Certificate Programs
International Business Certificate
As the world of business becomes increasingly more global, the need for international exposure and cultural intelligence increases. An International Business Certificate (IBC) provides experience in these areas and offers individuals a competitive edge in the marketplace. The IBC program provides opportunities to gain expertise in business decision-making in an international environment, to interact with globally connected students and businesses in the US and abroad, and to experience foreign cultures. Program coursework focuses on the principles and processes of export sales, trade controls, foreign operations, monetary concerns, international business policy, and applications to doing business in specific countries and markets.
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Production, services, employment, consumption, and politics are internationally integrated in our economy. College graduates who are expected to compete in this environment may be at a disadvantage if they have no knowledge of key aspects of the international marketplace. While the core courses of a degree in Business Administration have evolved to include international aspects in their respective areas, increased globalization has created a strong demand for students who are well-versed in global markets and practices. The IBC answers this need. |
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Specific program objectives include:
- Prepare students to consider business decision-making in an international environment.
- Provide multiple opportunities for students to interact with international students and businesses here and abroad through active student exchange programs and guided international study tours.
- Enhance student understanding of foreign cultures, ideas, and belief systems.
The International Business Certificate combines internationally-focused course work from a number of disciplines (Business, Communication, Economics, Foreign Language, Geography, and Sociology) with an opportunity to study abroad. The certificate requires the completion of 36 credit hours. Coursework is broken into 20 credits of core courses and 4 “Global Units” equivalent to 16 elective credit hours (1 global unit = 4 credit hours). Global units may be earned by participating in an international exchange, completing an internship in an international business or in the Office of International Programs, participating in an international business conference, and/or taking related elective courses.
The International Business Certificate is open to undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students. All courses taken for the IBC must be completed with a minimum grade of “C,” while the overall minimum program GPA has been set at 2.5. The Certificate will be awarded to undergraduate students meeting its requirements along with the requirements for a Bachelor’s degree at Southern Oregon University. Post baccalaureate students may earn the Certificate by completing the program’s credit requirements.
Program Prerequisites
BA 211 Accounting Information I (4)
BA 330 Principles of Marketing (4)
BA 374 Principles of Management (4)
EC 202 Principles of Macroeconomics (4)
Core Requirements (20 credits)
BA 447 International Marketing (4)
BA 473 International Financial Management (4) or EC/IS 320 Introduction to International Economics (4)
BA 477 International Business (4)
IS 250 International Scene (4) or ANTH 213 Cultural Anthropology: Perspectives on Humanity (4)
Foreign Language (4)
NOTE: The course in foreign language must be taken in addition to courses taken to fulfill SOU admission requirements. Course level will be determined by a language placement exam and approval of a certificate coordinator. This requirement is designed to allow students to experience a new foreign language or to expand upon previous foreign language study.
Elective Requirements (16 credits)
Each student must complete a total of four “global units” (1 global unit = 4 credits). Global units may be earned in one of the following ways or through a combination of the following methods:
1. International Exchange (1-4 global units possible)
Participation in summer program (3-6 weeks) = 1 global unit
Study abroad for 4 months (1 term) = 2 global units
Study abroad for 9 months (3 terms)= 4 global units
Study at SOU as a foreign exchange student for 1 year full-time = 4 global units
2. Internship in an International Business or SOU International Office (1-2 global units possible– approval required)
3. International Business Conference (1 global unit possible)
Requirements include writing and presenting a paper at the conference, attending and summarizing other conference sessions, and presenting the paper and conference highlights to students and faculty members upon return to SOU.
4. Elective Courses (1-3 global units possible – each course = 1 global unit)
COMM 441 International Communication (4)
COMM 460C Culture, Identity & Communication (4)
EC 320 Introduction to the International Economy (4)
GEOG 330 Geography of Latin America (4)
GEOG 336 Geography of East & SE Asia (4)
GEOG 338 Geography of Central & SW Asia (4)
GEOG/IS 360 Global Issues in Population, Development & the Environment (4)
IS 320 Introduction to the International Economy (4)
PS 355 Global Politics (4)
PS 454 US-Latin American Relations (4)
SOC 345 Sociology of Globalization (4)
WS 301 International Women’s Movements (4)
Upper Division Foreign Language (4)
Other electives as approved by Program Coordinator
Contact the Program Coordinators . . .
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Dr. Donna Lane Dr. Curt Bacon |
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