For anyone who wants to earn an online business degree but wants to expand their career beyond national borders, pursuing an online international business degree is the way to go. With an international business degree, you will be able to learn both business and international skills, giving you the ability to work in all areas of business, foreign and national.
International business is the field of work that includes everything from importing and exporting goods to researching sales and marketing trends around the world. Jobs in this field deal with all of these activities and processes to promote international business-to-business partnerships and sales.
In international business, you will be able to work many of the same types of jobs as you would in national business. Popular positions include marketing manager, management analysis, business executive, financial analyst, economist, human resources manager, and policy analyst. Of course, as in every field, the jobs you can get and the salary you receive are based heavily on your experience and education.
Most careers in international business are predicted to grow by nearly 10 percent by 2026, providing you with relief from worries about job security. And, after earning a graduate-level degree, you can expect any job in international business to pay between $85,000 and $125,000 per year, though there is always the opportunity to make more than that.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the top international business degree programs.
Best Online International Business Degree Programs
Earning a degree online is a great route for those who wish to continue working while they study as online scheduling frees up most of your time. In most online degree programs, there is also an option to fast track your degree. This allows you to complete your degree much quicker than the standard time, getting you into your dream job that much sooner.
Choosing the best program to enroll in can be tricky, as there are so many of them available. Not every college that offers an online international business program can say its program is one of the best out there; however, the following 13 can.
Liberty University
Liberty University, based in Lynchburg, Virginia, offers an online bachelor of international studies program. Being totally online, the program at this institution provides students with flexibility in scheduling and completing coursework. This program is great for anyone who wants to receive a Christian-based education, as classes like Christian life are required alongside other core courses.
Liberty University’s program requires students to complete 120 credit hours, though only 30 of them have to be completed through Liberty. Courses focus on topics such as international business strategy and finance as well as more specific course options based on your career goals. Students here will be strongly encouraged to complete an internship in the field, though it is not required to graduate.
Northeastern University
In Boston, Massachusetts, you can enroll in Northeastern University’s online Master of Science in International Business. This program focuses on teaching students the skills of good global leaders. In this program, you will learn how to navigate the global market in a sensical and ethical way.
Many of the required courses for this program are centered on finance and leadership. A few courses you will take here include global supply chain, international marketing, and becoming a global leader. All of these courses are taught through a program accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Fort Hays State University
Hays, Kansas offers an online Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business and Economics through the Fort Hays State University. This program is designed to integrate course concepts with critical thinking skills, allowing students to have a deeper understanding of the global environment and social justice issues in a business context.
Fort Hays State University’s program requires students to complete 124 credit hours in order to graduate. Required courses include studying economics and finance as well as electives like geography and comparative cultures.
This university encourages transfer students to apply and has set up a selection of pre-enrollment options to make the transfer process easier. Students who wish to earn their general education requirements from a community college would be great candidates for this program.
Arizona State University
Through Arizona State University, you can enroll in both an online Bachelor of Arts in Business with a concentration in global leadership and an online MBA with an emphasis in international business. Both of these programs are accredited by the AACSB.
Students of these programs will complete all of the required core courses that explore topics ranging from politics to leadership and management. Some of these classes include global justice, international politics, and global marketing management.
Florida International University
Based in Miami, Florida, Florida International University offers an online program for a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business. This program is designed to encourage students to think innovatively across cultural and linguistic barriers. Since the university is internationally focused, it provides students with more experience in working in foreign environments.
In order to earn a degree from this program, students are required to complete 120 credit hours. To help aid in student success, Florida International University pairs each student with a success coach who will provide guidance in navigating online classes. Students are given even more flexibility in start dates. The program allows you to start in the spring, summer, or fall semester.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Through the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska, students can enroll in an online MBA with an emphasis in international business. The MBA program focuses on teaching students managerial and team-building skills, while the international business component focuses more on global ethics and perspectives.
To earn this degree, students will be required to complete courses in each of the different areas of business, giving students a well-rounded education with a speciality in one area. Many of the courses in this program are chosen by the student to best fit their career goals, making it a more tailored degree.
University of Scranton
In Scranton, Pennsylvania, students can enroll in the University of Scranton’s online MBA with a speciality in international business. This program is accredited by AACSB, guaranteeing students a quality education.
This program focuses on developing student’s leadership skills to handle leading an international market. Topics studied throughout the course of this degree plan include micro and macro-economics, supply chain management, and global perspectives. The combination of all these skills prepares students for making decisions in a global business environment and knowing how these decisions will affect and be perceived by global leaders.
Minot State University
Minot, North Dakota is home to Minot State University. If you enrolled here, you would be able to study an online Bachelor of Science in International Business. While the program consists of 120 required credit hours, students are offered the opportunity to enroll in an accelerated program to complete their degree much quicker than normal.
Minot State University’s program focuses on teaching students about international perspectives in different parts of business. Students are taught through both self-paced studying and scheduled video meetings and lectures, to ensure a perfect understanding of coursework. Courses focusing on different views and ideas lead up to a final project that involves studying a specific region or country’s business practices.
University of North Dakota
With a base in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the University of North Dakota offers an online program for an MBA with a concentration in international business. This program puts an emphasis on management within an international business environment by teaching leadership skills and cultural views.
One of the best aspects of this AACSB-accredited program is the opportunity for an immersive education. Students enrolled in this MBA program are given the chance to study abroad in Norway, at the Norweigian BI Business School. This is a great way for students to really learn about how business is done in other countries while also experiencing a whole new culture.
New England College of Business and Finance
Based in Boston, Massachusetts, New England College of Business and Finance offers a Bachelor of Science in International Business. This degree program is guaranteed to be a good one because the university specializes in both business and online degree programs. In fact, the New England College of Business and Finance has won the Brandon Hall Group Excellence in Learning awards, giving it a solid accreditation.
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If you enroll in this program, you will focus on learning about current issues in the global economy and how to best address them. Some of the required courses include business ethics and management information systems. By completing this program, you will be giving yourself all of the tools and education necessary to be a fantastic leader in the international business environment.
University of Colorado- Colorado Springs
In Colorado Springs, Colorado, the University of Colorado offers an MBA in International Business as a totally online program. This program helps teach students the basics of business administration combined with international business practices, creating a perfect education for those wanting to achieve higher positions in the world of international business.
With core courses requiring students to learn about management skills and comparative cultural practices, students can expect to earn a degree with a well-rounded education. Some of the required courses include global supply chain management, regional business environment in Europe, and project management team skills.
University of Houston
The University of Houston in Houston, Texas offers an online program for a Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business. This is a great degree for you to earn if you are hoping to go for an MBA in the future, as it provides the background in business administration.
For this program, students are required to complete the standard 120 credit hours as well as a study abroad program or an internationally focused project. Either way, students are guaranteed a hands-on experience for their newly learned global business skills. Outside of the study abroad program or project, all classes are completed in a more self-administered way, providing students with plenty of flexibility in earning their degree.
Linfield Online College and Continuing Education
With its campus based in McMinnville, Oregon, Linfield Online College offers an innovative online bachelor of international business program. In this program, students are required to complete core courses but can work with a mentor in their area of study to choose the right courses for their career goals.
Linfield Online College offers study abroad opportunities for all students. However, if a student cannot afford to study abroad, their mentors will help make up for the experience with courses that cover topics like intercultural communications. Whatever path you choose, this program is a great choice for those wanting a more affordable school, as it is lower-cost than many other international education programs.
Conclusion
For anyone thinking that doing business work around the globe may be their thing, an international business degree is the perfect degree to pursue. There are plenty of variations of this degree to best suit your career goal, and many programs offer the chance to tailor your degree to suit your needs.
Earning your international business degree online is a great option for undergraduate and graduate students. For any graduate-level degree, you will likely be expected to complete years of work experience, so being able to work while you study for your bachelor’s or master’s degree is a must. Not to mention the freedom of being able to create and follow your own schedule with little to no expected meeting times.
All in all, we think an online international business degree is a great decision for you to jumpstart your career. Deciding to apply to one or more of the top 13 programs is the best way for you to ensure a quality education and headstart on your peers. For a career in global business, you can’t go wrong with an international business degree.
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