iMBA Curriculum

Gain practical business mastery and establish yourself as a standout leader with the iMBA. We've designed our curriculum to deliver a blend of content and experiences that will impact your career – immediately and long term.

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
Show your growth – earn microcredentials during your MBA

Core Specializations (Required)

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

Core 2: Managerial Economics and Business Analysis

Core 3: Value Chain Management

Core 4: Financial Management

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 specializations can also be converted to a transcriptable graduate certificate.

Focus Area 1: Digital Marketing

Focus Area 2: Entrepreneurship and Strategic Innovation

Focus Area 3: Global Challenges in Business

Focus Area 4: Business Analytics

Focus Area 5: Mergers and Acquisitions

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).

Current elective course options

Agribusiness and Sustainable Food Production Economics

You may elect to complete the Agribusiness and Sustainable Food Production Economics courses, offered through the College of ACES. These courses will provide you an overview of global production and distribution of agricultural commodities and food products. You will examine financial and risk-management decisions associated with agricultural production and analyze modern issues facing the food industry in light of global challenges to sustainably feed a growing world population.

ACE 544: Global Agriculture and Supply Chains
ACE 545: Risk and Decision-Making in Agriculture
ACE 546: Agriculture as an Asset Class - ACE 546
ACE 547: Modern Issues in Food and Agriculture

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.

How capstones work

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.

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.

Engaging online experience

Interact with top University of Illinois faculty and fellow learners from around the globe in your iMBA courses. Our program was built from the ground up to deliver the level of rich interaction and engagement you'd experience on campus.

LEARN MORE

Immersion opportunities

Expand your understanding of other cultures and the global economy by choosing to participate in a two-week immersion – either in-person or virtually. We partner with select universities and companies around the world to bring together a diverse group of learners, cultures, ideas, and solutions.