Certificate in International Business Studies

To meet the challenges of increased business globalization Mays Business School offers a program in international business. The program offers Mays students seeking a B.B.A. (accounting, finance, information operations management, management, and marketing) or B.S. (agribusiness) degree the opportunity to study international business, develop understanding of other cultures and language knowledge to meet global business challenges.

Certificate Requirements

The certificate requires 18 semester hours of course work that may be accommodated within the 120 (B.B.A. or B.S.) hours required in the undergraduate business curriculum. You are encouraged to plan early and often to facilitate integration of certificate requirements within the regular undergraduate program.

Completing the certificate includes taking the proper international business course work, studying or working abroad, and taking non-business international course work or six hours of foreign language.

Non Business International Course Work: Six hours. These six hours of international course work outside Mays must be selected from the list below.

University Level Foreign Language: Six hours. These six hours must be in one foreign language. Credit by exam does not count toward requirement.

AND

International Business Course Work: 12 hours. Three of the twelve hours must be taken in your major. Courses must be selected from the list below: See a listing of current international business courses offered.

International Experience: Five weeks minimum. International experience (study abroad, reciprocal exchange, or internship) must be approved.

University Level Foreign Language

English or credit by examination of a foreign language cannot be used to fulfill this requirement. Foreign languages currently offered at Texas A&M are:

Dept. of European and Classical Languages and Cultures: French, German, Italian, Russian
Dept. of Hispanic Studies: Portugese, Spanish
Japanese Education Program: Japanese

Non Business International Course Work

International culture classes may be used to satisfy the International Electives requirement in your degree plan. Some of these courses may also satisfy Behavioral Sciences or Humanities requirements. Check with your department advisor or Undergraduate Program advisor to verify use of these courses in your degree plan. You must select six semester hours of international culture course work from the following:

ANTH 205 Peoples & Cultures of the World
ANTH 300 Cultural Change & Development
ANTH 314 Agrarian Peasant Societies
ANTH 315 Peoples & Cultures of Africa
COMM 335 Intercultural Communication
ECON 320 Economic Development of Europe
ECON 324 Comparative Economic Systems
ECON 330 Economic Development
FREN 301 French Culture & Civilization
FREN 322 Survey of French Literature II
FREN 336 Contemporary France
FREN 418 Seminar in French Civilization
FREN 425 French Film
GEOG 202 Geography of the Global Village
GEOG 311 Cultural Geography
GEOG 320 The Middle East
GEOG 321 Geography of Africa
GEOG 323 Geography of Latin America
GEOG 402 Interpretations of Cultural Landscapes
GERM 305 German Literary Expression
GERM 322 German Culture & Civilization II
HIST 210 Russian Civilization
HIST 305 Mexican-American History 1848-Present
HIST 324 European Society & the Industrial Age
HIST 336 Europe Since 1932
HIST 339 Eastern Europe Since 1453
HIST 342 Latin America Since 1810
HIST 345 Modern Africa
HIST 346 History of South Africa
HIST 348 Modern Middle East
HIST 352 Modern East Asia
HIST 355 Modern China
HIST 356 20th Century Japan
HIST 402 Germany Since 1815
HIST 407 History of France Since 1815
HIST 412 Soviet Union 1917-present
HIST 439 Twentieth Century England
HIST 440 Latin American Cultural and Intellectual History
HIST 441 History of Mexico, 1821 to the Present
HIST 449 History of Brazil Since 1822
HIST 464 International Developments Since 1918
HIST 477 Women in Modern European History
MODL 352 Hispanic Literature & Film
MODL 362 Hispanic Literature in the U.S.
MODL 363 Borderlands: U.S. & Mexico
POLS 322 Western European Government and Politics
POLS 323 Political Systems of Latin America
POLS 324 Third World Politics
POLS 326 Government and Politics of Eastern Europe
POLS 328 Globalization and Democracy
POLS 329 Introduction to Comparative Politics
POLS 331 Introduction to World Politics
POLS 338 Soviet Government and Politics
POLS 365 Asian Governments and Politics
POLS 424 Comparative Government Institutions
POLS 432 Politics of the European Union
SOCI 325 International Business Behavior
SOCI 329 Pacific Rim Business Behavior
SOCI 340 Post Soviet Societies
SOCI 350 Sociology of Islamic Societies
SOCI 423 Globalization and Social Change
SPAN 312 Hispanic Culture & Civilization 18th Century to Present
SPAN 320 Introduction to Hispanic Literature
SPAN 410 Hispanic Film
SPAN 411 Contemporary Hispanic Society & Culture
SPAN 412 Hispanic Writers in the U.S.
SPAN 421 Spanish Language Poetry
SPAN 450 Contemporary Spanish & Spanish-American Literature

The following courses if taken overseas:

ARTS 350 Arts & Civilization
LBAR 331 Studies in European Civilization & Culture Studies I
LBAR 332 Studies in European Civilization & Culture Studies II
LBAR 333 Studies in Italian Civilization & Culture Studies I

International Business

You must complete 12 semester hours of international course work offered by Mays. Within this 12-hour framework, three semester hours must be in your major. You must select international business course work from the following:

ACCT/IBUS 445 - International Accounting
AGEC 452 - International Trade & Agriculture
AGEC 453 - International Agribusiness Marketing
FINC 445/IBUS 446 - Funding International Business
IBUS 455 - Asian Business Environment
IBUS 456 - European Integration & Business
IBUS 457 - Global Entrepreneurship
IBUS 458 - International Negotiations
IBUS 459 - Latin American Markets
IBUS 460 - Academy for Future International Leaders
MGMT/IBUS 450 - International Environment of Business
MGMT/IBUS 452 - International Management
MKTG/IBUS 401 - Global Marketing
MKTG 402 - International Marketing
MKTG 403 - International Market Entry Strategies
IBUS 489 - Special Topics in International Business (Must have prior approval.)

International Experience

You must successfully complete an approved international experience. This experience will enrich your understanding of the international business environment, history, culture and language.

A variety of options are available:

Get Started Early

The application process for many exchange and study abroad programs can take as long as six months to one year to complete. So, start now by researching the various program opportunities. See links shown above.

Your Support Network

Mays and Texas A&M have several student organizations that can help keep you in touch with international issues -- and help you meet other Aggies interested in them.

International Business Association: The International Business Association at Texas A&M attempts to enhance the knowledge and understanding of different cultures around the world. IBA encourages students to learn about international experiences and consider the opportunities to grow from actually taking part in international programs. For more on IBA, go to: International Business Association.
Aggie Global Interaction: An international business organization, Aggie Global Interaction (AGI) initiates activities to encourage relationships between Aggies and foreign exchange students. AGI seeks to heighten international awareness and to support Aggies' involvement in international opportunities. To learn more, go to: Aggie Global Interaction.
The MSC Jordan Institute for International Awareness: The Jordan Institute helps to develop international awareness on campus and in the community through lectures, discussions, entertainment programs and international research. For more information, visit: MSC Jordan Institute for International Awareness.
The International Students Association: Texas A&M's International Student Association (ISA) promotes cultural awareness and interaction between the university's international and U.S. students. There are many Latin American student clubs that are active on campus. You can learn more about these associations by going to International Students Association.

Steps to Completion

To earn a certification in International Business, be sure to follow these three steps:

Register early: You can get started as early as your freshman year. Set up an appointment with an academic advisor in the undergraduate program office (UPO) in 238 Wehner.
Plan ahead: It is important for you to schedule the appropriate classes. You are responsible for completing the specific course work and international experience. Need help? Check with your academic advisor in the UPO.
Apply before graduation: You must complete all requirements of the certificate program prior to graduation. To receive certificate recognition, you must apply during your graduating semester through the UPO. The certificate program will be posted to the student transcript six to eight weeks after graduation from Mays Business School.

TAMU Resources

There are lots of people and organizations at Mays and Texas A&M that can help make earning your certificate a great experience. Here are a few of them:

Looking for...Go to this site...

How to apply & Academic advising:
Mays Business School
Scholarships/Financial aid:
CIBS Financial Aid
Study abroad & Exchange program:
Mays Study Abroad Opportunities

Click here to learn more about all the exciting current CIBS study abroad opportunities! .....

Updated 02/13/2008