Full-Time Faculty: Coral Snodgrass, Director.
The forces of globalization have had a dramatic impact on the business world. There have been so many global changes in the business world that people now often say that “doing business” is really doing “international business.” The sheer volume of business that is being addressed is massive in scale. As an example, over $1 billion worth of goods and services are traded each day between the United States and Canada! It is easy to see why companies today are in great need of people who know how to move money around the world, how to find new customers or where in the world to find the best suppliers. These are the skills that you will acquire by studying within the International Business major.
International Business Major
The International Business major at Canisius is unique in the Western New York area because it combines the study of international business topics with those in the realms of modern language studies and international experience. The goals of the program are to help students to understand: (1) what happens in business when an international border is crossed; (2) how business changes when a language other than English is being used; and (3) how to cross an international border when doing business.
The program consists of three parts. The international business component is composed of four core courses and three electives. The core courses cover the fundamentals of international business and the international dimensions of management, marketing and finance. This concentration will provide students with a solid background in a broad number of international business topics. The electives are chosen from a long list of choices. Students have the option to cluster these electives to concentrate on a topic, such as “Global Logistics,” or a region, such as “North America.”
The language requirement within the major recognizes the fact that much of what happens in international business takes place outside of the English-speaking world and that it is always an advantage to speak the language of your customer. The program requires that students complete a modern language through the 215-216 level. Most students entering Canisius are placed directly into the 215 level if they follow through on the language that they studied in high school, meaning students can easily fulfill this component when they fulfill the college’s general language requirement. However, students are encouraged to continue their language courses beyond this level in order to take advantage of our study abroad opportunities or to accomplish a dual major.
The third component of the program is the requirement to participate in an “international experience.” We know that students who go on to work in international business will quite likely need to travel. We also know that crossing international borders can sometimes be a daunting task, both logistically and emotionally. Therefore, all of our students will have to cross an international border during their field experience. Since we sit on an international border crossing with Canada, this requirement is easily fulfilled. The most convenient option is for students to participate in a class-sponsored trip to Canada. Students also have the option to participate in short study tours sponsored by the college. These include three week international business seminars, two week European Union simulations and four week immersion programs in Mexico. The most intensive experience, of course, comes from living and studying abroad for more than just a few weeks. We therefore encourage students to participate in one of our study abroad programs during the summer or for one or two semesters during the undergraduate careers.
Career Opportunities
Virtually any company doing business today would benefit from having an employee who understands how business is conducted globally, has some experience with a foreign language and is a seasoned international traveler. Graduates of the program will find careers in such fields as international banking, importing and exporting, and international sales and marketing. Students can also find jobs with companies that support international transactions, such as global logistics firms and freight forwarders. In addition to private firms, many economic development agencies need people who understand international business. The program will also be a good foundation for students who want to go on to graduate school to study international business, international relations or law.
Internships
Students in the program are encouraged to participate in an internship. These may take place at one of the many international agencies in the area, such as the World Trade Center of Buffalo-Niagara, Buffalo World Connect or the Atlantic Corridor Development Agency, or various public and private firms with an international clientele, such as Rich Products. Students can also participate in one of our international projects combined with a study abroad program in England or Australia. Students with sufficient language proficiency can also participate in an internship in Mexico, France, Germany or Spain.
Study Abroad
All students in the major must complete an international experience. Although this can be fulfilled with a short program, students are encouraged to participate in one of the study abroad programs that the college facilitates. The programs take place at the Catholic University of Lille (France), The University of Dortmund (Germany), The University of Oviedo (Spain), The University of Michoacan (Mexico), London Metropolitan University (England), The University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia), The University of Galway (Ireland), The University of Antwerp (Belgium), Uppsala University (Sweden) and Sophia University (Japan). In all of these programs, Canisius faculty and staff are closely involved so that the credits accumulated by the student transfer back as Canisius credits. Students who participate in one of these programs through the college generally do not increase the length of their undergraduate programs.
Dual Majors
Because the International Business program is already interdisciplinary, it is very easy for students to fulfill a dual major. Students are encouraged to consider this option. The International Business major can easily be combined with one of several other business majors. Students can also form a dual major with French, German, Spanish or International Relations, especially when combined with a study abroad semester.
International Business Curriculum:
| 1. | ENG 101, ENG 102, RST 101, PHI 101 (4 courses) | (12) | |||
| 2. | Area Studies: Two courses from each of these areas: I, III, IV, V, VI, VIII1 (12 courses) |
(36) | |||
| 3. | Major course requirements: (23 or 22 courses) | ||||
| a. Common body of business knowledge: | |||||
| QNT 101 Quantitative Methods for Business | (3) | ||||
| AND | |||||
| MAT 106 Calculus for the Non-Sciences | (3) | ||||
| OR | |||||
| MAT 115 Calculus for Business I | (4) | ||||
| ACC 201 Financial Accounting | (3) | ||||
| ACC 202 Managerial Accounting | (3) | ||||
| ECO 101 Principles of Macroeconomics | (3) | ||||
| ECO 102 Principles of Microeconomics | (3) | ||||
| ECO 255 Business Statistics I | (3) | ||||
| ECO 256 Business Statistics II | (3) | ||||
| FIN 301 Introduction to Finance | (3) | ||||
| ISB 201 Management Technology | (3) | ||||
| MGT 101 Introduction to Management | (3) | ||||
| MGT 325 Operations Analysis | (3) | ||||
| MGT 370 Managerial Environment | (3) | ||||
| MGT 446 Managerial Policy Strategy | (3) | ||||
| MKT 201 Principles of Marketing | (3) | ||||
| b. International Busines majors: | |||||
| IBS 301 Fundamentals of International Business | (3) | ||||
| MGT 472 Comparative Management Systems | (3) | ||||
| MKT 475 International Marketing | (3) | ||||
| FIN 460 International Finance | (3) | ||||
| International Business Electives (3 courses) | (9) | ||||
| 4. | Electives (2 or 3 courses) | (6-9) | |||
| Total | (40 courses) | (120-121) | |||
Recommended Schedule:
| Fall | Spring | |||
| Freshman Year | ||||
| ENG 101 | 3 | ENG 102 | 3 | |
| QNT 101 or MAT 111 or 115 |
3 or 4 | MAT 106 or Elective | 3 | |
| ECO 101 | 3 | MGT 101 | 3 | |
| ISB 101 | 3 | ECO 102 | 3 | |
| AS VIII | 3 | AS VIII | 3 | |
| Total | 15 or 16 | Total | 15 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||||
| PHI 201 | 3 | RST 101 | 3 | |
| ACC 201 | 3 | ACC 202 | 3 | |
| MKT 201 | 3 | AS IV | 3 | |
| AS IV | 3 | ECO 256 | 3 | |
| ECO 255 | 3 | FIN 201 | 3 | |
| Total | 15 | Total | 15 | |
| Junior Year | ||||
| IBUS 301 | 3 | AS III | 3 | |
| AS I | 3 | MGT 472 | 3 | |
| MGT 325 | 3 | MKT 475 | 3 | |
| FIN 460 | 3 | IBUS Elective | 3 | |
| AS III | 3 | AS VI | 3 | |
| Total | 15 | Total | 15 | |
| Senior Year | ||||
| IBUS elective | 3 | MGT 446 | 3 | |
| MGT 370 | 3 | IBUS Elective | 3 | |
| AS I | 3 | AS V | 3 | |
| AS V | 3 | Elective | 3 | |
| AS VI | 3 | Elective | 3 | |
| Total | 15 | Total | 15 | |
| Total | 120-121 |
Double Major in International Business and International Relations
The director of the International Business Program has worked closely with the International Relations Program to develop a double major in the two disciplines. To complete the major in International Business, a student must take IBUS 301 (Fundamentals of International Business), FIN 460 (International Finance), MGT 472 (Comparative Management) and MKT 475 (International Marketing), plus three international business electives. In order to receive International Business major elective credit, a course must be approved by the director of the International Business Program. Of those courses offered under the auspices of the International Relations Program, the following — HIS 300 (Historical Geography), HIS 331/PSC 355 (European Union) and PSC 442 (Seminar in International Relations) — are among those that have been approved for International Business major credit.
A student pursuing a double major in International Business and International Relations must also complete the core curriculum in the School of Business consisting of: QNT 101 (Quantitative Methods for Business, MAT 106 (Calculus for the Non-Sciences) or MAT 115 (Calculus for Business), ACC 201 (Financial Accounting), ACC 202 (Managerial Accounting), ECO 101 (Macroecomics), ECO 102 (Microeconomics), ECO 255 (Business Statistics I), ECO 256 (Business Statistics II), FIN 201 (Introduction to Finance), MGT 101 (Introduction to Management), ISB 101 (Management Technology), MGT 325 (Management Science), MGT 370 (Managerial Environment), MGT 446 (Managerial Policy) and MKT 201 (Principles of Marketing).
Recommended Schedule for a Double Major in International Business and International Relations:
| Fall | Spring | |||
| Freshman Year | ||||
| ENG 101 | 3 | ENG 102 | 3 | |
| QNT 101 | 3 | MAT 106, MAT 111 OR MAT 115 |
3 | |
| ECO 101 | 3 | MGT 101 | 3 | |
| HIS 107 OR HIS 109 OR HIS 131 |
3 | HIS 108 OR HIS 110 OR HIS 132 |
3 | |
| Modern Language 215 | 3 | Modern Language 216 | 3 | |
| Total | 15 | Total | 15 | |
| Sophomore Year | ||||
| PHI 101 | 3 | RST 101 | 3 | |
| ACC 201 | 3 | ACC 202 | 3 | |
| MKT 201 | 3 | ECO 255 | 3 | |
| ISB 101 | 3 | ECO 102 | 3 | |
| PSC 140 | 3 | PSC 150 | 3 | |
| Total | 15 | Total | 15 | |
| Junior Year | ||||
| IBUS 301 | 3 | FIN 460 | 3 | |
| ECO 256 | 3 | MGT 370 | 3 | |
| MGT 472 | 3 | PSC 345 OR HIS 399 | 3 | |
| FIN 201 | 3 | AS VI Religion (IR elective) |
3 | |
| MGT 325 | 3 | MKT 475 | 3 | |
| AS III OR Language 300 level |
3 | AS I Nat. Science | 3 | |
| Total | 18 | Total | 18 | |
| Senior Year | ||||
| IR/IB elective-HIS 300 | 3 | MGT 446 | 3 | |
| IR Major elective | 3 | IR/IB elective-PSC 442 | 3 | |
| AS VI Religious Studies (IR elective) |
3 | AS V Philosophy | 3 | |
| AS V Philosophy | 3 | IB/IR Elective | 3 | |
| IR Major elective | 3 | IR Major elective | 3 | |
| AS III or Language 300 level |
3 | |||
| Total | 18 | Total | 15 | |
| Total | 129 |
Students pursuing a double major in International Business and International Relations will most likely have to take two or three additional courses to satisfy core curriculum requirements and the requirements of the two majors. The number of additional courses will depend upon the level of the student’s math and language skills when entering Canisius and upon the award of AP credit.
A double major in International Business and International Relations must also fulfill the International Experience requirement.
1 Area II is automatically fulfilled because this program is in the social sciences. Area VII is fulfilled by the mathematics courses required in this program.