A World of Opportunities

MS in International Business

AT A GLANCE

Credit hours: 30+ (possible prerequisites)

Full-time, part-time

Online and evening class options

16:1 student-faculty ratio

Start terms: fall, spring, summer

GMAT/GRE optional

Empowering leaders for a dynamic digital global economy

CU Denver’s international business curriculum prepares current and future practitioners to work in and contribute to a dynamic global economy through cross cultural competency and agility. The program features specializations in digital globalization (e-commerce), global supply chain (e-commerce), and global cross-cultural studies. Graduates pursue diverse careers in multinational companies, international entrepreneurial ventures, international and government organizations, social enterprises, and educational institutions.

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Nationally recognized CIBER

1 of only 15 prestigious CIBER designations in the U.S.

Mentorship program offers pairing with a faculty advisor and a business mentor for each MSIB student

Specializations in high demand areas including e-commerce and supply chain

Multiple experiential opportunities to travel and learn

“After completing the MSIB, I am confident that I can bring great value to almost any business, whether that be a small global startup, a Fortune 500 company like my new employer, or the company I hope to start one day.”
– Fabian Laguna, MSIB ‘20

Our Master of Science in International Business program provides students with IB competency, cross cultural agility and digital globalization-related knowledge and skills. Our student population is made up of driven professionals with a mix of travel experience, international project work, and language fluency. No matter what course you’re taking, you’ll interact with people who will broaden your perspective.

Program highlights include:

Diverse faculty and student body from different national backgrounds
Specializations in digital globalization (global e-commerce, global supply chain, and global cross cultural studies) and various global study options
Multiple networking opportunities with MSIB alumni and leaders in international business through guest speakers in classes, panel events, and executive lectures hosted by our Institute for International Business (IIB)
Downtown Denver and Colorado location, a hub for global business and digital entrepreneurship
MSIB Mentorship Program pairs each student with both a faculty mentor to help students choose the right classes for your interests and a business mentor to guide students through career choice
Student organizations for students interested in international business include International Business Student Network and CIBERVets, for veteran and military students pursuing careers in international business
Strong partnerships with the international business community generate IB internships and job opportunities for MSIB students

You'll gain the knowledge and skills to lead and manage international business operations. Specifically, you'll learn transformational technologies such as blockchain in the global supply chain and practices driving international business such as global buy, global transport, and global pay.

You'll have full access to our Business Career Connections team for life. With over 10 years of recruiting and advising experience, they'll help you navigate your way through the corporate recruiting process. Our connections to over 300 business partners provide exclusive opportunities to network with industry leaders. Their services include:

Career workshops – perfect your resume, LinkedIn profile, and job search process
Individual appointments – explore what your personal career path looks like, review your resume, or schedule a mock interview
Career events – hone your networking skills and meet hiring managers from top companies
Job announcements – monthly emails with the latest job and internship opportunities specific to your degree

The MS International Business curriculum consists of 30 hours of international business core, international immersion experience, international specialization, and a free elective. There may be prerequisites that could be waived based on prior business education.

Business prerequisites

Depending on the courses you choose, you may have to take prerequisites to gain the knowledge to be successful in the course. Prerequisites may be waived if you have completed an equivalent undergraduate or graduate course from an accredited institution.

International business core I (3 hours)

Through this course, you'll build a strong foundation on the environment and operations of international business.

International business core II (12 hours)

Gain a breadth of knowledge in different functional disciplines of international business and global business strategy.

International entrepreneurship
International business negotiations
New global business opportunities
Marketing challenge at the global frontier
International Accounting
International Financial Management
Inbound International Taxation

International Immersion Experience (3 hours)

Apply your knowledge and skills to real-world business scenarios and gain exposure to various cross-cultural settings through an internship, study abroad program, or international business consulting course. This requirement allows you to work with the Institute of International Business or the Experiential Learning Center to find an international internship. The Business School offers students a number of study abroad programs every year following fall and spring semesters.

International specialization electives (9 hours)

Choose one of three specialization options listed below. These courses span across discipline and help you tackle challenges you’ll face in global markets. Your specialization options are:

Digital globalization
Global supply chain
Global e-Commerce
Cross-cultural studies

Free elective (3 hours)

Explore other business courses relevant to your success including areas such as entrepreneurship, accounting, business analytics, finance, health administration, information systems, management, marketing, and risk management.

Digital Globalization

This specialization provides a fundamental understanding of digital globalization and how it is transforming international business. A key emphasis of this specialization is global and cross-border e-commerce such as global buy, transport, and pay. Course topics include:

Transformational technologies in international business
Digital strategy for entrepreneurs
Global e-commerce
Protecting information assets
Cyber risk management
Specialized Field Studies

Global Supply Chain

This specialization provides a fundamental understanding of how goods, services, information, and finances flow in an interlinked global economy. You'll gain knowledge in supply chain management including the flows of products, import-export operations, and technologies shaping the digitization of global trade. Course topics include:

Blockchain technology in the global supply chain
Supply chain management
Global sourcing and procurement
Global e-commerce
International trade finance and management
Specialized Field Studies

Global Cross-Cultural Studies

This specialization provides the cross-cultural perspectives and experiential learning opportunities through various study abroad programs. Students can immerse in foreign cultures by taking courses abroad in a foreign university for a full semester, or through short-term field visits to various countries. Before embarking on their international journeys, students will be prepared with cross-cultural and global communication skills. Course topics include:

Intercultural communication
Global communication

Learning outcomes

MS International Business

Value 1: Apply a Global Mindset

Outcome: Identify, describe and evaluate how various forces, such as culture, geopolitics, technology, economics and laws, impact the conduct of business across borders.

Value 2: Demonstrate International Business Expertise

Outcome: Define and analyze problems in functional areas of International Business.

Value 3: Excel in Cross-Cultural Contexts

Outcome (for consulting course): Match market opportunities with learned international business resources.

Outcome (for field trip): Compare and contrast business environments and operations across cultures in an applied context.

These objectives are assessed in relevant courses across the curriculum using projects, presentations, assignments and exam questions.

International Business jobs are found in corporate, public sector and non-profit organizations. Many companies either currently conduct business internationally or are considering it. Knowledge gained in your program can be used across many different functional areas.

Career areas include:

Global e-commerce
Global supply chain
Global risk management
International trade/import/export
International entrepreneurship
International finance
International marketing
International accounting
Global human resources
International management and operations

Pathways to International Internships and Employment, a featured program of IIB/CIBER, provides MSIB students the opportunity to connect with the international business community to find internships and employment. Contact us to set up your first meeting and see how we can help or look through a few recent graduates’ jobs and internships.

Tuition

The cost of tuition for the MS International Business degree is different for in-state and out-of-state students.

Residents of western states may qualify for in-state tuition. The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) requires that students maintain current residency of WRGP state until degree completion.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for students. As a current student, you can apply for scholarships every semester. Some awards are based on program and course enrollment.

Prospective students (not yet admitted):

Preferred Applicant Scholarship—$2,000

Awarded to high-achieving incoming graduate business students based on undergraduate GPA (3.60+) and/or your GMAT (610+) or minimum GRE of (155v /160q) scores. This scholarship is automatically awarded until funds are exhausted so your early application is encouraged. Newly admitted and continuing students are not eligible. Contact an enrollment manager prior to submitting an application to check eligibility. Awarded over 2 semesters, $1,000 each.

Non-Resident in Transit Scholarship—$3,000

Awarded to domestic Non-Resident graduate applicants seeking Colorado residency for tuition. Qualified students are automatically awarded until funds are exhausted. Early application is encouraged! Newly admitted and continuing students are not eligible. Contact an enrollment manager prior to submitting an application to check eligibility. You must use the award over one calendar year, and be enrolled in a minimum of 3 credits a semester. Awarded over 2 semesters, $1,500 each.

Newly Admitted and Continuing Students:

You can apply for additional scholarships every semester of enrollment. Some awards may be specific to individual programs or enrollment in specific courses. Certain specializations including risk management and insurance, commodities, and entrepreneurship have additional scholarship opportunities.

Dual degree options for Master of Science programs include all of our MBA programs and all Business School Master of Science programs. We design a specific degree plan so you get through both programs as quickly and cost-effectively as possible. The amount of credits in each dual degree depends on the amount of overlap between degree programs. Eligible Master of Science programs include:

MS Accounting
MS Business Analytics
MS Finance and Risk Management
MS Global Energy Management
MS Information Systems
MS International Business
MS Management
MS Marketing

If you are applying for both degrees, you will only need to submit one online application and pay one application fee. Be aware that you must meet specific admission standards for each degree. For more information about dual degree options and the application process, please contact BSchool.Admissions@ucdenver.edu.

Application Checklist

$50 domestic, $75 international application fee
Online application
Official transcripts from each college or university attended
Essay responses
Resume
GMAT/GRE score if required
English language proficiency—international applicants only

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Application Process

Applicants are required to submit all application materials. Interviews are not a part of the admission process. To receive priority admission, we must have received your online application and all other required materials including transcripts and GMAT/GRE scores by the deadline.

You can check your admission status online through the account you created for the online application. You will receive a final decision by email within two to three weeks from the submission of all materials.

Admission Requirements

We understand that GMAT/GRE testing centers have temporarily closed due to COVID-19. We are here to help make sure your application does not get delayed during the suspension of testing centers. If you find that the testing center closures impact you or have any questions about how to proceed with your application, please contact us at bschool.admissions@ucdenver.edu.

Applicants must have completed an undergraduate program at an accredited United States college or its equivalent in another country.
The GMAT is required for admission, however, the GRE may be substituted. GMAT/GRE waivers are available on a case-by-case basis and can be requested while completing the online application. Please note, not all programs offer the same GMAT/GRE waivers.
No work experience or formal business education is required for admission.

How Decisions Are Made

The admissions committee considers each candidate’s entire record of achievement. This is demonstrated through:

Academic transcripts
GMAT/GRE scores
Essay responses
Letters of recommendation if applicable
Work experience
Extracurricular and community activities

No work experience or formal business education is required for admission. However, professional experience strengthens your application. Candidates with less work experience can show potential through academic and experiential success.

For any questions, please contact our admissions team at bschool.admissions@ucdenver.edu or call 303-315-8200.

International Students

We understand that TOEFL/IELTS testing centers have temporarily closed due to COVID-19. We are here to help make sure your application does not get delayed during the suspension of testing centers. The Business School is now accepting Duolingo as an alternative test to the TOEFL/ITELS. Please go to duolingo.com for more information on how to take the test. If you have any questions about Duolingo or your application, please contact us at bschool.admissions@ucdenver.edu.

Important Announcement

CU Denver will require graduate applicants to the downtown Denver campus to have their international academic credentials evaluated by Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE). This policy will take effect for applications submitted on or after July 1, 2022. Learn more about Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)

To meet the English Language Proficiency (ELP) criteria, you must either showcase your proficiency through past education in English instruction or an English Language Proficiency test. If you are a citizen of a country whose official language is English, you do not have to prove proficiency. See below for a listing of accepted countries.

To claim proficiency, you must complete one of the following criteria. Please note that test scores are valid for two years.

Submit a TOEFL score that meets the minimum requirements of 79 (IBT) or 537 (PBT).
The minimum IBT sub-scores for each section are:
- Reading: 18
- Listening: 17
- Speaking: 20
- Writing: 17
Submit an IELTS score of at least 6.5 The minimum IELTS sub scores for the reading, listening, speaking, and writing sections are 5.5.
Submit a copy of completion from the CU Denver ESL Academy.
Be a citizen of a country whose official language is English. International applicants holding a citizenship from the following countries do not need to prove their English language proficiency for admission to CU Denver: Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Granada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, The Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago, United Kingdom.
International applicants may meet the English language proficiency requirement through any of the options below for previous coursework completed. Options for previous coursework completed which will satisfy admissions ELP requirements:
- Earn an associate or bachelor's degree in the US
- Earn a post-secondary credential (comparable to a US associate or bachelor's degree) in any of the exempt countries listed above
- Earn a post-secondary credential (comparable to a US associate or bachelor's degree) at an exempt-country-accredited school located in a non-exempt country
- Earned 12 or more credit hours in a master or doctoral degree program in the United States, an exempt country, or at an exempt-country-accredited school in a non-exempt country AND earned an overall college-level GPA of 3.0 or higher.

To be eligible for scholarships you must apply by the priority deadlines. Plan to submit materials early to expedite processing. Deadlines apply to all required documents. Please note that if you apply by the final deadlines many classes may be full.

Plan to submit materials early to expedite processing. Deadlines apply to all required documents.

Fall

Domestic Applications

Priority: April 15
Final: July 15

International Applications

Priority: March 15
Final: May 15

Spring

Domestic Applications

Priority: October 15
Final: December 15

International Applications

Priority: September 15
Final: October 15

Take the next step in your career.

CIBER

Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER)

The only CIBER in Colorado, one of two in the Rocky Mountain region, and one of only 15 in the United States, we have established ourselves as a hub of international business expertise. The Center regularly hosts CEOs, government leaders, and renowned academics as a part of their International Executive Roundtable series.

Pathways to International Internships and Employment

Pathways to International Internships and Employment provides MSIB students the opportunity to connect with the international business community to find internships and employment.

CIBERVets

A premiere program of CU Denver CIBER, CIBERVets facilitates veteran and military students’ transition from military life to civilian life and professional careers in international business. CIBERVets hosts an annual flagship event which allows veteran and military students to network with the international business community on a personalized basis to get feedback and perform informational interviews before applying to the companies’ open positions.

Learn more about CIBERVets.

CIBER awarded $1.28 million through 2022

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