International Business

Nearly all businesses and markets are global and now more than ever, international experience is required for job consideration. The International Business (IB) major incorporates both a foreign language requirement and a concentration in an area such as finance, accounting, marketing, marketing information systems, or economics.

IB majors explore issues that impact the domestic and world economy: oil prices, competing imports, domestic interest rates, stock price changes, and more. Internships are available with such organizations as Homeland Security, Departments of Commerce (in America, Canada, China and Mexico), and at businesses both local and abroad.

The combination of both business and language skills opens up opportunities for students. Some students study abroad and also perform an overseas internship, providing high levels of fluency in a language.

Within the curriculum, a faculty advisor and career mentor assist each student in the design of a set of international business courses and foreign language classes based on their interests and backgrounds. This provides maximum flexibility in the business program with more elective choices than the other majors - making it possible to customize the program for particular global regions or specific areas of study.

Students will work with faculty with broad international experience - including those who have learned multiple languages, lived and worked abroad, and conducted research under Fulbright grants. Butler boasts exchange agreements with business schools in New Zealand, France, Netherlands, Germany, Canada and Chile. Our faculty teach in these locations and we regularly welcome visiting professors from overseas.

International Business Careers

Graduates work for large and small international firms in a variety of careers, such as marketing research, sales, exporting/importing, global investments and general management. International management also provides a good preparation for law school and graduate business programs. Below is a small sample of the employment opportunities available to international management majors.

Export Expeditor
Import Expeditor
Market Researcher
Global and Domestic Sales Representative
Global Risk Management Analyst
Customer Service Representative
Management Analyst
Management Consultant
Global Purchasing Agent
Stockbroker
Financial Administrator
Foreign Currency Advisor
International Banker

Double Majors

Double majors are available within the College of Business.

International Business Minor

The international business minor is relevant for any student interested in global affairs, business or otherwise. The minor does not emphasize bottom lines but rather the rich similarities and differences in how people go about their business around the world. Hence, the minor focuses on principles that have universal applicability, along with region-specific discussions of political, legal, economic and cultural dimensions of the various countries that make up the region. The minor provides comprehension of internationalization, which will make the student a better global citizen. Students take courses in economics and international business, including electives in Understanding Business in Europe, Understanding Business in East Asia, and Understanding Business in North America, among other choices. (6 courses/18 credit hours)