Bachelor of Arts in International Business Course content

Electives within International Business

Students wishing to study Advanced language streams must attain a Leaving Certificate H4 in the language they wish to study. Students wishing to study Beginners language streams must attain a Leaving Certificate H4 in a language other than English to demonstrate competency in language learning.

French (advanced)

This module is taught to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) standard to:

• Introduce students to Business French relevant to their future professional needs
• Provide students with an understanding of key aspects of contemporary French society
• Enable students to develop practical skills (receptive and active)
• Consolidate students’ knowledge of French vocabulary and grammar.

German (advanced)

This module is taught in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The Advanced German module aims to build on students' prior knowledge of the language and to:

• Consolidate existing language skills and further develop overall proficiency in German.
• Introduce students to German Studies with a particular focus on business, economic, and commercial contexts.
• Introduce students to learning strategies and multimedia resources in language learning.
• Prepare students for study, work, and placement opportunities in German-speaking environments.
• Enhance students' intercultural competence and their ability to communicate effectively and professionally in German.

Japanese (beginners)

No prior knowledge of Japanese required. H4 in a language other than English is required. 

This module is taught to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) standard to provide a firm grounding in understanding, speaking, reading and writing basic Japanese, and aspects of Japanese culture 4 and society, as well as to begin to develop life-long language learning strategies with learners.

Spanish 

Beginners Spanish

This module is taught to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) standard. The beginner's module aims to provide the student with a strong basic knowledge of Spanish and of contemporary Spain and Latin America, particularly as regards the economic and commercial dimensions. 

The module is designed to: 

• Enable the student to understand and use basic structures of Spanish grammar. 
• Expose the student to a range of vocabulary and expressions which will allow her/him to present her/himself to, and communicate with native speakers of Spanish. 
• Foster autonomous language learning skills. 
• Introduce the student to Spanish and Latin American cultures. 
• Develop listening and speaking skills in Spanish. 
• Equip the student with basic writing skills.

Advanced Spanish

This module is taught to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) standard to: 

• Introduce students to Business Spanish relevant to their future professional needs.
• Provide students with an understanding of key aspects of contemporary Spanish society
• Enable students to develop practical skills (receptive and active)
• Consolidate students' knowledge of Spanish vocabulary and grammar

What you will study

Choice and flexibility are central to the BA in International Business. You will select modules from a business elective stream, a humanities elective stream, and a language elective stream – selecting from French (advanced), German (Advanced), Spanish (Beginners or Advanced), and Japanese (Beginners). The combination you choose will reflect your interests and help develop your understanding of international business.

There are three broad categories that you will study on this course:

1. Business
2. Humanities
3. Languages

Each semester you will have the choice to study 5 modules across these categories. Certain restrictions apply for each category but the overall flexibility will allow you to study the areas of International Business that interest you. 

By the end of the course, you will have:

• the ability to apply specialised technical, analytical and creative skills which are fundamental to problem-solving and decision-making in the business world
• the knowledge and skills to acquire information and engage with ideas and concepts that emerge from other business cultures
• an array of advanced skills needed to conduct guided research in a range of business contexts
• the capacity to effect change responsibly in business, professional and academic environments.

Set out below is the course structure for the ‘normal’ pathway: