International Business B.S.I.B. with Information Systems Concentration

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Arkansas

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Science in International Business (B.S.I.B.) with an Information Systems Concentration combines global business education, foreign-language and area studies with information systems, analytics, application development and database management. The 120-unit degree is designed for students who want to understand international business while developing the technology skills needed to solve business problems across global organizations.

Curriculum

Year 1

The first year establishes the mathematical, analytical, language and business foundations needed for later coursework. Students study MATH 20503 Finite Mathematics, MATH 22003 Survey of Calculus, ISYS 20303 Foundations of Business Analytics, and ISYS 21003 Business Information Systems, alongside composition, economics, fine arts and foreign-language coursework.

Year 2

The second year continues the Walton College pre-business and business core while developing students' understanding of data, information systems and international business. Key coursework includes ISYS 21003 Business Information Systems, ISYS 20303 Foundations of Business Analytics, and SCMT 21003 Integrated Supply Chain Management, supported by accounting, economics, management, communication and foreign-language studies.

Year 3

The third year moves into the specialist Information Systems concentration and international business curriculum. Students study ISYS 22603 Principles of Information Systems, ISYS 32903 Systems Analysis and Design, and ISYS 33903 Business Application Development Fundamentals, while also completing ECON 46303 International Trade, finance, marketing and strategic management coursework.

Year 4

The final year develops more advanced technology and international business capabilities. Students take ISYS 42803 Business Database Systems, complete a junior/senior Information Systems elective, and study ECON 46403 International Macroeconomics and Finance, while completing international business electives and area studies.

Focus Areas

International business, global economics, foreign language, area studies, business information systems, information systems management, systems analysis and design, business application development, database systems, business analytics, international trade, international finance, strategic management and technology-enabled business decision-making.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to apply information technology and data to business problems, analyze and design business systems, understand business application development and database environments, interpret international economic and business issues, communicate across cultural and international settings, and connect technology solutions with organizational decision-making. The program also develops foreign-language and regional knowledge to complement the student's technical and business preparation.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The program is offered through the Sam M. Walton College of Business, which holds AACSB accreditation. Walton College states that AACSB accreditation represents a commitment to engagement, innovation, impact and continuous improvement in business education.

Reputation

Walton College reports that its Management Information Systems program was ranked No. 14 among public and private programs in the U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Undergraduate Business Programs – Public Specialty rankings. The college also reports that its Information Systems department is consistently ranked among the top five in the world.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Information Systems curriculum emphasizes practical use of technology and business data rather than relying only on classroom theory. Students can work with enterprise technologies including SAP ERP, IBM, Microsoft, SAS and Teradata platforms, as well as real-world datasets from organizations such as Acxiom, Dillard's, Sam's Club, Tyson Foods and Walmart.

The program's international component also requires students to complete an approved international experience. This can include a Walton-approved study-abroad program of at least four weeks and six credit hours, work abroad, or work with the international division of a domestic company.

Students can gain practical experience through:

Enterprise systems: SAP ERP, Microsoft SQL Server, IBM, SAS and Teradata technologies are used for hands-on learning.
Real-world datasets: Students can work with business datasets from companies including Walmart, Tyson Foods, Dillard's and Sam's Club.
Systems and application projects: Information Systems coursework includes systems analysis, business application development and database systems.
International experience: Study abroad, overseas employment or approved international business experience can satisfy the program's international experience requirement.
International internships: Walton College provides opportunities for international internships that can add degree-related work experience across national borders.
Career development: Walton Career Connections provides career coaching, employer relations, career fairs and credit-earning internship opportunities.
Exchange programs: Walton College operates exchange opportunities that allow students to complete coursework at partner universities abroad while earning transfer credit.
Technology facilities: Walton College's four-building business campus includes the Business Building, Walker Hall, the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Enterprise Development and the J.B. Hunt Transport Services Center for Academic Excellence.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The degree can prepare graduates for technology-focused business roles as well as internationally oriented positions because it combines Information Systems with finance, marketing, supply chain, economics, foreign-language and global-business coursework. Walton's 2024–25 employment data reports an average salary of $64,000 for Information Systems majors and $56,250 for International Business majors, while the overall Walton undergraduate business average was $61,374; these figures are college-level major averages rather than outcomes specifically for this BSIB concentration.

Typical career roles:

Business Analyst
Business Intelligence Analyst
Business Systems Analyst
Systems Analyst
Data Analyst
Database Analyst
Information Technology Analyst
Technology Consultant
ERP Analyst
Application Support Analyst
Digital/IT Solutions Analyst
IT Business Analyst
Revenue Systems Analyst
Risk Management Analyst

Career development and industry exposure:

Walton Career Connections provides career coaching, employer relations, career fairs and internship opportunities.
Walton's Information Systems career resources identify roles such as Business Analyst, Business Intelligence Consultant, Data Analyst, Business Systems Administrator and Technology Consultant among positions held by graduates.
The college reports employers hiring Walton graduates include Walmart, Tyson, J.B. Hunt, EY, PwC, Deloitte, KPMG, General Mills, PepsiCo, P&G and Charles Schwab.
Information Systems students gain exposure to enterprise technologies and real-world datasets supplied through industry relationships.
The Walton College's AACSB accreditation provides an internationally recognized quality framework for its business education.
For international students, Walton Career Services states that Information Systems graduates are eligible for STEM-related post-completion practical training of up to three years under the applicable student-visa rules.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates can continue into graduate-level business, information systems, analytics, economics or related fields. Walton College offers graduate programs including the Master of Information Systems, while the university also provides graduate study in areas such as economic analytics; a recent University of Arkansas graduate, for example, progressed from this exact BSIB Information Systems concentration into the M.S. in Economic Analytics.