Business and Information Technology (B.S.)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Illinois Institute of Technology

Program Overview

The B.S. in Business and Information Technology at Illinois Tech combines business strategy with technical expertise, preparing students to understand how technology, data, and information systems can solve business problems and support organizational growth. Students develop skills across business management, accounting, analytics, programming, data management, web development, cybersecurity, and information systems, making the program particularly suited to students who want to work at the intersection of business and technology.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students establish their foundation in both business and technology through courses such as BUS 100 Business in the 21st Century, ECON 151 Microeconomics, and ITM 301 Introduction to Contemporary Operating Systems and Hardware I. They also begin developing programming and mathematical skills through ITM 313 Introduction to Open Source Application Development and MATH 148 Preparation for Calculus, followed by ECON 152 Macroeconomics, ITMD 413 Open Source Programming, and MATH 180 Fundamentals of Discrete Mathematics.

Year 2: The curriculum moves into core business analysis and information technology applications with BUS 211 Financial Accounting, BUS 321 Analytics for Optimization, ITMT 330 Introduction to Information Systems and the IT Profession, and ITMD 361 Fundamentals of Web Development. Students then build further technical and analytical capabilities through BUS 212 Managerial Accounting, BUS 221 Business Statistics, and ITMD 362 Human-Computer Interaction and Web Design, including practical approaches such as usability testing and web prototyping.

Year 3: Students deepen their understanding of organizational management, marketing, data, networking, and IT project management through courses including BUS 301 Organizational Behavior, BUS 371 Marketing Fundamentals, ITMD 321 Data Modeling and Applications, and ITMO 356 Introduction to Open Source Operating Systems. The second semester adds BUS 305 Operation and Supply Chain Analytics, BUS 351 Financial Decision Making and Capital Budgeting, ITMM 471 Project Management for Information Technology and Management, and ITMO 340 Introduction to Data Networks and the Internet, alongside an Interprofessional Project.

Year 4: The final year focuses on advanced cybersecurity, strategic decision-making, and the integration of business and technology skills. Students study ITMS 448 Cyber Security Technologies, complete an additional IPRO project, and finish with BUS 480 Strategic Management and Design Thinking and ITMT 430 System Integration, where students design, construct, integrate, and implement an information system to address a business problem.

Focus Areas

Business management, information technology, data analytics, data modeling, accounting, finance, operations, organizational behavior, marketing, web development, human-computer interaction, open-source programming, operating systems, data networks, information systems, IT project management, cybersecurity, system integration, strategic management, design thinking

Learning Outcomes

Students develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, business and strategic decision-making abilities, data and analytical capabilities, programming and information-system knowledge, web and database development skills, cybersecurity awareness, project-management abilities, teamwork and communication skills, and the ability to integrate technology with business objectives.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The program is offered through Illinois Tech’s Stuart School of Business and the School of Computing. Stuart School of Business is accredited by AACSB International, an accreditation held by only about 6% of business schools worldwide, providing an internationally recognized quality benchmark for the business-school component of the degree.

Reputation (Employability)

Illinois Tech positions the program around career readiness and technologically oriented employment. Stuart graduates are hired by organizations including CME Group, Exelon Corp., Amazon, Deloitte, Extreme Networks, Caterpillar Inc., Nielsen, and Northern Trust, while the university provides dedicated career support through its Career Management Center.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The B.S. in Business and Information Technology is designed around applied learning, allowing students to use business and technology concepts to address practical problems rather than relying only on classroom theory. Courses such as ITMD 362 Human-Computer Interaction and Web Design involve usability testing, prototyping, and the construction of user-centered websites, while ITMT 430 System Integration requires students to gather requirements, design and implement an information system, and consider professional, ethical, legal, security, and social issues.

Students also complete six credit hours of Interprofessional Projects (IPRO), where multidisciplinary teams work on real-world problems with faculty and, in many cases, industry or community partners. Illinois Tech’s Elevate initiative additionally provides access to internships, research, study-away experiences, mentorship, and other hands-on opportunities.

Students can build practical experience through:

ITMD 362 Human-Computer Interaction and Web Design: Students use usability testing and prototyping methods and apply user-centered design principles to construct websites.
ITMT 430 System Integration: The capstone-style course requires students to identify user needs, develop requirements, and design, construct, integrate, and implement an information system addressing a business problem.
BUS 480 Strategic Management and Design Thinking: Students complete hands-on exercises and projects combining accounting, economics, finance, marketing, organizational behavior, statistics, strategy, and product design, including taking the role of a general manager in strategic decision-making exercises.
IPRO projects: Students work in interdisciplinary teams to research problems, develop solutions, and present their outcomes through activities such as demonstrations, prototypes, and Innovation Day presentations.
Internships: Stuart students can gain professional experience through internships with businesses, organizations, and government agencies. Recent internship placements include BMO Harris Bank, Societe Generale, IRI Worldwide, CME Group, Deloitte, Amway, Exelon, and Wintrust Financial Corp.
Micro-internships and project work: Stuart partners with Parker Dewey for short-term paid professional projects and Tenacity for paid real-world projects with companies.
Research and competitions: Stuart provides opportunities for independent studies, group projects, research papers, presentations, and national and international business competitions.
Kaplan Institute: IPRO is based at the Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship, Illinois Tech’s innovation hub for interdisciplinary projects and entrepreneurial activity.
Career Management Center: Students receive support with internship applications, résumé reviews, mock interviews, career counseling, recruiting events, and networking with industry professionals.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The B.S. in Business and Information Technology prepares graduates for roles that connect business decision-making with information systems and technology, including positions in technology, consulting, operations, data, and management. Illinois Tech specifically identifies computer systems analyst, database administrator and architect, and computer and information systems manager among the career possibilities for graduates, while its broader program information also highlights information technology manager, business systems analyst, network and computer systems administrator, and digital transformation manager roles.

Typical career directions include: Computer Systems Analyst, Database Administrator and Architect, Computer and Information Systems Manager, Business Systems Analyst

Students can build their professional path through:

Career Management Center: Stuart provides individualized career counseling, résumé reviews, mock interviews, career information sessions, recruiting events, internship assistance, and opportunities to network with industry professionals.
Industry connections: Stuart reports that its graduates are hired by organizations such as CME Group, Exelon Corp., Amazon, Deloitte, Extreme Networks, Caterpillar Inc., Nielsen, and Northern Trust.
Internship-to-employment opportunities: Illinois Tech notes that substantive internships can, in many cases, lead to job offers, with recent placements across banking, consulting, technology, finance, media, and other sectors.
Career-ready experiences: Elevate guarantees access to experiences such as internships, research, study away, business competitions, mentorship, and personalized career planning.
Industry-oriented curriculum: The program combines business and computing courses and was developed with input from Stuart faculty, the Department of Information Technology and Management, and industry experts and practitioners.
Salary information: Illinois Tech's official program-development documentation referenced Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational data indicating salary levels of approximately $93,000–$100,000 for relevant occupations. This is occupational wage data rather than a reported starting salary or average salary specifically for B.S. Business and Information Technology graduates, so it should not be treated as a program-specific graduate salary.
Accreditation value: The business component is supported by Stuart School of Business's AACSB accreditation; Illinois Tech states that only about 6% of business schools worldwide hold AACSB accreditation.
STEM designation: Illinois Tech identifies the B.S. in Business and Information Technology as a STEM-designated program, providing an additional technology-focused academic pathway for eligible international students.

Further Academic Progression: After completing the bachelor's degree, students can continue into graduate study in areas such as information technology and management, computer science, management, business analytics, cybersecurity, finance, or related technology and business disciplines. Illinois Tech also offers Accelerated Master's Program pathways that can allow eligible students to complete a bachelor's and master's degree in as few as five years.