People around the world are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of international trade and doing business abroad. Some of this awareness is due to the increasing membership in the European Union, the global stance on democracy, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the increasing availability of information via the Internet. Simply put, students who graduate from college today without exposure to international perspectives and global economic conditions ar not fully prepaed for tomorrow's jobs.

The Donald L. Harrison College of Business at Southeast Missouri State University offers a major in International Business under the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree program accredited by AACSB International. A minor in International Business is also available. In addition, a number of semester exchange and immersion programs of one to five weeks are offered. More information can be found at: www.semo.edu/ibp.

The primary objective of the major in International Business is to provide specialized curriculum for students interested in managerial careers in international business. Students develop the following:

1. competencies in foundational areas of business,
2. additional core workplace skills,
3. in-depth understanding of the international dimension to business,
4. enhanced sensitivity to other cultures.

By design, the program is interdisciplinary and integrative in nature, emphasizing the development of cultural, financial, managerial, marketing and economic understanding of the international environment.

The cultural dimension is addressed through directed electives, which are part of the general University Studies requirement, in conjunction with a study abroad requirement. While English is firmly established as the language of business, courses in a foreign language may be added so students completing the program will have a basic understanding of the structure of another language. We believe this level of instruction is consistent with the goal of promoting a deeper understanding of a non-U.S. culture.

Graduates in International Business at Southeast are prepared for employment with companies participating in all aspects of international commerce and trade. Potential employers range from small businesses to large multinational corporations.

In a recent article in the Journal of Education for Business, establishing a series of courses focusing on global issues and integrating international topics into existing courses were two of the ways discussed by which business programs could become internationalized. At Southeast we have done both.

Thus, students who graduate from our international business program are prepared to meet the demands of today and tomorrow, both at home and abroad. At home, employers value employees with such skills as they begin to compete in the international marketplace with their products. Abroad, companies rely on these skills in order to do business with the U.S. market, the most vital of world economies.

The International Business Major