BWISE Graduation Requirement Overview

The BWISE (pronounced “Be Wise.”) outside-the-classroom graduation requirement provides students in the School of Business Administration (SBA) with the necessary skills for success upon graduation. All students are required to complete two of three learning components that are critical for developing future business professionals who are contributing citizens in their global communities:

• International - By completing an education abroad program, international internship or internationally-focused coursework, you'll understand the global nature of business. 
• Service to the Community - Our Catholic and Marianist heritage is infused throughout our curriculum. As future business professionals, we must be civically engaged and solve problems in our community.
• Experiential Learning - Through an internship, co-op, or other experiential activity, you'll hone your real-world business skills.

International Experience or Competencies

In today’s diverse, global economy, it is important for you to be comfortable and competent in communicating with others who may be different than you and to understand that your worldview may be different than others’ worldview. As we learn about these differences, we also learn to appreciate them.

While developing international competencies is a journey for a lifetime, we expect you to make progress on this journey while you are an SBA student. Not only will it set you apart right after graduation, but it will also develop you as a person.

You may complete this requirement by learning intercultural competence and knowledge through experience or coursework: 

International Experience

Complete one BWISE-approved international experience sponsored by UD where you immerse yourself in at least 30 hours of interactions and contact with a population of individuals whose culture is different than yours:

• Study abroad or away for a semester
• Winter or summer faculty-led programs abroad or away
• International internships
• Integrated learning programs
• Ethos program immersions
• Breakout trips

Make sure you carefully review the details of any experience in advance to ensure it has 30 or more contact hours. Qualifying international experiences must be pre-approved by the SBA. More information on upcoming opportunities, including scholarship opportunities, are available from the UD Global and Intercultural Affairs Center here.

International Coursework

Complete two approved courses that focus on intercultural competencies from this list
ANT 352	Cultures of Latin America
ANT 360	Making of Modern South Asia
CMM 316	Intercultural Communication
ECO 461	International Economics
FIN 450	International Business Finance
GLC 315	Arabic Culture in the Middle East and North Africa
GLC 345	Chinese Civilization and Culture
HSS 354	Global Sport, Culture, & Business
HST 357	Modern Latin America
INB 302	Survey of International Business
INB 350	Doing Business in Emerging Markets
INB 352	Doing Business in Asia
INB 353	Doing Business in Europe
INB 357	Export Management
INB 497	International Internship
MGT 403	Cross-Cultural Management
MKT 440	Global Marketing
POL 391	The Politics of International Economic Relations
Language courses at any level

Service to the Community

Serving your community is a fundamental component of your education as a future business professional. Not only does service advance your community, but it also provides you with opportunities to learn about your community, create new networks, and develop your philanthropic interests. In other words, community service has a long-term, positive impact. Before graduation, you will complete community service for two of your Career Flight Plan courses:

• BIZ 202 – Career Flight Takeoff
• BIZ 301 – Successfully Navigating Your Career Flight Plan

Qualifying community service must be pre-approved by your course faculty, completed during the timeframe established in the course syllabus, performed at a not-for-profit (501(c)(3)), or as a service to a school or other community-based organization in the Dayton region, and discussed in a post-service reflection assignment. The organization must also confirm the hours you completed and verify that you followed appropriate community standards during your service. If you do not complete service in these courses or do not take these courses at UD, you can submit evidence of 10 hours of service to the School of Business Administration for consideration. 

Experiential Learning

Following graduation, the majority of our students begin full-time positions in their preferred field while some of our students enter graduate school. Prior to graduation, students can complete hands-on Experiential Learning through internships, independent research, or other opportunities that will prepare them for their post-graduation plans.

Internships

Internships can benefit business students, including career knowledge, professional development, critical thinking skills, network expansion, potential job offers, and more! To receive these benefits, all SBA undergraduate students must complete at least one internship before graduation. An internship is not simply a job. In the SBA, we define an internship consistent with the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE):

An internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional workplace setting (across in-person, remote, or hybrid modalities).  

Internships are generally paid experiences that last for a defined period and have clear responsibilities. Interns also have supervisors with professional experience and knowledge who provide feedback to help with professional growth. Internships can be performed during the academic year (often called a “co-op”) or during the summer. They can also be completed at for-profit organizations, not-for-profit organizations, and family firms. The most critical qualities of internships are your responsibilities and developmental feedback by your supervisor

A qualifying internship is pre-approved by the SBA, is over 120 hours, is performed within a six-month period, includes a post-internship evaluation by your employer, and requires you to complete a post-internship reflection.

Independent Research

We follow the Council on Undergraduate Research’s definition of undergraduate research:

A mentored investigation or creative inquiry conducted by undergraduates that seeks to make a scholarly or artistic contribution to knowledge. 

The following opportunities meet BWISE requirements for independent research:

• Honors theses
• Berry Summer Thesis Institute
• 3-hour independent study course and project that meets the above definition

A qualifying independent research project is pre-approved by the SBA, receives at least a C- or satisfactory grade (when graded), and requires you to complete a post-research reflection and present at the University’s annual Stander Symposium.

Other Experiential Learning Opportunities

The SBA has many signature experiential learning opportunities that also provide hands-on activities. Examples of these activities include:

• Stitt Scholars (EXP 315 and EXP 316)
• Manager or higher position in Flyer Enterprises
• Position in Davis Center for Portfolio Management
• Position in Hanley Center for ESG Investing
• Position in the Talarico Center for Professional Selling
• Position in Flyer Consulting
• Position in Flyer Angels
• Independent consulting assignment for an external client, sponsored by the Center for Project Excellence. 

Qualifying signature experiential learning activities must be pre-approved by the SBA, include over 80 hours of hands-on learning, include a post-experience evaluation by a faculty or staff member, and require a post-experience reflection by the student. 

Considerations for Transfer and Articulation Agreement Students

The SBA welcomes transfer students and students who complete joint-articulation pathways with partners such as Sinclair Community College. We understand these students have limited time at UD, and we will consider awarding BWISE credit for qualifying experiences performed after high school graduation and before matriculating to UD. Each experience must be approved by the SBA and held to similar standards as outlined above.