CenterCoin CenterBasketball CenterLamp NicholsNews Nichols-Shield Bison newspaper pen4 mic graduation profile file-text2 certificate coin-dollar phone-wave2 location4 compass4 calendar2 bubbles4 user3 users4 search3 key2 rocket balance shield2 clipboard2 menu7 sphere earth flag6 snowflake sun3 question3 facebook instagram twitter youtube vimeo2 flickr3 linkedin

Join us for a fun, friendly Campus Tour!

Skip to main content

Nichols College

Learn. Lead. Succeed

International Business

Microsoft Teams Image 27

Earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) with a concentration in International Business at Nichols prepares students to do business in an emerging global market. This interdisciplinary degree program is built on three pillars: International Business, International Management, and International Affairs, Governance, and Policy. 

Using case studies, international travel, and key internships, the International Business concentration prepares students for tasks like  

  • managing a multicultural workforce,
  • entering foreign markets,
  • working with government agencies involved in international markets and trade,
  • recognizing cultural differences in business practices—such as those in management, marketing, finance, and economics; and
  • working in financial institutions with foreign operations.

For six years in a row, Nichols has been awarded the title of Best College to get a Business Education by the Worcester Business Journal. Why? Because our BSBA programs place enormous emphasis on professional development, helping students to build a repertoire of functional skills and encouraging them to build the self-confidence to use them. 

Careers in International Business

An education in international business offers the benefit of global application, and career opportunities in the field are vast and diverse. Graduates of the program go on to enter careers in foreign operations, foreign policy, and international trade and finance. 

A variety of job titles are available in the field of international business: 

  • International Management Analyst
  • International Marketing Manager
  • Global Financial Analyst
  • International Media Planner
  • International Loan Officer

Many careers in the field show promising growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment of Management Analysts and Financial Analysts is slated to increase 14% and 11% from 2016 to 2026, respectively—faster than the average for all other occupations. In May 2018, the median annual wage for management analysts was $83,610; for financial analysts, the median wage was $85,660.

Learn More!

A Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in International Business will equip you with the tools you need to be a leader in business in a globalized economy. Whatever the cultural context of your career, Nichols will prepare you to lead with confidence and tact. If you have questions about our International Business concentration, you can learn more by requesting more information or scheduling a campus visit today! 

Our International Business faculty is open to questions and concerns. Their contact information can be found below.

Courses & Requirements

International Business majors must complete 121 credit hours (approximately 40 courses), including courses from the foundation and business core curricula, focused electives and these required specialization courses:

Required Courses

Examines management theory and practice as applied to business activities that cross national boundaries. Emphasis is placed on an understanding of strategic, cultural, behavioral, functional, legal, and socio-ethnical aspects of international management in a global economy with multinational business enterprises.

Prerequisite: MGMT 227

This course provides an introduction to the field of comparative politics, the study of places other than the United States. We will analyze in-depth studies of political processes from nations all around the world to investigate debates at the heart of political science, economics, history and other fields within the Liberal Arts and Business core: Why are politicians responsive to the needs of citizens in some countries but not in others? Why do people vote on ethnic lines in some places but not others? Why do some states guarantee social protection for their citizens whereas others leave it in the hands of the market? How do political institutions and social factors shape the provision of public goods? What role do property rights play in transitions to democracy and to market economies? Discussions include topics on governance and accountability, political economy, political culture, identity politics, social cleavages, citizenship, and democratic institutions.

Prerequisite: ENGL 105 or ENGL 212 and 30 credits of coursework; or ENGL 105 or ENGL 212 and CRIT 201 

This course provides an overview of the unique problems faced by enterprises engaging in international activities, and the importance of understanding the international economic, social, political, cultural, and legal environment. This course also provides practical information on the mechanics of importing and exporting, joint venture, franchising, and subsidiaries, international dimensions of management, marketing and accounting, international financial management. Other subjects covered in this course includes special problems faced by multinational enterprises, recent problems of the international economic system, country-risk analysis, and the increasing use of counter trade.

Prerequisite: MGMT 227 

This seminar is a senior-level capstone course for international business students. A case study approach will be used to explore the major current issues in international business and bring together the general concepts and ethical dimensions studied in earlier coursework in the program. A capstone project requires students to examine current issues and develop critical information literacy skills.

This internship enables students to apply the knowledge acquired throughout the program to the real world. The International Business internship program will work closely with the Fischer Institute, Career Services, and a growing list of international companies, as well as independently placing students in several locations, in the U.S. and abroad. A cumulative grade point average of 2.7 as well as 60 credits completed is required; the internship consists of 120 hours of work.

Electives

This course offers an introduction into the concept of values, morality, as well as cultural beliefs and upbringing in all areas of business, including international, from consumer rights to corporate social responsibility. Decisions made by shift managers or corporate presidents may affect thousands of individuals or entire communities across the globe. Consumers and international markets today expect and demand integrity, honesty, and transparency in all levels of their environment. Understanding those expectations is the key to communicating core values and behavior not only to employees, but society in general.

Prerequisite: MGMT 227 

This course explores the impact on project management of culture, language variations, religious, regulatory and legal practices, technology penetration, temporal orientation, gender issues, corruption, ethics, personal liberty and political contexts. Students learn how to meet global projects challenges through efficient use of practices and technology. The course provides hands-n application of project management, in line with the Project Management Institute (PMI) body of knowledge (PMBOK), and utilizes available case studies and examples from companies to help students sharpen the skills needed to recognize and foster a successful international project environment.

Prerequisite: MGMT 227

This is an in-depth study of a selected topic, issue, problem or trend in international business. The specific subject matter is not offered as an existing regular course or deserves more time-emphasis than is possible in a regular course. This course may be repeated once for a total of six credits.

Prerequisite: IBUS-287

An economic analysis of the foundations of international trade and the impact of trade on domestic and global economies. The course includes a study of the balance of payments, world debt, exchange rates, and the international monetary system. Current issues and problems are emphasized.

Prerequisite: ECON 221, ECON 222

An analysis of the international business and consumer environments and the development and implementation of marketing programs across business alternatives (e.g., direct investment, joint ventures, licensing). Topics include the roles of cultural, political, technological, economic, and legal aspects of marketing in an international environment, as well as how these affect the marketing mixes likely to be successful in various international markets.
This course focuses on the impact of advanced economies on emerging markets and vice-versa. It provides an overview of the International Monetary Fund?s (IMF) country classification in its World Economic Outlook surveys and reports, which divides the world into two major groups: advanced economies, and other emerging market and developing countries. It also seeks to understand the intensity of competition in emerging markets and advanced economies.

This course provides students with strategies to improve international business problem solving and managerial decision making through the use of analytics by using quantitative and qualitative decision making tools and techniques. This course also provides students with an overview of how decisions are made to solve management problems in the international business environment. It introduces the fundamental concepts and methodologies of decision making process, problem solving, decision analysis, data collection, and probability distribution, evaluation, and prediction methods.

Prerequisite: IBUS 287 

This course provides a comprehensive discussion of marketing and economic research and analysis, its key concepts, process description, qualitative and quantitative techniques for marketing research and data analysis, and application scenarios. Students gain an appreciation for some of the breadth and depth of this subject and its significance for the international business enterprise – both from the point of view of a start-up entrepreneurship as well as an established business organization.

Prerequisite: IBUS 287

Virtually every US company now faces competition from abroad, and the fortunes of most US firms, large and small, are inextricably bound to the global economy. Company HR Departments must have a global perspective to remain competitive. And all managers, especially HR professionals, must develop a sensitivity to global issues and practices. This course will focus on several aspects of human resources in a global context: labor practices in developing countries; multinational companies' strategies in complying with international ethical principles; and how companies can manage global operations in a manner that results in a successful experience for both the employee and the firm.

Faculty