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Certificate Program in International Business

The Certificate Program in International Business (CPIB) offers a special opportunity to Bachelor of Science in Business Administration students with a strong interest in the global aspects of business. The CPIB will contribute to a student’s preparation for a career in international business, which often begins with domestic job placements that can lead to international assignments as the professional’s career progresses.

Students pursuing the CPIB will be particularly attractive to employers who value students with international interests, perspective, knowledge, and experience. This program will give our students an advantage in competing for the most attractive internships and full-time positions in highly internationalized firms.

Enrollment is open only to students in the BSBA degree program. The CPIB is designed as an enrichment of the BSBA program, not as a stand-alone program. It builds on the BSBA core curriculum and may be combined with a major in accounting, finance, general management, or marketing. It may not be combined with the CBA global management major.

CPIB Requirements

• Foreign Language (0–16 credits)
• BUSECN 1508 Key Issues in Economics for Managers (3 credits)
• BUSORG 1655 International Dimensions of Organizational Behavior (3 credits)
• Major Elective (3 credits)
• A&S Elective 1 (3 credits)
• A&S Elective 2 (3 credits)
• Study Abroad/International Internship (3–12 credits; requires completion of a Study Abroad Contract)

Total credits (18–43)

Students pursuing the Certificate Program in International Business may not apply any of the courses fulfilling CPIB requirements to the Global-Studies Certificate requirements, with the exception of courses taken to fulfill the foreign language requirement.

Foreign Language

At a minimum, Level 4 of a foreign language must be satisfactorily completed (a two-year, four-course sequence at the University of Pittsburgh). If a foreign language is studied while abroad, the student’s language proficiency will be evaluated upon return via a University of Pittsburgh foreign-language placement exam. Students are encouraged to pursue language study beyond the minimum requirement to enhance basic proficiency and to be more prepared to take advantage of the study/internship abroad experience.

Major Elective

The CPIB requires one course in a student's major with significant international content. The courses offered include:

A&S Elective 1 and 2

Fulfilled by a course focusing on an area of the world or a comparative issue from an approved list of A&S courses.

Africana Studies

Anthropology

Chinese

Arts & Sciences

Economics

German

History

Italian

Japanese

Political Science

Study Abroad/International Internship

Fulfilled by one term of approved study abroad or an international internship, the study/internship abroad requirement has two objectives:

• to enrich international awareness, understanding, and competence; and
• to enable students to apply what they are learning in the program to living, learning, and for some, working in a country other than the United States or the student’s home country.

While some students have little international experience and others have substantial experience, the study-/internship-abroad requirement ensures that all students as part of the CPIB make significant advances in international competence through a substantial academic experience abroad. The particular program must be approved in advance, be at least four weeks in duration (internships must be at least 10 weeks in duration), entail at least three credits of coursework (regular coursework or internship credit), and take place in a country other than the United States and the student’s home country.

Curriculum

• Arts & Sciences
• Business Core
• Major Courses

CBA students may enhance their curriculum with options like the Certificate Program in International Business or the Certificate Program in Leadership and Ethics.