New specialty classes are appearing in the business world.

Current Issues in International Business is a new class being offered at Missouri Southern this semester through the continuing education department.

The class meets at 6 p.m. on Thursdays. It began Sept. 4 and will continue until Nov. 6. Participants will receive a certificate showing their completion of 32-clock hours of continuing education.

The class will give students the option of petitioning for two credit hours or writing an extra 10-page paper for an addition credit hour for those with previous Southern credit.

“Grades are primarily based on attendance and the final paper,” said Terry Marion, director of the International Trade and Quality Center.

Students paid a $250 fee per participant. A 10 percent discount was offered for three or more people from one organization, paid to the International Trade and Quality Center.

Some of the major businesses in the area encourage their employees to attend these classes through a reimbursement program.

Leggett & Platt, Eagle Picher and Jasper Products have employees enrolled in the classes.

The class is set up as a lecture discussion class with guest speakers each week.

John Patrick, export sales manager of international furniture components at Leggett & Platt, will be speaking on how to handle the order process from start to finish.

David Wallace, director of business development and planning at American Ordnance will be speaking on ethical and legal standards.

Arnold Berney will teach dos and do nots of international trade. He is the vice president of international sales at Leggett & Platt. International distributor marketing will be led by Henri Coeme, international sales manager at Hix Corporation.

Marion said the importance of international business is growing, as “the whole world is getting smaller and more sophisticated.”

These are offered on Saturdays with costs ranging from $20-$225.