World Economy and Business

The World Economy and Business major is intended to provide liberal arts students with an interdisciplinary introduction to the causes of economic globalization. Students will investigate the changes that global business is bringing to the international environment in which the United States conducts its economic and political relations with other nation-states, and to the domestic consequences of these changes.

Students pursuing both a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree or Bachelors of Science (BS) degree are required to complete a minimum of two years of foreign language study in a language appropriate to the chosen specialization. Ohio State currently offers courses in Arabic, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Modern Greek, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Quechua, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, and Uzbek.

To learn more about major requirements, check out the links below. Requirements and course offerings do change, so if you have any questions please reach out to internationalstudies@osu.edu or contact your academic advisor.

World Economy and Business Major Requirements

Bachelor of Arts

Foreign Language Requirement

This major requires completion of a minimum of two years of language study. Coursework completed at OSU or abroad and/or appropriate placement test results can document this.
To fulfill the foreign language requirement students have three options: 

  • Complete two years (4 semesters) of a single language
  • Complete a foreign language minor
  • Complete a second major in a language

For those opting to complete two years in a single language, OSU offers courses in Arabic, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Modern Greek, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Quechua, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, and Uzbek. After completing 1101, 1102, 1103, you must complete one advanced language course at the 2000 level.

Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)
Students must complete at least one course each in Advanced Writing (AW), Data Analysis (DA) and Technology (TECH). These courses are part of the major and courses which fulfill the requirements are indicated below. 

Required Foundations: 2 courses (6 hours)

  • INTSTDS 3850 - Introduction to Globalization
  • INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (AW)

Methods & Analysis: Choose one course (3 hours)

  • Geography 4103 -  Introductory Spatial Data Analysis (DA)
  • INTSTDS 3400 - The Analysis & Display of Data (DA)
  • Political Science 3780 - Data Literacy & Data Visualization  (DA)
  • Sociology 5650 - Presenting & Communicating Quantitative Data  (DA)

Primary Specialization & Secondary Specialization

If World Economy and Business is your Primary Specialization, choose five courses (15 hours).  You will choose an additional 3 courses (9 hours) for your Secondary Specialization.
If World Economy and Business is your Secondary Specialization, choose three courses (9 hours).

  • COMM 3554 - Social Implications of Communication Technology (TECH)
  • ECON 4130 - World Economic Development in Historical Perspective
  • ECON 4597.01 - Issues in the Underground Economy
  • HISTORY 3706 - Coca-Cola Globalization: The History of American Business
  • INTSTDS/AEDECON 2580 - Feast or Famine: The Global Business of Food
  • INTSTDS 3702 - Herding Cyber Cats: Information Security Management
  • INTSTDS 3703 - Ethical Issues in Information Technology (TECH)
  • INTSTDS 3850 - Introduction to Globalization
  • INTSTDS/AEDECON 4320 - Energy, the Environment & the Economy
  • INTSTDS/AEDECON 4532 - Food Security & Globalization
  • INTSTDS/AEDECON 4535 - International Economic Development
  • INTSTDS 4537 - Middle Eastern Economic Development
  • INTSTDS/AEDECON 4597.01 - Food, Population & Environment
  • INTSTDS 4560 - Cooperation & Conflict in the Global Economy
  • INTSTDS 4701 - The Development & Control of Weapons of Mass Destruction (TECH)
  • INTSTDS 4806 - Intelligence for Diplomacy: Assessing Leadership Style
  • INTSTDS 4850 - Understanding the Global Information Society
  • INTSTDS 5700 - Rebuilding Failed & Weak States
  • POLITSC 3290 - Comparative Public Policy
  • POLITSC 3380 - Political Analysis of International Economic Relations
  • SOCIOL 3302 - Technology & Global Society (TECH)
  • SOCIOL 3464 - Work, Employment & Society

Foreign Language Requirement

This major requires completion of a minimum of two years of language study. Coursework completed at OSU or abroad and/or appropriate placement test results can document this.
To fulfill the foreign language requirement students have three options: 

  • Complete two years (4 semesters) of a single language
  • Complete a foreign language minor
  • Complete a second major in a language

For those opting to complete two years in a single language, OSU offers courses in Arabic, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Modern Greek, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Quechua, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, and Uzbek. After completing 1101, 1102, 1103, you must complete one advanced language course at the 2000 level.

Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)
Students must complete at least one course each in Advanced Writing (AW), Data Analysis (DA) and Technology (TECH). These courses are part of the major and courses which fulfill the requirements are indicated below. 

Required Foundations: 4 courses (12 hours)

  • AEDECON/INTSTDS 4540 - International Commerce & the World Economy
  • International Studies 3400 - Analysis & Display of Data (EL Data Analysis)
  • Economics 4700 - Government & Business
  • ECON/INTSTDS 4560 - Cooperation & Conflict in the Global Economy

Critical Perspectives: 4 courses (12 hours), must include one EL Technology, one EL Advanced Writing

  • AEDECON/INTSTDS 4320 - Energy, the Environment & the Economy
  • Economics 4508 - Comparative Economic Systems
  • Economics 4600 - International Economic Relations
  • Geography 5401 - Economies, Space and Society
  • History 3705 - History of Capitalism in Comparative & Global Perspectives
  • INTSTDS 3450 - Human Rights: An Introduction
  • INTSTDS 3703 - Ethical Issues in the Information Age (EL Technology)
  • INTSTDS 4700 - Terror & Terrorism (EL Advanced Writing)
  • INTSTDS 4701 - Weapons of Mass Destruction (EL Technology)
  • INTSTDS 4703 - Science, Technology & the Cold War
  • INTSTDS 4850 - Understanding the Global Information Society
  • INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (EL Advanced Writing)
  • Political Science 4280 - State and Economy
  • Political Science 4380 - Political Analysis of International Economic Relations
  • Political Science 4381 - Comparative International Political Economy
  • Political Science 4910 - Business-Government Relations
  • Sociology 3464 - Work, Employment and Society

Electives: Choose 2 courses (6 hours)

For electives, students can choose any combination of two courses from other International Studies specializations, the list below and unused courses from the Critical Perspectives.

  • AEDECON/INTSTDS 4534 - Comparative Challenges to Economic Development
  • AEDECON/INTSTDS 4535 - International Economic Development
  • AEDECON/INTSTDS 4537 - Middle Eastern Economic Development
  • Economics 4130 - World Economic Development in Historical Perspective
  • Economics 4200 - Money & Banking
  • Economics 4300 - Government Finance in the American Economy
  • Economics 4310 - Local Public Finance
  • Economics 4320 - Public Expenditure and Cost Benefit Analysis
  • Economics 4547 - Economics of War
  • Economics 4553 - Economics of Population
  • Economics 4800 - Labor Economics and Industrial Relations
  • Geography 5300 - Geography of Transportation
  • INTSTDS 4195 - Selected Problems in International Studies
  • INTSTDS 5191 - Student Internship Program
  • INTSTDS/PUBAFRS 5700 - Rebuilding Failed and Weak States

Foreign Language Requirement

This major requires completion of a minimum of two years of language study. Coursework completed at OSU or abroad and/or appropriate placement test results can document this.
To fulfill the foreign language requirement students have three options: 

  • Complete two years (4 semesters) of a single language
  • Complete a foreign language minor
  • Complete a second major in a language

For those opting to complete two years in a single language, OSU offers courses in Arabic, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Modern Greek, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Quechua, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, and Uzbek. After completing 1101, 1102, 1103, you must complete one advanced language course at the 2000 level.

Required Foundations: 4 courses (12 hours)

  • AEDECON/INTSTDS 4540 - International Commerce & the World Economy
  • ECON/INTSTDS 3400 - The Analysis & Display of Data
  • Economics 4700 - Government & Business
  • ECON/INTSTDS 4560 - Cooperation & Conflict in the Global Economy

Critical Perspectives: Choose 4 courses (12 hours)

  • AEDECON/INTSTDS 4320 - Energy, the Environment & the Economy
  • Economics 4508 - Comparative Economic Systems
  • Economics 4600 - International Economic Relations
  • Geography 5401 - Economies, Space and Society
  • History 3705 - History of Capitalism in Comparative & Global Perspectives
  • INTSTDS 4850 - Understanding the Global Information Society
  • Political Science 4280 - State and Economy
  • Political Science 4380 - Political Analysis of International Economic Relations
  • Political Science 4381 - Comparative International Political Economy
  • Political Science 4910 - Business-Government Relations
  • Sociology 3464 - Work, Employment and Society

Electives: Choose 2 courses (6 hours)

For electives, students can choose any combination of two courses from other International Studies specializations, the list below and unused courses from the Critical Perspectives.

  • AEDECON/INTSTDS 4534 - Comparative Challenges to Economic Development
  • AEDECON/INTSTDS 4535 - International Economic Development
  • AEDECON/INTSTDS 4537 - Middle Eastern Economic Development
  • Economics 4130 - World Economic Development in Historical Perspective
  • Economics 4200 - Money & Banking
  • Economics 4300 - Government Finance in the American Economy
  • Economics 4310 - Local Public Finance
  • Economics 4320 - Public Expenditure and Cost Benefit Analysis
  • Economics 4547 - Economics of War
  • Economics 4553 - Economics of Population
  • Economics 4800 - Labor Economics and Industrial Relations
  • Geography 5300 - Geography of Transportation
  • INSTDS 4195 - Selected Problems in International Studies
  • INTSTDS 5191 - Student Internship Program
  • INTSTDS/PUBAFRS 5700 - Rebuilding Failed and Weak States 

Bachelor of Science

Foreign Language Requirement

This major requires completion of a minimum of two years of language study. Coursework completed at OSU or abroad and/or appropriate placement test results can document this.
To fulfill the foreign language requirement students have three options: 

  • Complete two years (4 semesters) of a single language
  • Complete a foreign language minor
  • Complete a second major in a language

For those opting to complete two years in a single language, OSU offers courses in Arabic, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Modern Greek, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Quechua, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, and Uzbek. After completing 1101, 1102, 1103, you must complete one advanced language course at the 2000 level.

Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)

Students must complete at least one course each in Advanced Writing (AW), and Technology (TECH), and complete a 3- course sequence in Data Analysis (DA).  These courses are part of the major and courses which fulfill the requirements are indicated below. 

Required Foundations: 2 courses (6 hours)

  • INTSTDS 3850 - Introduction to Globalization
  • INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (AW)

Data Analysis: 3 courses (9 hours), Choose 1 3-course sequence)

  • Series 1
    • Geography 4103 - Introductory Spatial Data Analysis
    • Geography 5103 - Intermediate Spatial Data Analysis
    • Geography 5210 - Fundamentals of Geographic Information System
  • Series 2
    • INTSTDS 3400 - The Analysis & Display of Data or Political Science 3780 - Data Literacy & Data Visualization
    • Political Science 4781- Data Literacy in Political Science I
    • Political Science 4782 - Data Literacy in Political Science II
  • Series 3
    • Statistics 2450.01 or 2450.02 Introduction to Statistical Analysis I
    • Statistics 3301 - Statistical Modeling for Discovery I
    • Statistics 3302 - Statistical Modeling for Discovery II

Specialization: Choose 6 courses (18 hours)

  • COMM 3554 - Social Implications of Communication Technology (TECH)
  • ECON 4130 - World Economic Development in Historical Perspective
  • ECON 4597.01 - Issues in the Underground Economy
  • HISTORY 3706 - Coca-Cola Globalization: The History of American Business
  • INTSTDS/AEDECON 2580 - Feast or Famine: The Global Business of Food
  • INTSTDS/GEOG 3650 - A World Divided? Place, Space, and Regions in World Affairs
  • INTSTDS 3702 - Herding Cyber Cats: Information Security Management
  • INTSTDS 3703 - Ethical Issues in Information Technology (TECH)
  • INTSTDS 3850 - Introduction to Globalization
  • INTSTDS/AEDECON 4320/4320E - Energy, the Environment & the Economy
  • INTSTDS/AEDECON 4532 - Food Security & Globalization
  • INTSTDS/AEDECON 4535 - International Economic Development
  • INTSTDS/ECON/AEDECON 4537 - Middle Eastern Economic Development
  • INTSTDS/AEDECON 4597.01/4597.01H - Food, Population & Environment
  • INTSTDS/ECON 4560 - Cooperation & Conflict in the Global Economy
  • INTSTDS 4701 - The Development & Control of Weapons of Mass Destruction (TECH)
  • INTSTDS 4806 - Intelligence for Diplomacy: Assessing Leadership Style
  • INTSTDS 4850 - Understanding the Global Information Society
  • INTSTDS/PUBAFRS 5700 - Rebuilding Failed & Weak States
  • POLITSC 3290 - Comparative Public Policy
  • POLITSC 3380 - Political Analysis of International Economic Relations
  • SOCIOL 3302 - Technology & Global Society (TECH)
  • SOCIOL 3464 - Work, Employment & Society

Foreign Language Requirement

This major requires completion of a minimum of two years of language study. Coursework completed at OSU or abroad and/or appropriate placement test results can document this.
To fulfill the foreign language requirement students have three options: 

  • Complete two years (4 semesters) of a single language
  • Complete a foreign language minor
  • Complete a second major in a language

For those opting to complete two years in a single language, OSU offers courses in Arabic, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Modern Greek, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Quechua, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, and Uzbek. After completing 1101, 1102, 1103, you must complete one advanced language course at the 2000 level.

Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)
Students must complete at least one course each in Advanced Writing, Data Analysis, and Technology. These courses are part of the major and courses which fulfill the requirements are indicated below. The Stats 2450.01 prerequisite satisfies the EL Data Analysis. 

Required Minor: 
Students must complete one of the following minors, or a second major in the same field:

  • Agribusiness: 4-5 courses (minimum 12 hours)
    • Prerequisite: AEDECON 2001, or Econ 2001.01 or 2001.02
  • Business: 5 courses (15 hours)
    • Prerequisites: Econ 2001.01 or 2001.02, CSE 1110 or higher, Math 1130 or 1148 or math placement in M or L.
  • City and Regional Planning: 4 courses (12 hours)
  • Environmental Science: 5 courses (15 hours)
  • Geographic Information Science: 6 courses (18 hours)
  • Global Public Health: 5 courses (15 hours)
  • Information Security: 6 courses (16 hours)
    • Consult INTSTDS advisor for prerequisites and scheduling
  • International Business: 6 courses (15 hours)
  • Quantitative Economics: 5 courses (15-16 hours)

Required Foundations: 4 courses (12 hours)

  • AEDECON/INTSTDS 4540 - International Commerce & the World Economy
  • ECON/INTSTDS 3400 - The Analysis & Display of Data
  • Economics 4700 - Government & Business
  • ECON/INTSTDS 4560 - Cooperation & Conflict in the Global Economy

Critical Perspectives: Choose 4 courses  (12 hours), must include one EL Technology & one EL Advanced Writing

  • AEDECON/INTSTDS 4320 - Energy, the Environment & the Economy
  • Economics 4508 - Comparative Economic Systems
  • Economics 4600 - International Economic Relations
  • Geography 5401 - Economies, Space and Society
  • History 3705 - History of Capitalism in Comparative & Global Perspectives
  • INTSTDS 3703 - Ethical Issues in the Information Age (EL Technology)
  • INTSTDS 4700 - Terror & Terrorism (EL Advanced Writing)
  • INTSTDS 4701 - Weapons of Mass Destruction (EL Technology)
  • INTSTDS 4850 - Understanding the Global Information Society
  • INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (EL Advanced Writing)
  • Political Science 4280 - State and Economy
  • Political Science 4380 - Political Analysis of International Economic Relations
  • Political Science 4381 - Comparative International Political Economy
  • Political Science 4910 - Business-Government Relations
  • Sociology 3464 - Work, Employment and Society 

Electives: Choose 1 course (3 hours)

For the elective, students can choose from the list below, unused courses from the Critical Perspectives, or a courses from other International Studies specializations.

  • AEDECON/INTSTDS 4534 - -Comparative Challenges to Economic Development
  • AEDECON/INTSTDS 4535 - International Economic Development
  • AEDECON/INTSTDS 4537 - Middle Eastern Economic Development
  • Economics 4130 - World Economic Development in Historical Perspective
  • Economics 4200 - Money & Banking
  • Economics 4300 - Government Finance in the American Economy
  • Economics 4310 - Local Public Finance
  • Economics 4320 - Public Expenditure and Cost Benefit Analysis
  • Economics 4547 - Economics of War
  • Economics 4553 - Economics of Population
  • Economics 4800 - Labor Economics and Industrial Relations
  • Geography 5300 - Geography of Transportation
  • INTSTDS 4195 - Selected Problems in International Studies
  • INTSTDS5191 - Student Internship Program
  • INTSTDS/PUBAFRS 5700 - Rebuilding Failed and Weak States

Foreign Language Requirement

This major requires completion of a minimum of two years of language study. Coursework completed at OSU or abroad and/or appropriate placement test results can document this.
To fulfill the foreign language requirement students have three options: 

  • Complete two years (4 semesters) of a single language
  • Complete a foreign language minor
  • Complete a second major in a language

For those opting to complete two years in a single language, OSU offers courses in Arabic, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Modern Greek, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Quechua, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, and Uzbek. After completing 1101, 1102, 1103, you must complete one advanced language course at the 2000 level. 

Required Minor: 
Students must complete one of the following minors, or a second major in the same field:

  • Agribusiness: 4-5 courses (minimum 12 hours)
    • Prerequisite: AEDECON 2001, or Econ 2001.01 or 2001.02
  • Business: 5 courses (15 hours)
    • Prerequisites: Econ 2001.01 or 2001.02, CSE 1110 or higher, Math 1130 or 1148 or math placement in M or L.
  • City and Regional Planning: 4 courses (12 hours)
  • Environmental Science: 5 courses (15 hours)
  • Geographic Information Science: 6 courses (18 hours)
  • Global Public Health: 5 courses (15 hours)
  • Information Security: 6 courses (16 hours)
    • Consult INTSTDS advisor for prerequisites and scheduling
  • International Business: 6 courses (15 hours)
  • Quantitative Economics: 5 courses (15-16 hours)

Required Foundations: 4 courses (12 hours)

  • AEDECON/INTSTDS 4540 - International Commerce & the World Economy
  • ECON/INTSTDS 3400 - The Analysis & Display of Data
  • Economics 4700 - Government & Business
  • ECON/INTSTDS 4560 - Cooperation & Conflict in the Global Economy

Critical Perspectives: Choose 4 courses (12 hours)

  • AEDECON/INTSTDS 4320 - Energy, the Environment & the Economy
  • Economics 4508 - Comparative Economic Systems
  • Economics 4600 - International Economic Relations
  • Geography 5401 - Economies, Space and Society
  • History 3705 - History of Capitalism in Comparative & Global Perspectives
  • INTSTDS 4850 - Understanding the Global Information Society
  • Political Science 4280 - State and Economy
  • Political Science 4380 - Political Analysis of International Economic Relations
  • Political Science 4381 - Comparative International Political Economy
  • Political Science 4910 - Business-Government Relations
  • Sociology 3464 - Work, Employment and Society

Electives: Choose 1 course (3 hours)

For the elective, students can choose from the list below, unused courses from the Critical Perspectives, or a courses from other International Studies specializations.

  • AEDECON/INTSTDS 4534 - Comparative Challenges to Economic Development
  • AEDECON/INTSTDS 4535 - International Economic Development
  • AEDECON/INTSTDS 4537 - Middle Eastern Economic Development
  • Economics 4130 - World Economic Development in Historical Perspective
  • Economics 4200 - Money & Banking
  • Economics 4300 - Government Finance in the American Economy
  • Economics 4310 - Local Public Finance
  • Economics 4320 - Public Expenditure and Cost Benefit Analysis
  • Economics 4547 - Economics of War
  • Economics 4553 - Economics of Population
  • Economics 4800 - Labor Economics and Industrial Relations
  • Geography 5300 - Geography of Transportation
  • INTSTDS 4195 - Selected Problems in International Studies
  • INTSTDS 5191 - Student Internship Program
  • INTSTDS/PUBAFRS 5700 - Rebuilding Failed and Weak States