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Darla Moore School of Business

Curriculum

Challenge your perspective on global business and master the art of conducting business across borders and cultures.

Ranked No. 1 in the nation for more than two decades, the International Business program at the Moore School is unparalleled in providing students opportunities to develop global competencies through rigorous international business training complemented by foreign language acquisition, study abroad at elite partner schools and exposure to leading-edge faculty.

Admission to the International Business major is highly selective. Students who are admitted to the South Carolina Honors College may select the Classic IB track, which includes spending at least one semester abroad at one of our more than 60 partner universities. The small number of remaining openings are filled through a highly competitive selection process.

Degree requirements: 128-140 hours

  • In-depth capacity in a functional area of business.
  • Strong understanding of the global dimensions of business.
  • Excellent communication skills in more than one language.
  • Appreciation of the impact of culture on the conduct of business.
  • Exposure to living in a second culture. 

All majors are required to take Carolina Core classes to develop problem-solving skills and explore world cultures, history, languages and art. Business students also complete the Business Core Curriculum, which covers the basics for success in advanced business courses. Courses common to all programs include business communications, statistics, international business, accounting, economics, computer applications and business law.

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CMW: Carolina Core Effective, Engaged and Persuasive Communication: Writing (6 hours)

  • ENGL 101: Critical Reading and Composition
  • ENGL 102: Rhetoric and Composition

ARP: Carolina Core Analytical Reasoning and Problem-Solving (6-8 hours)

  • MATH 122: Calculus for Business Administration and Social Sciences or MATH 141
  • and
  • STAT 206: Elementary Statistics for Business

SCI: Carolina Core Scientific Literacy

  • Two approved Carolina Core Scientific Literacy courses including one laboratory course
  • GFL: Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language (0-8 hours)

Students shall demonstrate in one foreign language the ability to comprehend the topic and the main ideas in written and, with the exception of Latin and Ancient Greek, spoken texts on familiar subjects. This ability can be demonstrated by achieving a score of two or better on a UofSC foreign language test. Those failing to do so must satisfactorily complete equivalent study of foreign language at UofSC.

GHS: Carolina Core Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking

Any approved Carolina Core History course
GSS: Carolina Core Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (3 hours)

Any approved Carolina Core Social Science course
AIU: Carolina Core Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (3 hours)

Any approved Carolina Core Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding course
CMS: Carolina Core Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Speech (3 hours)

Any approved Carolina Core Speech course
INF: Carolina Core Information Literacy (0-3 hours)

This requirement may be met in an overlay course that combines learning outcomes from two Carolina Core components
VSR: Carolina Core Values, Ethics and Social Responsibility (3 hours)

Any approved Carolina Core Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility course. This requirement may be met in an overlay course that combines learning outcomes from two Carolina Core components.
Other Required General Education Courses for the Darla Moore School of Business (3-10 hours)

Additional Moore School general education courses may be required if student exempts the foreign language requirement and/or the student chooses coursework which can fulfill both stand-alone and overlay requirements of Carolina Core components (up to 10 hours).

Those credit hours must be replaced with elective credits (minimum of 6 credits). A third elective is required to reach graduation hours, and students are strongly encouraged to take a business section of UNIV 101 to fulfill this elective (three credits).

  • MGSC 290: Computer Information Systems in Business
  • MGSC 291:  Statistics for Business and Economics
  • MGSC 395: Operations Management
  • ACCT 225: Introduction to Financial Accounting
  • ACCT 226: Introduction to Managerial Accounting
  • ACCT 324: Survey of Commercial Law
  • MGMT 250: Professional Communication
  • MGMT 371: Principles of Management
  • MGMT 478: Strategic Management
  • MKTG 350: Principles of Marketing
  • FINA 363: Introduction to Finance
  • BADM 301: Business Careers in the Global Economy
  • ECON 221: Principles of Microeconomics
  • ECON 222: Principles of Macroeconomics

The program also requires nine hours of course work with international content that may be used to fulfill other degree requirements. Three hours must be taken from an approved list of courses offered by the Darla Moore School of Business which contain international business or international economics content. The following course options can also be used to satisfy the three credit hours of this requirement: approved course work containing international business or international economics content, taken at a semester abroad program; an approved Maymester or summer overseas course containing international business or international economics content; an approved internship course in international business wherein a student would obtain discipline-related work experience in a foreign country; or an approved service-learning component. Students may choose from one of the following options to complete the remaining six-hour requirement:

Language:

Two language courses at the 200 level or above
or

Electives:

Two approved courses with international content taken either inside or outside the Moore School of Business from a list available in the undergraduate office.

Language skills not only improve the efficiency, insight and networking skills of global professionals but such proficiency also allows individuals to gain deeper insight into the culture, values and context of the people with whom they are working. In order to enhance this cross-cultural capability, international business students must complete several advanced-level courses in a foreign language (often resulting in a language minor). The languages available at UofSC include Arabic, Chinese, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. 

While prior language study is highly recommended, it is not necessary to participate in the program.  Many students choose to begin studying a new language when they arrive at UofSC and are able to complete the requirement of four 300-level courses for the IB program by graduation.

Explore the World

The Moore School's strong international partnerships have allowed the business school to develop partnerships with over 60 of the best business schools around the world. Every spring, juniors majoring in international business will study at one of these schools through the international business exchange program. These partnerships allow students to build a network of global contacts with future business leaders around the world.

Placements are determined through an application process in which priority is based on academic records and answers to application questions.  Students rank their top 10 destinations not only by location but also based on courses available, language immersion opportunities, professional goals and cultural curiosity.  Most partner schools offer courses in English, and students are not required to speak the language of the country where they are studying abroad. Exceptions to the study abroad requirement will be granted in cases of hardship. Students in regional cohort tracks meet the overseas study requirement at the cohort partner institution.

Additional study abroad preparations, including additional application processes for the host university, visas, housing,and pre-departure modules,are required of students in the fall semester prior to studying abroad, providing students experiential learning opportunities as they prepare for careers in international business.

All Moore School students will take communications courses as part of the general education requirements.
Directed course work may be selected from a university-wide list of approved minors. The minor is normally a minimum of 18 hours of prescribed courses in one subject area. Students not selecting such a minor may submit an alternative program of study to satisfy the approved course work requirement. The proposed alternative program of study must be approved by the Undergraduate Program Executive Committee in coordination with the Undergraduate Division. All minor courses or courses approved as alternatives must be passed with a grade of C or better.

International Business Curriculum (15 hours)

The international business major must be taken in combination with a second major in business and requires 27-39 hours of major coursework.

  • IBUS 310: Globalization and Business
  • ACCT 506: International Financial Reporting
  • IBUS 401: International Financial Management*
  • IBUS 402: International Marketing*
  • IBUS 403: International Entrepreneurship*
  • IBUS 405: International Information Systems
  • MGSC 405:  International Information Systems
  • MGMT 406: International Human Resource Management
  • ECON 503: International Trade Economics
  • ECON 504: International Monetary Economics
  • ECON 505: International Development Economics

*Course numbers IBUS 401, 402 and 403 will be changed to 501, 502 and 503 in fall 2022 for IB major credit.

  • IBUS 422: Foreign Market Entry and Growth
  • IBUS 423: Cross-Cultural Behavior and Negotiations
  • IBUS 424: Exporting and Importing
  • IBUS 425: Competitive Strategies in Developing Countries
  • IBUS 426: Global Competitive Analysis
  • IBUS 427: Global Stakeholder Management
  • IBUS 428: Islamic Economics and Finance
  • IBUS 429: Comparative Innovation Systems
  • IBUS 431: Intercultural Competencies for Working in International Teams
  • IBUS 433: Social Networks and Global Leadership
  • IBUS 435: Market Development and Global Strategy
  • IBUS 519: Social Networks and Global Leadership
  • IBUS 521: Ethnographic Methods in International Marketing
  • IBUS 541: Business in Latin America *
  • IBUS 542: Business in Asia *
  • IBUS 543: Business in Europe*
  • IBUS 544: Business in Africa*

*Because one or more of these courses may not be offered on campus during the two years that a student may be taking major-level courses, these courses are most appropriate for study abroad.

Students in the IBCE Cohort Program Chinese Business Track meet the regional course requirements with courses dealing primarily with China and Asia. Students in the International Business in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Cohort Track meet the regional course requirements with courses dealing primarily with the Middle East and Africa. Students in the Responsible International Leadership Cohort Track meet the regional course requirements with courses dealing primarily with the Europe. Students in the International Business of the Americas Cohort Track meet the regional course requirements with courses dealing primarily with Latin America. 

International Business Degree: Track Options

In addition to completing UofSC's Carolina Core general education courses, business core classes and the international business curriculum, students are required to double major in another business discipline and complete advanced foreign language courses. IB students are also required to complete at least one semester abroad through one of the Moore School's partner exchanges at more than 60 of the top business schools worldwide.

Students may apply for admission to the Global International Business (Classic) track as a current first-year student in the Darla Moore School of Business or to one of six International Cohort tracks during their senior year of high school prior to enrollment at UofSC.

Additional Information

Admission to the international business major is highly competitive, and enrollment is limited. Individual limits apply to language selections in the Cohort track.

The Sonoco Department of International Business has led the field of undergraduate education in creating progressive, thought-provoking, engaging courses that challenge students to think beyond their comfort zones. Each class exposes students to the vast complexities of our changing world and helps them develop the skills needed to make the best business decisions in environments of increasing globalization, great uncertainty and multiple points of view. To prepare them for courses in the international business major students are recommended to take a variety of internationally related arts and sciences courses from the Carolina Core.

In addition to receiving a strong international business education, students are also required to complete a second major at the Moore School. This additional concentration helps them develop specific functional skills that enhance their effectiveness as business professionals. Visit the Undergraduate Majors page to see a list of available majors.

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.

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