Honors Certificate

The Landegger Program in International Business Diplomacy is an honors certificate program that offers students the opportunity to participate in an interdisciplinary course of study that complements their academic interests and degree. We deliver to a select number of honors students a rigorous academic program that emphasizes the role of business in the international arena.

Honors students who choose to participate in the program link their studies in international affairs with a foundation in finance, accounting, data science and business-government relations. The program also integrates coursework in global business strategy, business ethics, global investment, ESG investment, project finance, political risk analysis and entrepreneurship. Landegger Program classes combine an intensive case method approach to global corporate operations with an analysis of key economic and political issues in international trade, finance, and investment.

Within the Walsh School of Foreign Service, this multidisciplinary program offers a bridge between the undergraduate majors. At the graduate level, Landegger offers a bridge between degree programs and concentrations and graduate schools (MSFS, GSFS Regional Studies Programs, GSAS including CCTP, and the Law School).

REQUIREMENTS FOR CANDIDATES

  1. Fulfillment of the Honors Certificate Program requires a minimum of six qualifying courses (18 credits), with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 including:
    • A compulsory course in Accounting and Finance (GBUS 400 or equivalent).
    • A compulsory course in Data Science (GBUS 401 or equivalent) (applies to students in the Class of 2024 onward who were admitted to the program via application starting in Spring 2022). Students must complete one course in statistics prior to enrolling in GBUS 401.
    • One elective course chosen from the list of IBD “gateway courses”.
    • Three additional elective courses. Students are encouraged to focus their remaining three 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.
  2. All students must also pass a proficiency examination in at least one foreign language.

BSFS Candidates: Double counting between majors and the IBD certificate is limited to no more than two classes per major. All majors will allow double counting of two classes. 

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

  • 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 compulsory accounting and finance course, data science course, and gateway course are included in this four course series.
  • 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.

ADMISSIONS

The International Business Diplomacy Program is an academic honors program of the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. Students who want to be considered for full admission as honors candidates in the IBD Program should be enrolled in a full-time degree program within the School of Foreign Service. Joint-degree students are eligible so long as part of their degree is conferred by the School of Foreign Service or an approved GSAS or Law School program (listed above). Qualifying students enter the program through an application process offered each semester.

Beginning in Spring 2022, students will be admitted to the IBD certificate program through an application process instead of through an honors grade in a gateway course. Students enrolled in a gateway course in Spring 2022 will be able to choose whether they would like to apply for admission or gain admission through an honors grade (A/A-) in their gateway course. If a student enrolled in a gateway course chooses instead to apply for admission, they must complete the data science requirement. Students that enroll through a gateway course in Spring 2022 are exempt from the data science course requirement. Students who were accepted into the IBD certificate program before Spring 2022 and/or who are members of the Class of 2023 are exempt from the data science course requirement. 

CANDIDATE FORMS

Students accepted into the  Honors Certificate Program as Candidates will be required to submit documentation which includes a Candidate Record Form, a current updated resume, and a current digital photograph.

Candidates should ensure that their Candidate Record Form and other required documentation (resume and photo) is on file with the Landegger Program Office and that contact information and course information is up to date.

Prior to graduation, all graduating candidates will be asked to participate in an Employment Survey and an Exit Interview Survey. Graduating candidates will be given the opportunity to sign up for exit interviews beginning in April of their graduating year.

LEARNING GOALS

Learning Goals for the Honors Certificate include:

  • A thorough understanding of major principles, theories, and public policy issues relating to the role of international business in an interdependent world political economy.
  • A basic command of applied accounting and finance skills needed in business transactions.
  • A basic command of data science and visualization principles.
  • 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.

COURSE PETITION

Students accepted into the IBD Program may petition the Landegger Program for approval of courses not listed for IBD certificate credit. Students will be allowed only one of their curricular choices to be a petitioned course. Students may petition courses either before or after they actually take the course.

Student petitions should include:

  • a statement of how the course fits within the Landegger Program philosophy and field of study, and why it is particularly relevant to the student’s academic curriculum and/or career preparation,
  • a copy of the course description, syllabus, reading list and course requirements, copies of relevant papers and other evaluated work, if the course has already been completed, and supporting statements by individual faculty when required.
  • Undergraduate students participating in the study abroad program may petition to have a course or combination of courses taken abroad count for one of the six IBD course package requirements. Approval for study abroad courses is granted only after the students’ return and submission of sufficient course-related material to permit an assessment of “honors” performance in the classes.