The AACSB-accredited College of Business at Illinois State University works hard to best prepare students to succeed in the entrepreneurial, global, and high-tech business world of today. With the talented, personable, and dedicated faculty and rigorous and comprehensive coursework, students learn the fundamentals of business theory and practice, teamwork, collaboration, and skills in communication, technology, leadership, analysis, and problem-solving. This safe and supportive environment allows students to flourish and be equipped for a successful entry into any career.
Education
Housed in the technologically advanced, multifaceted State Farm Hall of Business, the CoB has access to a plethora of educational spaces and an incredible atmosphere of learning. In this hall, undergraduate students can pursue a major in Business Administration, Accountancy, Business Information Systems, Business Education, Insurance, Finance, Management, International Business, or Marketing. For graduate students, there is the Illinois State Masters in Business Administration, both traditional and corporate programs, the Masters in Accountancy, and the Masters in Business Education.
Financial assistance can be found in a large variety of scholarships for business students, including the Ferengul Endowed Scholarship, the Department of Accounting Leadership Scholarship and the Willie Brown Endowed Scholarship Fund. In today’s business world, students must have an understanding of global business. Students can spend a summer, semester, or even a year studying at a partner university in places like Spain, Hungary, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, China, Thailand, France, Mexico, Ireland, South Korea, or Germany.
Student Life
Incredible opportunities exist for business students to participate in academic, professional, recreational, and social activities while pursuing a degree. Through the Business Themed Living and Learning Community, business students can live together and experience special programming, events, and even focused attention from the CoB faculty and staff. Student-led business organizations include the Student Accounting Society, Financial Planning Association, International Business Association, Salesforce Trailblazers, Business Association, Beta Gamma Sigma, Women in Business, and Business Analytics Society.
An incredible resource for students is Business Week. During this week, there is a series of interactive events, managed by students, with workshops and industry leaders that speak about goal setting, etiquette, career management, networking, and leadership. This week also involves the Corporate Social Responsibility Case Competition, the International Business Showcase, the Professional Etiquette Dinner, transition seminars, a mentor program, and trivia night. There is an internship fair where students can meet with business leaders and make connections for potential internship opportunities.
Within the Hall of Business, students can receive hands-on experiences through working on projects in the Financial Markets Lab, the Professional Sales Training Suite, the Focus Group Facility, and the Executive Board Room. The CoB offers many centers and institutes where students can get involved in research and projects and help local businesses. These centers include the Means Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, Institute for Financial Planning and Analysis, Varner International Business Institute, Center for Risk Management and Insurance, Organizational Leadership Institute, and the Professional Sales Institute.