Business and Psychology (B.S.)

The Bachelor of Science in Business and Psychology degree is an innovative, cross-disciplinary program that brings together two dynamic disciplines to open exciting career paths for students, particularly in fast-growing marketing and management roles.

From designing products to marketing, sales, and delivery, businesses need to understand the behaviors and thought processes of their customers. Having a knowledge of psychology is also critical in helping managers and leaders at all levels of a business or organization select, support, motivate, and train employees.

Students in the B.S. in Business and Psychology program learn how to apply the insights and research methods of psychology—the scientific study of human behavior and motivation—to drive success within businesses and organizations of all types.

The STEM-oriented curriculum, with courses taught by world-class faculty from Stuart School of Business and Lewis College of Science and Letters at Illinois Institute of Technology, provides exposure to disciplinary cores in both business and psychology, and the opportunity to learn from subject matter experts from both colleges.

You’ll gain a foundation in psychology that includes statistics and research, social psychology, developmental psychology, cognition, and personality. Business courses offer a grounding in marketing, economics, accounting, innovation, operations, strategic management, and organizational behavior.

Through Illinois Tech’s one-of-a-kind Elevate program, you are guaranteed access to hands-on experiences—such as internships, group projects, and research—where you connect your classroom learning with real-world practice. You also receive mentoring to guide your academic studies and to prepare you to land a great job when you graduate.

Chicago is an international business and financial center and boasts one of the nation’s most diverse metro area economies. With Illinois Tech’s connections across industries and within the city’s private and public sectors, you’ll have access to remarkable resources for internships, networking, and employment opportunities.

STEM-Designated Program

This is a STEM-designated program, and international graduates of the program are eligible to apply for an extension for Optional Practical Training, which allows selected students to stay and work in the United States for up to three years after graduation.

Program Overview

Understanding human behavior and motivation is one of the keys to becoming an effective manager and leader, and to advancing your career in any type of business or organization. In the STEM-focused B.S. in Business and Psychology program, students develop their knowledge and skills in these two complementary disciplines by exploring the relationships among cognition, behavior, marketing, management, and business practices.

Career Opportunities

The B.S. in Business and Psychology degree can provide excellent preparation for careers—particularly in marketing and management roles—across a wide range of businesses and industries, such as health services, as well as in the public and nonprofit sectors. 

Examples of such occupations, along with estimated median annual pay in 2022 and projected employment growth from 2022–2032, as reported by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, include:

• Medical and health services managers—median pay of $104,830; job growth outlook of 28 percent growth (much faster than the average for all occupations)
• Administrative services and facilities managers—median pay of $101,870; job growth outlook of 5 percent (faster than average)
• Social and community service managers—median pay of $74,240; job growth outlook of 9 percent (much faster than average)
• Market research analysts—median pay of $68,230; job growth outlook of 13 percent (much faster than average)
• Advertising, promotions, and marketing managers (typically requires work experience)—median pay of $138,730; job growth outlook of 6 percent (faster than average)