The IB&M major was designed around the expectation that all of our majors would spend a year abroad. As a result, we developed the coursework so that it is easily accomplished by a student wishing to spend a year abroad as long as a few guidelines are followed. Students not following these guidelines may still be able to complete the major but may be required to spend less than a year abroad.

The guidelines below are written for the entering student who knows that he or she wants to major in IB&M. Rather than tell you specific courses that you "must" have in a given semester, the following are general guidelines regarding courses that we suggest you take during each year. You should think of these guidelines as giving you a fast-track into the major - this provides maximum flexibility in your junior and senior year. The fast-track approach also provides significant opportunity to pursue a minor, certificate or second major.

You may still major in IB&M even if you do not start down this road early in your career. This can be accomplished while still studying abroad for a full year if you choose to take some of your core economics and IB&M courses in your senior year, especially if you have completed at least economics 111 during your freshman year. However, if you only study abroad for a semester, or if you choose to remain on campus during your junior year, this provides you added time to complete the core economics and IB&M classes. This is especially useful for students who do not decide to pursue an IB&M major until their sophomore year.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact an IB&M faculty member for clarification.

FRESHMAN YEAR

Language:

· If beginning a new language, start in the first semester at Dickinson if at all possible.

· If continuing in a language, it is probably best to continue in the first semester so that your ability with the language does not decline appreciably due to lack of use.

Eight Core Economics and IB&M classes (Economics 111, 112, IB&M 100, 200 210, 220, 230, and 240):

· To make the most of your abroad experience, we recommend you complete the above 8 classes prior to going abroad. You should therefore plan to take an average of two of these courses per semester during your first two years at Dickinson if you begin in the fall of your freshman year.

· During the freshman year you should complete Economics 111 (Microeconomics) and IB&M 100 (Fundamentals of Business). It is not necessary to do this during your first semester here. We hope you also complete at least one of the following two courses during your freshman year: Economics 112 (Macroeconomics) and IB&M 210 (Financial Accounting).

· Economics 112 has Economics 111 as a prerequisite.

SOPHOMORE YEAR

Language:

· Continue language classes in order to satisfy the requirements of the specific overseas program you are interested in pursuing.

Eight Core Economics and IB&M classes:

We recommend the remaining core economics and IB&M classes be completed during the sophomore year to facilitate your year study abroad. The following guidelines should prove useful.

· IB&M 220 (Managerial Economics) has Economics 111 as a prerequisite.

· IB&M 200 (Global Economy) has Economics 111 and 112 as prerequisites.

· Both IB&M 200 and IB&M 220 have a strong economic content. As a result, you may wish to take these two courses in different semesters. Given the prerequisites for each course, it may make sense to take IB&M 220 first, although IB&M 220 is not a prerequisite for IB&M 200.

JUNIOR YEAR

We strongly encourage all students to spend a year abroad in order to obtain the greatest benefit from their experience. It is easy to continue working on the IB&M major during this year. Since this may occur literally anywhere in the world, you will need to discuss your plans with your major advisor prior to going abroad (you will have chosen your IB&M advisor prior to going abroad). Your advisor will be able to advise you regarding how the specific courses available at your location fit into the IB&M curriculum. The following guidelines are typical of what is accomplished in the year abroad:

· The language requirements for the major are completed in the foreign location, if they have not already been completed at Dickinson. Many students studying abroad continue taking language courses during this year and go on to complete majors or minors in that language in addition to their IB&M major.

· Students typically complete the Country/Area Courses (one course in culture of the region and one course in economics, politics, or history of region) during this year.

· We encourage students to pursue internships during this time. This provides you the perfect opportunity to see how business is done in another culture.

· Depending on location and course availability, you may be able to take courses that count towards your IB&M 300 electives. You MUST obtain approval from your IB&M advisor prior to taking such courses in order to have them count as IB&M 300 courses. (This is easily accomplished via e-mail from your distant location.)

· IB&M majors studying in Bologna should note that you may not receive credit for one of the courses taught there, Economics 248 (World Economy), because it largely duplicates the material presented in IB&M 200.

We believe that the optimal experience is a year abroad because it provides sufficient time to completely immerse yourself in the other culture. If you choose to spend less than a year abroad, you will not be able to accomplish as much in a semester, but you will typically still finish your language study and the country/area study discussed in A and B above. We have also had students undertake internships in their first semester abroad, but this is the exception rather than the rule.

SENIOR YEAR

Seniors typically take 300 level IB&M classes during their senior year. Two are required for graduation, but, as noted above, this may have been partially accomplished during the junior year. Seniors also take IB&M 400 (Senior Seminar) during this year.