Prospective students often struggle to determine whether FIU’s International MBA (IMBA) or the Master of International Business (MIB) degree is best for their careers. Although these are two internationally-focused business programs,they are fundamentally very different.
1. Career goals
When you think of an MBA, you think of an advanced management degree. The curriculum for an MBA program touches almost every aspect of a business: accounting, strategy, legal, marketing, organizational behavior and more. It gives you the knowledge and skills for general management that can be applied to whatever department you enter. An International MBA program puts a twist on a regular MBA curriculum by adding international elements.
A Master of International Business program is highly specialized and focuses more on business development. Every course is taught with a global business perspective. You’ll build a new foundation of knowledge and learn about different laws, economies and cultures.
You’ll not only learn how to manage a company with different markets but learn how to create or grow opportunities on foreign soil. You’ll learn about global trends, start-ups, and politics, preparing you for lucrative careers as business analysts, trading specialists, business development managers and more.
2. Curriculum
Keeping in mind what we know so far, the next differentiating factor is the two curriculums. The MIB is a specialized program that was created to produce business professionals with specific knowledge of the current reality of the global economy. Companies seek out individuals with the skills to conduct business in a global context. Therefore, MIB graduates are valuable assets to multinational companies, transnational organizations and businesses interested in entering the global marketplace.
FIU’s MIB program curriculum includes:
- Fundamentals of International Business
- Global Megatrends, Geopolitics, and Political Economy
- Global Management Skills
- Global Start-Up
- Global Strategy and Business Models
- A local trip to learn from business executives conducting business with foreign markets
- An international trip to meet foreign business executives to learn how to do business in a foreign environment
- A master’s consulting project working with a real company to solve a real challenge to their business
- Three elective courses that vary by availability, but can include international finance, international marketing, international human resource management, entrepreneurship, international management and leadership and more.
- Four Professional Development Seminars (PDS) that include the topics of team building, presentation skills, case analysis, and career services.
The IMBA is a general management program that offers a skill set that can be transferred to multiple areas of business and industries but will have international elements.
FIU’s IMBA curriculum focuses on:
- Accounting for Managers
- Business Analysis and Decision Making
- Corporate Finance
- Corporate Simulation
- Financial Reporting and Analysis
- Global Financial Strategy
- International Business
- Legal Environment of Business
- Marketing Management
- Business Process and Operational Analysis
- Organizational Behavior
- Management of Information Systems
- Strategic Management
- A master’s project, which is an interdisciplinary research project on an international business problem, which may include fieldwork (including an internship), library research, computer modeling or the use of an approved research methodology
- Final semester study option, which can include a business internship, elective course or study abroad
- Four Professional Development Seminars (PDS) that include the topics of team building, presentation skills, case analysis and career services.
3. Different formats and time commitments
Although both programs are 12 months long, they require two different types of time commitments.
The IMBA has an all-encompassing curriculum of 42 credits, and to be completed in 12 months, you’ll have to be a full-time student taking daytime classes.
The MIB has a smaller course load with 30 credits and more options for their program format, allowing students to complete it face-to-face or online. The face-to-face format has evening classes, which makes it easier for students who need or want to stay full-time employees during the duration of the program.
Earning a graduate degree is a great way to open new doors in your career, but it’s essential to know your own career goals and schedule to choose the program that will work best for you.
To learn more about the International MBA and Master of International Business programs, join us for one of our “Discovering International Business at FIU”information sessions available online or in person.
