Foreign Language and International Business: The MIBS Program after Ten Years

ABSTRACT This paper reviews the progress of the Master in International Business Studies program at the University of South Carolina after ten years. After a brief description of the unique interdisciplinary business‐area studies‐foreign language curriculum of MIBS, the paper focuses on the role that foreign language components play in the professional development of MIBS students and graduates. Based on a survey of 271 program graduates (60% of the alumni), it is shown that approximately 93% of graduates take positions with firms involved in international business. Some 75% find that their initial position has international responsibilities. Some 70.1% of the respondents rated their foreign language ability as very important or important in obtaining their initial position, and 61.6% rated language skills as very important or important in performing their duties.