Program Overview

Business Administration (MBA): STEM Program

Overview

The STEM MBA is a technology and analytics focused graduate business degree program. The curriculum includes grounding in all functional and strategic aspects of business with an emphasis on business and data analytics, technology and innovation management, statistical modelling, data mining, business forecasting, and quality management.

The STEM MBA prepares graduates for any executive position that requires a deep understanding of technology and data analysis. As businesses integrate technology and “big data” into nearly every part of the organization, the STEM MBA is applicable to a wide variety of careers.

Curriculum

• All courses are offered in a blended format, each meeting one night a week for 90 minutes and the rest of the course taught asynchronously online.
• Our HyFlex option provides the added flexibility to attend the weekly class meetings virtually if you choose.

Other MBA Options

• Traditional Program: Earn an MBA as a full or part-time student with the freedom to choose your own electives.
• Panama Program: We’ve partnered with Quality Leadership University to offer our MBA program to professionals working in Panama City, Panama.

Point of Pride

We are the only public university in Illinois to offer a STEM MBA degree.

Admission Requirements

University Admission Requirements

• A student applying to this program must have earned a four-year bachelor's degree or its equivalent from a college or university that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association, or do so by the time of program matriculation.
• Submit unofficial transcripts from each college or university other than Illinois State at which graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree credit was earned.
• If admitted, official domestic transcripts can be emailed from the university to Graduate School or mailed in a sealed envelope to Illinois State University, Graduate School.
• If admitted, official international transcripts can be emailed directly from the international institution to International Admissions or mailed in a sealed envelope to Illinois State University, International Admissions.

Additional Program Admission Requirements

• A cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for either the last 60 hours of your undergraduate coursework or any previous work in a master's program is preferred.
• Upload your current resume that describes your professional experience.
• Submit an essay that includes your professional goals and how the MBA degree will help you achieve them, as well as an explanation of what you gained professionally and/or personally from the experiences detailed in your resume.
• GMAT or GRE scores are only required if your last 60 hour undergraduate GPA or graduate GPA (minimum of 9 hours) is less than 3.0.

International Students

• The MBA program offers a Hyflex model. As an international student, you will be asked how you plan to participate in the program: fully on-campus or fully online from your home country.
• If you choose to take the program fully online, you will need to be available to attend courses synchronously during the evening hours in the Central Time zone.
• You will also need to agree to our international online and hybrid programs disclosure and disclaimer statements.
• Due to online courses, immigration documentation cannot be issued for students seeking F-1 or J-1 status.

English Proficiency Scores

• The minimum score for the iBT TOEFL is 80. Alternatively, we accept an IELTS score of 6.5 or Duolingo of 105.
• Due to the nature of the courses, it's recommended to have a higher score to be successful.

Application Deadlines

• Spring Term — December 1
• Summer Term — April 1
• Fall Term — August 1; international students should apply by July 1

Graduate Assistantships

• The University provides graduate assistantships as a means of financial support.
• They are intended as a way to facilitate a student's progress to degree while providing important professional development.

Eligibility

• To be eligible for an assistantship, a student must be admitted unconditionally as a degree-seeking student into a graduate academic program, or have a minimum of 120 undergraduate hours if in an integrated degree program.
• Be in good-standing.
• Be enrolled full-time (typically at least 9 credit hours during the fall or spring semesters, or at least 6 hours during the summer session).

Benefits

• Graduate assistants receive monthly wages paid in the form of either a stipend or an hourly wage.
• A waiver for 100% of tuition during a semester of appointment.
• A waiver for up to 12 credit hours of tuition for the summer term immediately following a fall or spring appointment.

Costs & Funding

• See Student Accounts for information on tuition and fees.
• Funding for graduate students is available from several different sources.
• Students who have been admitted from contiguous states including Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Wisconsin will receive in-state tuition.