Bachelor of Business Adminstration Major in International Business

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Pepperdine University

Program Overview

Pepperdine University’s International Business major at Seaver College combines a strong foundation in business with international study and coursework exploring global markets, cultures, politics, economics, and cross-border commerce. It is suited to students interested in international management, finance, marketing, consulting, or global business development who want to build the cultural awareness and business skills needed to work across countries and markets.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

Students establish their academic and quantitative foundation through courses such as MATH 140, ENG 101, and COM 180. They also begin developing business knowledge through BA 210 and BA 212, alongside Seaver College’s general education requirements and foreign-language study.

Year 2

The second year emphasizes international and liberal arts learning, with students completing courses such as AC 224, BA 216, and ECON 211. The recommended course sequence includes an international study experience during the sophomore year, allowing students to develop a broader understanding of cultural and global perspectives.

Year 3

Students deepen their business knowledge through courses including AC 225, BA 321, and BA 355, while continuing to study economic, political, and historical influences on business. Depending on the selected study-abroad sequence, students may complete their international semester during this year.

Year 4

The final year focuses on advanced business study, research, and preparation for professional or graduate pathways. Courses in the recommended sequence include BA 447, BA 457, BA 497, and BA 498, alongside upper-division international business electives.

Focus areas: International business, global commerce, international management, cross-cultural business, global economics, finance, marketing, business research, ethical decision-making, international study, global strategy.

Learning outcomes: Demonstrate knowledge of core business functions, apply business research skills, develop evidence-based solutions to business problems, evaluate ethical implications of business practices, communicate through effective written reports and oral presentations, collaborate in teams, understand diversity and inclusion, and identify global forces affecting businesses.

Professional alignment (accreditation): Pepperdine’s Business Administration Division is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). This accreditation applies to the business division; it is not a separate professional license for International Business graduates.

Reputation (employability outcomes): For Seaver College’s 2025 graduating International Business class, data collected within six months of graduation reports 58% employed full- or part-time, 26% continuing education, 5% in military service, and 89% of graduates settled. These figures are for the reported graduating class, not a salary or job-placement guarantee.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Pepperdine’s International Business major connects classroom learning with international exposure, community engagement, and professional experience. Students complete academic work abroad and can apply business concepts through consulting projects for nonprofit organizations. The Los Angeles area also provides access to internship opportunities, while the university’s Career Center supports students as they explore career paths and prepare for employment.

Students can build practical experience through:

International study: The major requires an academic experience abroad, with recommended course sequences available for a semester abroad or sophomore year abroad.
Service Leadership Project: Students work in consulting teams with nonprofit organizations, applying business knowledge to agreed-upon community projects.
Internships: The Business Administration Division has a faculty internship coordinator and offers internships for academic credit.
Career preparation: The Career Center provides career assessments, résumé support, interview guidance, internship and job-search assistance, networking, and graduate-school advising.
Student organizations: Opportunities include Alpha Kappa Psi, Delta Sigma Pi, Pepperdine Microfinance Club, Pepperdine Entrepreneur Club, Rotaract, and the Sports Business Association.
Professional and community engagement: The Nonprofit Leadership Collaborative supports service-oriented learning and engagement with the nonprofit sector.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates can pursue careers in international business, consulting, finance, marketing, supply chain management, and organizational leadership. The combination of business fundamentals, international academic experience, and cross-cultural learning also provides a foundation for further study in business or related fields.

Potential career roles include Account Manager, Associate Consultant, Business Analytics Manager, Data Analyst, Financial Advisor, Human Resources Manager, International Economist, International Tax Policy Analyst, Marketing and Social Media Consultant, Purchasing Manager, Regulatory Affairs Specialist, Risk Management Analyst, and Supply Chain Manager.

Students can prepare for these pathways through:

Career services: Career assessments, résumé assistance, interview preparation, internship and job-search guidance, networking, and graduate-school advising.
Internship support: A faculty internship coordinator helps students access internships, including opportunities for academic credit.
Industry exposure: Pepperdine lists alumni employers including Capgemini Consulting, Deutsche Bank, Sony, Aflac, and the Peace Corps.
Graduation outcomes: For the 2025 International Business graduating class, 58% were employed full- or part-time, 26% continued their education, 5% entered military service, and 89% were reported as settled within six months.
Accreditation value: The Business Administration Division’s AACSB accreditation provides an established quality-assurance framework for its business education.
Salary information: A program-specific graduate salary figure was not identified in the official sources reviewed.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates may consider an MBA, a master’s degree in international business, international management, finance, marketing, or supply chain management, or further research-oriented study depending on their career goals and admission eligibility. Pepperdine identifies graduate study as one possible pathway for its business graduates.