2024-25 Academic Catalog

International Business Program

A Five-Year Double Degree Program:
B.B.A. in Business Administration & B.A. in Foreign Languages

International Business Director: Travis Wiseman, Ph.D., Associate Clinical Professor 
IB Business Advisor: Taylor Watson, Academic Coordinator
IB Language Advisor: Amie K. Russell, Instructor II & CMLL Undergraduate Coordinator

Offices:
International Business 210 McCool Hall
Classical & Modern Languages and Literatures 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 Spanish, German, French, or Asian Studies.

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:

  1. a core of basic skills, including courses in writing, mathematics, sciences, and communication (30 SCH);
  2. 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);
  3. intensive training to develop proficiency in one foreign language and its associated cultures and literatures (35);
  4. 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.