The International Trade Minor (INTF) is interdisciplinary and hands-on, with a educational path leading to careers as Diplomats, Trade Negotiators, Global Supply Analysts, Law Advocacy, International Economists, Government Relations, and more.
WHAT: 9 credit hours of a core trade curriculum paired with an additional 7-9 credit hours of wide-ranging electives that allow you to tie your trade knowledge to your major. (16-18 total credit hours)
WHO IS ELIGIBLE: You are! This minor is open to all UNL students.
WHAT does the international trade minor do for you?
1. Develop a stronger understanding of international competition in various markets and costs and benefits of trading goods and services.
2. Master the role of diplomacy and international relations in trade and its connection to national security, peace, and stability.
3. Understand the role of international institutions in trade policy making.
How the International Trade Minor Helped Ethan Zen
Senior Economics and Finance major from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
"With my major in economics and finance, I pursued the INTF minor to foster a deeper understanding of trade policy, which became especially relevant in 2025, to paint a clearer picture of global economies. What I learnt from the INTF minor is applicable in any part of the world, and it has provided me with the skillset to be a competitive applicant both domestically and internationally.
Professor Jill O'Donnell, who is the INTF minor advisor, has gone above and beyond on countless occasions to make my investment into the minor worthwhile. In my experience, actively engaging with the program alongside Jill's guidance has opened many doors. Most notably, international trade has granted me the opportunity to conduct field research in Ghana and an internship experience in Washington DC.
The INTF minor barely had an impact on my course load, and I completed it at a pace of 1-3 additional credits per semester. It tied in seamlessly with my economics major, offering an engaging way to learn macro and microeconomic concepts without complex math equations. Also, a significant portion of the INTF minor focuses on understanding how current global systems developed historically. This knowledge improved my news literacy, which directly benefited my performance in finance classes."
Students Praise Yeutter International Trade Minor
IANR Media | written by Geitner Simmons
“It’s eye-opening,” Victoria Diersen said of the important discovery she’s made thanks to the Clayton Yeutter Institute of International Trade and Finance. The discovery? Once you begin to study international trade, you find it requires an understanding not only of economics, but additional disciplines — law, business, agriculture, science, geography, policymaking and politics.
“It’s incredibly welcoming to students from every different kind of background,” said Zane Mrozla-Mindrup.
“I like how encapsulating it is,” Kyoko Wall said, in encompassing such a broad range of academic disciplines. “The minor does a really good job of letting you discover all those other paths.”
Read Now →
How the International Trade Minor Prepared Zanib Al Razaq
Senior Economics and Spanish Major from Lincoln, NE
"I chose the INTF minor because it was a strong complement to my economics major and pushed me into an area I hadn’t previously explored. It combined my interest in international work, culture, and languages with economics and development. Being a Yeutter Student Fellow also allowed me to deepen my learning beyond the classroom. I intentionally planned my post-undergraduate career with international trade in mind and knew the minor would help set me apart in my job search.
The minor strengthened my interest in international economic development and helped me realize that this career path was attainable. It led me to intern at the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute and explore other nonprofits and think tanks focused on trade. Through the Yeutter Institute, I also built meaningful professional connections. The coursework gave me the tools to understand real-world trade issues and confidently converse with professionals in the field.
The international trade minor is accessible and complements virtually any major because trade intersects with nearly every field. For me, it aligned especially well with my majors in economics and Spanish because language skills and cultural competency are essential in trade-related careers. There was significant overlap with my economics coursework, and the minor opens doors to many careers like foreign service, diplomacy, research, and policy work."
International Trade Minor Course Guide
Course Code and Name | Minor # of Credit Hours |
Core Course List | 9 |
| INTF 320, International Trade Policy & Politics | 3 |
| Complete 6 hours from the following courses: | |
| ECON 321, Introduction to International Economics | 3 |
| ECON 421, International Trade | 3 |
| AECN 420, International Food and Agricultural Trade | 3 |
| AECN 220, International Agricultural Trade | 3 |
Elective Course List | 7-9 |
| Complete 7-9 hours from the following electives: | |
| INTF 391, Special Topics in International Trade | 1-3 |
| INTF 395, Internship in International Trade | 3 |
| SCMA 439, Global Sourcing and Distribution | 3 |
| ECON 422, International Finance | 3 |
| ECON 423, Economics of Less Developed Countries | 3 |
| AECN 346, World Food Economics | 3 |
| AECN 367, Agricultural Development in Low Income Countries | 3 |
| AECN 425, Agricultural Marketing in a Multinational Environment | 3 |
| ANTH/GLST 474, Development in Theory and Practice | 3 |
| Interested in a regional focus? Substitute one elective with a course below! | |
| POLS 277, Latin American Politics | 3 |
| POLS 375, Conflict and Development in Africa | 3 |
| HIST 380, China Since Mao: the Reform Era in Historical Perspective | 3 |
| ANTH/ETHN 351, Exploring Cross-Cultural Diversities | 3 |
Total | 16-18 |
NOTE: Alternative classes may be substituted for any courses in the above list if approved by the Steering Committee.
INTF Core Course Descriptions
INTF 320 (ECON 320/AECN 320) International Trade Policy and Politics
Foundational elements necessary for understanding and analyzing modern-day trade policy-making, including the origins and evolution of the modern international trading system, U.S. domestic trade policy processes, the interaction between business goals and government policy, and the interplay between trade policy and overall U.S. foreign policy objectives. Analytical frameworks and the opportunity to develop practical skills applicable to any future professional or policy-making setting. This course is required to minor in INTF.
ECON 321 Introduction to International Economics
Introductory topics in international trade that highlight reasons for and impacts of trade in addition to factors that drive and are driven by exchange rates, providing a global macroeconomic perspective.
ECON 421 International Trade
Provides in depth coverage of trade and financial market interactions, including factor movements, outsourcing and broader trade policy effects.
AECN 220 International Agricultural Trade
Introduction to the foundational concepts and applications of international agricultural trade, such as tariffs, and using classroom discussion and data to understand how current events connect Nebraska to the world and the world to Nebraska.
AECN 420 International Food and Agricultural Trade
Application of basic principles of international trade to food and agricultural trade. Particular attention to current policy issues in agricultural trade such as the pros and cons of different trade policy instruments, regional trade blocks, alternative agricultural and trade policies, trade and development, trade and environmental protection.