Online Degrees in International Business

Listed below are colleges and universities that offer online degrees or certificates in International Business and a detailed list of the programs that are offered.

Thinking Outside the Box and Outside the Country

“No generation has had the opportunity, as we now have, to build a global economy that leaves no-one behind. It is a wonderful opportunity, but also a profound responsibility.”  – Bill Clinton

A degree in international business gives you the chance to become a part of the growing global marketplace. Not only that, but it puts you in a position to work in a career that would give you the opportunity to explore new cultures AND travel around the world. That is why it is no surprise that many Americans have already jumped to new shores and are working abroad in other nations. They are being employed by both American and foreign companies to use their business skills on a whole new level. The The US State Department estimates that nearly 5.08 million Americans citizens currently live and work outside the country. That is more people than the entire population of Maryland!

International Business Career Outlook

The world of international business is always changing and never sleeps. However, with a global marketplace tragic events, such as a natural disaster in a country 5000 miles away, can have an impact on businesses in the United States. This is why the career outlook for different international business careers is affected by global activity on all levels including natural, political, and economic.

The global marketplace is full of opportunities for the highly skilled and maneuverable team player. Some of these careers and their projected career growth through 2018 are list below:

International Business Careers and Projected Growth Expectations Through 2018

This information was obtained from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics website.

International Business Salary Forecast

A career in international business provides you with lots of great career options that offer great paying salaries. Some common jobs found in the international business arena and their average salaries as of 2008 are listed in the table below:

This information was obtained from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics website.

Companies Hiring International Business Graduates

Below is a list of large international companies that have hired international business graduates over the past decade:

• 20th Century Fox
• 3M
• Body.com
• Bombardier Aerospace
• CIA
• Cahners In-stat Group
• Catholic Relief Services
• Capital One Financial Corp.
• Colgate-Palmolive
• Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
• Credit Suisse First
• DuPont Pharmaceuticals
• eBay
• FBI
• Hewlett Packard
• Honda Trading America 

 Common Foreign Countries Where US Citizens Work

It's true that citizens of the US work in nations around the world. However, there are some nations where it is more common for US citizens, expatriates, to work in foreign offices for multinational/global companies. Some of these countries are:

• China
• India
• Japan
• England
• Canada
• Mexico
• Spain
• Brazil
• Australia
• Korea
• Singapore

 This information was obtained from the article and paper titled Tomorrow’s World Today.

Education and Skill Requirements for International Business

The world of international business has high standards and requires workers to have a high degree of training and skill. For most careers in international business, workers need at least a bachelor’s degree (4 year college degree) in a business, financial, or accounting field, a degree or high level of skill in a language utilized in the global business being executed, or a computer/technical degree related to the business being done. Many globally positioned companies require anyone entering a management position and working in a foreign country to have language skills for the nation being worked in and a master’s degree in fields like business, technology, accounting, and law with an emphasis in international business.

Below is a table showing international business careers, and the education level required for these different jobs.

This information was obtained from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics website.

Degree Options in International Business

If you’re looking to get a degree specifically in international business, you have two major avenues.

You can get a bachelor’s degree (4 year college degree) in international business. With a 4 year degree, you gain an understanding of international business and the marketing, finance, and trade decisions and policies that make it work. Many bachelor’s degrees in international business also require students to study a second language to assist them after graduation when working in a global marketplace. A bachelor’s degree is the entry-level requirement for most businesses when hiring Americans to work in foreign locations.

Graduate Degrees in International Business

For those seeking a graduate degree, there are a few different choices when it comes to international business. You can obtain a master’s degree (2 years beyond a bachelor’s degree) in fields like international management. The most common graduate degree in international business is an MBA degree, master’s of business administration, with an emphasis in international business. A foreign language is preferred or often required as part of these programs or as an entrance requirement. Some colleges and universities offer a third option in the form of a graduate certification in international business or international trade. These programs usually require students to already have a bachelor’s degree in a business field and are usually 12 to 24 credits for coursework. Sometimes, these credits can be applied to master’s degree or MBA program later on.