International Business with Language and Culture, B.A.

Program Learning Goals in International Business with Language and Culture.

Learners will be able to:

1. Language and Cultural Knowledge: Demonstrate proficiency in a second language and culture at the intermediate level.

2. Cross-Cultural Competence: Explain how individuals’ cultural backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives may affect interpersonal communication, performance, relationship-building, and/or team effectiveness in culturally diverse environments.

3. Global Systems: Identify and explain how global social, political, or economic systems may influence and be influenced by local or regional phenomena (such as debt, unrest, political movements and/or cultural interactions).

4. International Business Contexts: Analyze international business contexts (e.g., markets, financial arrangements, currencies, transactions).

5. Competitive Dynamics: Identify and analyze country, industry, and firm-level opportunities and risks in a global environment.

6. International Organizational Strategy: Formulate an organizational strategy responsive to culture-specific actors, international audiences, and diverse organizational contexts.

Major Requirements

A total of 55 - 65 credit hours is required as described below.

Language and Culture Requirement

9-18 credit hours. Intermediate-mid proficiency in a second language, typically demonstrated through successful completion of 1030 or its equivalent in French, German, Italian or Spanish, plus 9 additional credits related to culture, history, politics, etc. of the selected language area. Majors choose one of four tracks. Please see the note* below for students whose first language is not English.

FR 1030 and 9 credits (usually three courses) from the following:

OR

GR1030 and 9 credits (usually three courses) from the following:

OR

IT 1030 and 9 credits (usually three courses) from the following:

OR

SP 1030 and at least six credits (usually two courses) from:

*Degree-seeking international students for whom English is a non-native language may elect to use the US as their area of study.  In this case, courses on the US and other English-speaking areas may fulfill requirements for country-specific culture courses.

**Students may only count this course toward either the Language & Culture requirement or toward the Global Systems requirement (below).

Required Courses

Business Courses

Subtotal: 19-20

International Business Courses

Subtotal: 12

International business electives can be taken at JCU or abroad.

Additional Major Courses

Subtotal: 15

Experiential Requirements:

This major requires a study-abroad experience of at least least six weeks.  Students are encouraged but not required to study abroad in a country of the student’s language of study. Study abroad typically occurs during the spring semester or summer of the junior year. Students must apply through the Center for Global Education by the deadline prior to the semester of study abroad, and the location must be approved by the IBLC director. In addition, BPD 4490 or BPD 4492 (0 credit) must be completed for the internship (or coop) requirement of the program.  Although the required internship can be taken while abroad or in the U. S., students are encouraged to find one while abroad.  Note that many study-abroad programs require that students have a GPA of 2.5 or higher.  Students should be sure to speak with the director of the program.