Online Master of Business Administration - iMBA
Champaign, USA
DURATION
24 up to 60 Months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
USD 23,904
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
Introduction
A premier degree in a flexible, online space – for just under $24k
If you're like most professionals, there's no such thing as a convenient time to interrupt your career – or add tuition to your budget.
The unmatched flexibility and affordability of our online MBA (iMBA) puts the degree within reach, and our highly engaging courses – taught by top University of Illinois faculty – are designed for real-time application to your job.
The Biggest Business School Innovation of the Decade
“We’ve disrupted our own industry, and the market has responded by rewarding us with demand and growth far beyond what we would have predicted,” Dean Jeffrey Brown.
Students say the iMBA curriculum and live, interactive sessions are more personal and engaging than many in-person classes they’ve taken. At a price that is a fraction of what they would pay at most residential MBA programs, the iMBA consistently earns satisfaction ratings near 100 percent from students.
College officials say student satisfaction and real-time return on investment are driving the tremendous growth in applications. A survey of graduates through 2021 showed that 61 percent had received a promotion, job offer or accepted a new position during their time in the iMBA program, while graduates saw their pay increase an average of 22 percent during the course of their studies.
Enjoy an ROI that begins even before you finish
As soon as you start your Gies MBA, the benefits kick in. Being a graduate student at the top-ranked University of Illinois means you're learning from world-renowned faculty experts with decades of experience in their field.
You'll also be absorbing timely, relevant course content you can put to work the next day – and our data shows that employers take notice.
- 61% - Received a promotion, job offer, or new position during the iMBA program
- 22% - Average pay increase during the iMBA program
Customize your MBA with our unmatched flexibility
All online education provides some level of flexibility, but we offer a full range of options, giving you even more control over your experience.
- Build a course sequence that fits your goals
- Select from a range of live lecture times each week
- Start your MBA in January, March, August, or October
- Finish the program at your pace, in 24-60 months
- Pay for courses as you go
Benefit from a deeply engaging learning experience
You deserve a flexible, online degree program that delivers the level of rich interaction and impact you'd experience on campus. That's why we've intentionally built engagement into the curriculum, structure, and interface of our online courses.
Engage with top University of Illinois faculty, who lead lively discussions during class and connect with learners individually during office hours, where they focus on your goals and success.
Engage with fellow learners around the globe in live class sessions and through regular team projects. Connect with your diverse cohort in ways that expand both your knowledge and your network.
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Admissions
Curriculum
Hone specific skills through a customizable curriculum
Your career goals are unique to you, which is why we've developed an MBA curriculum that puts you in control. We offer five Focus Area Specializations and more than 18 electives that allow you to customize your learning path – all at your pace and in a sequence that works for you.
Timing and Structure
- Flexible completion time – 24-60 month program
- Short, manageable courses – 4-8 week courses
- Design your own schedule – 1-4 courses per 16-week semester
- Customize your curriculum – select from 5 focus areas and 18+ electives
Core Specializations
Develop the ability to execute, manage, and lead in the midst of globalization, emerging technologies, and other drivers of change. You'll build foundational business knowledge and skills in the four Core Specializations that all iMBA learners complete.
Core 1: Strategic Leadership and Management
- BADM 508: Leadership & Teams
- BADM 509: Managing Organizations
- BADM 544: Strategic Management
- MBA 590: Core 1 Capstone
Core 2: Managerial Economics and Business Analysis
- BADM 572: Statistics Management Decision-Making
- FIN 574: Microeconomics for Business
- FIN 571: Money and Banking
- MBA 590: Core 2 Capstone
Core 3: Value Chain Management
- BADM 520: Marketing Management
- BADM 567: Operations Management
- ACCY 503: Managerial Accounting
- MBA 590: Core 3 Capstone
Core 4: Financial Management
- ACCY 500: Accounting Measurement, Reporting, and Control
- FIN 511: Investments
- FIN 570: Corporate Finance
- MBA 590: Core 4 Capstone
Focus Area Specializations
Build areas of expertise that lead to fulfilling, successful careers. Complete two focus area specializations or one focus area specialization and an elective path – letting your interests and career goals be your guide.
Focus Area 1: Digital Marketing
- MBA 545: Marketing in Our New Digital World
- MBA 542: Digital Marketing Analytics
- MBA 543: Digital Media and Marketing
- MBA 590: Focus Area Capstone
Focus Area 2: Entrepreneurship and Strategic Innovation
- MBA 551: Strategic Innovation
- MBA 552: Fostering Creative Thinking
- MBA 553: Entrepreneurship: From Startup to Growth
- MBA 590: Focus Area Capstone
Focus Area 3: Global Challenges in Business
- MBA 547: Global Marketing
- MBA 548: Global Strategy
- MBA 549: Multiculturalism in Management and the Marketplace
- MBA 590: Focus Area Capstone
Focus Area 4: Business Analytics
- MBA 561: Introduction to Business Analytics with R
- MBA 562: Introduction to Business Analytics: Communicating with Data
- MBA 563: Data Toolkit: Business Data Modeling and Predictive Analytics
- MBA 564: Special Topics 1 - Applying Data Analytics in Marketing
- MBA 564: Special Topics 2 - Applying Data Analytics in Accounting
Focus Area 5: Mergers and Acquisitions
- FIN 572: Finance of Mergers and Acquisitions
- ACCY 532: Mergers and Acquisitions and Other Complex Transactions
- FIN 573: Investment Banking Concepts
Elective Courses
Further, customize your degree to fit your career path by choosing from 18+ elective courses. A combination of 12 elective credit hours can fulfill one of the two Focus Area Specializations (above).
- ACCY 531: Financial Statement Analysis for MBAs
- ACCY 574: Risk Management and Innovation
- BADM 589: Project Management
- MBA 549: Multiculturalism in Management and the Marketplace
- MBA 565: Infonomics
Capstones
Capstones are designed to bridge the ‘knowing–doing’ gap, challenging students to apply their iMBA courses, work experience, industry acumen, business knowledge and skills. Students work through a case study with a team in which the deliverables for each module will build upon one another. Each course culminates with the final case presentation.
How Capstones Work
- Students complete 3 capstones: 2 specialization capstones and 1 program capstone.
- Specialization capstones are two weeks in length and students choose the specializations that best meet their academic and professional interests.
- The program capstone is four weeks in length and will be completed in the final semester of the iMBA program.
- Capstones are group-based projects typically focused on a case study.
- Experiential learning opportunities, such as immersions, may be completed to fulfill one to two capstones.
- Learners entering Fall 2023 and beyond will complete an extended onboarding experience, MBA 597: Program Foundations, during the first semester of the iMBA program.
Career Opportunities
Career-Advancing
A full MBA degree from one of the world’s top universities. Academic content is curated to be business-ready and actionable. A blend of business specializations that successful careers are built on.
Program delivery
Fully Online
No travel requirements, no added expenses: completely online, including all course and group work plus faculty office hours so you can discuss material, ask questions, or get help.
Deeply Engaging
Work personally with senior professors and special practitioner faculty from companies like Google. Connect with accomplished fellow students around the world each day.
Leadership Level
Builds ability to execute, manage, and lead. And gives you an iMBA edge with advanced training on how to innovate, shape the digital world, and go global.
English Language Requirements
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