SDSU’s International Business Program Ranked 7th By U.S. News & World Report

San Diego State University’s international business program ranks among the top 10 in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report. The undergraduate major ranked 7th on the magazine’s “America’s Best Colleges 2005” list, up from 11th last year.

Steven J. Sacco, chair of the international business program, credits the program’s success to its combination of rigorous language, study abroad and internship requirements balanced with essential business courses in a variety of disciplines.

“Our international business program has become a national model for its innovation and quality, and it produces well-rounded graduates who are ready to excel in today’s global environment,” Sacco said.

Among SDSU’s most notable international business programs is CaMexUS, a transnational, triple-degree program designed to produce business professionals who have the trade, language, and cultural skills to succeed in the NAFTA region. Graduates from this program receive three bachelor’s degrees, one from SDSU and one each from partner universities in Mexico and Quebec, Canada. SDSU’s international business program also is distinguished as the best study abroad program – in any area of study – by the Institute for International Education.

The international business major is among the largest undergraduate programs of its kind in the country. Sempra Energy recently gave the program a boost with funds to identify and support Baja California’s future business leaders. The International Business Leadership Program could sponsor as many as 43 students over a four-year period with grants for international business majors from Baja California to pay for tuition, living expenses, books, a summer camp, mentors and internships.

SDSU’s international business major is supported by SDSU’s Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER). The center is currently funded in part by $1.5 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Education. Its mandate includes continuing research and development in international business education in order to help make U.S. business more competitive overseas.

In addition, CIBER engages in a host of research, faculty and curriculum development projects, collaborates with trade and export development groups locally and regionally, and consults with universities across the nation on ways to improve international business education. One such program is a current collaboration with Israel’s Ben Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) to help San Diego high-tech companies expand global markets with their counterparts in the Negev region of Israel.