Why Study International Business?

All business activity today is conducted on an increasingly global basis. In preparing for career opportunities in any area of business activity, students are well-served by incorporating study of the international character of business into their overall course of study. Most Olin degree candidates major in International Business in combination with concentrations in other traditional areas of business study.

The John M. Olin Business School

The Olin Business School, founded in 1917, has a longstanding reputation for outstanding management education. We equip high-potential students with the skills, knowledge, and experiences they need to become leaders in a time of intense competition and global change. Participants in our programs learn much more than management theory and practice; they acquire new ways of thinking that can profoundly change their lives and the success of their organization.

Typical Courses for International Business

All international business majors take:

• Global Economy

International business majors also choose electives from courses like:

• International Finance
• International Business: European Perspective
• International Marketing
• Rich Nations, Poor Nations
• Economics of the European Union
• International Trade
• Culture and Business in East Asia
• Practical and Commercial French
• Economic Development of East Asia
• History of U.S. Foreign Relations since 1950
• Science, Technology, and Modern China
• Japanese Foreign Relations
• Politics of European Union
• East Asian Capitalism
• Politics of International Finance
• Business Spanish

Olin’s Study Abroad Programs

• International Internship Program
  Olin’s International Internship Program offers students the opportunity to combine classroom learning with an internship experience in Koblenz, Germany; London, England; or Paris, France. Participants in any of these programs earn 15 units of academic credit and full-time internship placements of approximately 15 weeks in London, France, or Germany. Students also write a significant research paper and present an oral presentation at the end of the program. The International Internship Programs are open to all Olin juniors and seniors who have completed the equivalent of five semesters of course work.
• Olin Exchange Programs
  Olin students have the opportunity to pursue a strictly academic focus in their study abroad experience. Taking classes in a local university, interacting with its students, and experiencing the culture, people, and excitement of a foreign city offer students a challenging and rewarding experience. Olin maintains exchange programs with Bocconi University in Milan, Italy; Carlos III University in Madrid; Chinese University of Hong Kong; Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; University of Melbourne (Australia); and University of Queensland (Australia). Olin students apply to participate in these programs for one semester during junior year.

Special Degree Programs

In addition to the BSBA majors, the Olin School offers special programs:

• Three-Two MBA Program
  This 3+2 Program allows students to complete both undergraduate and graduate work in five years of study. Admission is extremely competitive. Students must have a superior academic record, an outstanding performance on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), and substantive summer internship experience in the corporate world. Students from all five undergraduate divisions are eligible to apply.
• Master of Accounting (MACC)
  The MACC program will provide an ideal background for you to master accounting subjects and to study the wide range of other subjects needed to successfully practice accounting in an increasingly complex business environment. The MACC degree can also prepare you for an entry-level position in management consulting which has been a growth area in recent years. You acquire significant background in accounting and in the underlying disciplines of economics and statistics. This is an accelerated program—you begin the graduate portion of your studies while still an undergraduate. You will complete the 153 hours of total academic credit, which is required by almost all states for the general CPA. You may also engage in an internship, either abroad or in a governmental agency or similar setting. And, you can study non-business subjects at an advanced level, pursuing a second major or an undergraduate degree in a non-business field.
• Master of Science in Finance (MS)
  This program will enable you to prepare for sophisticated positions in financial services and corporate finance. It provides you with rigorous specialized training in finance and strong overall preparation in the quantitative aspects of financial analysis. You will be able to complete the Master of Science in Finance program in one year, beginning with foundation course work in the fall and concluding with special capstone course work at the beginning of the following summer.

Honors Programs

• Honors in Management
  The Honors Program consists of a two-semester Honors Seminar taken senior year. Honors candidates must complete a total of 126 credit hours of academic work, including both semesters of the Honors Seminar. To participate in the Honors Program, students are nominated and selected by the School’s faculty.
• Final Honors
  Graduating seniors in the top five percent of their graduating class based on their overall record at Washington University will graduate Summa Cum Laude. Seniors in the next 10 percent will graduate Magna Cum Laude. These designations are recorded on the official University transcript.
• Beta Gamma Sigma
  The top 7 percent of the junior class and the top 10 percent of the senior class are eligible for invitation to Beta Gamma Sigma, the national business honorary. Students must have completed a minimum of 30 credit hours at Washington University to be eligible.

Student Organizations

There are a number of undergraduate student organizations within the Olin School. Students are encouraged to investigate the various organizations and become an active participant in the ones that interest them.

• Accounting Association
• Alpha Kappa Psi, an international business fraternity
• Consulting Association
• Delta Sigma Pi, an international business fraternity
• Female Association for Business
• Korean Undergraduate Business Association
• Marketing Association
• National Black MBA Association
• Olin Business Council
• Olin Cares, a community service organization
• Olin Peer Ambassadors
• Olin Sports Management Organization
• Student Investment Fund

For additional information contact:

Olin Business School
Washington University
Campus Box 1133
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130-4899
Phone: (314) 935-6315

or

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Campus Box 1089
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130-4899
Phone: (314) 935-6000
Fax: (314) 935-4290
E-mail: admissions@wustl.edu