San Diego State University’s international business program is expanding its curriculum to include dual- and triple-degree exchange programs in Canada, Chile, Brazil, Italy and France.
Undergraduate students will now have the opportunity to earn degrees from SDSU and universities in these countries, while studying abroad.
Over the course of two years, students take business courses alongside native students, master the language and have the opportunity to intern for an international business employer.
“We want them (students) to have real-life experience,” said Steve Loughrin-Sacco, chair of the international business program and a French professor at SDSU.
Business classes include upper-division management, financial, market penetration, research and economic practices in each country.
The program is designed to prepare students with the language and economic skills needed to be successful business managers in the global marketplace, he said.
“This is truly a unique program,” Loughrin-Sacco said.
The bachelor of arts degree in international business is offered through the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Business Administration.
– Mexico Program Started In 1994
The first trans-border, dual-degree program was established in 1994 at SDSU with its Mexus program.
Through Mexus, students receive a bachelor’s degree in international business from SDSU and an equivalent degree from one of two universities in Mexico , the Centro de Ensenanza Tecnica y Superior (CETYS) or the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California (UABC).
Using Mexus as its model, the program is launching several new study abroad opportunities.
Loughrin-Sacco said countries such as Mexico, Canada and Brazil were chosen because they are key strategic international business partners to the United States.
It’s all part of the program’s “business without borders” concept that focuses on countries with emerging economies and where international business is about to take place.
“We go where we have partnerships,” Loughrin-Sacco said, which is one of the reasons for programs in Mexico and Canada.
Both countries are under the North American Free Trade Agreement, which is an area of focus for SDSU’s international business program.
“Students get a better understanding of these three national countries, honing in on foreign language skills,” he said.
– Expansion May Continue
The goal is to see the program concept extended to all languages that the college offers, Loughrin-Sacco said.
The international business program currently offers instruction in eight foreign languages and Loughrin-Sacco said he plans to see Japan, China and Russia added to the curriculum by 2002 and 2003.
The triple-degree program and dual-programs in Brazil, Chile, France and Italy are set to start in fall of this year.
Two students recently completed their first year in the Canada dual-degree program, San Dique, where they studied at the Universite du Quebec a Chicoutimi for 15 months, taking business courses and French classes.
The San Dique program started in the fall of 2000 and Loughrin-Sacco said he is hoping to increase the number of participants to 10 students per program.
Students mainly apply to study abroad during their junior or senior year in college.
There are currently 725 students in the study abroad programs, with 180 graduates each year.
“We’re trying to serve the business community and serve as a resource center,” he said.
– International Center Is A Sponsor
The international business degree program is sponsored by The Center of International Business Education and Research (CIBER), which has locations at several universities throughout the United States. The center was started in 1989 by the U.S. Department of Education to enhance international academic programs and serve as a research facility for companies around the world.
SDSU is one of 28 institutions that have a CIBER.
“Business schools don’t prepare students with the right tools,” said Loughrin-Sacco, who also serves as co-director for CIBER at SDSU.
Loughrin-Sacco said SDSU has the only business program in the country that requires students to study abroad.
“As business becomes global, it is critical for Americans to speak languages and also have knowledge of these cultures,” he said.
Graduates of the programs have a 90 percent employment placement rate with some of the leading global businesses in the world, including Costco, Arthur Anderson and Wal-Mart.
Loughrin-Sacco said the program has an ongoing fund-raising campaign to raise scholarships for students, particularly those who are at-risk or financially disadvantaged to apply for study abroad programs.
“Right now study abroad is for the rich kids. We’re trying to make study abroad accessible, especially for at-risk kids,” he said.
So far, the program has received two endowments, one of which will go towards 20, four-year tuitions and fee-waiver scholarships available over the next four years.
The cost to study abroad is approximately $3,000 a year, which covers fees, tuition, books and general living costs.
One of the biggest challenges has been advertising the programs to the business community.
Loughrin-Sacco and his associates have been hitting the streets, spreading the word to local businesses about ways it can benefit them.
“We’re one of San Diego’s best-kept secrets and I think it’s time to get the word out there,” he said.
