New SOM Program Aims at Global Economy

Annually in the United States, international trade accounts for over 2 trillion dollars or about a quarter of the total Gross National Product. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, the growth of international business has contributed to an increase in demand for occupations that require comprehensive knowledge of international business and foreign languages. As a result, the University of Michigan-Flint School of Management (SOM) is offering a new international business concentration within the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Degree Program. It will help meet an ever-increasing demand by corporations to hire business graduates who have a background in international business.

"The new concentration is designed to prepare students to assume general management positions and learn to make decisions within the context of a global economy," said SOM Dean Jack Helmuth.

Students specializing in the international business concentration will be both academically prepared to meet the growing challenges of an interconnected world, and will also have a global experience. They will be required to have an international experience, either an internship or a study abroad course, and two additional courses in one of the marketing, finance, or management options. The courses in these options are carefully selected to be most relevant to these functions in an international setting, and also easily allow for double concentrations in these areas if the students wish to do so. The concentration will also include a focus elective requirement in foreign languages, international studies or economics.

"This concentration is also expected to attract more students into our school's BBA program, including international students," said Yener Kandogan, associate SOM dean and associate professor of business economics. The new BBA with international concentration joins a long list of programs supported and offered by the School of Management that are designed to better prepare UM-Flint students for the global economy and attract students from around the world to study on the Flint campus. Current programs are built on strong relationships in Russia, Korea, India, Taiwan and China. The new program will be offered for fall 2008.