Global learning

With more than a third of our MBA students being of international origin from 34 represented countries, everyone plays a role in the intentionally created student environment. This framework is crucial in preparing the entire MBA class to master global business by blending voices and viewpoints as you learn collaboratively.

Our faculty are world-renowned for their research and experience, giving you direct ties to networks of knowledge that span the entire globe. Faculty come from across the globe and teach hundreds of courses within the college.

Gain knowledge and experience at the Johnson School

Courses

Our course offerings include business courses that are specifically internationally-focused, bringing a holistic viewpoint into every student’s experience here.

Some examples include:

International Finance Cases
Geoeconomics: Where Macroeconomics and International Finance Meet Geopolitics
Leaders in Emerging Markets
International Finance
Risk Management in Emerging Markets
Experience in International Management
Johnson Experiential Leadership Expedition
Global Business Strategy
Business Chinese in Global Context 1 & 2
Leaders in Sustainable Global Enterprise
Current Global Issues for Business: China, India, Latin America, Europe and beyond
Finance and Sustainable Global Enterprise Colloquium

We incorporate significant international content in other courses through the addition of cases, guest speakers and student presentations.

Clubs & groups

The Johnson School’s club structure encourages the bonds that create important networks both with current members and alums. Among our 56 Johnson School clubs, these focus on international interests:

In recognition that shared celebrations can bring us all together, we gather for some large cultural events each year, including Diwali, Lunar New Year and Carnaval. Participating in these important traditions in the lives of our students as a community is part of what makes the world feel more approachable to us all.

Centers & institutes

Cañizares Center for Emerging Markets

The center’s mission is “to be the premier center for emerging markets worldwide, to affirm the importance of emerging markets in the global economy and to equip leaders with the purpose, insights and tools to thrive in emerging markets.”

Center for Sustainable Global Enterprise

With more than 20 years’ experience, the center works with faculty who are at the forefront of research, teaching and engagement related to helping businesses address these problems. We provide students distinctive experiential learning opportunities and collaborate with organizations to help to tackle the grand challenges of our time, such as climate change, ecosystem degradation and poverty.

International trip courses

Credit-bearing international study courses occur during the winter and spring breaks. Trip locations may change depending on the year and fall into two categories:

Experience in international management

A faculty member leads a group of students on a trip to a foreign country.

Recent locations include:

Spain/Morocco
Italy
Ghana
Norway
Japan/Korea.

There, students may visit local businesses, subsidiaries of foreign multinationals, government officials and local business school students while learning about the culture and customs of the area. In some cases, students will do pro bono consulting projects for small and medium-sized companies.

Johnson experiential leadership expedition

Traveling as a group to a challenging and dynamic environment such as Patagonia, students test and enhance their leadership skills in an immersive experience that stretches and grows students’ understanding of themselves as leaders, followers and decision makers.

International exchange program: Study abroad

Second-year MBA students, chosen through a formal selection process, exchange places for one semester with students selected by established partner institutions. For the semester of study abroad, Johnson School students receive one semester of residency, retaining registration at and paying tuition to the Johnson School. Financial aid awards apply as normal, and credit hours earned abroad count toward MBA requirements.

An information session is held early in the Spring semester for first-year students planning to participate in the academic international exchange program. The application process takes place during the first half of the spring semester, with final selection of participants and placement in partner schools shortly after Spring Break. Students then spend either the fall or spring semester of their second year abroad.

Johnson is a member of the Partnership in International Management, a consortium of leading international business schools, founded in 1973. Each member institution represents the highest degree of excellence in the fields of business administration and management, demonstrates leadership in their geographic region and delivers an MBA or a graduate-equivalent degree in management.

Our current exchange partner institutions are:

Students celebrate the Festival of Lights at Johnson Diwali, Sage Hall, 11/15/25

Opportunities within the broader context of Cornell

Numerous course offerings

Cornell offers more than 4,000 courses of study in nearly 100 academic departments. MBA candidates may take up to a quarter of their coursework elsewhere in the university.

Among the opportunities of special interest for students of international business are those found in these areas of study elsewhere on campus:

Language resource center

More than 50 languages are taught at Cornell — from Akkadian and Arabic through Vietnamese and Welsh. Supporting these, the Language Resource Center has an extensive media library of audio and video files.

A weekly Language Resource Center podcast, Speaking of Language, features discussions about language learning and pedagogy.

Conversation Hours are offered across many different languages on a weekly basis. This allows students to either learn or practice a new language or connect with others in their native language.

English Language Support Office (ELSO)

ELSO has trained graduate peer tutors who help with writing, presentations and pronunciation to graduate students, professional students and post-docs from all language backgrounds. This support helps prepare international students for English-speaking business communication.

Student clubs

The International Students Association “aims to promote international awareness in the Cornell community through international events, funding for cultural organizations, and advocacy projects.” — from the ISA webpage.

Cornell-wide graduate-level international clubs include:

Events

Cornell University’s huge list of events includes many opportunities to learn about and mix with other cultures through music, dance, meals, art exhibitions, lectures and other special events.

For events specifically focused on international topics, see the Calendar of International Events at the Einaudi Center website.
Cornell Cinema, widely regarded as one of the best university cinema programs in the U.S., sponsors more than 400 films each year, including many foreign films.
For live theater and dance, see the Schwartz Center calendar.
Cornell’s Music Department sponsors both student performances and concerts by renowned artists.
Teatro Taller sponsors Latin American theatrical events.
The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art is located on campus. Its extensive permanent collections include Asian Art, a European Collection, an African, Pre-Columbian and Oceanic Collection. In addition, the museum sponsors special exhibitions each year, always including one or more that reflect the art of cultures outside North America.

For a comprehensive list of campus-wide events, see the Cornell Events Calendar.