A World of Opportunities
Breadcrumb
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.
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 Center 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
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):
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
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 (if required by the program) 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
- Applicants must have completed an undergraduate program at an accredited United States college or its equivalent in another country.
- No work experience or formal business education is required for admission; however, you may have to provide a GMAT or GRE score if you do not have enough work experience, see below.
The GMAT/GRE is not required for this program
This program does not require GMAT or GRE scores for their degree program as part of the graduate admissions requirements. The requirements are a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or better from a US-accredited four-year undergraduate institution or the successful completion of a graduate degree, and five or more years of full-time relevant professional work experience.
However, if you received your bachelor’s degree with a grade point average of less than 3.25 or have less than 5 years of relevant professional work experience, you will be asked to submit a statement that outlines other indicators of exceptional motivation, such as solid upper-division performance, GMAT or GRE scores, and other relevant professional experience. The MS Business Analytics admissions committee may require a minimum GMAT or GRE score for students that do not automatically qualify by GPA and prior work.
How Decisions Are Made
The admissions committee considers each candidate’s entire record of achievement. This is demonstrated through:
- Academic transcripts
- Essay responses
- Work experience
- Extracurricular and community activities
- Letters of recommendation if applicable
- GMAT/GRE scores if applicable
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
International graduate applicants must have their academic credentials evaluated by either Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) or World Education Services (WES). If you have already had an international credential evaluation from another company, please contact CU Denver International Admissions at intldocuments@ucdenver.edu to determine whether it meets our requirements.
To meet the English Language Proficiency (ELP) criteria, you must showcase your proficiency through different exemptions or an English Language Proficiency test (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or Duolingo).
To determine English Language Proficiency (ELP), you must complete one of the following criteria. Please note for Business School graduate programs the minimum TOEFL score requirements of 83 (IBT) or 560 (PBT).
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
Summer
Domestic Applications
- Priority: February 15
- Final: April 15
International Applications
- Priority: January 15
- Final: March 15
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.
Contact us to set up your first meeting.
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.
Request More Information
Attend a graduate open house, online or in-person information session, or a GMAT test prep workshop. Visit our events page for all upcoming events.