International Studies with a concentration in International Business and Economics, BA

During the last few decades, companies and government agencies have increased their search for employees who understand world issues. A Bachelor of Arts with a major in international studies and a concentration in international business and economics makes you competitive in the job market.

This major is designed to prepare students for jobs in the public and private sectors, where globalization is increasing dramatically, or to enter a graduate degree program.

Degree requirements

Hours required and general/college requirements

A minimum of 120 semester hours, of which 42 must be advanced, and fulfillment of degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree as specified in the General University Requirements in the Academics section of this catalog and the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences requirements.

Major requirements

Majors need 42 hours from the list of approved courses below, including:

International Business and Economics concentration, 36 hours

Twelve of the 36 hours must be advanced-level courses.

Economics, 9 hours

Management, 9 hours

Marketing and business practice, 9 hours

Regional choice, 9 hours

Students should select one region of the world relevant to their concentration and foreign language and take 9 hours in that region. See “Regional choice” under the concentration in Regional Studies .

Note

Some courses (e.g., INST 4850 and INST 4900 ) may be repeated for credit as topics vary and if the subject is appropriate.

Other course requirements

6 upper-division hours in a foreign language of the student’s choice. International students who attended high school in a non-native English speaking country and have been exempted from the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences foreign language requirement can substitute 6 hours of advanced English writing courses with prior approval of the International Studies director or academic advisor.
Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of Study Abroad opportunities. Students are also encouraged to do an internship related to their area of concentration; only 3 hours will apply towards the major.

Minor

Optional.

Electives

Hours required for electives may vary based on course selection and the University Core Curriculum requirements . Electives may be required to satisfy the advanced hour requirement (42) and/or the minimum total hours required for the degree. For specific information, see an academic advisor in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

Other requirements

To graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in international studies, a student must have achieved a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the time of graduation.

Four-year degree plan (example)

The following four-year plan is one example of a variety of ways in which you can complete your chosen degree in four years, and will serve as a guide for you to design your pathway to degree completion. Variations will depend on whether you need to take prerequisites or have college credit from exams or dual enrollment.

Year 1

Semester 1		Semester 2
MATH 1180 - College Math for Business, Economics and Related Fields	3 hours	INST 2100 - Introduction to International Studies	3 hours
PSCI 2305 - US Political Behavior and Policy	3 hours	PSCI 2306 - US and Texas Constitutions and Institutions	3 hours
SPAN 1010 - Elementary Spanish	3 hours	SPAN 1020 - Elementary Spanish	3 hours
Communication core	3 hours	Communication core	3 hours
Creative Arts core	3 hours	Life and Physical Sciences core	3 hours
Total	15 hours	Total	15 hours

Year 2

Semester 1		Semester 2
ECON 1100 - Principles of Microeconomics	3 hours	ECON 1110 - Principles of Macroeconomics	3 hours
HIST 2610 - United States History to 1865	3 hours	HIST 2620 - United States History Since 1865	3 hours
SPAN 2040 - Intermediate Spanish	3 hours	MKTG 3650 - Foundations of Marketing Practice	3 hours
Life and Physical Sciences core	3 hours	SPAN 2050 - Intermediate Spanish	3 hours
Language, Philosophy and Culture core	3 hours	Elective	3 hours
Total	15 hours	Total	15 hours

Year 3

Semester 1		Semester 2
Economics selection	3 hours	Economics selection	3 hours
Latin America Region selection	3 hours	Latin America Region selection	3 hours
Management selection	3 hours	Management selection	3 hours
Marketing and Business Practice selection	3 hours	Marketing and Business Practice selection	3 hours
Spanish elective-advanced	3 hours	Spanish elective-advanced	3 hours
Total	15 hours	Total	15 hours

Year 4

Semester 1		Semester 2
CLASS Distribution-Communication and Digital Skills	3 hours	INST 4852 - Critical Issues in Global Economics Senior Seminar	3 hours
Management selection	3 hours	CLASS Distribution-Diversity and Global Issues	3 hours
Marketing and Business Practice selection	3 hours	Latin America Region selection	3 hours
Elective	3 hours	Elective	3 hours
Elective	3 hours	Elective	3 hours
Total	15 hours	Total	15 hours