International Business B.S.I.B. with General Business Concentration

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Arkansas

Program Overview

The University of Arkansas’ International Business B.S.I.B. with General Business Concentration combines broad business education with international business, foreign-language study and global economic perspectives, making it suitable for students who want flexibility across business functions and an international career outlook. Students complete a 120-hour curriculum covering accounting, finance, marketing, management, supply chain, information systems, international trade and macroeconomics, while the General Business concentration allows 15 hours of upper-level Walton College business courses to be selected according to their interests.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their business foundation through MATH 20503 Finite Mathematics, SCMT 21003 Integrated Supply Chain Management, MGMT 21003 Organizational Behavior, and ISYS 11203 Business Application Knowledge - Computer Competency. They also begin their foreign-language preparation and develop analytical and communication skills through ISYS 10303 Data Analysis and Interpretation, ACCT 20103 Accounting Principles and SPCH 10003 Public Speaking.

Year 2: Students strengthen their academic and business knowledge with ACCT 20203 Accounting Principles II or SEVI 20503 Business Foundations, ECON 22003 Principles of Microeconomics, MATH 22003 Survey of Calculus and ISYS 20303 Foundations of Business Analytics. Continued foreign-language and area-studies coursework adds cultural and regional knowledge, while ENGL 10103 Composition I and ENGL 10203 Composition II develop professional written communication.

Year 3: Students move into the core business curriculum with FINN 20403 Principles of Finance, MKTG 34303 Introduction to Marketing, ISYS 21003 Business Information Systems and SEVI 30103 Strategic Management. The international dimension becomes more prominent through ECON 46303 International Trade, international business electives and General Business courses, giving students a foundation for understanding how business functions operate across markets.

Year 4: The final year deepens students’ understanding of the global economy through ECON 46403 International Macroeconomics and Finance, alongside international business electives, area studies and flexible General Business electives. Because the General Business concentration consists of 15 hours of 30000/40000-level Walton College courses with no more than nine hours from one academic area, students can tailor the final stage of the degree toward their interests across business disciplines.

Focus areas:

International business, general business, global economics, international trade, international macroeconomics and finance, finance, marketing, management, supply chain management, business information systems, business analytics, foreign languages and area studies.

Learning outcomes:

Students develop the ability to analyze business from a global perspective, understand international economic and business environments, communicate across cultures, apply business knowledge across functional areas, interpret business data, and make strategic decisions using knowledge of finance, marketing, management, information systems and supply chains. The university’s program documentation identifies the BSIB goal as preparing graduates to critically analyze and engage with complex global business contexts.

Professional alignment (accreditation):

The program is offered through the Sam M. Walton College of Business, which has maintained AACSB accreditation since 1931. AACSB accreditation involves standards covering business education quality and continuous improvement and provides an internationally recognized quality framework for Walton College’s business programs.

Reputation (employability rankings):

Walton College reports that its undergraduate business programs were ranked 25th among public institutions and 40th among public and private institutions in the U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Undergraduate Business Programs. For employment outcomes, Walton College reports an average salary of $61,374 for a Walton undergraduate business major and that 84% of job-seeking Walton undergraduates were employed at graduation; these figures are college-level undergraduate business statistics rather than outcomes specifically limited to the International Business B.S.I.B. General Business concentration.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

This program makes international exposure a formal part of the degree rather than treating it as an optional extra. The BSIB requires an approved international experience through study abroad, work abroad or work with the international division of a domestic company, while Walton College provides exchange programs, international internships, advising and scholarships to help students complete this component.

Students can build practical international and business experience through:

Required international experience: Students must complete an approved study-abroad experience of at least four weeks and six credit hours, work abroad, or work with the international division of a domestic company as part of the program; international students can use approved work in their home country to meet the requirement.
Exchange programs: Walton College provides BSIB exchange-program curriculum maps, allowing students to plan international coursework within their degree. An official exchange curriculum map demonstrates a BSIB pathway with a semester abroad during the junior year.
International internships: Walton College offers international internship opportunities that extend students’ learning beyond campus and emphasize critical thinking, flexibility, independence and experience in a global business environment.
Rome international internship: Students can undertake an international internship in Rome while taking courses at the Walton College’s Rome Center during the fall or spring semester.
Global Engagement Office: The Global Engagement Office supports international business, language and cultural initiatives and provides resources for study abroad and international scholarships.
Real-world business projects: Walton College states that industry partners regularly sponsor projects based on current business challenges, allowing students to develop solutions while gaining exposure to software and industry tools.
Industry-connected learning: Students can interact with executives and industry experts through Walton College initiatives, guest speakers, mentorships and live events.
Business communication support: The Walton Business Communication Lab provides tutoring designed to strengthen students’ oral and written communication skills and career readiness.
Business facilities and institutes: Walton College facilities and resources include the McMillon Innovation Studio, Garrison Financial Institute, Customer Centric Leadership Initiative, Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and other business-focused centers and initiatives.
International business learning: The curriculum itself gives students opportunities to study topics such as International Trade, International Macroeconomics and Finance, Emerging Markets, International Finance, International Management, Global Marketing and International Logistics, with some international electives often taken during study abroad.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The International Business B.S.I.B. with General Business Concentration gives graduates a broad business foundation that can support careers across management, marketing, finance, supply chain, international trade and business development. Walton College states that the BSIB prepares students for a broad range of business careers and is also suitable for students planning further study in law, international affairs, business or economics.

Typical job roles include: International Business Analyst, Business Development Specialist, International Marketing Coordinator, Management Analyst.

Students can strengthen their transition into employment through:

Career Connections: Walton College’s Career Connections Office provides personalized support with résumé development, interview preparation, career exploration, negotiation practice and internship searches, along with employer recruiting opportunities.
Career fairs and internships: Walton College hosts career fairs in fall and spring that attract hundreds of potential employers and provides credit-earning internship opportunities.
Employment outcome: Walton College reports that 84% of job-seeking undergraduate business students were employed at graduation. This is a Walton College undergraduate business statistic, not a program-specific placement rate for this concentration.
Salary information: Walton College reports an average salary of $61,374 for a Walton undergraduate business major. This is a college-wide undergraduate business figure and should not be interpreted as a guaranteed salary for BSIB graduates.
Industry connections: Walton College identifies Walmart, Tyson Foods and J.B. Hunt Transport Services among the major companies connected with the college, with opportunities for internships, employment and interaction with business executives.
Industry-sponsored projects: Walton College industry partners sponsor projects involving current business challenges, giving students opportunities to apply classroom concepts to practical situations.
Global business network: The college's Global Engagement Office develops initiatives focused on international business, language and cultures, supporting students in developing globally oriented business competencies.
Professional accreditation: Walton College has maintained AACSB accreditation since 1931, with the accreditation framework emphasizing business-school standards and continuous improvement.
Graduation preparation: The BSIB requires a minimum 120 semester hours, including the business core, international business requirements, language and area studies, General Business concentration and international experience, giving graduates a combination of functional business and global experience.

Further Academic Progression: The university specifically notes that the BSIB is well suited to students who wish to continue their studies in law, international affairs, or graduate education in business and economics. Graduates can therefore use the broad business and international foundation as preparation for master's-level business or economics study, international-affairs programs, or legal education.