.. MARCH-APRIL 2007

International Business Program Spotlight

Co-sponsored by the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Business Administration, the SDSU International Business (IB) program was recently ranked 10th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. With more than 650 students, it is the largest undergraduate IB major in the nation. Students must complete a business core accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), a language emphasis more than the equivalent of a minor in the language, a regional/ cultural emphasis equal to a minor, mandatory study abroad, and a mandatory international internship. In addition, all students must pass a business language exam to graduate.

Chair of the IB Program Dean Popp has big plans for the future. Since becoming chair in January 2006, he has been busy working on new initiatives and maintaining the already very successful IB program.

As Chair of the undergraduate IB program, Popp strives to improve the overall quality of the IB program in order to enhance the experience for all students involved. One initiative that he feels will benefit current students, as well as students who have graduated, is the IB Alumni Organization. Popp wants to establish an organization comprised of alumni who can offer support in the implementation of new curriculum at the university.

Once the alumni organization is established, Popp would like to see a relationship develop between it and the IB Society, a club made up of IB students and headed by Marketing Professor Massoud Saghafi. Popp hopes that alumni can act as mentors and facilitate students in the search for an internship, which is a requirement to complete the IB program.

“I have identified alumni who show interest in supporting the IB program and who want to stay connected,” said Popp. “I have high hopes that this will be well received by alumni.”

In addition to the establishment of the alumni organization, Popp would like to start a scholarship fund for students who are studying abroad. Although the study abroad program is an excellent experience, it is also a requirement for all IB students that can present some financial difficulties. It is often less expensive to live abroad than it is to live in San Diego. However, there are often limits on what kind of work non-residents can do. Popp hopes that members of the new alumni organization will take the lead in starting this scholarship fund.

Popp admits that the past year has been a learning experience for him.

“I’m having to learn what is important to our partnering foreign universities,” said Popp. “I’m looking to the College of Business Administration and the College of Arts and Letters faculty for advice because without their support, the IB program would not work.”

Popp maintains excellent relationships with the program’s partner universities and is currently working on establishing two new partnerships with universities in Beirut and Morocco.