Shaping your MIB Degree

The MIB is a unique hybrid of a business degree and an international affairs degree. This two-year interdisciplinary program allows students to gain traditional business skills as well as the international knowledge necessary for working in a global business environment. The integrated MIB curriculum ensures that students not only understand how companies operate, but also the complex context in which they operate.

Core Curriculum

All MIB students gain a foundation of skills through a series of required core classes in business, international affairs, and regional studies, offered both in English and in the native language of the region.

All MIB students balance their education by taking a series of required core classes in addition to having the flexibility to pursue individual interests through elective classes. The core provides a foundation of skills and knowledge while the variety of electives allows students to customize their education to suit their own interests.

Business Core

The MIB business core includes the foundational skills and concepts that are essential to a business degree, while maintaining an international perspective on management.

• Strategic Management (1/2 semester)
• Financial Statement Management
• Foundations in Corporate Finance
• Statistics: Data Analysis and Statistical Methods for Business* or Econometrics
• Marketing (1/2 semester)

* An equivalence exam is offered. Students that pass the Statistics exam take Econometrics.

Economics Core

The economics requirement provides students with a solid foundation in microeconomics and macroeconomics as well as the analytical skills to better understand business in the global context. Students who have limited or no recall of economics should take an economic theory course prior to enrolling.

• One microeconomics course: Managerial Economics* (1/2 semester) or Microeconomics (full semester)
• Global Macroeconomics* (1/2 semester)

* An equivalence exam is offered. Students who pass either economics exam may take any higher level economics courses for a total of at least 1.5 economics credits at Fletcher.

International Affairs Core

The international affairs and interdisciplinary studies requirements ensure that all MIB students are exposed to a range of international affairs classes across Fletcher’s areas of expertise in law, diplomacy, history, and politics.

• One international law course: choice between International Business Transactions/L230 or International Fiscal and Financial Law/L233
• One Diplomacy, History and Politics (DHP) course: Each MIB student must take one course totaling 3 credits from the DHP Division.
• One Business, Government and Society course from the following list
  • DHP P217: Global Political Economy: Macroeconomic Perspectives
  • DHP P219: Political Economy of Development
  • DHP P236: Cyber in the Civilian Sector: Threats and Upheavals
  • DHP P257: Corporate Management of Environmental Issues
  • DHP P251: Energy, Entrepreneurship and Finance
  • EIB E220: International Trade and Investment
  • EIB B223: Informal and Underground Finance
  • EIB B232: Work and Employment Relations in the 21st Century
  • ILO L232: International Investment Law
  • ILO L240: Legal and Institutional Aspects of International Trade

Regional Courses

All MIB students must complete one half-credit Regional Course. The regional courses focus on the economics and business practices of a particular geographical area. They allow students to build cultural fluency to prepare them for a professional role in that region. Classes cover the following regions

• China
• Europe (offered in French or English)
• Islamic World
• Latin America
• Russia

Core Schedule

During the first year, MIB students fulfill their core classes in international business and economics, with flexibility to take electives to support their international affairs core requirements, the fields of study, and skill-building for summer internships. During the second year, MIB students complete their requirements and take additional elective classes. Students have the option of participating in an international exchange program during the first semester of the second year. 

Year 1

Foundations in Financial Accounting and Corporate Finance

Pre-session
See academic calendar for exact dates Strategic Management (1/2 semester) Luncheon lectures and social events are also included.
Fall Semester
First Half	Second Half
Foundations in Financial Accounting and Corporate Finance
	Global Macroeconomics (1/2 semester)
Financial Statement Management
Economics Requirement: Microeconomics (full semester) or Managerial Economics (1/2 semester)
Elective
Spring Semester
First Half	Second Half
Statistics: Data Analysis and Statistical Methods for Business
Elective
Choice of Regional Course (1/2 semester)
Elective
Elective
Marketing (1/2 semester)

Year 2

With the business and economics core requirements completed in the first year, the second year is used to complete the remaining international affairs core and field of study requirements. Students take a total of 18 courses/54 credits.

Electives and Specializations

Additionally, students pursue their individual interests through flexible elective classes and two fields of study, one an international business field and the other an international affairs field.

Fletcher students may also cross-register at the graduate schools of Tufts and Harvard Universities or pursue a semester-long international exchange program.

Graduation Requirements

1. Complete the core curriculum.
2. Complete two fields of study: one in business and one international affairs.
3. Submit and have approved by a member of the faculty a satisfactory Capstone Project.
4. Complete the Professional Development Program (PDP).

All MIB students must choose two fields of study, one international affairs field and one international business field. This unique combination allows students to build core business skills in the area of their choosing along with knowledge in a particular international affairs concentration.

As an example, a student interested in national energy security might choose to combine the International Resource and Environmental Policy field with the Strategic Management and International Consultancy field. This combination would allow the student to build both management skills and an environmental policy background. On the other hand, a student with an interest in emerging markets might want to combine Development Economics along with International Banking and Finance.

Learn more about the Fields of Study.

Fletcher's regional courses are designed to build cultural familiarity, political awareness, and economic knowledge of some of the world's major business regions. The classes provide a strong foundation for students to navigate foreign cultures and global businesses. All MIB students take at least one regional course as a part of their curriculum.

Regions/countries covered are:

• China
• Europe (offered in English and French)
• Latin America 
• Middle East 
• Russia 

All MIB students work with a faculty advisor to craft a Capstone Project. This unique opportunity to create a substantial independent product allows students to build a real depth of knowledge and a niche area of expertise. Capstone Projects can be a strong bridge to the job search process, and many students choose projects that are of direct relevance to their intended career fields. Formats include cases, business plans, market research, and more traditional theses.