International Business

Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business offers an undergraduate concentration in international business to prepare students with the specific skills and perspectives needed for success in functional positions within worldwide enterprises.
Professionals working in international business require the same fundamental competence in the functional fields of accounting, finance, management, and marketing as their domestic counterparts. Students interested in the international business concentration are encouraged to pursue a concentration in one of these areas as well.
The international business concentration builds on this foundation to focus on global business trends and practices, and to develop the special skills needed to adapt management methods to foreign environments.
Fields and industries studied in the international business concentration include the export-import market, national or international governmental agencies, international trade and development, international entrepreneurship, and commercial and investment banking on an international scale.
Learning goals

  • Understand the forces driving modern economic globalization and how they shape international business activity
  • Develop an understanding of the central role of economics, politics, and national cultures in international business
  • Learn why firms trade goods and services with firms in other countries
  • Learn how, why, and where foreign direct investment occurs
  • Learn how firms manage international trade and investment operations
  • Comprehend the impact of trade, monetary, and exchange rate policies on international business decision making
  • Learn how international organizations, multilateral and bilateral agreements, and national policies shape the global regulatory and business environments

Requirements*

Track 1*:

Regional Studies

This option requires six courses, one of which can count toward other MSB majors and two of which can, where applicable, count towards the LIberal Arts Core/Elective requirements.
  • MARK 261 International Business
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  • Language Proficiency - Complete the proficiency equivalent of an intermediate level language (minimum of four semesters when beginning at the introductory level)***
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  • STRT 270 Advanced International Business
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  • 2 Area Courses.  Area courses should correspond to the region of the student's language of study.  Click here for a list of pre-approved area courses.  
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  • Two courses from the following:
  • - FINC 249 Global Fin. Markets and Institutions
  • - OPIM 262 Global Logistics
  • - MGMT 205 Intercultural Communications
  • - FINC 250 International Finance
  • - MARK 223 International Marketing
  • - OPIM 296 International Operations
* Students who opt for this track are encourage to double major
***Students may apply AP/IB language credit toward this intermediate proficiency requirements.  Students may also take a placement exam to place beyond the immediate level to satisfy this requirement.

Track 2:

International Political Economy and Business

This option requires six courses, one of which can count toward other MSB majors and two of which can, where applicable, count towards the Liberal Arts Core/Elective requirements.


  • MARK 261 International Business
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  • ECON 243 International Trade
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  • STRT 270 Advanced International Business
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  • GOVT 288 International Political Economy
  • or STRT 265 Business Gov't Relations*
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  • Choose one course from the following:
  • - FINC 249 Global Fin. Markets and Institutions
  • - FINC 250 International Finance
  • - ECON 244 International Finance
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  • MGMT 310 - A pre-approved internationally-focused, Washington, D.C.-based internship**
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  • Complete one of the following:
  • Study Abroad - partake in an approved international study abroad program
  • or
  • Language Proficiency*** - complete the proficiency equivalent of an intermediate level language (minimum of four semesters when beginning at the introductory level)

*If STRT 265 is taken as part of the MSB Business Core I requirement, students must take GOVT 288 to complete the International Business major requirement.

**It is strongly recommended that students complete at least 90 credits before enrolling in MGMT 310.


Faculty Advisor
For questions about the international business major, please contact the major's faculty advisor, Professor Charles Skuba.
*This set of requirements for the IB major apply to the classes of 2015 and later.  Students in earlier classes may choose to follow this set of requirements or the set already established for their respective class.  Students in earlier classes are advised to meet with their advisor to determine the best course of action.