International Business, B.S.

Students in Saint Louis University's international business bachelor's degree program, offered through the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business, gain global business understanding and experience through courses, student activities, faculty mentors, special events and internships.

Students are also strongly encouraged to study abroad and gain firsthand experience through immersion. Options range from a large selection of full-semester destinations to short-stay experiences of seven to 10 days.

Before engaging an overseas business associate, students must first understand how their language, communication style, social infrastructure, work attitudes, economy, politics, pace of life, geography and government policies impact their business practice. Students will also learn about exporting, importing, foreign direct investment, foreign licensing, international services and global transactions of products or services.

Since careers will be impacted in some way by international influences, it is critical that students understand business relationships with partners from around the world — whether during business conducted inside the U.S. or overseas. The Chaifetz School prepares students to meet this challenge.

Students may choose to pursue the international business minor in addition to their chosen major.

Curriculum Overview

SLU's international business major is designed to provide students with a holistic approach to understanding the interconnections of globalization and its implications on the company's performance. Students of international business learn about the impact and implementation of international business practices in the modern marketplace and examine various strategic options that managers consider in assessing international market potentials. Students learn the importance of analyzing the national differences in the political, economic, cultural and legal systems. The international business major prepares students to think in a multi-disciplinary fashion when analyzing and assessing the factors that can change the firm's global presence into global excellence. Students are introduced to the necessary tools to make decisions on foreign market selections, entry mode strategies, international products customization and global multi-point competitive strategies.

Internships/Student Organizations

Benefits of the international business program also include internship opportunities. Internships are critical to gaining experience in day-to-day global tasks and operations. International business internships may be completed for credit (up to three academic credits can be approved) or without credit. They may be paid or unpaid. Internships are approached with a team model, joining the School of Business Career Resources Center with a faculty advisor and site supervisor to ensure a meaningful experience. Sample internship sites in St. Louis include Boeing, World Trade Center St. Louis and Anheuser-Busch InBev. Internships outside St. Louis and overseas have also been approved. Many internships have led to job offers for full-time employment after graduation. 

The Department of International Business and the Boeing Institute of International Business support the International Business Club, which provides students with the opportunity to learn about the different career paths in international business as well as the opportunity to network with professionals from the area.

Careers

The increasingly global nature of commerce means students majoring in international business have a wide range of career options. Graduates holding a Bachelor of Science in international business find opportunities at local firms doing business abroad and multi-national companies operating in countries around the world. International business students receive dedicated career development support from the Chaifetz School's Valerie A. Davisson Career Resources Center and join a global network of 20,000 alumni of the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business. A survey of the Class of 2017 found 100 percent of Chaifetz School international business graduates were employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation.

Admission Requirements

Freshman

All applications are thoroughly and carefully reviewed. Solid academic performance in college preparatory course work is a primary criterion in reviewing a freshman applicant’s file. College admission test scores (ACT or SAT) are used as an additional indicator of the student’s ability to meet the University’s academic requirements and to qualify the student for certain University scholarship programs. To be considered for admission to any Saint Louis University undergraduate program, the applicant must be approaching graduation from an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the General Education Development (GED) test.

Transfer

Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited high school or have an acceptable score on the GED. An official high school transcript and official test scores are required only of those students who have attempted fewer than 24 transferable semester credits (or 30 quarter credits) of college credit. Those having completed 24 credits or more of college credit need only submit a transcript from previously attended college(s). Transfer students must have a cumulative 2.70 GPA to be admitted to the accounting program and a 2.50 GPA for all other majors. In reviewing a transfer applicant’s file, the office of admission holistically examines the student’s academic performance in college-level coursework as an indicator of the student’s ability to meet the academic rigors of Saint Louis University.

International Applicants

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• Proof of financial support must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:

• Scholarships: awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need.
• Financial Aid: provided in the form of grants and loans, some of which require repayment.

For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, applicants should apply for admission by Dec. 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.

For information on other scholarships and financial aid, visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.

Accreditation

The Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business is accredited by AACSB, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the world’s largest business education alliance and accrediting body of business schools, ensuring continuous quality improvement in terms of curriculum, instructional resources, student selection, career placement and intellectual contributions and qualifications of the faculty.  Less than 10% of business schools worldwide have achieved AACSB accreditation. 

1. Graduates will be able to understand essential business concepts and how the various functional areas of business are related.
2. Graduates will be able to demonstrate knowledge of ethical concepts and corporate social responsibility and be able to evaluate business problems from multiple ethical perspectives.
3. Graduates will be able to identify and structure business problems and propose actionable solutions to business problems and when applicable utilizing appropriate technology.
4. Graduates will be able to demonstrate effective written communication.
5. Graduates will be able to understand how cultures, politics, laws, ethics, and economies influence and impacts business and use tools and concepts to analyze and formulate an international business strategy.
6. Graduates will be able to apply international trade and foreign direct investment theories and practices in formulating MNE’s business strategies
7. Graduates will be able to analyze country, industry, and firm-level factors to assess global competitive dynamics
8. Graduates will be able to demonstrate an ability to analyze the impact of cross-cultural differences on MNE’s strategies, structures, and performance

Fifteen (15) credits of international business courses in addition to IB 2000 Introduction to International Business (3 cr), which is taken as a Business CBK requirement, and twelve foreign language credits.¹

Continuation Standards

International Business students must maintain a 2.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) in all courses used to fulfill the major.  

​Students will be on program probation if the GPA in major courses used to fulfill major requirements falls below a 2.00.  Students will have one semester to increase their major or minor cumulative GPA to a 2.00; if not, students will not be allowed to register for 3000 or 4000 level major courses.

Students whose cumulative grade point average falls below 2.00 are required to apply for probationary status, which allows for no more than two consecutive semesters to improve scholastically and to demonstrate the ability to make progress toward a degree.

During the probationary period, advisors help students achieve academic success by closely monitoring their academic performance. Students on probation may not register for more than 15 credits of coursework as defined by the terms of the probation.

The conditions under which a student is dismissed from the school include:

1. inability to eliminate probationary status within the two semesters subsequent to the assignment of probation or
2. a total grade point deficit of more than 15 points.

For more information, see section under University Academic Policies and Procedures.

Business Common Body of Knowledge (CBK) 

Arts and Sciences Core Requirements 

Graduation Requirements

To be certified for graduation, a student must complete all course requirements and meet all of the following conditions:

• apply to graduate;
• earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in all SLU coursework; Accounting students must earn a minimum 2.70 cumulative grade point average (GPA) in all SLU coursework and earn grades of “C” or higher in all courses that fulfill the major requirements; for all other majors, students must earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in all major courses that fulfill the major requirements;
• earn a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA in all business coursework taken at Saint Louis University;
• complete the Arts and Sciences core as specified in the business school curriculum;
• complete 30 of the final 36 credits at the St. Louis campus or an approved Study Abroad program;*
• complete at least 50% of business coursework in residence at the St. Louis campus;*
• complete major course requirements in residence at the St. Louis campus;*
• Students transferring from the Madrid campus must complete a minimum of 40 credits of coursework, including a minimum of 30 credits of business coursework in residence at the St. Louis campus.*

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester.  Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.