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International Curriculum

GBC offers several options for MBA students looking to build a solid academic foundation in global business. Review the tabs below for more information. Send an email to MBA Global Programs with any questions.

Global Business Forum

The Global Business Forum (GBF) is an engaging MBA class and discussion forum where professionals from around the world share their insights into the complexities of doing business globally – differences encountered, obstacles overcome, advantages discovered, and solutions developed.

The GBF is intentionally designed to connect students directly with global business leaders. Students are offered opportunities to lead Q&A discussions, summarize presentations for speaker follow-up, and engage in 1:1 meaningful conversations with speakers.

Who can participate in GBF?

MBAs, graduate students from other UW departments, faculty, and staff are welcome to participate. Enrollment for credit in the Global Business Forum (IBUS 500) during two academic quarters, for Full-time MBAs and Evening MBAs, is a requirement for the Global Business Program Certificate.

GBF schedule

The Global Business Forum takes place Mondays, 5:00-5:50 PM. Each quarter offers diverse discussions under a uniting global business theme. Christina Fong is the lead faculty for GBF.

Autumn 2023: Doing Business with China

China is an economic superpower that is reshaping our global economy. The GBF will host executives who have worked in China or have built and maintained significant relationships with companies in China to share their insights, perspectives, and experiences. Speakers will be asked to discuss and identify opportunities in China, their predictions for the future of China and how it will impact the global economy.

Winter 2024: Public and Private Partnership to Enact Social Change

A key leadership skill in helping to enact social impact and change is the ability to partner with the public sector, such as with governmental institutions, NGOs, or non-profits. We will invite leaders from public and private institutions to share examples of public-private collaborations that have bettered humanity. We will discuss the skills needed to build effective partnerships, and the unexpected challenges and benefits that come from these unique relationships.

Spring 2024: Global Supply Chain Management as a Strategic Advantage

Decisions made within organizations in managing their global supply chains have direct global impact. We will invite industry leaders who are responsible for designing, tracking, and executing logistics in how goods are produced, moved, and delivered across an increasingly interconnected marketplace. We will also ask leaders to discuss how supply chain management impacts their company’s place in the marketplace, people along the value chain, and the planet.

Previous Global Business Forum Themes

International courses

University of Washington Foster School of Business students interested in global business can select from a variety of elective courses in the Foster School, at an MBA exchange partner school, or in another UW graduate department.

Enrollment in international course electives is a requirement of the Global Business Certificate Program. A wide variety of international electives are offered in various UW graduate departments including the Jackson School of International Studies, Evans School of Public Affairs, Department of Political Science, Law School and Department of Communications.

400-level international undergraduate courses are available at the Foster School. MBA students may take up to two undergraduate courses with pre-approval from the MBA Program Office. Check with Undergraduate Program Office for an academic course schedule.

This is not an exhaustive list; changes are made every quarter. For a complete list, contact the associated academic department or view the current UW course catalog.

To see descriptions of elective course content, view MBA Course Descriptions.

Accounting

Seminar in International Accounting

Business Communications

Crosstalk: Communicating Across Cultures and Professions

Business Economics

Competing in the Global Economy
Financial Markets
International Finance
International Financial Management

Finance

International Financial Management
Asian Capital Market Structure

International Business

Global Business Forum
International Business Consulting
International Trade Policy
Perspectives on International Business
Foundations of International Business
Cross-Cultural Conversations on Contemporary Issues
Global Business Study Tour
Selected Topics in Global Business

Management

Deal-Making in the Global Arena
Managing Effectively Across Cultures

Marketing

International Marketing

Operations Management

Global Logistics Management
Seminar in Global Trade, Transportation and Logistics

Course titles and numbers are subject to change. Current quarter course schedules can be viewed on the UW course catalog website.