SAN MARCOS —— A new Cal State San Marcos Extended Studies program is pooling local expertise on global issues to help business leaders learn about the international marketplace.

The new curriculum, offering a "Certificate in Global Commerce," is directed by Andy Chu, who has more than 35 years in the automotive industry and established a business venture in Asia for Borg Warner Automotive.

It was launched after university officials talked to a number of executives who expressed interest in learning more about how to prepare for the growing international market, Chu said.

"It's no secret that international business is becoming more and more important," he said. Many of San Diego's businesses are small and don't have the expertise to expand internationally, he added, so Cal State came up with the idea to offer an extension class so executives "wouldn't have to get bogged down in a degree program."

The program is aimed at a mix of business people, from decision-makers such as vice presidents, chief financial officers or senior managers, to professionals such as accountants and lawyers with clients who are seeing their business change, Chu said. The school also wants to reach recent graduates with master's in business administration degrees to help enhance their marketability.

Chu and Suzanne Lingold, director of community education at the university, agreed that the top three reasons to sign up for the class are:

n To learn how to export to a foreign country.

n To figure out the best way to expand your business, be it through distribution or manufacturing channels or via a joint venture.

n To learn what U.S. export regulations and tax codes are that could be advantageous to your company.

Lingold said the course is all about remaining competitive —— "if you want to stay in business and stay in the game."

Those teaching the course include international trade specialists, faculty from the CSUSM College of Business Administration, accounting and tax law experts, and software specialists.

To earn the certificate, students must complete an eight-hour "Introduction to Going Global," and then pick three classes from a list of five on topics ranging from marketing to outsourcing or licensing issues, and one more intense course on doing business either in Mexico, India or China. The introductory course is $149; each additional class is $395.

Although courses have started for this semester, it's possible to sign up for one of the later sessions and pick up the other courses next semester, Chu said.

Contact the Extended Studies office at (760) 750-4020 or go to www.csusm-es.org.

Contact staff writer Kathy Day at (760) 740-5417 or e-mail kday@nctimes.com.