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THE
MAJOR
The International
Business major is a department within the College
of Business. For more information about Business majors at JMU, view the COB's promotional video.
Concentrations: Finance, Marketing
Admission and Progression Standards for this major:
Click on the link to learn more about the admission and progression standards of this major: http://www.jmu.edu/advising/snapshots/SSIBUS.shtml
Description
of Major:
The International Business Major is an interdisciplinary major offered through the College of Business. The International Business Program is designed to equip the student with the broadest possible exposure to alternative perspectives and with significant intensive study of the vital academic disciplines. Hence, students receive the optimal degree of breadth for flexibility and substantial depth for success in specific performance areas. The goal of the International Business Program is to prepare students for professional and leadership roles in the increasingly international, technological and competitive business environment by offering a high quality, nationally recognized program that focuses on student development and success throughout their life time. Students gain a thorough foundation in business and are required to be proficient in at least one additional modern language. International Business majors must select a world region to concentrate in which coincides with their selected language. For example, a student who selects French as his/her second language could choose Europe, Africa, or Asia as his/her world region. A student who selects Spanish as his/her second language could select either Europe or the Americas. The four world regions are Africa/Middle East, Americas, Asia and Europe. Exposure to foreign cultures is required through study abroad or an international internship,for a minimum of seven weeks in a world region that coincides with their selected language. To pursue a major in the College of Business it is necessary to first complete lower-level business requirements; students are encouraged to begin taking lower-level business courses as early as possible. In addition to the general International Business major, students may choose to concentrate in either marketing or finance.
Tell
me more about this field of study.
International business surrounds us. It’s the goods we buy, products made in the United States by foreign owned companies and parts of products manufactured abroad that are assembled in this country. It’s the locations where we work, shop, bank, and vacation that are owned by foreign investors. It’s Americans traveling abroad, and foreigners traveling to the United States. It affects the amount of currency available for investment, lending, and borrowing and the conditions under which they are completed, both domestically and internationally. It impacts the availability, variety, quality, and prices of most products and services offered domestically and internationally. And either directly or indirectly affects the jobs, personal incomes, and standards of living of most people in the United States and globally throughout the world. In the broadest sense International Business is any business activity that occurs between people or organizations from different countries. Since the existence of modern enterprises – government, nonprofit, business – operate in a global environment, success is difficult for those who are unaware of events and cultures outside their own. In the International Business Program studies focus on the development of foreign language proficiency, cultural awareness, and specialized international business skills. Individuals study many of the traditional business areas in relation to the international scene, such as International Economics (ECON 270) or International Accounting and Financial Reporting (ACTG 483).
Tell
me more about specializations in this field.
International Business is not so much a different discipline as it is a different prospective. It is because of this that international business is interdisciplinary. Individuals may focus their career path in two of the business disciplines by concentrating in marketing or finance. Some individuals may be interested in international marketing such as marketing and exporting U.S. products overseas. Others may be interested in international finance, dealing with international investments or working for an international bank.
What
common major or minor combinations from other areas
complement this major?
A Modern Foreign Language is required for this curriculum. Many of our students choose to minor in the Modern Foreign Language. Given the multidisciplinary nature of our program, students also often minor in Asian Studies, Economics, Latin American Studies, Chinese Business Studies, and Political Science.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS
Students must have an appreciation for the strengths and contributions of other cultures; they must be able to see themselves as members of a global community. Ability to function in a wide variety of environments, communicate effectively in a second language, maintain a high degree of adaptability, as well as cultivating exceptional interpersonal skills are characteristics that are required of the student and are developed in the program.
CAREERS
Many graduates choose typical career paths associated with this major. However, some graduates choose unrelated careers that utilize skills and experiences developed during their years in college. Keep in mind, that some fields will require graduate study or further training. The listing below offers examples of possible career paths and is not meant to be comprehensive.
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