Business Administration (M.B.A.)/Public Administration (M.P.A.)
The Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) and Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) dual-degree program at Illinois Institute of Technology’s Stuart School of Business is ideal for people who are currently in—or who aspire to—careers and professions that bridge the private and civic sectors.
Together, the Illinois Tech M.B.A. and M.P.A. degrees prepare students to be effective managers, decision-makers, and leaders, with a deep understanding of how to navigate both business and government to get things done.
The M.B.A program’s rigorous, tech-focused curriculum is designed to develop your innovation mindset and the intellectual agility to take on complex business challenges. Courses feature case studies, projects, and hands-on use of technology to build your analytical, strategic, and managerial skills.
With the M.P.A. program’s applied approach, you will gain administrative knowledge and skills in public and nonprofit management, analytics, policy analysis, strategic planning, and effective implementation strategies.
Through Illinois Tech’s one-of-a-kind Elevate program, you are guaranteed access to hands-on experiences throughout your graduate education, such as virtual and in-person internships, and personalized mentorship to guide your academic studies and career planning.
Our exclusive partnership with Chicago Innovation provides Stuart M.B.A. students with a free membership and access to the organization’s many business and networking events, which are annually attended by more than 10,000 successful professionals.
Enrolling in this dual-degree program reduces the total requirement for earning the two degrees by four courses (12 credits), compared to earning the M.B.A. and M.P.A. degrees separately.
Learn more about each program:
Master of Business Administration
Master of Public Administration
Program Overview
This dual-degree program prepares professionals for careers that bridge the civic and private sectors. Taught with an applied approach, the programs focus on technology and innovation in business and effective management, planning, and policy analysis and implementation in the public and nonprofit spheres.
Career Opportunities
The M.B.A./M.P.A. dual-degree program provides comprehensive preparation for careers and professions—especially in leadership positions—at the nexus between the private and civic spheres, or for professionals who want to move between business, governmental, and nonprofit positions during their careers.
- Governmental department directors, bureau chiefs, and other staff engaged in analyzing and implementing public policies and regulations that impact businesses
- Corporate consultants who work with governmental and nonprofit clients
- University and nonprofit administrators who engage with businesses, such as for contracts and partnerships
- Executives, managers, and staff at businesses that are subject to government regulations or have contracts with government agencies and nonprofit organizations
- The M.B.A./M.P.A. dual-degree program requires completion of 57 credits (19 courses at three credits per course) with a grade-point average of 3.0 or above. Students must complete a minimum of 30 M.B.A. credits and 27 M.P.A. credits.
- Core courses may be waived by the director of the relevant program and students may take advanced elective courses in their place.
Master of Business Administration
Completion of 10 courses (30 credits) is required. See descriptions for Business (BUS) and MBA Business (MBA) courses.
Core Courses—Seven courses (21 credits)
- BUS 510—Strategy and Innovation
- MBA 501—Financial Statement Applications
- MBA 504—Analytics for Decision Making
- MBA 509—Financial Management
- MBA 511—Marketing Strategy
- MBA 513—Operations and Technology Management
- BUS 590—Business Strategy Capstone
Elective Courses—Choose any three courses (nine credits)
- MBA 522—The General Manager
- MBA 523—Negotiations and Strategic Decision Making
- MBA 532—Artificial Intelligence
- MBA 534—Blockchain
- MBA 536—Internet of Things
- MBA 564—Global Business Strategy
- MBA 576—New Technology Ventures
Master of Public Administration
Completion of nine courses (27 credits) is required. See PA course descriptions.
- PA 501—Introduction to Public Administration
- PA 502—Organizational Behavior
- PA 522—Human Resource Management
- PA 532—Public Financial Management
- PA 568—Strategic Competitiveness in the Public Sector
- PA 580—Policy Evaluation Analytics
- MBA 505—Microeconomics and Game Theory (see note below)
- PA 599—Practicum
- PA elective (student chooses one course)
Note: PA 581—Policy Design Analytics is waived for M.B.A./M.P.A. dual-degree program participants.
- Students must apply and be accepted to both programs: Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) and Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)
- Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited educational institution with a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, have a strong record of academic achievement, and be highly recommended
- No GMAT or GRE scores required
- English proficiency exam, if required
International Students: Maintaining Eligibility
International students (F-1, J-1) must maintain full-time enrollment (nine credit hours per semester in the fall and spring semesters) in order to remain in the United States. It is possible for an international student to discontinue the M.B.A. program and continue the M.P.A. as a full-time program. However, an international student who discontinues the M.P.A. program for any reason must leave the dual-degree program because the M.B.A. is a part-time program.
Have Questions? Connect with Us
For any questions about Stuart School of Business degree programs or the application and enrollment process, contact our Director of Student Recruitment Claire Johnson.
Scholarships and Aid
All Stuart School of Business graduate students are automatically reviewed for merit-based and need-based financial aid awards at the time of admission to Illinois Tech. Learn more about Illinois Tech and Stuart scholarships and aid and costs:
Eyes on the Tech C-Suite
“The Stuart School gives you a strong base of skills to tackle the global corporate environment,” says Ambika Sahay Verma (M.B.A./M.P.A. ’22). Her dual-degree program provided the tech-focused management skills and hands-on experiences to land her current role at Intuit. It also puts her on the path to her long-term career goals.
Read MoreFeatured Faculty
M. Krishna Erramilli
Roland Calia
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Joanne E. Howard
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Joel Goldhar
Michael Rybak
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