Belmont Abbey College

The central component of the International Business Studies Program (IBSP) is a major in International Business. This major will be awarded through a Bachelor of Science degree consisting of 129 hours. The major also includes 30 hours of the following Business core requirements.

• Accounting: AC 211, AC 212

• Business: BU 300, BU 306, BU 309, BU 310, BU 315, BU 406

• Economics: EC 201, EC 202

In addition, the International Business component of the BS degree is comprised of 42 hours to include 18 hours of international business courses, 12 hours of foreign language, 6 hours from the courses outside of the business area as determined appropriate by the faculty of the division responsible for the International Business Major, and 6 hours of “Study Abroad.”

“International Business faculty are also involved with the college’s Centre for Global Commerce.”

Standards for Admission to the Program: Formal application to Major; overall 2.6 GPA; minimum of “C” in AC 211, AC 212, EC 201, EC 202, and BU315; and presentation of United States Passport in first semester of junior year.

Standards for Graduation: A “B” average in 18 hours of International Business coursework and overall 2.6 GPA are required.

Requirements for Minor in International Business: IB 310, IB 315, IB 420 and any other two IB courses.

Courses Offered

IB 310 International Business
IB 315 Fundamentals of International Sales and Logistics Issues
IB 317 International Marketing
IB 318 International Management
IB 330 International Commercial Agreements
IB 420 International Business Law
IB 430 International Transportation
IB 440 International Trade Theory
IB 450 International Accounting
IB 460 International Finance
IB 461 International Investments
IB 470 Study Abroad
IB 475 Study Abroad Foreign Language Component
IB 490 International Commercial Operations

Dr. James Giermanski, B.A. Belmont Abbey College, M.Ed. University of North Carolina-Charlotte, M.I.B. Florida International University, and Doctor of Arts, University of Miami

A former Regents Professor at Texas A&M International University, Dr. Jim Giermanski is now Professor and Director of International Business Studies at Belmont Abbey College. He is a member of the International Practice Analysis Committee of the NASBITE Task Force developing a national International Trade Specialist Certificate, through the Professional Examination Service (PES) and Bradley University. He also served as Director of Transportation and Logistics Studies, Center for the Study of Western Hemispheric Trade, Texas A&M International University. Dr. Giermanski consults often on international transportation, border logistics, and trade matters involving Mexico. He has frequently been invited to testify before the U.S. Senate and House, the Texas Senate and House, the EPA, and the U.S. International Trade Commission. He served as the co-chairman of the Texas Transportation Committee of the Task Force to prepare for NAFTA, sat for 5 years on the Texas Office of the Attorney General’s Transborder Trucking International Working Group, and for three years as a member of the Research Advisory Committee on Management and Policy, Technical Advisory Panel, Texas Department of Transportation. He recently assisted the Arizona Department of Transportation in improving border crossing activities in the Port of Nogales.

He has authored over 85 articles, books, and monographs. He has been published extensively on transportation and trade issues and for five years wrote the International Insight column in Logistics Management. In addition to his scholarly writing, he has been published inthe Journal of Commerce, El Financiero, Traffic World, Strategic Finance, Transport Topics and most recently, Tax Notes International. He has been interviewed by or quoted in over 40 national and international publications such as the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Forbes, the Financial Times, Christian Science Monitor, and has appeared nationally on the FOX News Channel, CNN, NBC, CBS, NPR, BBC, Voice of America and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in addition to many local and regional affiliates.

David M. Neipert, Esq., Associate Professor of International Trade and Law, B.A. Texas A&M, Marketing,  JD South Texas College of Law, MBA International Trade, Texas A&M International University

A Fulbright Scholar and currently on the roster of Fulbright Senior Specialists, David is a former faculty member at the University of Texas Pan American. He is the author of numerous publications, including 2 textbooks. Having traveled extensively to Europe and the former Soviet Republics, David often takes his students abroad and views this as an essential part of their education. He has taught at universities in 7 countries and is a member of a national committee to develop a certification examination for trade professionals. David is a proud member of the Polar Bear Club of Finland and has a pilot’s license. David received the "Outstanding Faculty" award from the University of Texas Pan American for 2003.  He is currently preparing the BAC annual IB conference for spring 2004, "Evaluating Business Opportunities in the New Europe and China".

Dr. William Van Lear, Full Professor of Economics, B.A. Economics, Gettysburg College, Ph.D. in Economics, University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Van Lear has taught at Belmont Abbey College for 18 years and is a highly valued member of the faculty, earning the BAC Teaching Excellence award. Bill is very active at the college having served as Faculty Chair for 3 years, a Freshman advisor, and supervising senior honor theses and tutorials.  He has developed and conducted seminars, and developed the Economics Major for the Adult Degree Program. Bill is very active in the Belmont community as well, sitting on the board of several public and private entities. He has published numerous articles and a textbook.