International Business

Bachelor of Science in International Business

Students who major in International Business at Roger Williams University learn to use their business skills in a global context. Coursework focuses on business transactions between and within countries; the laws and logistics of international trade; and investments made in foreign markets. Emphasis is placed on the European Union (EU) marketplace. We focus on the EU because it is the largest trade partner of the U.S. and the largest trade partner of the New England States. Students gain broad preparation in areas such as international finance, international management and international marketing. Our students attend international business conferences, take faculty-led study tour courses, attend annual seminars led by European faculty and industry experts and may earn a double degree with our exchange partner universities. RWU students have the opportunity to present at national and international conferences and competitions. Some recent research projects and conferences include:

• International Decision Sciences Institute Conference, Nancy, France
• “Andean Trade Preference Act: Issues and Opportunities”-- Presented at the Pan Pacific Business Association Conference, Bali, Indonesia, June 2010
• “NAFTA: After more than a Decade”—Presented at the International Decision Sciences Institute Conference, Nancy, France
• “China: World Trade Organization and Trade Disputes”--Presented at the Northeast Decision Sciences Institute Conference, New York City, New York
• “Structural Funds and the New Members of the European Union”-- Eastern Academy of Management International Conference, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

The Vision for the International Business major is to prepare students to become global business experts with cutting-edge expertise and knowledge for successful careers in international business. Our mission is to provide students with a unique curriculum in combination with applied skills and a focus on the European Union marketplace as the largest trade partner of the U.S.

Degree Requirements
In addition to satisfying the University Core Curriculum requirements, international business majors must complete the following:

Business Core requirements (14 courses)

** This requirement may also be fulfilled by BUSN 210 – Business Statistics. Students may substitute PSYCH 240 Quantitative Analysis for the MATH 124 requirement.

International Business Courses

One of the following

Elective Courses
A total of seven additional courses must be completed.

(a) three courses in subjects related to the European Union. Specific courses fulfilling this requirement include:

(b) two courses focusing on diversity or international topics. Specific courses fulfilling this requirement include:

(c) two open electives

Language Requirement
International Business majors are required to have competency in a language other than English. Students may fulfill the language requirement of the International Business Major through one of the following methods:

• Complete the requirements for a Core Concentration in Language
• Five language courses in one language (students prepared for study at an advanced level are required to take three courses, of which at least one is at the 300 level)
• Demonstrated language proficiency as determined by the Department of Modern Languages
• Participate in an RWU Study Abroad Program which has a foreign language immersion component. Students participating in an RWU Study Abroad Program taking language courses are required to obtain the approval of the Department of Modern Languages before departure in order to select this option.

All International Business majors must complete a sufficient number of electives to bring the total number of credit hours to at least 120.