Online MBA in International Business Programs

Master’s in business administration (MBA) programs are designed to help candidates think big, and finding an MBA program with an international focus can make them think even bigger. A program with a global scope makes sense in a climate of global commerce, where technological advances make it possible to communicate with just about anyone, anywhere, at any time.

An MBA with an international focus can teach a business professional the useful skills to adapt, communicate, stay organized, and remain focused on commerce, transcending differences in background, culture, and nationality. It can also help a student understand the bigger picture of the modern business world by teaching how minor cultural differences and larger national policy decisions impact business relationships. As with other MBA concentrations, this degree may help open doors for future mid- to upper-level management positions by providing knowledge of finances and investments, marketing, and administration—some of the many facets underlying modern business practices.

An MBA with a global business perspective also can qualify students for a wide range of employment opportunities. Graduates of MBA programs with an international focus may find careers in different countries, coordinating international programs at company headquarters, as management consultants, risk analysts, foreign business development directors, or in other executive positions at multinational corporations.

Modern MBA programs boast a variety of delivery options beyond learning theory in the classroom, reading case studies, and converting currency. Some programs allow people to travel to other countries to study, or include communications with international educators, business leaders, or other professionals. In addition, many MBA programs are offered partially or fully online through distance learning. Distance learning has advantages for professionals already working full-time by providing flexibility in scheduling and consequently, no need to relocate to enroll physically.

Read on to explore online MBAs in international business, including details about coursework and accreditation.

Featured International Business Programs
Purdue Global Online MBA - Global Business View Full Profile
Texas A&M International University Online MBA - International Banking and Finance View Full Profile
Southern New Hampshire University Online MBA In International Business View Full Profile
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Online MBA in International Business View Full Profile
Eastern Washington University Online MBA - International Business View Full Profile
Boston University Graduate Certificate - Global Marketing Mgmt View Full Profile
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Featured Online MBAs in International Business

The online MBA program with a concentration on international business through Eastern Washington University’s School of Business consists of 44 credits. Emphasizing skills such as international investments, global accounting, and international financial management, this online program helps students gain an understanding of applicable business theories within the context of corporate leadership.

Featuring six-week courses and seven start dates a year, this concentration is specifically designed for working professionals. Applicants to the program must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with an overall cumulative GPA of 3.0.

The curriculum includes courses such as data-driven decision-making; corporate finance; marketing management; essentials of operations management; international financial management; international investments; and international forensics accounting.

Graduates will be able to take up roles such as international traders, import or export coordinators, global management consultants, multinational marketing managers, or economists.

Location: Cheney, WA
Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
Expected Time to Completion: 10 months

Purdue Global offers an online MBA program with a concentration in global business. To apply for admission, candidates must submit proof of a GPA of 2.5 or greater in a completed bachelor’s degree program. No GRE or GMAT scores are required. The program comprises 76 credits.

Purdue Global’s online MBA program features instruction in business perspectives; business communications; business analytics; financial accounting principles and analysis; measurement and decision-making; strategic human resource management; marketing management; economics for global decision-makers; financial management; designing, improving, and implementing processes; managing the value chain; strategic management; ethics in business and society; leadership strategies for a changing world; and an MBA capstone. The concentration courses include training in how varying socio-political and legal frameworks within countries impact their business environments.

Location: West Lafayette, IN
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC); Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Expected Time to Completion: 24 months

Strayer University provides a wealth of online MBA programs, including a concentration in global management. To apply for this unique program, candidates must submit proof of having completed a bachelor’s degree with at least a 2.5 GPA. No GRE or GMAT test scores are required.

Strayer’s online MBA programs offer courses such as financial accounting for managers; leadership and organizational behavior; strategic management; business communications; managerial economics and globalization; financial management; business statistics; law, ethics, and corporate governance; and marketing management. The global management concentration adds instruction in global business management; global strategy; and global marketing management.

Location: Washington D.C.
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE); Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Expected Time to Completion: View full profile for details

The Queens University of Charlotte McColl School of Business provides a flexible online MBA in global business management, which emphasizes Hugh McColl’s three C’s of leadership: competence, character, and commitment to the community. Admissions requirements include a resume, letters of recommendation, and official transcripts. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, while three years of professional work experience is preferred.

This 39-credit program includes instruction in economics for managers; strategic planning and implementation; managerial accounting; marketing management; managing in a global context; and three of the following: international financial management; global business strategy; international experience; and cross-cultural management.

Location: Charlotte, NC
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
Expected Time to Completion: 30 months

SNHU’s MBA in international business discusses global commerce topics within cultural, political, social, and economic contexts, and provides overviews of different international organizations and trade policies. The online program is designed for busy professionals interested in leadership positions who need flexible scheduling of courses to increase their cultural awareness and expand their worldview.

This 30-credit program includes courses such as leading people and organizations; organizational strategy in a global environment; innovation and strategy for high-performance organizations; measuring success in an organization; multinational corporate environment; international market strategy; and managing international trade and finance.

Location: Manchester, NH
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Expected Time to Completion: 24 months

This private non-profit Jesuit research university offers a 36 to 48-credit MBA program which can be completed online. Students can select from a variety of focus areas, including accounting, healthcare management, operations management, enterprise resource planning, and international business.

The international business focus teaches students globalization topics such as buying and selling, learning about cultural differences, and global statistics. Accompanied by a Jesuit focus on ethics, social responsibility, and technology-enhanced management skills, the University of Scranton MBA program shares management and leadership strategies for individuals, departments, and entire organizations.

The international business specialization includes courses such as macroeconomic analysis: a global perspective; international accounting; international finance; global health management; international business; international management; global marketing; and supply chain management.

Location: Scranton, PA
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
Expected Time to Completion: 24 months

The College of Mount Saint Vincent offers an online MBA program with several concentration options. In addition to the general track, concentrations are available in healthcare management, international business, nonprofit management, and risk management.

The ACBSP-accredited online MBA in international business prepares graduates to leverage opportunities presented by the rapid growth of globalization. Students in this comprehensive program will analyze how multinational companies function and compete in the global market. They will also learn how to overcome issues associated with international governance, antitrust legislation, and cultural differences.

The program requires the completion of 60 credits. However, applicants may waive up to 30 of the required 60 credits based on appropriate undergraduate coursework in business administration. The curriculum includes courses such as managerial accounting; business analysis and modeling for managers; management and organization theory; international marketing; international financial management; international management and cross-cultural communication; international political relations; and international trade.

Location: Riverdale, NY
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE); Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Expected Time to Completion: 12 months

Texas A&M International University’s online MBA in international business helps students nurture their leadership skills applicable to administrative roles both abroad and domestically. Students in this program will learn to examine various facets of international logistics, international management, and global business environments.

This 30-credit program designed for convenience and affordability provides insight into global business. The curriculum includes courses such as business research methods; managerial economics; strategic management; financial statement analysis; global environments of business; international logistics; and international management.

Students who do not possess undergraduate degrees in business administration from accredited universities will be required to take prep-module courses that will help prepare them for their MBA journey.

Location: Laredo, TX
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
Expected Time to Completion: 12 months
Estimated Tuition: $367 per credit

The University of Delaware offers an online MBA with a specialization in international business. Students in this program will explore globalization in today’s business marketplaces, understand the implications of global technological transformations, and learn how to build an international network.

Applicants to the program must have the equivalent of a four-year US bachelor’s degree in any academic background from a regionally or internationally accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0. Application requirements include official transcripts, a current resume, a personal statement, and two letters of recommendation. Limited professional work experience is also considered and GMAT/GRE scores are not mandatory but encouraged.

This 44-credit program includes courses such as financial reporting and analysis; fundamentals of analytics; managing people, teams, and organizations; economic analysis for business policy; operations management and management science; globalization and business; managing the global enterprise; the future of globalization: issues, agents, decisions & you; leading across boundaries; and international marketing management.

Location: Newark, DE
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
Expected Time to Completion: 16 months

Campbellsville University offers an online MBA in international business providing students with the necessary knowledge and skills to become leaders in tomorrow’s global marketplace. Taught by experienced business leaders, the curriculum examines global policies and concepts, international marketing best practices, and international business ideals.

Students in this program will learn about the different external and internal forces that define the issues faced by managers at global organizations. Additionally, they will explore advanced marketing tactics and strategies used in worldwide markets. The program also analyzes the international trends in ethics, globalization, and business, and the organizations influencing them including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

The program’s 36-credit curriculum includes courses such as managerial accounting; marketing management; management information systems; human resource management; international marketing; managing global companies; and global policies and concepts.

Location: Campbellsville, KY
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE)
Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
11 Villanova University, School of BusinessView Full Profile

Villanova University’s School of Business provides an online MBA with a concentration in international business. To apply for admissions, candidates must submit official transcripts from a completed bachelor’s degree, a resume, an essay, two letters of recommendation, and GRE or GMAT test scores (waivers are available).

VU’s 48-credit online MBA provides instruction in analyzing and leveraging data; strategic marketing management; corporate finance; business operations & supply chain management; business risk management; innovation & creativity; and team leadership and group dynamics. Additionally, the international business concentration features electives such as global marketing; international business management; and international finance, among others.

Location: Villanova, PA
Accreditation: Middle States Association Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
Expected Time to Completion: 24 months
12Northeastern University, D’Amore-McKim School of BusinessView Full Profile

The MBA program through the D’Amore-McKim School of Business consists of 13 core courses and five electives, for a total of 50 credits. The core courses provide a general foundation in business and finance. If someone wants a larger overview of current topics, electives can be selected from eight concentrations including healthcare, marketing, and sustainability.

The international management concentration helps people develop multinational skills such as branding, supply chain management, social entrepreneurship, innovation, marketing, competitive advantages, and cultural differences. The program at NU is offered on-campus and online, and provides international residency options.

Location: Boston, MA
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges; Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
Expected Time to Completion: 10 months

Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business offers several online MBA programs, including a concentration in global business. Applicants must submit a resume, a statement of purpose, one letter of recommendation, GRE or GMAT test scores, and official transcripts from a bachelor’s degree. Test score waivers are available for students who qualify.

Pepperdine University’s online MBA program comprises core instruction in behavior in organizations; quantitative analysis for business operations; accounting information and control systems; prices, profit and market economy; financial management of the firm; and marketing management. The global business concentration has additional courses in global capital markets and institutions; global brand management; and a global business intensive.

As part of this 52-credit program, students must attend one immersion experience on Pepperdine’s campus during their first term.

Location: Malibu, CA
Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
Expected Time to Completion: 20 to 24 months
14 Washington State University, Carson School of BusinessView Full Profile

The Carson School of Business MBA with a concentration in international business teaches students strategies for marketing different products for different cultures, communicating, and best practices for research and making effective decisions. The program also helps students consider the role of political, economic, and cultural conditions on commerce. The program can range from 36 to 52 credits, depending on how much foundational work is required.

Students in this concentration will be able to hone their skills in cross-cultural communication, international marketing, global workforce management, and international finance. Courses include international business management; international finance; international marketing management; and international tourism strategy and planning.

Notably, the international business concentration can also be completed as a standalone nine-credit graduate certificate that requires as few as three courses.

Location: Pullman, WA
Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
Expected Time to Completion: 22 months

Louisiana State University offers an online MBA with a concentration in international business. Students in this program learn to navigate multinational business ventures while developing an appreciation for institutional and cultural influences. They also study resource management and leadership skills with applications in cross-border and global environments.

This 30-credit program includes core courses such as managerial use of accounting data; economic analysis for management; financial management; management information systems; organizational behavior; and organizational strategy and policies. Courses in the international business concentration include international accounting; international business; international experience; and international marketing.

Location: Shreveport, LA
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International)
Expected Time to Completion: 10 months

Professors to Know from Schools with Online MBAs

  • Sean Valentine, DBA, University of North Dakota

    Dr. Valentine is a professor of management at UND and an adjunct professor at the University of Wyoming, focusing on the role of business ethics in the workforce, human resource management, and organizational behavior. His research and educational background includes best practice consulting, military experience, and an MBA and bachelor’s degree in hotel, restaurant, and tourism management.

  • Jacqueline R. Mayfield, PhD, Texas A&M

    Dr. Mayfield teaches courses in business strategy, organizational behavior, business management, and human resources and leadership. She has been teaching at Texas A&M since 1995, where she was named “Teacher of the Year” three times in the A.R. Sanchez School of Business. She also serves as a co-editor of the International Journal of Business Communication and provides management training and development programs for various clients around the country.

    She received an MBA with a marketing focus in 1979, plus a master of arts in teaching and a PhD in business administration.

  • Charles Bryant, PhD, Florida Institute of Technology

    Dr. Bryant has studied international business and finance topics extensively, including international strategy, international business, global finance, entrepreneurship, regionalization, and globalization. His research includes work on the impact of corruption, entrepreneurship, and human capital on a nation’s globalization goals. He has served as consultant to a variety of multinational corporations over more than a decade.

Admissions Requirements - Online MBA Programs

Every MBA program in international business has different admission requirements. Some common requirements derived from the programs above include:

  • A bachelor’s degree that includes a satisfactory GPA and a focus on business, finance, statistics, math, or economics
  • A certain GMAT score, which can sometimes be waived if a candidate has other graduate-level or higher academic credentials
  • Some professional experience in a business/financial field
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for non-native speakers of English
  • Personal statement of goals and objectives
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Completion of certain pre-requisite business and finance courses or an abridged overview for candidates with non-business backgrounds

Accreditation

An MBA from an accredited academic program means students are receiving an education that adheres to established standards for quality, vital subjects, and current knowledge areas. For institutions or programs, the accreditation process may include campus visits or student and faculty surveys, as well as examinations of a school’s graduation rate, career placement (i.e., student outcomes), industry involvement, and alumni support. To keep accreditation current, each institution or program must engage in an intermittent renewal process. Accreditation for business programs is done by two major accrediting bodies.

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) focuses on promoting and improving programs in business administration, management, and related courses such as operations, human resources, and real estate. The AACSB recognizes the importance of faculty research and providing students with solid knowledge foundations. Of the 1,000+ schools in 60+ territories with AACSB accreditation, most are larger programs with a strong institutional focus.

The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) also works to accredit business programs in higher education. This newer organization focuses on tangible learning outcomes and quality improvement, especially as the workforce demands change. ACBSP accredits nearly 3,000 programs at over 430 campuses across the world.

Farheen Gani
Farheen Gani
Writer

Farheen Gani is an expert in online MBA programs, having covered MBA programs in computer science, economics, healthcare management, and fraud and forensics, among others, since 2018. She writes about healthcare, technology, education, and marketing. Her work has appeared on websites such as Tech in Asia and Foundr, as well as top SaaS blogs such as Zapier and InVision. You can connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter (@FarheenGani).