Business and Psychology (B.S.)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Illinois Institute of Technology

Program Overview

The B.S. in Business and Psychology at Illinois Institute of Technology is a STEM-designated, cross-disciplinary degree that combines business knowledge with the scientific study of human behavior, giving students a strong foundation for careers in marketing, management, research, and organizational settings. Students learn to connect psychology, cognition, motivation, and behavioral research with business areas such as marketing, accounting, analytics, operations, organizational behavior, and strategic management.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1:
Students begin by building their understanding of business, economics, psychology, mathematics, and computing. Courses such as Business in the 21st Century, Business Analytics Fundamentals, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Introduction to Psychology, and Computing Principles establish the foundations needed to understand both organizations and human behavior.

Year 2:
The second year develops stronger analytical and organizational skills through courses such as Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Analytics for Optimization, and Organizational Behavior. Students also deepen their understanding of psychology through Undergraduate Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, Research Methods in Behavioral Science, Industrial Psychology, and Social Psychology, connecting quantitative analysis with workplace behavior and decision-making.

Year 3:
Students move into more advanced applications of business and psychology, studying Operation and Supply Chain Analytics, Marketing Fundamentals, Introduction to Psychopathology, and Applied Correlation and Regression or Psychological Testing. The curriculum also introduces an Interprofessional Project (IPRO) experience, allowing students to apply knowledge collaboratively while developing analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Year 4:
The final year focuses on integrating the two disciplines and applying them to strategic business challenges. Students complete Strategic Management and Design Thinking, advanced psychology electives, and a second IPRO experience, giving them opportunities to bring together behavioral insight, business strategy, research, and interdisciplinary problem-solving before graduation.

Focus Areas

Business analytics, marketing, organizational behavior, strategic management, accounting, economics, operations and supply chain analytics, social psychology, industrial psychology, behavioral research, cognition, statistics, psychological testing, leadership, design thinking

Learning Outcomes

Students develop the ability to apply psychological research methods to business and organizational challenges, interpret behavioral and business data, understand consumer and employee behavior, evaluate organizational processes, use analytical approaches for decision-making, collaborate on interdisciplinary projects, and connect human behavior with marketing, management, and strategic business practices.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The program is offered through Illinois Tech's Stuart School of Business and the psychology academic unit, giving students access to both business and psychology faculty. Stuart School of Business is AACSB accredited, an internationally recognized business-school accreditation held by approximately 6% of business schools worldwide.

Reputation (Employability Rankings/Official Statistics)

Illinois Tech reports strong university-wide graduate outcomes: its most recent Elevate career information lists an 86.1% career outcomes rate and a $74,840 median starting salary, based on the university's most recent First Destination Survey. These figures are university-wide rather than specific to the B.S. in Business and Psychology, so they should be viewed as Illinois Tech's overall undergraduate career-outcomes indicators rather than program-specific results.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

Illinois Tech builds practical experience directly into the undergraduate experience through its Elevate initiative, which guarantees access to opportunities such as internships, research, competitions, study-away experiences, and mentoring. For Business and Psychology students, this is particularly valuable because the program combines business decision-making with behavioral research, while the university's psychology and business resources provide opportunities to explore organizational performance, human behavior, analytics, and real-world business challenges.

The curriculum itself also contains two Interprofessional Project (IPRO) requirements, where students work across disciplines on real-world problems, while the program's psychology component provides exposure to research methods and behavioral science. Students can further develop professional skills through Stuart's dedicated Career Management Center, internships, micro-internships, research, and employer-facing activities.

Key opportunities include:

Elevate internships: Illinois Tech guarantees students access to hands-on experiences such as internships, research, study away, and competitions, supported by mentoring and career planning.
Interprofessional Projects (IPRO): The degree includes two IPRO electives, giving students structured opportunities to collaborate on interdisciplinary projects and address real-world issues as part of a team.
Psychology research: The Center for Research and Service (CRS) within the Department of Psychology provides a direct connection to applied behavioral research and consulting. The center works with organizations on employee potential, organizational performance, behavioral metrics, and related challenges.
Business internships: Stuart students can undertake internships with businesses, organizations, and government agencies in the Chicago area. Recent Stuart internship placements have included organizations such as BMO Harris Bank, Societe Generale, CME Group, Deloitte, Amway, Exelon, and Wintrust Financial Corp.
Micro-internships: Stuart students and recent graduates can undertake short-term, paid professional projects through the school's partnership with Parker Dewey, providing experience while exploring potential career paths.
Career Management Center: Stuart's dedicated Career Management Center provides individualized career counseling, résumé reviews, mock interviews, recruiting events, internship assistance, and opportunities to network with industry professionals.
Research and behavioral consulting: Through the Center for Research and Service, students have access to an environment focused on industrial-organizational psychology, behavioral metrics, employee assessment, organizational development, and consulting practice.
Digital and analytical skills: The curriculum includes Business Analytics Fundamentals, Analytics for Optimization, Operation and Supply Chain Analytics, Applied Correlation and Regression, and Undergraduate Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, giving students substantial exposure to quantitative and analytical methods.
Professional networking: Stuart's Career Management Center works directly with Chicago-area employers and organizes recruiting events, career fairs, information sessions, and networking opportunities for students.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Business and Psychology prepares graduates for roles that require an understanding of both organizational performance and human behavior, particularly in marketing, management, market research, health services, public-sector, and nonprofit environments. Illinois Tech specifically identifies occupations such as medical and health services manager, administrative services and facilities manager, social and community service manager, market research analyst, and advertising, promotions, and marketing manager as career possibilities associated with the degree.

Typical career roles include:

Market Research Analyst, Medical and Health Services Manager, Administrative Services and Facilities Manager, Social and Community Service Manager

Key career-development and employment opportunities include:

Career Management Center: Stuart's dedicated CMC provides individualized career counseling, résumé support, mock interviews, internship assistance, recruiting events, and connections with employers seeking Stuart students and graduates.
Employment and salary outcomes: Illinois Tech's latest Elevate information reports an 86.1% career outcomes rate and $74,840 median starting salary university-wide, based on the most recent First Destination Survey. These figures are not specific to the Business and Psychology degree.
Program-related occupational data: Illinois Tech's program page reports 2022 median annual pay of $68,230 for market research analysts, $104,830 for medical and health services managers, $101,870 for administrative services and facilities managers, $74,240 for social and community service managers, and $138,730 for advertising, promotions, and marketing managers; these figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and are not Illinois Tech graduate salary figures.
Employer connections: Stuart's Career Management Center works with businesses, organizations, and government agencies to identify candidates for internships and employment, while career fairs connect students with employers recruiting for business-related roles.
Industry-based internships: Stuart reports recent internship placements with organizations including BMO Harris Bank, Societe Generale, IRI Worldwide, CME Group, Deloitte, Amway, Exelon, Snips Media, Navy Pier, and Wintrust Financial Corp.
Professional accreditation value: The program's business component is delivered through AACSB-accredited Stuart School of Business, providing students with a business-school education aligned with an internationally recognized accreditation framework.
STEM designation: The B.S. in Business and Psychology is officially STEM designated. Illinois Tech states that eligible international graduates can apply for an OPT extension allowing selected students to remain and work in the United States for up to three years after graduation.
Career preparation: Elevate combines internships, research, competitions, study away, career coaching, and verified credentials to help students graduate with documented practical experience.
Chicago business environment: Illinois Tech highlights Chicago's international business and financial environment and its connections with private and public-sector organizations as sources of internship, networking, and employment opportunities.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the B.S. in Business and Psychology, students can pursue graduate-level study in areas aligned with their interests, such as business, management, analytics, marketing, psychology, or related professional disciplines. Illinois Tech also offers accelerated master's pathways through its Stuart School of Business, allowing eligible Illinois Tech students and recent alumni to combine a bachelor's degree with a master's degree in as few as five years.