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School of Business & Entrepreneurship

International Business

Why pursue an international business degree at North Central College? 

International business professionals use creative problem solving for work in specific economies, understand cultural awareness and are skilled negotiators. This program is designed to give you a comprehensive business core and an international edge in key business topics. At North Central, you will develop an instinct for what’s left “unsaid”. Differing communication styles and customs can greatly affect business transactions abroad, and international business associates are key to identifying miscommunication, relieving tension and closing multinational deals. No matter where you work from or what department you work in, the skills gained as an international business major are valuable to many organizations.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN

  • Understanding other countries’ financial, sociopolitical, legal and economic systems
  • Working abroad to expand networks and gain cultural awareness
  • Combining business with cultural and linguistic immersion

then an INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS degree might be for you.

Why study international business at North Central College?

In the Classroom

Coursework topics:

  • 11-course comprehensive business core
  • Education abroad
  • Global business, ethics & politics
  • International economics
  • International finance
  • International human resource management
  • International management
  • International marketing
  • Language courses
  • Leading in a global world

Beyond the Classroom

As an international business major, you can:

  • Simulate trading and access thousands of proprietary reports in the Bloomberg Finance Lab, equipped with ten dual-monitor workstations, Bloomberg Terminal software, and Bloomberg’s unique keyboards.
  • Become “Bloomberg certified” by completing a series of advanced financial modules in our Bloomberg Finance Lab.
  • Apply for an internship or job opportunity through robust faculty and alumni networks or the Center for Career and Professional Development.
  • Travel, study and work internationally through our study abroad and international internship programs.
  • Learn about the fair-trade coffee import business through work in Guatemala.
  • Apply what you’ve learned to international entrepreneurial projects through student organizations like the Entrepreneurship and International Business Organization (EIBO) and Enactus.

What Careers Can International Business Majors Have?

Our international business program is designed to prepare students for careers within foreign environments and business settings. They gain the experience required for an opportunity to work for multinational corporations in a wide variety of business areas including international relations, business analytics, international trade development, finance, and more. 

More Department information

International Business, B.B.A.

International Business benefits students who aspire to developing a global mindset and are willing to confront situations and problems characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. This major is for students who are interested in understanding global competitive dynamics, competencies and decision-making skills for multinational industries. International business graduates possess highly transferable skills attractive to international firms, state or federal agencies and non-government international organizations. Often domestic firms seek International Business graduates for their business, language and multi-disciplinary skills.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Management and Marketing.

Common SBE Core

  • SBEN 100 - Globalization and Society

    SBEN 100 - Globalization and Society

    4.00 credit hours

    An introductory course identifying the role of the business institution in our society, how business behavior is shaped and influenced by its stakeholders-managers, consumers, employees, government and community members. Key topics include: business systems, corporate governance, the business and society relationship, business and public issues, ethical dilemmas in business, corporate social responsibilities in relation to stakeholders, globalization, ecological and sustainability issues and the influence of technology on business and society.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ACCT 201 - Financial Accounting

    ACCT 201 - Financial Accounting

    4.00 credit hours

    An introduction to accounting principles and procedures as they are employed in the communication of financial information to various users, such as management, stockholders and government agencies. Topics include accounting for assets, liabilities, owner's equity and other reporting issues.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ACCT 202 - Managerial Accounting

    ACCT 202 - Managerial Accounting

    4.00 credit hours

    Analysis of accounting for managerial decision-making, planning and control. Topics include budgeting, variance analysis, traditional and nontraditional product costing methods and cost-volume profit analysis.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • BUSN 205 - Business Law and Ethics

    BUSN 205 - Business Law and Ethics

    4.00 credit hours

    Surveys the major aspects of the law governing business and commerce including the domestic and international legal environment, the range of dispute resolution processes, legal liability including torts and negligence, contracts, employment law including employment discrimination, business entities, commercial transactions and intellectual property—all with particular emphasis on business ethics and ethical decision making.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • BUSN 265 - Business and Economics Statistics

    BUSN 265 - Business and Economics Statistics

    4.00 credit hours

    Provides an overview of basic statistics as it applies to business. The focus is on learning statistical concepts by applying analytical reasoning to business applications. Examples illustrating the relevance of statistics to broad areas of business are used. The course requires students to use spreadsheet programs, statistical programs, the Internet and other computer tools in analyzing statistics. The focus is on application of the material and on solving problems. Only one of BUSN 265 and PSYC 250 may be taken for credit.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • BUSN 485 - Business Strategy

    BUSN 485 - Business Strategy

    4.00 credit hours

    The capstone course requirement for all business majors. As befits a capstone, student skills in business strategy are developed in a highly integrative manner such that students use knowledge and frameworks from all functional areas of business to develop a holistic perspective of firms and competitive advantage. The knowing component of this course is focused on theoretical knowledge and frameworks applied in the critical analysis of business case studies. The doing component of this course centers on an online simulation where students compete to run a successful business.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ECON 200 - Principles of Microeconomics

    ECON 200 - Principles of Microeconomics

    4.00 credit hours

    Introduction to the theory of consumer choice, social and individual welfare, the behavior of business firms and market structure, and other applied microeconomic topics.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ECON 205 - Principles of Macroeconomics

    ECON 205 - Principles of Macroeconomics

    4.00 credit hours

    Introduction to macroeconomic theory, with emphasis on factors which explain changes in national income, unemployment and inflation. Other topics include money and banking, fiscal and monetary policies, distribution of income and economic crises.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • FINA 350 - Corporate Finance

    FINA 350 - Corporate Finance

    4.00 credit hours

    An introduction to corporate financial management. Topics include financial statement analysis, discounted cash flow analysis, bond and stock valuation, common stock/debt financing, risk and return, cost of capital, and capital budgeting.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • MGMT 305 - Management and Organizational Behavior

    MGMT 305 - Management and Organizational Behavior

    4.00 credit hours

    Provides a formal overview of why organizations exist and how they operate within the context of society. Basic management issues such as the structure of organizations are explored. In many cases management topics are covered in a generic manner that can be applied to any organization. Other issues are addressed with specific applications to certain firms. This course examines our role as individuals as it pertains to organizations. It is generally meant to provide a framework to analyze organizations that exist in the U.S. but will also cover some international topics.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • MKTG 300 - Principles of Marketing

    MKTG 300 - Principles of Marketing

    4.00 credit hours

    Presents an overview of Marketing as a principle, a discipline, and as a profession. Students examine all elements of Marketing including integrated promotional strategies, consumer behavior, and ethics and social responsibility. Emphasis is placed on the Marketing Mix (Product, Place, Promotion and Price) as students design and implement a comprehensive marketing plan.

    Schedule Of Classes

International Business Courses

  • BUSN 201 - Global Business, Ethics and Politics

    BUSN 201 - Global Business, Ethics and Politics

    4.00 credit hours

    Explores the dynamics of global business operations within the context of power structures, geopolitics and ethics. An overview of international business operations, ethical theories and how to apply them internationally, global power structures (i.e. WTO, EU) and their influence on global business. It explores the impact of moral concerns on the norms, institutions and practices of international business. It analyzes the relationship between business and power with a particular emphasis on income inequality and environmental impact. It explores how economic wealth and power affects people around the world.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • BUSN 301 - Leading in a Global World

    BUSN 301 - Leading in a Global World

    4.00 credit hours

    An overview of globalization and its effects on leading successful multinational business and organizations. It explores systematically the theories and models of global leadership and explains social relationships and human behavior across cultural boundaries. It analyzes the relationships among individuals, communities and societies across the world. It provides a context expressing the cultural identities of leaders. It assists learners in developing key professional and personal competencies for effective global leadership and offers an integrated, practical and dynamic framework to think, act and mobilize people to develop global literacy.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • MGMT 475 - International Management

    MGMT 475 - International Management

    4.00 credit hours

    Explores organizational management and business strategy issues in an increasingly global environment. It explains the origins of global interdependence and its implications for multinational corporations. The course analyzes the process and impact of internationalization and its contributions to the development of a multicultural world and utilizes international management theories to help students acquire basic global business analytical and cross-cultural management and communication skills. Finally, it provides an ability to utilize the tools for the assessment, analysis and decision-making related to organizational internalization.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • MKTG 460 - International Marketing

    MKTG 460 - International Marketing

    4.00 credit hours

    Investigates strategy, policy and environmental factors necessary in making international marketing decisions. Students develop skills in segmenting and identifying markets, designing product, distribution, price and marketing communication strategies, and evaluating marketing mix effectiveness for international marketing programs. Emphasis is placed on understanding cultural differences that impact international marketing decisions.

    Schedule Of Classes

One of the following:

  • ECON 340 - International Economics

    ECON 340 - International Economics

    4.00 credit hours

    The theory of international trade and the behavior of international institutions. Examination of how trade, trade restrictions and international monetary systems affect domestic business and economic prospects.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • FINA 385 - International Finance

    FINA 385 - International Finance

    2.00 credit hours

    This course examines global financial market activities, including topics such as exchange rate determination and its effects, international arbitrage, interest rate and purchasing power parity, forecasting exchange rate, measuring and managing exchange rate risk, and multinational capital budgeting.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • MGMT 465 - International Human Resource Management

    MGMT 465 - International Human Resource Management

    4.00 credit hours

    Examines issues from the perspective of the multinational organization. Topics addressed include globalization and human resource strategy, management within the structure of the multinational organization, cultural and legal influences on managing employees, selecting employees for international assignments, training and developing, evaluating the performance of and retaining expatriate employees and labor/management relations in international organizations.

    Schedule Of Classes

International Business Minor

International Business benefits students who aspire to developing a global mindset and are willing to confront situations and problems characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. This major is for students who are interested in understanding global competitive dynamics, competencies and decision-making skills for multinational industries. International business graduates possess highly transferable skills attractive to international firms, state or federal agencies, and non-government international organizations. Often domestic firms seek International Business graduates for their business, language and multi-disciplinary skills.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Management and Marketing.

A minimum 24 credit hours, including:

  • SBEN 100 - Globalization and Society

    SBEN 100 - Globalization and Society

    4.00 credit hours

    An introductory course identifying the role of the business institution in our society, how business behavior is shaped and influenced by its stakeholders-managers, consumers, employees, government and community members. Key topics include: business systems, corporate governance, the business and society relationship, business and public issues, ethical dilemmas in business, corporate social responsibilities in relation to stakeholders, globalization, ecological and sustainability issues and the influence of technology on business and society.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • BUSN 201 - Global Business, Ethics and Politics

    BUSN 201 - Global Business, Ethics and Politics

    4.00 credit hours

    Explores the dynamics of global business operations within the context of power structures, geopolitics and ethics. An overview of international business operations, ethical theories and how to apply them internationally, global power structures (i.e. WTO, EU) and their influence on global business. It explores the impact of moral concerns on the norms, institutions and practices of international business. It analyzes the relationship between business and power with a particular emphasis on income inequality and environmental impact. It explores how economic wealth and power affects people around the world.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • BUSN 301 - Leading in a Global World

    BUSN 301 - Leading in a Global World

    4.00 credit hours

    An overview of globalization and its effects on leading successful multinational business and organizations. It explores systematically the theories and models of global leadership and explains social relationships and human behavior across cultural boundaries. It analyzes the relationships among individuals, communities and societies across the world. It provides a context expressing the cultural identities of leaders. It assists learners in developing key professional and personal competencies for effective global leadership and offers an integrated, practical and dynamic framework to think, act and mobilize people to develop global literacy.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ECON 200 - Principles of Microeconomics

    ECON 200 - Principles of Microeconomics

    4.00 credit hours

    Introduction to the theory of consumer choice, social and individual welfare, the behavior of business firms and market structure, and other applied microeconomic topics.

    Schedule Of Classes

Advanced Electives

Two of the following:

  • MGMT 465 - International Human Resource Management

    MGMT 465 - International Human Resource Management

    4.00 credit hours

    Examines issues from the perspective of the multinational organization. Topics addressed include globalization and human resource strategy, management within the structure of the multinational organization, cultural and legal influences on managing employees, selecting employees for international assignments, training and developing, evaluating the performance of and retaining expatriate employees and labor/management relations in international organizations.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • MGMT 475 - International Management

    MGMT 475 - International Management

    4.00 credit hours

    Explores organizational management and business strategy issues in an increasingly global environment. It explains the origins of global interdependence and its implications for multinational corporations. The course analyzes the process and impact of internationalization and its contributions to the development of a multicultural world and utilizes international management theories to help students acquire basic global business analytical and cross-cultural management and communication skills. Finally, it provides an ability to utilize the tools for the assessment, analysis and decision-making related to organizational internalization.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • MKTG 460 - International Marketing

    MKTG 460 - International Marketing

    4.00 credit hours

    Investigates strategy, policy and environmental factors necessary in making international marketing decisions. Students develop skills in segmenting and identifying markets, designing product, distribution, price and marketing communication strategies, and evaluating marketing mix effectiveness for international marketing programs. Emphasis is placed on understanding cultural differences that impact international marketing decisions.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • ECON 340 - International Economics

    ECON 340 - International Economics

    4.00 credit hours

    The theory of international trade and the behavior of international institutions. Examination of how trade, trade restrictions and international monetary systems affect domestic business and economic prospects.

    Schedule Of Classes

  • FINA 385 - International Finance

    FINA 385 - International Finance

    2.00 credit hours

    This course examines global financial market activities, including topics such as exchange rate determination and its effects, international arbitrage, interest rate and purchasing power parity, forecasting exchange rate, measuring and managing exchange rate risk, and multinational capital budgeting.

    Schedule Of Classes

International Business Internships and Jobs

A North Central education integrates career preparation with rich academic study. Our international business faculty encourages you to refine and apply your knowledge in an interconnected world. Here you'll learn to think independently and work globally to solve problems and lead.

Internships

Students interned at the following organizations:

  • ALDI
  • American Income Life
  • Design Resource Center
  • Effortless English
  • Endress and Hauser
  • US Cellular

Careers

Recent graduates are employed with the following companies:

  • ABM Industries
  • Boeing
  • Clutch Global Logistics
  • Hendrickson International
  • Mars, Incorporated
  • McDonald’s
  • Nielsen Holdings
  • Radio Flyer
  • UPS Global Freight Forwarding

Invest in your future

Choosing the right college is a big decision. Don’t make it alone. North Central’s admission and financial aid team is here to help you design a financial aid solution that works best for you and your family.

Merit scholarships, grants, loans, campus employment - these are just some of the resources available to you. Over 95 percent of students and 100 percent of all eligible students receive aid. Let our team partner with you in finding the best value for your education.

Learn more about financial aid and costs for North Central College

Apply to North Central College

Interested in earning your international business degree? The first step to becoming a North Central student is reading the application instructions specific to you. Find out everything you need to know about applying by selecting the group you belong to below.