Dec 04, 2024  
2014-2015 Undergraduate Academic Catalog 
    
2014-2015 Undergraduate Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

International Business, B.S.


Program Director

Professor: Larry J. Schmedeman
Office: R-311
Phone: (414) 277-7359
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 cultural and national 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.

 View Annual Student Enrollment and Graduation Data

International Business Model Full-time Track - V2.7


Year One


Total: 15 lecture hours - 2 lab hours - 16 credits

Winter


Total: 16 lecture hours - 2 lab hours - 17 credits

Total: 15 lecture hours - 2 lab hours - 16 credits

Year Two


Fall


Total: 14 lecture hours - 2 lab hours - 15 credits

Winter


Total: 16 lecture hours - 0 lab hours - 16 credits

Spring


Total: 18 lecture hours - 0 lab hours - 18 credits

Year Three


Courses at the Lübeck University of Applied Sciences (see note 4)

Fall


  • Elective (Concentration)5 4 credits
  • Elective (Concentration)5 4 credits
  • Elective (Concentration)5 4 credits
  • Elective (Concentration)5 4 credits
  • German Language (FHL) 4 credits
  • Professional Development (FHL) 3 credits
Total: 22 lecture hours - 2 lab hours - 23 credits

Winter


  • Elective (Concentration)5 4 credits
  • Elective (Concentration)5 4 credits
  • Elective (Concentration)5 4 credits
  • Elective (Concentration)5 4 credits
  • German Language (FHL) 3 credits 
  • Contrastive German-American Culture and Project (FHL) 3 credits
Total: 22 lecture hours - 2 lab hours - 23 credits

Year Four


Fall


Total: 16 lecture hours - 2 lab hours - 17 credits

Winter


Total: 17 lecture hours - 0 lab hours - 17 credits

Spring


Total: 15 lecture hours - 0 lab hours - 15 credits

Note


1 All students must take a minimum of eight natural science credits. The specific course selection MUST be approved by the curriculum advisor. At least one course chosen must have a lab.

2 MS 3812 - C++ Programming for Business  or MS 382 - Introduction to Java Programming  may be substituted in quarter four.

3 The recommendation in term 4 is to take a German language course.

4 Consult the program director on eligibility requirements for the study abroad program. Upon successful completion of the curriculum at FHL and graduation from MSOE, the degree, Diplom-Wirtschaftsingenieur will be awarded.

5 Electives chosen at FHL may result in course substitutions in the senior year. Students are expected to choose TWO of the following concentration tracks: Concentration Track A - Operations/Logistics; Concentration Track B - Information Systems; Concentration Track C - Business Methods; Concentration Track D - Business Management. Four concentration courses are required each semester at FHL two courses from each of the chosen tracks.

Transfer students who have completed 36 quarter or 24 semester credits or more are expected to complete OR 301  Transfer Student Orientation or OR 307S  Transfer Orientation Seminar.

Bachelor of Science in International Business Concentration Electives


There are nine concentration electives in the IB program at MSOE designed for professional development within at least one area of specialization, from Marketing, Operations Management/Logistic, and Information Technology. Seven  electives should be chosen from the approved list of courses below. The remainder may be selected from courses within the Rader School of Business or by consent of the program director if the course is outside the Rader School of Business and major studies. When selecting a course, please make note of prerequisite requirements.

Operations Management/Logistics


 There are fewer requirements to complete the operations concentration if the electives taken in Germany emphasized operations and supply chain management. (Please consult with your advisor.)

Note:


Alternatives to the designated concentration courses are considered on a case-by-case basis.

International Business, ISW Exchange Option, Model Full-time Track - V1.1 (see note 1)


The international business, ISW exchange option represents the program requirements for students from Fachhochschule Lübeck (FHL). The FHL International Program in Business Engineering (ISW) is an exchange program between the University of Applied Sciences Lübeck (FHL) and MSOE’s Rader School of Business. Students from FHL study at MSOE during the final year of their program. Upon completion, students receive the German Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Applied Sciences Lübeck and the American Bachelor of Science in International Business from MSOE.

Year Four


Total: 16 lecture hours - 0 lab hours - 16 credits

Winter


Total: 16 lecture hours - 0 lab hours - 16 credits

Total: 12 lecture hours - 0 lab hours - 12 credits

Note:


1 German students coming from FHL follow this track while at MSOE. Upon successful completion of the curriculum at FHL and MSOE, the international business degree will be awarded.