International Business Program
A Five-Year Double Degree Program:
B.B.A. in Business Administration & B.A. in Foreign Languages
Office: 102 McCool Hall
Major Advisor - Business Administration: Travis Wiseman, Ph.D., 210 McCool Hall
Major Advisors - Foreign Languages: Amie Russell, 1500 Lee Hall
The International Business Program at Mississippi State University is designed to help bright, ambitious students prepare for an increasingly global future. The program is distinct in discharging this mission through (1) education in the principles of international business, (2) a concentrated study in foreign language and, (3) a coordinated program of practical skills acquisition.
Graduates from the International Business program typically complete their studies in five years, receiving two degrees, each designed to cover a separate aspect of living and working internationally:
- a Bachelor of Business Administration (or a Bachelor of Accountancy) with a major in a specific business discipline such as marketing, finance, management or accounting, and a concentration in international business.
- a Bachelor of Arts with a major in foreign languages, and a concentration in a specific language such as Spanish, German or French.
The hallmark of the International Business program at MSU is its emphasis on real cross-cultural immersion, both academically and in a real-world business context. All IB students must study abroad for at least six continuous weeks in one location. This experience can be either for a summer or a regular semester term.
IB students must also complete an internationally-oriented internship in which they work for a company conducting significant international business. The minimum duration of the internship is ten weeks on the job. Ideally, the internship will be reflective of the student’s specific business discipline and language proficiency area, but will ultimately be dependent on the student’s own initiative, qualifications and interest.
Students may elect to combine the practical and abroad experiences by pursuing an internship outside the country. Such an internship must be 10 weeks in length.
In addition to the business and cultural immersion aspects, the program has four main academic components:
- a core of basic skills, including courses in writing, mathematics, sciences, and communication (30 SCH);
- a core of humanities and social science courses selected to fit the special needs of international business students, emphasizing both the history and culture of other societies and the ways these societies relate to our own (27 SCH);
- intensive training to develop proficiency in one foreign language and its associated cultures and literatures (35);
- a thorough grounding in business techniques and practices, including 33 SCH of general business courses and 21-24 SCH training in one of six disciplines in business (accounting, finance, information systems, economics, management, or marketing).
As a specialized, five-year program a minimum of 154 total credit hours are required.
Admissions to the International Business Program are limited and competitive. In addition to being accepted at Mississippi State University, applicants are evaluated on their academic qualifications by the International Business Academic Program Committee. Existing foreign language fluency is not required.
Students must meet all graduation requirements for the College of Business and the College of Arts & Sciences. International Business students must have an overall and previous semester GPA of 2.67 to be eligible for internship and study abroad.
General Education Requirements
| English Composition | ||
| EN 1103 | English Composition I | 3 |
| or EN 1104 | Expanded English Composition I | |
| EN 1113 | English Composition II | 3 |
| or EN 1173 | Accelerated Composition II | |
| Mathematics | ||
| MA 1313 | College Algebra | 3 |
| MA 1613 | Calculus for Business and Life Sciences I | 3 |
| ST 2113 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| or BQA 2113 | Business Statistical Methods I | |
| Science | ||
| Life Science and Lab (BIO prefix) | 3 | |
| Physical Science and Lab (CH, GG, OR PH prefix) | 4 | |
| Humanities | ||
| EN 2273 | World Literature Before 1600 | 3 |
| or EN 2283 | World Literature After 1600 | |
| HI 1173 | World History Since 1500 | 3 |
| or HI 1223 | Modern Western World | |
| Fine Arts | ||
| Choose one the following: | 3 | |
| Architectural Appreciation | ||
| History of Architecture I | ||
| Art History I | ||
| Art History II | ||
| Art Appreciation | ||
| Italian Renaissance Art History | ||
| History and Appreciation of Music | ||
| Introduction to the Theatre | ||
| History and Appreciation of Dance | ||
| Social/Behavioral Sciences | ||
| GR 1123 | Introduction to World Geography | 3 |
| AN 1143 | Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| College of Arts and Sciences Core | ||
| PHI 3013 | Business Ethics | 3 |
| PS 1313 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| or PS 1513 | Comparative Government | |
| HI 3000+ | Upper-level History Elective (see advisor) | |
| SO 3000+ | Upper-level Social Science Elective (see advisor) | |
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| French I | ||
| German I | ||
| Spanish I | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| French II | ||
| German II | ||
| Spanish II | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| French III | ||
| German III | ||
| Spanish III | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| French IV | ||
| German IV | ||
| Spanish IV | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 4 | |
| Advanced French Composition | ||
| Advanced German Composition | ||
| Advanced Spanish Composition and Advanced Spanish Laboratory | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 4 | |
| Advanced French Conversation | ||
| Advanced German Conversation | ||
| Advanced Spanish Conversation and Advanced Spanish Conversation Practicum | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| French Civilization | ||
| German Civilization | ||
| Hispanic Civilization | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| Business French I | ||
| Business German I | ||
| Economics of the Spanish-Speaking World | ||
| Business-related Language course | 3 | |
See FL advisor for available courses | ||
| Literature course in target language | 3 | |
See FL advisor for available courses | ||
| Foreign Language Elective | ||
| See FL advisor for options | ||
| College of Business Core | ||
| ACC 2013 | Principles of Financial Accounting | 3 |
| ACC 2023 | Principles of Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| EC 2113 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| EC 2123 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| BL 2413 | The Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| BIS 3233 | Management Information Systems | 3 |
| FIN 3123 | Financial Management | 3 |
| MKT 3013 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| MGT 3114 | 4 | |
| Oral Communication Requirement | ||
| CO 1003 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking | 3 |
| or CO 1013 | Introduction to Communication | |
| Computer Literacy Requirement | ||
| BIS 1012 | Introduction to Business Information Systems | 2 |
| Writing Requirement | ||
| MGT 3213 | Organizational Communications | 3 |
| Internation Business Core | ||
| IB 1001 | Introduction to International Business | 1 |
| IB 3900 | Internship Work | 1-6 |
| IB 4903 | Internship Academic Report | 3 |
| International Business Elective (see advisor) | 3 | |
| MGT 4863 | International Strategic Management | 3 |
| Free Electives | ||
| Major Courses | 21-24 | |
| Students must select 21 hours of upper level course work within a specific business discipline to complete the major. Accounting majors must complete 24 hours of upper level (3000+) course work for the Bachelor of Accountancy degree. Courses counting toward the required hours are provided below. | ||
| Total Hours | 154 | |
Accounting
| ACC 3003 | Accounting Information Systems I | 3 |
| ACC 3013 | Cost Accounting | 3 |
| ACC 3023 | Intermediate Accounting I | 3 |
| ACC 3033 | Intermediate Accounting II | 3 |
| ACC 3053 | Accounting Information Systems II | 3 |
| ACC 4013 | Income Tax I | 3 |
| ACC 4033 | Auditing | 3 |
| Accounting Elective (see advisor) | 3 | |
3000-4000 level course | ||
Business Information Systems
| BIS 1733 | Visual Basic Programming | 3 |
| BIS 1753 | Introduction to Business COBOL | 3 |
| BIS 3523 | Advanced Languages I | 3 |
| BIS 3753 | Business Database Systems | 3 |
| BIS 4753 | Structured Systems Analysis and Design | 3 |
| BIS Electives | 3000-4000 level courses | 6 |
Economics
| EC 3113 | Intermediate Macroeconomics | 3 |
| EC 3123 | Intermediate Microeconomics | 3 |
| EC 4323 | International Economics | 3 |
| EC 4643 | Economic Forecasting and Analysis | 3 |
| Economics Electives | 3000-4000 level courses | 9 |
Finance
| FIN 3723 | Financial Markets and Institutions | 3 |
| FIN 4223 | Intermediate Financial Management | 3 |
| FIN 4243 | Senior Seminar in Financial Management | 3 |
| FIN 4423 | Investments | 3 |
| FIN 4923 | International Financial Management | 3 |
| Finance Electives | 4000-level courses | 6 |
Management
| MGT 3323 | Entrepreneurship | 3 |
| MGT 3513 | Introduction to Human Resource Management | 3 |
| MGT 3813 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| MGT 4153 | Management Seminar | 3 |
| MGT 4613 | Cross-Cultural Management | 3 |
| Management Electives | 3000-4000 level courses | 6 |
Marketing
| MKT 3933 | International Marketing | 3 |
| MKT 4413 | Consumer Behavior | 3 |
| MKT 4533 | Marketing Research | 3 |
| MKT 4813 | Marketing Management | 3 |
| Marketing Electives | 3000-4000-level courses 1 | 9 |
Footnotes
| 1 | See IB advisor for elective options, including a concentration in Supply Chain Management. |
Business Administration
| MKT 3933 | International Marketing | 3 |
| FIN 4923 | International Financial Management | 3 |
| EC 4323 | International Economics | 3 |
| MGT 4613 | Cross-Cultural Management | 3 |
| BL 4273 | International Business Law | 3 |
| International Business Electives | See adivsor | 6 |
Courses
IB 1001 Introduction to International Business: 1 hour.
(Prerequisite:International Business major). One hour survey Introduction to International Business to prepare the entering class academically and professionally for successful performance
IB 2990 Special Topics in International Business: 1-9 hours.
Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)
IB 3900 Internship Work: 1-6 hours.
(Prerequsite: approval of the Internatinal Business Director). Business topics examined by student during work semester. Student evaluations are assigned on satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis
IB 4000 Directed Individual Study in International Business: 1-6 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged
IB 4103 International Business: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Senior or graduate standing in business or consent of instructor.) An overview of the major forms of international business: Exports and imports, overseas investments, production and marketing operations, licensing, financing and other international business services
IB 4903 Internship Academic Report: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Satisfactory performacne in IB 3900). Individual work experience under faculty guidance in business. Scholarly paper on approved topic required
IB 4990 Special Topics in International Business: 1-9 hours.
Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)
IB 6103 International Business: 3 hours.
(Prerequisite: Senior or graduate standing in business or consent of instructor.) An overview of the major forms of international business: Exports and imports, overseas investments, production and marketing operations, licensing, financing and other international business services
IB 6990 Special Topics in International Business: 1-9 hours.
Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)
IB 7000 Directed Individual Study in International Business: 1-6 hours.
Hours and credits to be arranged
IB 8990 Special Topics in International Business: 1-9 hours.
Credit and title to be arranged. This course is to be used on a limited basis to offer developing subject matter areas not covered in existing courses. (Courses limited to two offerings under one title within two academic years)