Graduate Certificate in International Business (CIB)

The Graduate Certificate in International Business is designed for business people as well as for those who simply want to earn a certificate without pursuing a full-time academic degree program. The Certificate in International Business provides these working professionals with the opportunity to upgrade their skills, retool, and keep pace with the rapid changes in the field of international business. The program requires 18 credit hours for completion.

Admissions requirements

• Bachelors degree in Business  Administration or related area (e.g. Finance, Marketing, International Business) with an undergraduate upper division  GPA of 2.75 or higher.
• At least 4 years of work experience.
• If applicant is an international student whose native language is not English, he or she must have achieved a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based TOEFL, 213 on the computer-based TOEFL, or 80 on the internet-based TOEFL. Applicants may also submit the IELTS exam (minimum required score is 6.5).

After completing 12 hours in the program, if the certificate’s GPA is 3.25 or higher, the student is eligible to apply to the Master of International Business (MIB) Program, provided that he/she has completed the necessary graduate application (including the new $30 application fee) and submitted all required materials.  If a student does not meet the 3.25 GPA in the first 12 credits, he/she cannot be considered for admission to the Master of International Business (MIB) Program.  The student will then complete an additional 6 credits in the Certificate Program and will be awarded the Graduate Certificate in International Business, upon meeting a minimum overall GPA of 3.0.

Application Deadlines for Certificate Program

Curriculum
                                                           
The Graduate Certificate in International Business requires eighteen credit hours for completion.  Students will be required to take part in a three-credit seminar course, in addition to five three-credit hour courses from the Master of International Business (MIB) program’s list of required core courses.

Seminar Course (3 credit hours)
Introduction to International Business (must be taken at the beginning of the program)

Core Courses (3 credit hours each-- choose 5)
The International Business Environment (pre-requisite to International Business Policy)
nternational Management
International Accounting
Global Financial Strategies
Managing Global Production Technology
International Marketing
International Business Policy (recommended to be taken during final semester)
International Business Law
International Human Resource Management

Students who are eligible to transfer to the Master in International Business program (see above) would do so with no loss of credits. Potential eligible students would have to apply for the MIB Program within the first twelve credit hours of coursework in the certificate program.

Application Process and Requirements

For all applicants

▪ Complete the online application for admission (www.fiu.edu/ugs). Scroll down, under “Quick Links” click “Apply online”.

• To begin the online application you will need to click on the icon that says “Create Account” in the User Login section.  After you create the PIN, you will use the PIN to enter the system and complete the online application.
• You may complete the online application and submit it, even without having taken the TOEFL exam (if this is applicable to you).  We prefer that you mail supporting materials (essay, resume, letters of recommendation, etc…) to us rather than uploading them onto the online application. 

▪ Pay a $30 application fee.  Most major credit cards are accepted.  Checks or money orders are also accepted and should be made payable to Florida International University.

▪ Send official transcripts from all previously attended universities, in a sealed envelope

• A four year Bachelors Degree from an accredited institution as well as a minimum upper division grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 or higher is required.
• The original transcripts must be submitted in an envelope sealed by the degree-granting institution.
• Students whose official transcripts are not in English will be required to submit translated transcripts.  If this applies to you please ask your university to provide two original transcripts.  The first set of transcripts must remain in the sealed envelope.  The second set of transcripts should be sent to an official translation company for translation.
• Official proof of degree: a notarized copy of the original diploma is required if the degree is not posted on the official transcripts.  Official translation also required if not in English.

▪ If you earned your Bachelor Degree in a country whose official language is not English, you must demonstrate English proficiency by taking either the TOEFL or IELTS.  Minimum scores for the TOEFL are:  550 paper-based, 213 computer-based and 80 internet-based.  Minimum score for the IELTS is 6.5.  When requesting the official scores, please refer to the Florida International University Institution code 5206.  

▪ Submit a current resume of professional experience. A minimum of four years of experience is required for Certificate in International Business candidates.

▪ Submit a statement of purpose: A one-page essay describing your professional goals and reasons for pursuing this certificate at FIU. Please mention in your statement if your intention is to apply to the Master of International Business under the condition of meeting a minimum 3.25 GPA or higher in the first 12 credits under the certificate and are in good standing with the program.

For international students

International students applying for the F-1 student visa will be required to submit financial documentation.  Financial documents may be submitted during the application process, however, these must be recent (6 months or less from the program start date). Therefore, make sure when sending these that the dates on these documents are valid for the term you are applying for.

▪ Request a letter from your bank or the bank of your sponsor (a parent, for example) stating that you or your sponsor have sufficient funds of at least at least $28,514 for tuition and living expenses.  If intending to later pursue the Master of International Business, recommended amount to reflect is $48,696.  The types of accounts from which these bank letters are accepted are:  savings, checking or money market accounts.

▪ If the bank account and aforementioned letter are in the name of a sponsor, the sponsor will need to submit a signed sponsor letter stating that he or she will fund your education and expenses while you are enrolled in the program.  Click here to see a sample sponsor letter.

▪ Submit a completed and signed Declaration of Finances (DCF) form.  Please note that the minimum amount in the DCF must be at least $28,514 for the academic year 2009-2010.

Mailing Address:

Submit all materials to

Certificate in International Business
Chapman Graduate School of Business
Florida International University
11200 SW 8th Street CBC 200
Miami, FL  33199-0001

Fee

For the academic year 2009-2010 (Fall 2009, Spring 2010, and Summer 2010), the cost of tuition for a Florida resident is approximately $13,632; $15,432 for non-Florida residents and international students. These figures are for the number of credits in the certificate program only.

All fees are subject to change.

More information

For more information about the Graduate Certificate in International Business, please contact:

Certificate in International Business  
Chapman Graduate School of Business
Florida International University
11200 SW 8th Street CBC 200
Miami, FL  33199-0001

E-mail: mib@fiu.edu
Phone: (305) 348-3279
Fax: (305) 348-3497