In our modern society, global expansion of business has increased the need for employees who understand how to expand into international markets and operate business in a culture other than their own. You can make your own mark on the rising global marketplace with the business skills and knowledge that can be gained through a degree program in international business.
During an international business program, you should develop an understanding of international politics, finances and cultures, and learn how to apply that knowledge both domestically and abroad. These degree programs aim to prepare graduates to compete in the global market. Some degree programs may even require you to learn a foreign language or complete a study abroad program as part of their major requirements.
Do you want to know more about the top schools that offer international business degree programs? Are you curious about the career options available for graduates with an international business degree? Read on to learn more.
Below you will find a ranking of the top 10 schools for an online degree program in international business. This list has been created using data from the National Center for Education Statistics' Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), analyzed through a unique methodology that you can read more about at the bottom of this page.
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1151 S. Forest Ave.University of Houston-Downtown is located right in the heart of downtown Houston. The College of Business at the university offers an online bachelor’s program in business administration. This degree includes major programs in finance, enterprise information systems (EIS), general business and international business. The international business major has a strong global focus. It aims to combine the study of business skills with international practices and theories.
The university ranked third in accessibility out of 26 schools, sharing a three-way tie with Arizona State University-Tempe and Southern New Hampshire University for accessibility. The school earned its high ranking for this metric because it had an 84 percent acceptance rate in 2014. Also significant, the University of Houston-Downtown ranked seventh in prominence, meaning the school awards a higher percentage of international business degrees compared to other schools.
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11200 S.W. 8th St.Accreditation:
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12800 N Lake Shore DriveNorthern State University is conveniently located near downtown Aberdeen. Notably, Northern State University’s website states that they have “been recognized nationally as one of the best and most affordable institutions in the Midwest.”
Northern State University offers an online bachelor’s program in international business. This program combines the study of business concepts and theories with additional subjects that can help prepare students to manage international organizations, such as culture, politics and foreign languages. The school states that graduates can go on to work in many different types of international companies.
The school’s accessibility ranking is the most notable item that helped Northern State University rank in the top ten colleges that offer an online international business program. The university ranked seventh out of 26 schools for this particular metric. This is because the school had an 83 percent admissions rate in 2014.
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1200 South Jay St.Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution located on a 300-acre campus in Manchester, New Hampshire. The university also has regional centers in Nashua, Portsmouth and Salem, New Hampshire, as well as Brunswick, Maine.
Southern New Hampshire University offers a number of online degree options in international business. The university offers an online bachelor’s program in business with a concentration in international management. It also offers an online bachelor’s program in international business. Since international business programs at other schools are typically offered as a specialization within a general business major, Southern New Hampshire University’s international business program is relatively rare. Students in this program will focus their studies directly on international business.
Also offered by the school is an online International Master of Business Administration degree program. This program teaches students through a combination of business theory and research.
In addition, the university offers an online international business graduate certificate program. The certificate program is designed to teach students the specific skillset they need to work at an international corporation.
The university ranked No. 7 overall out of 26 ranked schools. Part of the reason the school ranked so high was that it earned third place for accessibility. Southern New Hampshire University tied with two other schools for this third place score. The school had an 84 percent admissions rate in 2014, which might mean this university is a good option for students who don’t want to fill out numerous school applications.
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2500 North River RoadLocated in Shawnee, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Baptist University is a small, Christian university. The school aims to educate though a Christian worldview.
Oklahoma Baptist University offers an online program for an MBA in International Business. As part of the program, students participate in an international business practicum, where they will learn about global business practices while interning with an international business in a foreign country. The cost of this exciting international internship is included in the tuition of the program.
The most prominent methodology metric that makes Oklahoma Baptist University stand out among the top ten schools is its second place prominence ranking. The school awards over 5 percent of its degrees in the field of international business. This is the highest score for prominence out of the top ten schools that offer an online international business program.
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500 W. UniversityHawaii Pacific University is located on the island of Oahu in downtown Honolulu. On the other hand, the school’s other campus, Hawaii Loa, is located on a 135-acre lot in the residential foothills. The university is also home to the Oceanic Institute, a prominent research center.
The College of Business at Hawaii Pacific University offers an online MBA with an international business concentration. This program focuses on technology as well as international business principles. According to the school’s website, the international business MBA program is “designed to provide the knowledge and experience to lead, innovate, and succeed.”
The school earned a fifth place score in prominence. This is because over 2.7 percent of the total degrees the school awarded in 2014 were in the field of international business. Compared to other schools, this was a higher percentage.
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1164 Bishop St.University of the Incarnate Word is a Catholic institution in San Antonio, the seventh largest city in the United States. The school has several campuses located throughout San Antonio, as well as in other cities in Texas.
The School of Business and Administration at University of the Incarnate Word offers an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, which allows students to select an international business specialization. With the help of their academic adviser, students design their program’s emphasis by choosing classes that fit their desired area of study.
Also offered by the university is an online MBA program which, like the bachelor’s program, allows students to create a custom specialization under the supervision of their advisor.
For students looking for a school that gives them a higher chance of being accepted, University of the Incarnate Word may be a good option. In 2014, the university accepted 93 percent of its applicants. In fact, this helped the school earn a first place score in accessibility out of 26 ranked schools that offer an online international business degree.
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4301 BroadwayAshley DeKock
Director of Career Advancement
Oklahoma Baptist University
Ashley DeKock
Director of Career Advancement
Oklahoma Baptist University
Q: What qualities make Oklahoma Baptist University's online MBA in international business an outstanding program?
A: Primarily is the immersion trip which is a required part of the MBA program. This international travel experience provides a great opportunity for students to practically apply concepts learned in their coursework with different international businesses. Through this immersion trip students gain a global perspective and gain foresight into business both internationally and domestically.
Secondly is the diversity of adjunct professors teaching courses for the MBA program. Adjunct professors are leaders in a variety of international businesses, many of whom run large businesses themselves. Hence, they bring a great amount of knowledge and firsthand experience to the MBA program which is a great benefit and advantage for students.
Q: What support does Oklahoma Baptist University offer their online student body?
A: First is that all students have access to Canvas, the course management system used for online classes. Through Canvas students can keep track of their assignments and are provided multiple ways they can submit them. In addition, students can check their grades as well as access quizzes, take quizzes and surveys, and view their quiz results.
Secondly, students are provided abundant access to their professors through technology. Through online chat sessions, Skype, and FaceTime students can contact their professors regarding assignments, coursework, or any other questions or concerns they may have.
Q: How does the online program in international business differ from the on-campus program?
A: First, the online program allows students to work at their own pace. Basically, this means that they do the coursework at their own convenience, as long as they submit assignments by the due dates. Likewise, through web-based instruction students have the freedom to attend class wherever they are. And through the online portal, students are able to intern and gain real work experience without having to interrupt their normal routine.
Second, OBU offers mentoring as an opportunity for students to debate and discuss critical issues that never come up in most classrooms or case studies. The mentoring is an integral and required part of students' education. Students can attend 30 live, local sessions led by area professionals which provide worldwide networking opportunities.
For students who are interested in having careers working for global companies or in international markets, it's important to understand not only business, but also culture. An international business major will find themselves completing a lot of the same coursework that a typical business major would, but with a rather different point of view. Let's take a closer look at the way an international business major might approach their courses and the skills this might develop for them.
Like their regular business major counterparts, international business students will have to learn the foundations of the field: accounting, management, marketing, finance, economics, ethics, law, etc.
What makes international business coursework unique is that these concepts are taught through a global lens. Economics have all sorts of implications when approached from an international point of view; factors such as international relations, exchange rates and global markets can completely change the approach a businessperson should take in their dealings, which necessitates a different approach from your typical business program. For example, a international management course might focus on how to work within or alongside organizations whose workforce might have vastly different cultures, traditions and value systems, addressing many different situations that may not come up in a regular business course.
Here are some of the courses that international business majors (either at the bachelor's or master's degree level) might be required to take:
In addition, it's usually recommended (if not required) that international business majors also take foreign language courses and/or study abroad or intern for a semester. Studying abroad can be a particularly valuable experience, as steeping yourself in the language and culture of another country is one of the best ways to come to understand it.
The process of earning a degree in international business usually exposes students to a multi-layered set of skills that can be beneficial to them in their careers. For starters, they should have a strong foundational knowledge of business concepts (management, accounting, finance, marketing, business law, etc.), and how organizations are structured. Knowing these concepts is imperative for being able to assess and evaluate business models, detecting problems and devising solutions. Without this technical understanding, it's very difficult to compete in the aggressive global market.
On the more cultural side of things, students should make sure they are learning from their courses to develop a sense of cultural awareness regarding international business practices, laws and regulations, as well as sensitivity towards the traditions and mindsets of cultures that are not your own. Last, fluency in another language, preferably from the region in which one hopes to do business, is a highly beneficial — and marketable — skill for obvious reasons.
A degree in international business can lead to a number of career options. In this section, you will be introduced to a number of jobs that graduates with a degree in international business may want to pursue as a career.