Wholesale buyers, foreign regulation specialists, and international economists are just some of the many professionals that drive Vermont’s global business efforts. On an international level, Vermont is best known for its exports of computer and electronic products, which totaled roughly $2.5 billion in FY 2014, according to the U.S. Bureau for Labor Statistics (BLS). Other top exports in the state include processed foods and machinery, which totaled $207 million and $160 million, respectively, in FY 2014.
Vermont’s top trade partner is Canada, which accounted for roughly $1.6 billion of the state’s exports in FY 2014. Vermont-based companies also rely heavily on trade with Asian markets, six of which were among the state’s top ten export destinations in FY 2014. These markets included:
- Hong Kong, $333 million
- China, $275 million
- Malaysia, $197 million
- South Korea, $142 million
- Japan, $111 million
- Taiwan, $93 million
Vermont’s small businesses and large multinational companies with operations in the state all rely on the diverse skills of international business professionals to bolster their short- and long-term economic efforts.
Degree Options for International Business Careers
Collegiate international business programs prepare students for the opportunities of today’s global economy through courses in areas such as management, economics, and international business regulations. With the rapid growth of online education, a number of schools allow students to pursue their degree online, either exclusively or in combination with traditional on-campus coursework.
Bachelor’s Degree Programs in International Business
Bachelor’s degree programs in international business provide the building blocks for a successful career in the field. Graduates of these programs often go on to become import/export coordinators, multinational managers, and international business consultants at some of Vermont’s most reputable companies.
Examples of bachelor’s degrees available to international business majors include, but are not limited to:
- Bachelor of Science (BS) in International Business
- Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business with a Global Management Concentration
- Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with an International Business Focus
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) in International Economics
- Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) in International Business
Course titles within these programs may include:
- Strategic Management for the Multinational Enterprise
- Hazardous Materials Management
- Global Human Resources & Organizational Behavior
- International Management
- International Financial Management
- Business Processes and Supply Chain Management
- Applications of Statistics in Business
- Economics of Development and Growth
- Global Marketing
- China’s Economic Performance and Reforms
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- China in the World Economy
- Emerging Markets
Master’s Degree Programs in International Business
Schools offering master’s degree programs in international business often boast impressive alumni including international management analysts, financial controllers, and supply chain managers, just to name a few. Just some of the master’s degrees offered by today’s programs include:
- Master of Arts (MA) in International Relations and Diplomacy
- Master of Science in International Management (MIM)
- Master of Science (MS) in International Business
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) in International Business
Some of the qualifications that Vermont’s international business schools look for when accepting graduate students include:
- Up to four years of past experience in the business field
- Prior coursework in foreign languages, finance, or microeconomics
- Strong scores on the GRE and GMAT exams
- A 3.0 GPA or higher during undergraduate studies
Master’s degree programs are especially popular among students due to their career-specific options for specialization. By choosing a field of study, students can become experts in specific areas of international business such as:
- Development Economics
- International Trade and Commercial Policies
- International Organizations
- International Monetary Theory and Policy
- International Political Economy
- Public International Law
- International Information and Communication
- Pacific Asia
Vermont Business Professionals Impacting the World Economy
The international initiatives conducted by Vermont businesses depend heavily on the expertise of global business specialists. According to the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, roughly 86% of the Vermont companies that exported goods and services in 2013 had less than 500 employees. As a result, many professionals in the state oversee diverse aspects of international commerce such as ensuring compliance with foreign business regulations to coordinating the export of goods to cross-continental destinations.
In addition to the small- and medium-sized businesses that capitalize on international markets, Vermont is also home to several large corporations with a strong global presence. Examples of the international business professionals that work for Vermont-based companies include:
- In the spring of 2014, Keurig Green Mountain, then named Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, relied on the efforts of its director of social advocacy to explore a new coffee bean market in Burma. The director visited several Burmese farms to teach workers about profitable bean-growing practices with the hope of establishing a future bean distribution deal with the farm’s owners.
- Northern Power Systems is a Vermont-based wind turbine manufacturer and distributor that has international headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. The company employs a vice president of global sales to drive business in foreign markets such as Italy and the United Kingdom.
- Tuttle Publishing, a Vermont-based book publisher with a focus on Asian culture, relies on a public relations specialist to market books in foreign nations. The company also employs a sales and marketing director who actively seeks new export sales accounts.
Vermont’s International Business Resources
Several Vermont state departments, nonprofit organizations, and private businesses in the state offer resources to Vermont businesses that aid in driving international business. These groups include, but are not limited to:
State/Government
- Vermont Department of Economic Development
- Vermont International Food Export Program
- International Trade | Agency of Commerce & Community and Economic Development
Nonprofit