There are two main differences between the Classic track and the Cohort track. First is when you apply to the program. For the Classic track, students either gain immediate admission through the South Carolina Honors College, or they will apply through a competitive admissions process at the end of their first year at USC. For the Cohort track, interested students will apply in their senior year of high school before they begin at USC. The second difference is when and how long you will study abroad. Classic track students will study abroad for one semester in the spring of their junior year. Cohort track students will be abroad for multiple semesters throughout their time in the program. To learn more about the Cohort track, visit the Cohort track page.

There are two ways to get into the IB Classic track. Students admitted to the Honors College as incoming freshmen will be offered immediate admission to the major if their intended major is listed as pre-international business. The second way is to apply at the end of your first year of studies in the Moore School through the competitive application process.

The Pre-International Business program informs Moore School staff that you are interested in the IB major. Advisors can guide you with course selections so you are eligible to apply at the end of your first year. This does not mean that you are automatically admitted into the IB major. Unless you were admitted to the Honors College as an incoming pre-IB freshman, you will still need to apply in the competitive process at the end of your first year.

A strong application is made up of a high GPA, strong math skills, foreign language experience, clearly articulated career goals and well-written responses to the essay questions. We are looking for students with a passion for language studies, cultural competence and a dedication for learning about business on a global stage.

There are typically 130-150 new IB students each fall for the Classic track, and approximately 50 additional students in Cohort programs, for a total of 200 IB students in each class.

The number of competitive spaces available depends on the number of students who gain immediate admittance through the Honors College. Usually, approximately 40-50 percent of applicants are accepted through the competitive process.

Students with immediate admission through the Honors College must complete all Moore School first-year progression requirements and maintain a 3.65 or above USC GPA at the end of their first year. Students who apply through the competitive application process must also have completed the Moore School first-year progression requirements and have earned a 3.65 or above USC GPA. The average GPA of students admitted through the competitive application is typically a 3.900. Students will also study a foreign language and must complete four advanced language courses at the 300 level or above. Most IB students minor in their language. Additionally, all IB students must choose a second, functional major to study.

While prior language study is highly recommended, it is not necessary to participate in the program. Many students choose to begin studying a new language when they arrive at USC and are able to complete the requirement of four 300-level courses for the IB program.

You must choose one of the spoken languages used in business that are offered at USC. Visit the Foreign Languages page for a list of languages currently offered.

All IB students pursue a second, functional major within business, gaining specific knowledge and skills in your choice of accounting, economics, finance, management, marketing, operations and supply chain, real estate or risk management and insurance. An international business degree paired with a second major in business leads to work in a wide variety of organizations including consulting firms, companies providing international services and multinational companies across a full range of functional areas such as accounting, finance, marketing and logistics.

In order to complete a double major, students must complete all of the requirements for each major. In the case of IB, there are 15 credit hours. The majority of other Moore School majors are also 15 credit hours, with the exception of accounting, which is 24 hours. You can learn more about all of the majors offered at the Moore School on the Undergraduate Majors page.

In addition to the two majors, all IB student must complete the Moore School requirements, Carolina Core requirements, and four 300-level or greater language courses. Students graduating with a major in international business must complete a minimum of 129 credit hours. Remember, USC does accept advance placement, international baccalaureate and transfer credits. All IB students work closely with their advisor to make sure they are meeting their course requirements.

All IB students begin the major in the spring following admission to the program.

IB students are not required but are encouraged to choose a region to specialize in. Regions include Europe, Asia, Middle East and North Africa and Latin America. Choosing a region helps to dictate some of the courses they might take. It does not necessarily mean they have to study abroad in that region, however, many students do choose to study in their region of specialization.

No, all IB students will study abroad for one semester at an IB partner university in the spring term following the spring they complete IBUS 310.

No, study abroad placement is through a competitive application process, and students are assigned to attend an IB partner school for one semester. The Moore School has partnered with more than 60 of the top business schools in the world. While enrolled in IBUS 310, IB students will rank their top 10 choices of study abroad locations and complete several short answer questions with their study abroad application. Priority for placement is based on a student’s academic transcript and answers to these questions. We encourage students to rank schools not only by their location, but also based on the courses available. Students are not required to study abroad in countries where their language is spoken. They may also rank schools based on major courses offered or by geographical location.

Assignments are provided to students in August. Additional study abroad preparations including additional application processes for the host university, visas, housing and pre-departure modules are required of students in the fall semester prior to studying abroad.

In most cases, no. Most of our partner schools offer courses in English. There are some schools that require a high level of competency in the local language. Only students with proven language skills will be allowed to apply to these schools.

Students will make their own arrangements for housing while abroad. In some locations, there is on-campus housing available but, in other locations, students will need to arrange homestays, apartments, student housing, etc. Most of the partner institutions offer some type of assistance in making housing arrangements such as providing a list of vetted housing vendors, websites and housing location recommendations. The cost of living varies from location to location and country to country.

During students' IB semester abroad, tuition will be assessed on an exchange basis — that is, they pay tuition to their home institutions rather than the university they visit. Exchange tuition is assessed at the in-state rate for South Carolina students, regardless of residency status. Their housing and other living expenses will be based on the accommodations secured in-country and will vary accordingly. Students will also need to budget for travel expenses between home and  abroad.

Yes, there are scholarships available through the USC Education Abroad Office, as well as the Moore School Office of International Activities. Additionally, students are eligible to apply for the Moore School undergraduate scholarships.

Yes, all travel arrangements are made by individual students at the cost of the student.

Spending a semester abroad at one of our partner institutions is an important part of the International Business program. We do intend to continue to maintain this requirement of the IB program, but the safety of our students is our first and foremost concern. USC, the Education Abroad Office, and the Sonoco International Business Department are following the situation closely, and decisions for study abroad feasibility are being made by the Student International Travel Oversight Committee (SITOC) each semester.

An international business degree leads to work in a wide variety of organizations including consulting firms, companies providing international services and multinational companies across a full range of functional areas such as accounting, finance, marketing and logistics. Companies that have hired recent Moore School international business graduates include: Wells Fargo; IBM; Oliver Wyman; Thermo Fisher Scientific; Hewlett Packard; Enterprise; Eastman Chemical; Urban Behavioral Associates; Integration Point, Inc; Greenpeace, China; New Oriental Vision Overseas Consulting, Co.; PWC; Eaton; Resolution Media; Techtronic Industries; AgroFresh Solutions; Teach for America; Eastman Chemical; Belden; Ernst & Young; PTS Consulting; General Electric; Manhattan Associates; Campus Ministry; Elliott Davis Decosimo; Pepsi-Frito Lay; Visa; SunTrust Robinson Humphrey; and Nestle USA.