Disclaimer: there are a lot of international business programs, only some of which are included below. As with all of our “best of” blog posts, we are highlighting programs with interesting opportunities and diverse course offerings. This list is not exhaustive and the schools are not listed in a particular order.
It’s worth noting that a lot of schools have majors similar to international business but they’re called something different, like NYU’s “Global Business” concentration. Plugging “international business degree” into Google will only scratch the surface. If you’re serious about majoring in international business, you should still do your research and/or contact us if you need help with your search.
UC Berkeley:
The Global Management program at Berkeley, which started in 2018, is open to roughly 30 students a year. Students graduate with a B.S. in business administration with a concentration in global management. The program blends a business degree with a “broad cultural understanding” of foreign affairs and finance.
The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University
The international business major at Indiana University must be paired with another undergraduate major within the Kelley School of Business, but it’s worth considering because of the other opportunities afforded to IU business students. There are 59 study abroad programs, and the school offers short-term study abroad options for students unable to commit to semester long (or summer) plans. Students also rave about the Global Foundations Core: a second-year course that teaches students how to analyze and interpret influences that drive the global economy.
McCombs School of Business at UT Austin
Graduates and current students really seem to love the program at UT Austin. Like many other schools that offer international business degrees, you’ll take language courses and are encouraged to focus on one area of the world. But the school also does a lot of research, and freshman are placed into tight-knit First-year Interest Groups (called FIGs) and those groups network with professors and graduates during all four years of their college career. Their advising syllabus, given to students during year one, is jam packed and the advising office helps with everything from what to wear to an interview to eventual job placement.
The Huntsman Program at The University of Pennsylvania:
The Huntsman program integrates business and language with a liberal arts education. Graduates of the program take home two degrees: a B.A. in International Studies (from the school of arts and sciences) and a B.S. in Economics from Wharton. It’s worth noting that the acceptance rate at Huntsman is so tragically low (as in less than 4%) that they don’t even report it. The program is the best of the best.
Georgetown University:
There are two international business tracks at Georgetown: Regional studies, in which students focus on the politics and economics of a chosen geographical region, and International Political Economy and Business; which provides a global perspective on international business and trade. International Political Economy and Business requires either studying abroad or an internship. There is some overlap between the two majors, and regional studies students choose between the following geographical regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East/North Africa.
NYU:
The global business concentration at Stern must be paired with another concentration. The track requires 12 credits, and elective courses include classes such as Asian Economics, Emerging Markets Finance, Global Economics, and The Middle East: Culture, Markets, and Strategy. And many more. Living in NYC affords students with more internship opportunities than in other (smaller) cities, and many professors are adjuncts that are currently working in the field.
Pepperdine University:
The international business degree at Pepperdine is similar to most programs on this list, but all business students at Pepperdine are a part of the Service Leadership Project, which blends academics with community service in other countries. The international residential program sends students overseas, and the curriculum allows for international relations students to take classes about accounting and business administration.
Villanova University:
International business is not a standalone major at Villanova, it must be paired with another major within the Villanova School of Business. But the program offers classes that focus on geographical areas such as Latin America and the Caribbean, which is rare. There is a language requirement (two semesters at or above an intermediate level) and Villanova’s Office of Education Abroad helps place international business students at internships abroad.
Contact us here if you want help figuring out where to apply.