Bachelor of Science International Business

Program Director:

Professor Larry J. Schmedeman
Office: R-311
Phone: (414) 277-7359
Fax: (414) 277-7479
Email: schmedem@msoe.edu

Why Study International Business?

The Bachelor of Science in International Business program is a four-year program of study built on the rich tradition of MSOE’s application-oriented philosophy and use of technology in its programs. It’s necessitated by the need to respond to the future competitive challenges of business and the expectation that business leaders should have a global perspective, work experience abroad and understand the challenges of doing business in multiple markets.

The program provides a strong foundation for students in business and management, with the availability of a large number of elective courses for professional development in one of the following concentrations:

• IT Systems
• Marketing
• Operations and Logistics

A cornerstone of the international business program is the required one-year study abroad during the junior year. MSOE has an exchange agreement with Lübeck University of Applied Sciences, Lübeck, Germany, where students from Lübeck and MSOE take classes together for one year (certain academic requirements are applicable – see program director for details). The classes are taught in English with a year of German included in the curriculum. In addition to the formal study, students are able to travel and experience the cultural diversity and historic heritage of Europe. The program at Lübeck is designed with some flexibility for study. Students are required to take a core set of courses and two study blocks of business and industrial engineering courses (see below).

Core courses

• Language, culture, professional development and a humanities project

Study blocks

• Business courses – international management, project management/business project, international business finance and quantitative methods in business and marketing
• Industrial engineering courses – production management and logistics, planning of technological investments and simulation, integrated systems (SAP) and materials handling

Upon successful completion of the junior year and completion of the senior year at MSOE, graduates are awarded two degrees: Bachelor Wirtschaftsingenieur from Lübeck, and Bachelor of Science in International Business from MSOE.

Lübeck University of Applied Sciences

The Lübeck University of Applied Sciences (FHL) has a long tradition that goes back as far as 1808 when the first Navigation School was founded. The highly respected Lübeck University of Applied Sciences has approximately 115 professors and 70 laboratories to provide its 3,000 students with an excellent educational experience. The university combines the availability of the latest equipment with a nationally recognized level of expertise, providing students with a quality education and excellent professional opportunities following graduation.

Lübeck, Germany

Founded in A.D. 1134, Hansestadt Lübeck is among the few European cities whose Middle Ages appearance is still intact. In 1987, a portion of the old part of town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was included in the list of the cul tural and natural heritage of the world. Located in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein on the Baltic Sea, this city of approximately 210,000 offers a variety of attractive cultural and recreational opportunities, especially for young people. Considered the “Cultural Capital of the North,” Lübeck offers a lively art scene with the Engelswisch Art Centre, Overbeck-Gesellschaft and Kunsthaus, and gallery of Metta Linde. Lübeck is the main venue for the world-famous Schleswig- Holstein Music Festival, and its Northern Film Days turn Lübeck into the film capital of northern Europe. The adjacent Baltic resort of Travemünde offers beaches and night life.

Program Educational Objectives

The Bachelor of Science in International Business program seeks to produce graduates who are:

• recognized for their ability to integrate business technologies into business processes.
• in positions of responsibility and leadership within a global business environment.
• are committed to professional growth and lifelong learning.

Student Outcomes

Through an integrated array of courses and application of skills, graduates will:

• attain a body of knowledge in business and management (economics, marketing, accounting, management sciences and finance).
• demonstrate expertise in one or more areas ranging from information technology, marketing, or operations and logistics.
• understand the theory and demonstrate practical application of business and management tools for problem solving.
• demonstrate the ability to communicate skillfully in written, verbal and other forms across a diverse set of situations and cultures.
• apply ethical and socially responsible reasoning in professional and managerial roles.

Model Full-time Track - V1.1 (see note 1)

The Bachelor of Science in International Business program includes a student exchange with the Lübeck University of Applied Sciences. Students from Germany participating in the Internationale Studium Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen (ISW) program at their home university, attend MSOE during the final year of their studies. In addition to completing the course work outlined in the curriculum track below, German students have the opportunity to engage in a business-sponsored project to satisfy their diploma thesis requirements. After successfully completing their requirements at MSOE, German students are awarded the Bachelor of Science in International Business from MSOE and their degree from the Lübeck University of Applied Sciences.