oral proficiency in a foreign language are encouraged to spend a summer, a semester, or a year studying abroad. 
   For Portuguese, Russian, Hindi, or Mandarin, the 12 hours may be at the 100 level or above, but all credits must be earned in a single language.
   Students whose native language is not English are strongly urged to pursue twelve hours of study above the 100-level in a foreign language offered at Bradley, particularly if they already have a basic knowledge of that language. However, foreign students whose native language is not English but is one widely used in international trade may choose (with the approval of the international business coordinator) to increase their knowledge of the language and culture of the United States by completing the following curriculum in lieu of the foreign language requirement.
   • Three hours of English language or linguistics in addition to the University 300-level writing requirement, to be selected from the following: ENG 300, ENG 301, ENG 304, or ENG 306.
   • Three hours of American literature: ENG 233, 235, or 336.
   • Six hours of American studies (only 3 hours of which may be taken per department) to be selected from: AAS 200, HIS 300, HIS 311, PLS 105, and WMS 200.

Recommended Course Sequence

The following course sequence is recommended for international business majors. This sequence includes international business and Foster College of Business requirements as well as the University general education requirements.

International Business majors should consult with their advisor when preparing their academic schedule.

Freshman Year - Required Courses

• ENG 101 Composition - 3 hrs.
• BUS 100 Contemporary Business - 3 hrs.
• MTH 115 Brief Calculus with Applications I - 4 hrs.
• ATG 157 Accounting Principles - Financial - 3 hrs.
• COM 103 The Oral Communication Process - 3 hrs.
• FL 201, 202* Intermediate Foreign Language - 6 hrs.
• CIV 100 Western Civilization - 3 hrs.
• Fundamental Concepts in Science - 3 hrs.
• PSY 101 Principles of Psychology - 3 hrs.
• BMA 172 / Competency Exam - 1 hr.

32 hours

* FL is used here to represent FLF, FLG, FLJ, FLR, or FLS

Sophomore Year - Required Courses

• ATG 158 Accounting Principles - Managerial - 3 hrs.
• SOC 100 Sociological Perspective - 3 hrs.
• IS 103, 104 Introduction to International Studies - 6 hrs.
• ECO 221, 222 Principles of Micro & Macroeconomics - 6 hrs.
• QM 262, 263 Quantitative Analysis I & II - 6 hrs.
• BMA 250 Interpersonal Effectiveness in Organizations - 2 hrs.
• FL 303 Foreign Language Composition - 3 hrs.
• FL 304 Foreign Language Conversation - 3 hrs.
• Human Values - 3 hrs.

35 hours

Junior Year - Required Courses

• Fine Arts - 3 hrs.
• Non-Western Civilization* - 3 hrs.
• ENG 300, 301, 304, 305, or 306 Advanced Writing - 3 hrs.
• BMA 342 Legal Environment of Business - 3 hrs.
• BMA 350 Managing for Results in Organizations - 2 hrs.
• BMA 372 Management Information Systems - 3 hrs.
• FIN 322 Business Finance - 3 hrs.
• MTG 315 Principles of Marketing - 3 hrs.
• IB 206 Introduction to International Business - 3 hrs.
• IB 323 International Financial Management - 3 hrs.
• IB 390 International Monetary Economics or IB 391 International Trade - 3 hrs.
• BUS 220 Career Planning Strategies - 1 hr.

33 hours

* Recommended: IS 182, 240, 285, 340, or 420; or HIS 103, 104, 105, or 107.

Senior Year - Required Courses

• Fundamental Concepts in Science or Science and Technology in the Contemporary World - 3 hrs.
• IB 346 Global Marketing Management - 3 hrs.
• IB 402 Global Trade Management - 3 hrs.
• BMA 353 Operations Management - 3 hrs.
• BMA 452 Strategic Management and Business Policy - 4 hrs.
• Area Studies or IS 275 Problems of the Developing World - 3 hrs.
• Courses to fulfill second major or minor in business - 12 hrs.

31 hours

Total hours: 130

Study Abroad And Co-Op Programs

International business majors are strongly encouraged to participate in at least one study abroad experience. The University offers an ongoing study abroad program which is described elsewhere in this catalog. For opportunities relating to participation in other overseas study programs, students should inquire with the program coordinator or the University's director of study abroad.

The business Cooperative Education/Internship Program is also described elsewhere in this catalog. Opportunities may become available for international business majors to obtain their practical experience in a position related to international business.

This is the official catalog for the 2013-2014 academic year. This catalog serves as a contract between a student and Bradley University. Should changes in a program of study become necessary prior to the next academic year every effort will be made to keep students advised of any such changes via the Dean of the College or Chair of the Department concerned, the Registrar's Office, u.Achieve degree audit system, and the Schedule of Classes. It is the responsibility of each student to be aware of the current program and graduation requirements for particular degree programs.