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The Business Education major at Illinois State University combines business knowledge with professional teacher preparation, helping students develop the skills to teach business, marketing, and computer-related subjects in K–12 schools. Students explore areas such as accounting, business law, finance, entrepreneurship, educational technology, and instructional methods, preparing for careers in education, training, school administration, or business-related fields.
Curriculum Structure
Year 1 – Building a Business and Academic Foundation
Students begin with general education courses while developing a foundation in business and communication. Introductory studies prepare them for subjects such as accounting, business law, information processing, and computer applications, establishing the knowledge needed for advanced business education coursework.
Year 2 – Developing Business and Teaching Knowledge
Students progress into business education and professional education coursework, exploring marketing, management, finance, educational technologies, and quantitative analysis. Classroom observation and early field experiences help students understand how business concepts can be translated into engaging lessons for different learners.
Year 3 – Applying Instructional Skills
Students deepen their understanding of business subjects while developing lesson planning, instructional strategies, assessment, and classroom management skills. Clinical experiences in actual school settings allow them to observe experienced teachers, work with diverse student populations, and connect educational theory with classroom practice.
Year 4 – Professional Preparation and Student Teaching
The final stage focuses on professional teaching practice, advanced business education, and preparation for the workplace. Students complete the required student-teaching experience, applying their knowledge in real classrooms and developing the practical skills needed for professional teaching and Illinois educator certification.
Focus Areas
Business education, accounting, business law, marketing, finance, management, entrepreneurship, information processing, computer applications, educational technology, business communication, instructional planning, curriculum development, assessment, and teacher preparation.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates develop the ability to explain business and technology concepts, design and deliver instructional materials, assess student progress, manage diverse learning environments, communicate effectively, integrate technology into teaching, and apply business knowledge to educational and professional settings.
Professional Alignment (Accreditation)
The Business Teacher Education sequence is aligned with Illinois teacher-education requirements. Students complete required clinical experiences, professional education coursework, and the state-required edTPA performance assessment. The program prepares graduates to meet or exceed Illinois teacher-certification requirements upon completion.
Reputation (Employability and Recognition)
Illinois State identifies Business Education as the only K–12 Business Education program in Illinois and the only dedicated program of its kind at a public institution in the state. The university reports that graduates enter teaching and a range of professional sectors, including finance, insurance, manufacturing, public administration, retail, and professional services.
At Illinois State University, Business Education students gain practical teaching experience through classroom observations, clinical placements, and supervised student teaching. Students begin engaging with K–12 classrooms during their early years of study, gradually progressing from observation and tutoring to lesson planning, instruction, and classroom management. The university also provides opportunities to experience diverse school environments and participate in summer business internships.
Students can develop their professional skills through the following opportunities:
Classroom-Based Clinical Experiences: Students complete at least 100 hours of pre-student-teaching classroom experience, including observation, tutoring, and teaching activities.
Student Teaching: Choose between a traditional 16-week student-teaching placement or an eligible year-long Professional Development School internship.
Professional Development Schools (PDS): Gain extended experience in a public school, with on-site university classes, mentoring, classroom responsibilities, and opportunities to build professional connections.
Diverse School Environments: Experience urban classrooms, diverse student populations, and special education settings.
Summer Business Internships: Explore business career internships to gain experience beyond teaching.
Lauby Teacher Education Center: Access support for clinical placements, student-teaching requirements, educator licensure, and school-district partnerships.
Career Preparation: Receive support with teaching résumés, job fairs, interviews, and employment preparation through the university's Career Center.
Official Facilities and Experiential Learning Sources:
College of Education Facilities
Lauby Teacher Education Center
Professional Development Schools
Graduates of Illinois State University's Business Education major are prepared for teaching careers and a variety of professional opportunities across education and business. The program develops business knowledge, communication, instructional planning, and technology skills that can support careers in schools, training environments, and other professional settings.
Career Opportunities
Business Education Teacher, Career and Technical Education Instructor, Corporate Trainer, School Administrator.
Other related career paths include marketing executive, entrepreneur, human resources specialist, manager, and digital content creator.
Career Development and Graduate Outcomes
Career Center Support: Illinois State's Career Center provides résumé development, interview preparation, job-search strategies, job fairs, and employer connections through Hire-A-Redbird.
Teaching Placements: The Lauby Teacher Education Center coordinates clinical experiences and student-teaching placements with school districts and educational partners.
Professional Development School Opportunities: Eligible students can participate in year-long school placements with mentoring, mock interviews, and opportunities to connect with school administrators.
Industry Experience: Students may participate in summer business internships, while College of Business internship programs provide opportunities to gain practical experience and academic credit where eligible.
Employment Sectors: University-reported graduate employment sectors include education, hospitality, finance, insurance, manufacturing, public administration, retail, and professional services.
Professional Recognition: The teacher-preparation pathway aligns with Illinois educator licensure requirements. Illinois State's Lauby Teacher Education Center identifies the university's educator-preparation provider as CAEP accredited.
Employment Statistics and Salaries: No specific program-level employment rate, graduate salary figure, or median starting salary was verified on the official program sources; these figures are therefore not stated.
Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue their education through the Master of Science in Business Education (MSBE), Master of Business Administration (MBA), advanced education degrees, or other professional graduate studies. These pathways can support further development in business education, leadership, curriculum development, and professional training.
Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.50. The middle 50% GPA range for admitted students is 3.20–3.53.
No specific admission courses are required; however, recommended subjects include Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Statistics, Finite Mathematics, English Composition, and Child Growth and Development. US universities use a holistic admissions review. Beyond grades and standardized test scores, they weigh the strength of your overall profile to understand who you are as a student and a person.
Profile Assessment: Applicants are generally assessed on their preparation in English, social sciences, research and quantitative reasoning. Statistics may be particularly helpful for Psychology, Education Research, Public Policy and other research-based programs. Volunteering, tutoring, community projects, advocacy, research, student leadership and activities involving communication or social issues may strengthen the application.Essays & recommendations: Personal essays and teacher/counselor recommendations give context to your achievements and help demonstrate fit with the program.Business Education TeacherBusiness and Computer Education TeacherAccounting TeacherBusiness Law TeacherMarketing TeacherComputer Applications InstructorInformation Technology TeacherCorporate TrainerSchool AdministratorSchool PrincipalSchool SuperintendentMarketing ExecutiveDigital Content CreatorEntrepreneurBusiness Manager
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