Flexible core:  The Illinois MBA offers a first-year curriculum with 32 of the 40 credit hours prescribed in the form of required courses, whereas the remaining 8 credit hours may be chosen from among a limited set of alternatives.  This provides you with the opportunity to begin tailoring your curriculum toward individual interests and needs.

Concentration and Electives:   In the second year, the Illinois MBA allows for flexibility in developing a concentration that is tailored to your individual interests, talents, and career goals.  Reaching your career goals is ultimately the most notable accomplishment and that goal should drive your concentration and course selection.  Your interests determine the specific classes within your area of study.  This freedom allows you to develop skills and in-depth knowledge that will ultimately prepare you for a successful career.

Below are examples of concentrations you may find in the Illinois MBA.

The finance concentration prepares students for success in a wide array of industries and with companies of nearly any size.  The skills developed are designed to help students understand how organizations fund and grow the business, handle mergers and acquisitions, evaluate risk vs. reward tradeoffs and determine the financial feasibility of various projects.  Illinois Business Consulting also offers the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to real world challenges by completing projects for Fortune 500, mid-sized, new venture and non-profit clients.  

Frequently Sought Positions:  Financial Analyst, Auditor, Asset Manager, Portfolio Manager, Financial Planner, and Credit Analyst

Companies that Hire:  Archer Daniel Midland Company, CASHNet, Credit Suisse, Exxon Mobil, Intel, Sears Holdings Corporation, the U.S. Government, and Whirlpool Corporation

In addition to providing a diverse business curriculum, an MBA with a focus in Human Resources offers students the most recent theories, research, and information in classroom topics which include:  Organizational Design and Theory, Compensation and Benefits, Talent Recruitment, Retention and Development, Employment Law, Negotiation Strategy, and Labor Relations.  Students will learn how to effectively partner with business leaders within internal consulting roles to ensure employee needs are met while still enabling organizational success.  Additionally, students will have the opportunity to collaborate with the University’s prominent School of Labor and Employment Relations for courses and development opportunities. 

Frequently Sought Positions:  Human Resources Business Partner, Human Resources Consultant, Leadership Development Program, and Recruitment Director

Companies that Hire:  Procter & Gamble, Cisco Systems, Sears Holdings Corporation, and Hewitt Associates

Today’s complex business environment requires more than using formulae or financial models to solve intricate organizational challenges.  A focus in strategic management helps students understand the logic behind decision making and develop the analytical skills necessary to push through the clutter and form a strategic vision for the organization. This includes learning to manage both the internal and external environments to create unconventional solutions to highly complex problems.  A partnership with Illinois Business Consulting allows students to put these skills into practice with real Fortune 500 clients that are paying for implementation-ready solutions.  

Frequently Sought Positions:  Financial Risk Analyst, Internal or External Consultant, Strategy Manager, and Business Development Manager

Companies that Hire:  Allstate, Deloitte Consulting, Archstone Consulting, Emerson, Ernst & Young, Huron Consulting Group, and the U.S. Government

Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability, and Public Service play an increasingly important role in today’s business environment.  With a focus on these key issues, students will learn how to effectively manage company assets to address challenges of limited natural resources and unfair or unethical business practices.  Additionally, a focus on serving multiple stakeholders will help students develop analytical skills that manage organizational change while still emphasizing ethical decision making.  This concentration is further enhanced by the opportunity to partner with the University of Illinois Center for Professional Responsibility, Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability, and Sustainable Technology Center. 

Frequently Sought Positions:  Contract Specialist, Sustainability Initiative Manager, Sustainability Sales Specialist, Social Investment Researcher, and Public Relations Manager

Companies that Hire:  HOK, Arup, and the U.S. General Services Administration