International Business
Sample Course Outlines
Global Business and Marketing Strategy
Same as Business Administration and Marketing
Import/Export Trade Operations
Sample Course Outline
Instructor: Robert J. Koran
Textbook: Guide to Export-Import Basics. 2nd ed. International Chamber of Commerce, 2003.
Note: Textbooks are included in IDP fees. Do not purchase.
Course Overview
This course examines the distinctive issues, current relevant principles, concepts, and problems involved in international trade (export/import). The goal of the course is to help the student to understand the basic principles of international trade and their impact on the world's economy and to learn the operational mechanism of trade. Special emphasis will be on practical aspects of export management, and the use of export marketing strategies to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage in each international market, as well as globally. The course objective is to expose the student to the basic elements of international trade in the challenging global economy of the 21st century.
Course Objectives
At the completion of this course, the student will:
- Learn basic terms, facts, concepts, and theories of international trade
- Have thorough understanding of the export-import business environment
- Be able to research and identify foreign markets for export of U.S.-made products
- Be able to prepare and present an export-oriented business plan
- Demonstrate a commitment to details and accurate work
- Improve proactive managerial discussion skills supported by measurable factual knowledge of the subject matter
- Develop the ability to work productively with others on assigned group projects and distinguish between hard facts and general opinions
Grading
| Activities | Points |
| (2) Written Assignments (50 points each) | 100 |
| Quiz | 25 |
| Final Exam, 25 Questions | 50 |
| Class Participation | 25 |
| Total | 200 |
Note: Course content may vary from this sample outline.
International Economics
Sample Course Outline
Instructor: John Gonzales
Textbook: TBA
Course Overview
The purpose of this course is to provide students with an understanding of analytical and policy aspects of key issues related to the domestic economy, monetary policy and international trade and financial flows. The first part of the course focuses on key domestic macroeconomic variables, mainly economic growth, unemployment and inflation. We also look in detail at the decision-making process of a central bank and the monetary policy tools that it can employ, with an emphasis on the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank. The second part of the course will focus on key macroeconomic trade and investment issues: exchange rate systems and the determination of exchange rates; the balance of payments; the relationship between domestic economic policy and international economic policy; dealing with hyperinflation with fixed exchange rates; and balance of payments crises.
Grading
| Research Project and Presentation | 40% |
| Final Exam | 50% |
| Class Participation, Problem Sets | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
Note: Course content may vary from this sample outline.
International Business Law
Sample Course Outline
Instructor: Mark P. Cazem
Textbook: International Business Law and Its Environment. 6th ed. Schaffer, Earle, and Agusti. West — Thomson Learning, 2004.
Note: Textbooks are included in IDP fees. Do not purchase.
Course Overview
This course is a survey introduction to the principles, laws, conventions, and organizations that encompass the environment of international business. This will include how the risks of doing business internationally differ from doing business domestically; the basics of contract law from an American perspective; the Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods; the legal and ethical problems multinationals face when operating in advanced and underdeveloped countries. The student will learn how to recognize and avoid potential legal problems. The course will include a survey of international organizations such as the European Union, NAFTA, GATT, WTO, and others.
Course Requirements
Upon completion of the course the student will:
- Understand the basic foundation of the international legal system and the American legal system
- Select (within context) the appropriate market entry modes
- Recognize legal issues in international business transactions
- Receive an overview of the alternatives to dispute resolution
- Understand American and international contracts
- Understand the pitfalls of the documentary letter of credit
Grading
| Class Participation and Homework | 20% |
| First Exam | 40% |
| Second Exam | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
Note: Course content may vary from this sample outline.
International Business Management
Sample Course Outline
Instructor: Terence Hird
Textbooks: A Short Course in International Negotiating.
Jeffrey E. Curry. World Trade Press, 2001.
Getting Past No: Negotiating with Difficult People.
William Ury, Penguin Books
Note: Textbooks are included in IDP fees. Do not purchase.
Course Overview
Beginning with a discussion of globalization we will then do an overview of the fundamental theories of international business and how the global business environment operates. We will look at successful international business strategies towards a goal of teaching the student how to excel as a global business manager. You will learn how to "internationalize" yourself and your business. Learn what steps you must take to evolve into a global businessperson as we also devote five sessions to international business negotiations and international business culture.
Course Objectives
- To understand the background and current status of world trade, free trade, and what lies ahead for the global economy
- To understand the basic concepts of international business strategy
- To learn the basic skills of cross-cultural business negotiations
- To understand the management of human resources in an international business
- To understand the impact on the international business of various global political, economic, and monetary systems
- To understand the responsibilities of the international business as a global corporate citizen
Grading
| Class Participation | 10% |
| Homework and Negotiation Journal | 60% |
| Final Essay | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
Note: Course content may vary from this sample outline.
International Finance
Sample Course Outline
Instructor: Martin Brook
Textbook: Foundations of Multinational Financial Management. 5th ed. Alan C. Shapiro. Wiley.
Note: Textbooks are included in IDP fees. Do not purchase.
Course Overview
This course provides the tools to address two of the key issues in international finance: the risks and opportunities created by changes in exchange rates and the use of international markets as sources of financing.
Course Objectives
- Convert currencies using spot, future, and cross rates and identify arbitrage opportunities
- Value currency futures and options
- Forecast exchange rates based on the relationships or parity conditions that should apply between spot rates, forward rates, inflation rates, and interest rates
- Differentiate between translation, transaction, and economic exposure to exchange rate changes
- Translate foreign currency denominated items on financial statements to their home currency values
- Manage translation exposure by adjusting funds flows, entering into forward contracts, and netting exposures
- Use forward contracts, futures, options, money market hedges, and other techniques to reduce transaction exposure
- Identify and manage economic exposure
- Construct an integrated exchange risk program
- Understand the operation of international capital markets and the characteristics of alternative sources of medium- and long-term financing
- Use interest and currency swaps to reduce the cost of funds
Grading
| Activity | Points |
| Midterm Exam | 30 |
| Final Exam | 40 |
| Four Spot Quizzes | 5 |
| Group Presentation | 5 |
| Futures Exercise | 5 |
| Case Study | 15 |
| Total | 100 |
Note: Course content may vary from this sample outline.
International Marketing
Sample Course Outline
Instructor: Alexia Vanides
Textbook: International Marketing. 13th ed. Cateora and Graham. McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2007. ISBN: 978-0-07-308006-2.
Note: Textbooks are included in IDP fees. Do not purchase.
Course Overview
As organizations experience global competition, they are discovering at least two unique characteristics relevant for marketing management: organization structure and cultural adaptation. First, global competition is no longer limited to the Western European nations but is extended to Asia, Eastern Europe, and larger developing countries such as India and China. These global competitors practice different culture and corporate structure theories. Second, competition is becoming increasingly both local and global.
Course Objectives
- To contrast and describe the differences between a domestic, U.S.-based marketing strategy and an international, globally-based marketing strategy
- To foster an understanding of the basic differences and opportunities in major global regional markets and cultures: Europe, Latin America, Japan
- To illustrate how significant economic changes affect and change marketing opportunities in global regional markets
- To demonstrate critical, logical, and analytical thinking through team and individual oral/written reports and presentations
- To develop the ability to critically evaluate and summarize differences and opportunities in specific international market settings through the analysis of specific case studies, and presenting supported, reasonable opinions in short case studies and answers to written questions
- To demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in a business marketing context, both orally and in writing
Grading
| Activity | Points |
| Class participation | 10 |
| Case Studies: 10 pts "Starbucks" Case 10 pts "Euro Disney" Case 10 pts "easyCar.com" Case 10 pts "Motivating Japanese" Case | 40 |
| Midterm | 20 |
| Final Exam/Case | 30 |
| Total: | 100 |
| Extra credit, due last day of class: "Web Criteria" | + .1 point |
Note: Course content may vary from this sample outline.
Management Accounting
Sample Course Outline
Instructor: Mark R. Rasiah
Textbook: Management Accounting — A User Perspective. 2nd Custom Edition. Compiled by Mark Bettini. Jones, Werner, Horngren, Sundem, Stratton. Prentice Hall and Pearson Custom Publishing, 2004.
Note: Textbooks are included in IDP fees. Do not purchase.
Course Overview
The course is a general introduction to financial and managerial accounting designed for international students with little or no accounting background. Students will learn basic accounting concepts and how managers use accounting data to make decisions. This course also introduces students to the basic accounting statements and their use in managerial decision making.
Course Objectives
- Analyze and interpret financial statements
- Define various cost terms, concepts, and classifications
- Understand how costs are gathered and assigned to products and projects
- Predict cost behavior
- Develop a budget
- Explain budget variances
- Integrate concepts of segment reporting, profitability analysis, and decentralization
- Choose between multiple investment options using Net Present Value (NPV) analysis
Grading
| Activity | Points |
| Midterm Exam | 30 |
| Final Exam | 30 |
| Class Participation/Spot Quizzes | 10 |
| Group Project/Case Study | 30 |
| Total | 100 |
Note: Course content may vary from this sample outline.