Globally Focused Curriculum & Programs

At the Sawyer Business School, we equip our students with vital global skills and competencies essential for success in today's interconnected world.

Four Suffolk students with their backs to the camera, three standing and one sitting on the ground, looking at steeps hills surrounding a valley.

Whether you’re majoring in Accounting or earning a master’s in Marketing, global business is seamlessly integrated into your curriculum, fostering a multicultural mindset and global awareness.

You’ll discover how globalization is driving change and affecting today’s business practices, while considering cultural and social differences. With a diverse community of classmates and faculty from around the world, we can give you the opportunity to develop cross-cultural communication skills and the ability to thrive in a global marketplace.

Global Curriculum

In addition to regular classes, you can acquire global skills through a range of academic offerings and more including:

Faculty-led global travel seminar courses to many countries for both our undergraduate and graduate students.

Undergraduate

  • Costa Rica - Uncover the secrets of sustainable development in this eco-conscious haven, where nature and progress find harmony through thoughtful policies and initiatives
  • Italy - Witness the fusion of centuries-old traditions and cutting-edge design and technology within Italian family businesses, understanding how they manage to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving world
  • Rwanda - Explore the intricate economic strategies of this rapidly developing country in east-central Africa, while focusing on the theme of water management—a multidisciplinary topic that intertwines economic, policy, cultural, and environmental concerns

Graduate

  • Barbados - Discover the intricacies of public administration in this small yet prominent island nation, where governance practices play a pivotal role in shaping the society
  • Brazil - Immerse yourself in the realms of social innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship in the Global South, exploring how these elements contribute to the country's growth and development
  • The United Kingdom - Enroll in a program dedicated to healthcare administration and health policy, exploring how the UK's well-established healthcare system adapts to modern challenges
  • Singapore - Embark on an in-depth exploration of Southeast Asia's flourishing economic hub, uncovering the secrets behind Singapore's remarkable success and its positioning on the global stage
  • Switzerland - Collaborate with the esteemed School of Management Fribourg to learn about Switzerland's long history of technological innovation, entrepreneurship, and international business acumen
  • Vietnam - Observe firsthand the transformation of Vietnam into a major global manufacturing powerhouse, witnessing the rapid economic growth and industrial advancements shaping the nation's future

Suffolk University partners with institutions around the world to offer students unforgettable study abroad experiences—learn more about our study abroad offerings.

Mixed-team projects promote cross-cultural understanding through course projects, particularly in courses that have a global focus. These projects offer an excellent platform for students to connect with individuals from various countries and expand their social networks.

  • Professor Jane Zhu introduced mixed-team projects in her graduate and honor courses, starting with Suffolk partner schools in China in her Global Marketing Consulting course. She later implemented them in the graduate-level Global Product Innovation course
  • Professor Bari Bendell implemented mixed teams in collaboration with our international university partner in Switzerland, the School of Management Fribourg (HEG-FR)
  • The X Culture project, which runs approximately four weeks, provided Suffolk MBA students with the unique opportunity to collaborate with students from other schools as team members on several client projects. In one particular class, Suffolk students formed teams alongside members from universities in Brazil, Europe, and China

Make connections and build your skills around the world by taking part in an internship internationally. In the past, some of our students have interned in:

  • Taiwan
  • China
  • Japan
  • Canada
  • India

Past projects with a global focus by Suffolk students have included:

  • Perceptions and Drivers of Marijuana Consumption: A Cross-Cultural Analysis
    This project used in-depth qualitative interviews to explore the social, cultural, and religious factors that motivate and regulate marijuana consumption across three countries: America, India, and El Salvador. The legal, market, and cultural contexts of each country are quite distinct, resulting in different consumption attitudes, motivations, and practices
  • Media Innovation in Asian Market
    This study provides a comprehensive framework that examines the drivers of influencer marketing strategy, including influencer characteristics, social media platform characteristics, content characteristics, product categories, information sources, online shopping events, and live-stream characteristics. This study advances prior research by examining how Chinese influencers can affect consumers’ behavior at different stages of the consumer journey

Immersive Global Experience

You can extend your global education beyond the classroom by enrolling in one of our faculty-lead travel seminars, during which you’ll explore different countries, work alongside multinational executives, immerse yourself in new cultures, and build your network.

You can also spend time studying abroad in various countries, such as Sophia University in Tokyo, Yonsei University in Seoul, Universidad del Desarrollo in Santiago, Chile Paris School of Business LUISS in Rome, Italy, and many more.

Tina Scott, MBA Class of 2023 “I was fortunate enough to go to Brazil with 15 classmates. I am a first-generation college student and the first in my immediate family to have my passport stamped.
Reflecting on the trip brings a flood of feeling; I feel open, refreshed, and challenged.”

Tina Scott
MBA Class of 2023
Brazil Travel Seminar

Undergraduate Student Diversity 

As an undergraduate student, you can earn a double major in Global Business. Combine your major with any functional area of business, including accountingfinancemarketinginformation systemsmanagement, and Global Marketing. We also offer a minor in International Business for students in the Sawyer Business School and the College of Arts & Sciences.

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43%

Domestic students of color

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73

Countries represented in our student body

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21%

International students in fall 2023

Graduate Student Diversity

For graduate students, the Suffolk MBA provides a globally focused curriculum and immersive training experiences. You’ll explore the economic, political, and cultural contexts that affect global businesses. There is also a Global Strategy & Leadership Certificate.

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31%

Domestic students of color

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51

Countries represented in our student body

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31%

International students in fall 2023

Success after Suffolk

Headshot of Suffolk alumni

Rutu Trivedi

Head of Global Market Insights & Analytics

Headshot of Suffolk alumni

Patrick Coehlho

Senior Vice President for Development at Papa Johns International

Headshot of Suffolk alumni

Manasa Mantha

Head of Culture and Engagement for Sanofi’s CHC Global Business Services

Highlights from Travel Seminar Trips