All thanks to the Internet, the world of business is smaller. A person in China can purchase a widget in Plano, Texas and have it shipped the same day. 

To support global commerce, Collin College is introducing a new International Business associate of applied science degree for the fall 2008.

The degree totals 61 credit hours and includes the courses “Introduction to International Business and Trade,” “Global Logistics Management,” “International Marketing Management” and “Global Supply Chain Management.”  

“As early as 2005, those of us in charge of the Business Management and Marketing Program began to research an International Business degree because of the increase in the import/export industry in the state of Texas as well as in influx of numerous international businesses of various sizes and industries,” Gloria Cockerell, chair and professor of business management and marketing, said. “We felt that Collin College should keep up with the business initiatives so that our students could leave us with information useful enough to help them find jobs and to understand the business world around them.” 

Three years later, the careful planning has come to fruition. In addition to the new degree, a new certificate in International Business will be available this fall.

According to Cockerell, all courses will transfer to universities that offer a bachelor of applied arts and sciences and with which Collin College has articulation agreements. She encourages students who plan to earn something other than a BAAS to check with their university of choice to determine which classes will transfer.  

“Students who take the classes included in the International Business degree will be offered information that will serve them well no matter what industry they enter,” Cockerell said. “They will have courses specifically constructed for import and export, and international marketing and management, as well as courses which will help them to deal with people in the workforce from different cultures, genders and generations. They will have information which should prepare them to work now and in the future in a workforce that is constantly changing."

For more information, contact Cockerell at gcockerell@ccccd.edu.