An investigation into the nature of selected international business courses in colleges and universities

Includes bibliographical references.This study was undertaken to help faculty members responsible for the establishment and development of international business studies. Determination was made of how selected institutions of higher education were resolving certain problems in international business education. The goals and content of three types of international business courses were ascertained. The occupational and travel experiences of individuals teaching such courses were also determined. The investigation is limited to degree granting institutions of higher education which were classified as such by the 1967 edition of Lovejoy's College Guide, Schools which, according to the eleventh edition of the College Blue Book, offered marketing or commerce courses were tentatively included in the study. School catalogs were inspected to determine which Institutions did not offer an international business course as of the 1965-66 school year. Information was gathered by mail questionnaire concerning the international business courses at selected schools. The findings of this study are based on information received concerning three types of courses: Foreign Trade, International Marketing, and International Business Administration. Forty-seven of the fifty responding faculty members indicated definite goals for the international business courses that they were teaching. The major goals of the three types of courses were student familiarization with various environmental variables affecting international commerce and development of students' problem solving and decision making ability. Only thirteen of the teachers indicated the development of students' reasoning abilities as being a course objective. The most frequently mentioned course goal was student familiarization with the existing business environment. Other environmental variables that were indicated less often as course goals were: firm resources and objectives; the economic environment; the cultural and social environment; and the political and legal environment. The general subject areas given average or greater consideration in all of the Foreign Trade courses were concerned with economic conditions. Topics that received below average or no consideration in all of the trade courses dealt with the business activities of personnel administration! operations research, assignment of responsibility and decision making, procurement, accountancy, and production. The subject areas which received above average or major consideration in most of the International Marketing courses dealt with politics, cultural customs and practices, distribution, and company planning. The subject areas most frequently given below average or no consideration were concerned with procurement, accountancy, economic history, and trade mechanics. The subject areas which received above average or major consideration in most of the International Business Administration courses dealt with market groups, trade agreements, cultural practices, national policies, finance, pricing, and company management. The subject areas most often given below average or no consideration dealt with geography, promotion, sales management, operations research, product service, research and development, and shipping. Nearly all of the international business teachers had traveled abroad. Of the fifty selected teachers forty-nine had traveled in at least one foreign country. Thirty-five had traveled in five or more foreign countries. Most of the fifty teachers had international business experience. Thirty-nine had at least one year of experience in international business. Most of the respondents were experienced teachers. Only seven of the fifty teachers had less than three years of teaching experience. Nearly all of the faculty members had experience with courses of International scope. Forty-five of the fifty Individuals had taught previously at least one course of an international nature. Most had previously taught a beginning course in international business. No less than forty-four had previously taught Foreign Trade, International Marketing, or International Business Administration.M.S. (Master of Science