What is an MBA in International Business?

The struggling American economy in recent years has forced college graduates to consider expanding their horizons and applying to jobs that take them overseas, often earning higher salaries and finding more secure work environments than they would domestically. That’s certainly true of those job candidates who currently hold an MBA in international business.

For those who aren’t familiar with this degree, it’s easily one of the most effective for finding secure employment at home or abroad, dealing with a wide array of issues that concern international commerce and global trade. So, what exactly does this degree have to offer students who have already achieved a strong undergraduate education?

Advanced Understanding of International Trade and Regulation

Perhaps the single most important aspect of the international business MBA is that it focuses heavily on international trade and the nature of international regulation. While students in more traditional MBA programs based in the United States typically learn about American regulation of business and finance, those who pursue an international track will learn how to land deals in the United States and abroad. They’ll learn how things like European Union regulation affect how businesses based here in the US can work with corporations overseas.

Students will use these skills while working in simulated situations where they have to navigate international trade law and work within the confines of a given country’s regulations while showing exemplary management and administration skills.

A Deeper Proficiency in Management Over Long Distances

While a traditional MBA focuses on managing entire departments, divisions, or even corporations, the best international business MBA programs work on translating traditional management styles into successful strategies for handling international outposts. Students learn how to coordinate activities between an American office and its British counterpart, for example, keeping large teams of individuals on the same page despite their cultural and geographical differences.

Candidates who graduate with an international business MBA are then far more qualified to land positions with multinational corporations, since they possess the theoretical leadership skills to unite entire corporate outposts around a single message regardless of location, language, and office culture.

Easier Navigation of Overseas Employment Opportunities

The international MBA also makes it easier for students to find jobs overseas if the job market in the United States turns out to be unfavorable based on their age, experience, or skill set. Candidates typically choose a focus, whether it’s international trade, Asian manufacturing management, or European oversight, and spend a great deal of time taking elective courses in these concentrations.

After two years of study, they’re prepared to turn those concentrations into real prospects in overseas economies that pay a premium for the high-quality MBA graduates that the United States has been producing for at least the past half-decade.

A Strong Program for the Globally Minded

The international business MBA certainly isn’t for everyone, with a focus on foreign business, overseas regulation, and even other languages, that just wont’ gel with some business students. Even so, the program is increasing in popularity at virtually every school where it’s offered simply because students understand the importance of blending their American education with a global approach in order to maximize their job offers after they graduate.

For this reason, and because the economy is increasingly one that demands job candidates to have skills that transcend America’s borders, an international business MBA is both a smart move and a powerful resume booster.