International Business

International Business Fundamentals

The dynamic changes in the world's physical, political, economic and cultural environments have created new market opportunities for business firms and enterprises, as well as the challenge to effectively compete in the global marketplace as it exists today and will develop tomorrow.  The international business program views international business in the broad context of all business transactions devised and carried out across national borders to satisfy the organizational and personal goals of firms and individuals. 

In addition to the CBA core, the curriculum provides you with special focus on:

• international business practices
• multinational corporations
• international business finance
• international financial reporting
• international management
• international marketing

In addition, you have the opportunity to tailor your study in one of two areas:

• global interdisciplinary
• foreign language

Professional Preparation

Employers are looking for IB graduates who have been trained not only in traditional business functions, but who also have a global perspective and understand the economic, cultural and political variables that operate in global markets.  This program provides you with a comprehensive understanding of the global economy and helps you develop the skills and awareness necessary to work in international environments and with diverse cultures.

Our Faculty

• have lived, taught and traveled all over the world
• are innovative
• conduct state of the art research
• use the latest course materials and course management techniques
• are involved in business and society
• use case studies, seminar presentations and skills performance to bring business world to life

Akron Advantage

All College of Business Administration programs are accredited at the highest possible level by AACSB International (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). In addition, the CBA is one of only 171 schools that have earned separate accounting accreditation. The College has been consistently rated as one of the best business schools in the nation by the Princeton Review and ranked in the top 6 percent of all undergraduate programs by BusinessWeek magazine.

Our close ties to regional businesses provide many benefits for our students. Business executives share their expertise as mentors and guest lecturers in classes, and provide valuable advice on program and course content, helping to keep our curricula fresh, relevant and rigorous. Students gain valuable hands-on experience through group projects that assign them to solve problems for local businesses and by participating in co-op and internship programs at regional companies.

We are able to provide our students with training in cutting-edge technology as a result of our academic alliances with technology vendors such as SAP, Microsoft, and Oracle.

Our active student organizations enable our students to enrich their college experience by providing opportunities for them to apply knowledge and skills gained in the classroom, and by opening doors to new friendships, networking, professional growth, and even jobs.  Many of our student organizations have excelled in regional and national competitions, often against highly regarded colleges and universities across the country.

Hands-on Research

You’ll work in teams on real-world business cases, applying your classroom knowledge to help solve problems facing local businesses.

UA has exchange agreements with leading universities throughout the world, enabling students to study and gain valuable business experience in such locales as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Denmark, Japan and The Netherlands.

Real-word Experience

You have an opportunity to gain practical professional experience through UA's cooperative education and internship programs. 

Recent Placements Include:

• The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
• The Timken Company
• BNSF Railroad
• US Department of Commerce
• The Bose Corporation

International Business Student Organizations

The College of Business Administration offers major-specific student groups as well as a variety of general business groups:

• International Business Association
• Beta Gamma Sigma — an honorary fraternity
• Delta Sigma Pi — a professional fraternity
• Student Toastmasters

Sample Curriculum

Required Categories

International Business Core: Complete all courses - 6 credits

International Business Functional Specialties: Complete four courses - 12 credits

International Capstone Field Experience: Complete one or more courses - 3 credits

International Capstone Topical Investigations - Complete one or more courses - 2-3 credits

Global Interdisiplinary Track: Complete four courses - 12-13 credits

Foreign Language Track: Complete one language sequence - 11 credits