The global business program at USF St. Petersburg is undergoing major reconstruction with ambitions of becoming the “best in the state,” according to business professor Hermant Merchant.
Merchant wants students to understand the importance of international business, which accounts for 20 percent of Florida’s economy. He said South Florida alone has more than 1,200 multinational companies.
“Everyone is globally exposed whether they’re aware of it or not,” Merchant said, explaining that so much as shopping at a local Wal-Mart is an international transaction.
The College of Business is working to create a “holistic program” that produces, “well-trained individuals who can go out and make a difference in the world of international business,” Merchant said.
If all goes as planned, Merchant expects the only job competition facing global business graduates will be from their own classmates. He admits the plan is ambitious but feels the genuine interest coming from faculty and students will make it not only feasible but successful.
The revamped program will be 24 credit hours consisting of core courses, electives and a study abroad trip. While the core courses are all in within the College of Business, elective courses span over multiple disciplines. About 30 elective choices are currently offered and more are coming.
All students will take an overview course that focuses on a different aspect of global business each week, with topics as broad as European culture or specific as expatriate management. This course will help students streamline their course loads to reflect their specific interests.
To enroll in the global business major, one must be admitted to the College of Business; however, the minor is interdisciplinary. The process for minoring in global business has been cumbersome for non-business students thus far but restructuring will simplify the process.
While students can enroll in the program now, its fine-tuning may not be complete until spring 2014 — though Merchant hopes to see it ready by this fall.
There will be a global business information session on Feb. 26 from 12 to 4 p.m. in the University Student Center where College of Business representatives will distribute brochures and answer questions about the program.
Tyler Killette is news editor at the Crow’s Nest. She can be reached at news@crowsneststpete.com.
