International Business Minor

College of Management
Undergraduate minor

About this program

This minor is highly suitable for students with majors in languages, liberal arts, and business and management fields who are interested in broadening their career opportunities.

The program offers a solid background in the ways in which firms operate in the global economy. The courses taken will provide the basic knowledge and skills needed by managers in companies doing business internationally, and will enhance students' employment prospects with such companies by providing a structured program in International Business theory and practice.

Enrolling in this program

Program eligibility requirements

Students must earn a grade of S or C- or above in courses to be used to meet pre-requisites. 

Current students: Declare your program

Once you’re admitted as an undergraduate student and have met any further requirements your chosen program may have, you may declare a major or declare an optional minor.

Future students: Apply now

Apply to Metropolitan State: Start the journey toward your International Business Minor now. Learn about the steps to enroll or, if you have questions about what Metropolitan State can offer you, request information, visit campus or chat with an admissions counselor.

Get started on your International Business Minor

Program requirements

At least 16 credits from among the Minor Required Courses, Minor Elective and Minor Capstone must be completed at Metropolitan State.  See also the COM policies page for requirements that are common to all programs.

Course requirements

Prerequisites

Non-College of Management majors

Students seeking a minor in International Business, but not pursuing a major in the College of Management, will take this prerequisite course.

ENTR 300 Interdisciplinary Business Skills and Knowledge for Non-Business Majors

4 credits

Interdisciplinary Business Knowledge and Skills for Non-Business Majors is designed to provide broad coverage of major business concepts in finance, marketing, accounting, and management and deep coverage of specific skills and knowledge needed as a foundation for applying that knowledge to opportunities in existing or new businesses. Students will learn how to research data within the Metropolitan State library databases to augment their knowledge and skills to evaluate opportunities and existing organizations. The students will be asked to enhance their analytical thinking by asking pertinent questions, determining relevant information, and systematically developing and applying the business processes to make decisions.

Full course description for Interdisciplinary Business Skills and Knowledge for Non-Business Majors

College of Management majors

Students seeking a minor in International Business, and a major in the College of Management, must complete the following prerequisites before taking courses in the International Business minor: MATH 115 or equivalent, ECON 201 or equivalent, and Intermediate Writing.

Requirements (20 credits)

Core (12 credits)

IBUS 312 International Political Economy

4 credits

This course provides an overview of the geopolitical and historical frameworks that directly or indirectly affect day-to-day operations and management decision making of companies doing business in an increasingly global context. Topics include: perspectives on IPE theories; international trade, finance and monetary systems; global security issues; state-market tensions; the role of multinational corporations; the IPE of economics development and of resource accessibility; and selected global problems.

Full course description for International Political Economy

Electives (4 credits)

ECON 314 International and Comparative Economics

4 credits

This course analyzes selected issues and problems in international trade and also studies how various countries approach basic economic policy questions. Topics include: the theory of comparative advantage, barriers to trade such as tariffs and quotas, exchange rates, balance of payments, organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and World Trade Organization, and an analysis of current issues in American trade policy. The course concludes with an analysis of the economic policies of major trading partners: Japan, China and the European Union with some attention to other capitalist and noncapitalist economies.

Full course description for International and Comparative Economics

FIN 550 International Finance

4 credits

This course is an introduction to the international dimensions of corporate financing, investment, and risk management decisions. Topics include foreign exchange markets, international financial systems, foreign exchange rate determination, currency risk, spot and forward rates, hedging, international monetary and trade flows, multinational capital budgeting, and cost of capital in emerging economies. Overlap: IBUS 550 International Financial Management.

Full course description for International Finance

HRM 585 International Human Resource Management

4 credits

This course covers the current issues, policies and practices of international human resource management within a typical U.S. multinational corporation. It addresses staffing, compensation, benefits, training and development, and labor and employee relations as they relate to Foreign Service employees and local national employees in subsidiary operations. Each student completes a special project related to human resource practices in another country. This course is recommended for general management and business administration students in addition to human resource management professionals.

Full course description for International Human Resource Management

MKTG 480 International Marketing

4 credits

This course introduces students to the concepts and disciplines of international marketing. Students develop an understanding of the international environment and its impact on marketing. Topics include: social and cultural influences, political, legal and financial considerations, exporting and importing; organizational alternatives, information sources, market-entry strategies, pricing and distribution, sales and communications practices, counter trade, and other current international marketing issues. Major geographic marketing areas are discussed.

Full course description for International Marketing

Capstone (4 credits)

IBUS 490 Doing Business Internationally

4 credits

This course will bring together the full range of factors influencing companies doing business across borders that were covered in the required IBUS 311, IBUS 312 and IBUS 350 courses - globalization, political economies, culture, ethics, legal systems, trade, investment, currency issues, market entry, production, logistics and marketing - and apply them to management decision-making in national and regional operating environments around the world. The syllabus may be modified at short notice to accommodate current world events impacting the international business environment.

Full course description for Doing Business Internationally