Since the 1980s, Turkey's foreign trade and investment activities have been expanding and becoming global. Turkey has added an impressive number of countries to its list of trading-partners while maintaining strong trade ties with its traditional ones. While Turkey herself is a significant emerging market, Turkish private capital and private business firms are increasingly active in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, North Africa, and other parts of the globe. One of the essential ingredients for the acquisition and maintenance of foreign markets for Turkish goods and services is the availability of qualified personnel in dealing with the legal, political, financial, economic, and cultural aspects of international trade. Thus, these circumstances call for education and training of a larger number of students in all aspects of international trade.

It is with these facts in mind that this four-year interdisciplinary program has been established. The primary purpose of this international trade program is to prepare the students for jobs in the private, public and international trade sectors. This academic program provides a solid background in the various aspects of international business, international economics and finance, international marketing and research, international law, and other fields related to international trade activities. Since understanding of foreign cultures plays an important role in the development of harmonious relations with trade-partners, this international trade program is also designed to prepare the students to function effectively in foreign cultural environments. For this reason, several courses on political and cultural environments of major foreign powers and regions have been incorporated in the core curriculum.

The medium of instruction is English. In addition, students are required to take another foreign language (to be chosen from French, German, Russian and Chinese) during the course of the program.

The elective courses that are offered in the final phase of the program (the 4th year) are designed to complement the previously acquired academic knowledge and understanding in the field of international trade. Elective courses are recommended on the basis of the student's interest and professional needs.