Graduate Pathway program offering the academic foundation, essential language skills and GMAT/GRE test preparation to successfully move on to master’s degrees. This INTO Illinois State University MBA Graduate Pathway program will prepare students who do not have a business background for their next semester of a master’s degree program at Illinois State University. The Pathway has two study plan options based on the student’s English proficiency. Students with a lower English proficiency are placed in Study Plan A, while those with a higher English proficiency are placed in Study Plan B.
Our MBA program is delivered by an exceptional group of dedicated faculty in a high-tech learning environment. The program's reputation, flexibility, and affordability define the Illinois State MBA as one of the best.
Consistently recognized as one of the best MBA programs by prestigious institutions such as The Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report, and Aspen Institute.
In particular, The Princeton Review recently ranked our program as one of the top in the country to earn an MBA for 2016.
Students are fully admitted to Illinois State provided successful completion of conditional admission criteria at the end of the Pathway and submission of all required admission credentials.
A Pathway program provides academic, language and cultural support in order to succeed at a US university.
Students will benefit from fully integrated classes with both domestic and other international students on campus while learning from highly trained university instructors and tutors.
Standard
Start dates January August
Program length 2 Semesters
Enrollment Cycles
January 2024
August 2024
Entry Requirements
StandardAge requirement
17
Academic requirements
Bachelor's degree or equivalent with 2.5 GPA out of 4.0. No work experience required.
English language entry requirements
2 Semesters: TOEFL 79, IELTS 6.5, PTEA 53, IELA 176, Password 7, or Duolingo 105.
Study Plan B
36 credit hour program up to 8 Business Foundation Modules or courses
9 credit hours apply from Pathway
27 credit hours remaining toward degree
Semester 1
IDS 401 Advanced Writing for Graduate Students 3 Credits
On-Campus Pre-Requisite 3 Credits
MBA 411 Fundamentals of Strategic Decision Making 3 Credits
Up to 4 Business Foundation Modules
Total 9 Credits
Semester 2
On-Campus Pre-Requisite 3 Credits
MBA 412 Contemporary Business Perspectives & Leadership Skills 3 Credits
MBA 421 or MBA 430 Analysis of Organizational Behavior or Advanced Marketing Management 3 Credits
Up to 3 Business Foundation Modules
Total 9 Credits
Notes * These courses are generally delivered through the INTO Center and are for Pathway students only.
Students without a business degree are required to complete up to 8 business foundation courses. These courses will be offered during the MBA Non-Business Background Pathway. Students will take a combination of on-campus undergraduate courses and online modules with required on-campus lab hours. Students who have some background in business may be eligible to take graduate level courses while they are completing any remaining business foundation courses.
The MBA non-business background Pathway is a 2-Semester Pathway. There are two study plan options based on the student’s English language proficiency: Study Plan A and Study Plan B. Students with higher English proficiency levels will be placed in Study Plan B, and will take one English course with a combination of graduate level business courses and business foundation courses.
