Landegger Program in International Business Diplomacy (IBD)

The IBD Honors Certificate curriculum is designed to build upon core requirements of the MSFS and BSFS programs. Students pursuing other School of Foreign Service degrees, MBA and CCTP students must already meet the BSFS/MSFS core requirements or be prepared to fulfill equivalent requirements in economics, politics/international relations, history and foreign languages in order to receive the IBD Honors Certificate.

Learning Goals for the Honors Certificate include:

1. A thorough understanding of major principles, theories, and public policy issues relating to the role of international business in an interdependent world political economy.

2. A basic command of applied accounting and finance skills needed in business transactions.

3. Skills development in:  critical thinking and analysis; ability to understand important elements in current and emerging policy issues; formulation of actionable policy recommendations; formulation of corporate strategy; political and economic risk assessment capability; oral briefing and presentation capability; and, effective team dynamics through group work and role-play scenarios.

Requirements for Candidates

Fulfillment of the Honors Certificate Program requires a minimum of six qualifying courses (18 credits), with at minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5.

1. Students are required to enter the certificate through one gateway course with an honors grade of A- or better. 
2. Students (except MBA students) must complete a compulsory course in Accounting and Finance.
3. Students are encouraged to focus their remaining four or more courses on a specific professional concentration. Each student's broader degree program provides other complementary courses in economics, politics, history and cross-cultural understanding.
4. All students must also pass a proficiency examination in at least one foreign language.

MBA candidates. In order to fulfill the honors certificate requirement, MBA candidates must complete:

1. Four out of the six courses (12 credits) within the School of Foreign Service or draw from specifically identified IBD electives taught at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The gateway course is included in this four course series.
2. The remaining 6 credits by taking a combination of specifically listed module courses taught at the McDonough School of Business and identified as IBD electives.

CCT candidates. In order to fulfill the honors certificate requirement, CCT candidates must complete:

1. Four out of the six courses (12 credits) within the School of Foreign Service or draw from specific module courses taught at the McDonough School of Business and identified as IBD electives. The gateway course and the compulsory accounting and finance course are included in this four course series.
2. The remaining 6 credits by taking specifically identified IBD electives offered in the CCT Program or additional IBD electives offered either in the School of Foreign Service or the McDonough School of Business.