University of Illinois Gies College of Business logo

Master of Business Administration (iMBA)

University of Illinois Gies College of Business logo

Master of Business Administration (iMBA)

University of Illinois Gies College of Business

Final Summer Deadline: March 6

Start your application or request more information.

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Accredited diploma

Offered by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

24-36 months

72 credit hours of graduate coursework

100% online

Hands-on learning from anywhere, no travel required

Approximately $25k

Each time you take a course, pay tuition for that course only

Academics

Achieve practical business mastery and leadership vision as you build a professional network

In this program, you’ll master the skills of a lateral thinker who applies creative and abstract approaches to solving business problems.

Career-first course design
Your courses are grouped into specializations that include readings, lectures, hands-on projects, and more. Students complete 3 capstones total which simulate real-world business scenarios. Courses are designed to help you apply new skills directly to your career.
Future-forward leadership capacity
Gain leadership skills as you learn to improve existing processes. Learn to develop and implement a vision for the future. Choose courses from two out of three advanced-leadership pathways: innovation, digitalization, and globalization.
Global online classrooms & projects
You’ll unite with students from as many as 90 countries while in your iMBA live classroom sessions. Your peers bring real-time perspectives from the front lines of the business world. Faculty work with students via interactive classes, projects, and office hours.
Program length
The iMBA program is designed to be completed in 24-36 months, but students can take up to 5 years to complete the degree however as long as they are making satisfactory progress. On average, students spend 10-15 hours per week, per course and take 1-2 courses at a time.
Flexibility
You can access lectures and quizzes on demand, and schedule meetings with professors and teaching assistants (during their office hours). You can access classes from your mobile device, and download videos and readings for offline work.
Learn on mobile
Take your studies on the go with mobile-friendly learning on iOS and Android. Some assignments can’t be completed on a mobile device.

Summer/Fall 2025 Deadlines:

  • Summer Deadline: March 6, 2025
  • Fall Priority 1 Deadline: April 3, 2025
  • Fall Priority 2 Deadline: May 1, 2025
  • Fall Final Deadline (August start): June 5, 2025
  • Fall Final Deadline (October start): August 7, 2025

Upcoming Events:

  • Lunch and Learn | February 7, 2025 at 12 PM CT - Register here
  • iDegree Webinar | February 12, 2025 at 6 PM CT - Register here
  • LinkedIn Live with Gies Online | February 14, 2025 at 12 PM CT - Register here

Have questions? Please contact Gies College of Business at giesonline@illinois.edu or attend an upcoming event.

Summer/Fall 2025 Deadlines:

  • Summer Deadline: March 6, 2025
  • Fall Priority 1 Deadline: April 3, 2025
  • Fall Priority 2 Deadline: May 1, 2025
  • Fall Final Deadline (August start): June 5, 2025
  • Fall Final Deadline (October start): August 7, 2025

Upcoming Events:

  • Lunch and Learn | February 7, 2025 at 12 PM CT - Register here
  • iDegree Webinar | February 12, 2025 at 6 PM CT - Register here
  • LinkedIn Live with Gies Online | February 14, 2025 at 12 PM CT - Register here

Have questions? Please contact Gies College of Business at giesonline@illinois.edu or attend an upcoming event.

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Flexible curriculum designed to empower you in your career goals

Preparation is key to your success in this program. For successful completion of the degree, all iMBA students are required to:

  • Complete 72 credit hours

  • Complete 4 core specializations

  • Complete 2 focus area specializations or 1 focus area specialization & elective path

  • Complete 2 specialization capstones

  • Complete the program capstone

  • Complete degree within 5 years

  • Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.75

See detailed degree requirements

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Curriculum

  • Leadership and Teams – BADM 508 (4 credit hours)
  • Managing Organizations – BADM 509 (4 credit hours)
  • Strategic Management – BADM 544 (4 credit hours)
  • Core 1 Capstone – MBA 590 (0 credit hours)

  • Statistics Management Decision Making – BADM 572 (4 credit hours)
  • Microeconomics for Business – FIN 574 (4 credit hours)
  • Money and Banking – FIN 571 (4 credit hours)
  • Core 2 Capstone – MBA 590 (0 credit hours)

  • Marketing Management – BADM 520 (4 credit hours)
  • Process Management – BADM 567 (4 credit hours)
  • Managerial Accounting – ACCY 503 (4 credit hours)
  • Core 3 Capstone – MBA 590 (0 credit hours)

  • Accounting Measurement, Reporting, and Control (Financial Accounting) ACCY 500 (4 credit hours)
  • Investments – FIN 511 (4 credit hours)
  • Corporate Finance – FIN 570 (4 credit hours)
  • Core 4 Capstone – MBA 590 (0 credit hours)

  • Global Marketing – MBA 547 (4 credit hours)
  • Global Strategy – MBA 548 (4 credit hours)
  • Multiculturalism in Management and the Workplace - MBA 599 (4 credit hours)
  • Focus Area Capstone – MBA 590 (0 credit hours)

  • Strategic Innovation – MBA 551 (4 credit hours)
  • Fostering Creative Thinking – MBA 552 (4 credit hours)
  • Entrepreneurship: From Startup to Growth – MBA 553 (4 credit hours)
  • Focus Area Capstone – MBA 590 (0 credit hours)

  • Digital Marketing Analytics – MBA 542 (4 credit hours)
  • Digital Media and Marketing – MBA 543 (4 credit hours)
  • Marketing in Our New Digital World – MBA 545 (4 credit hours)
  • Focus Area Capstone – MBA 590 (0 credit hours)

  • Introduction to Business Analytics with R – MBA 561 (4 credit hours)
  • Introduction to Business Analytics: Communicating with Data – MBA 562 (4 credit hours)
  • Data Toolkit: Business Data Modeling and Predictive Analytics – MBA 563 (4 credit hours)
  • Applying Data Analytics in Marketing – MBA 564-1 (2 credit hours)
  • Applying Data Analytics in Accounting – MBA 564-2 (2 credit hours)

  • Finance of Mergers and Acquisitions – FIN 572 (4 credit hours)
  • Investment Banking Concepts – FIN 573 (4 credit hours)
  • Mergers and Acquisitions and Other Complex Transactions – ACCY 532 (4 credit hours)

Students may take 12 elective credit hours that can be applied to their degree to satisfy one of the two focus area specialization requirements. Elective courses do not have capstones or certificates associated with their completion.

  • Financial Statement Analysis for MBAs – ACCY 531 (4 credit hours)
  • Risk Management and Innovation – ACCY 574 (4 credit hours)
  • Project Management – BADM 589 (4 credit hours)
  • Infonomics – MBA 565 (4 credit hours)
  • Global Business Horizons – MBA 546 (4 credit hours)

Final Summer Deadline: March 6

Start your application or request more information.