MBA β€” Accelerated

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  • Only 12 months stand between you and infinite possibilities! 

    The Accelerated MBA Program Experience

    Our Accelerated MBA Program provides a unique experience tailored to the diverse needs of today's ambitious business professionals. Immerse yourself in our rigorous curriculum, learn from world-class faculty, build leadership experience and form a supportive network. You will gain mastery of all of the functional areas of business and be prepared to positively impact organizations, communities and individuals. The accelerated format gets you on the job market faster! 

    Application Deadline: May 1

    • Designed for recent graduates and younger professionals from all majors
    • Starts every June
    • Hybrid format consisting of 10 in-person and four online courses
    • 12-month, 40-credit program delivered in eight-week units
    • Cohorts typically average 15-20 students
    • Learn from world-class faculty
    • Develop a network of new contacts
    • Travel internationally as part of the curriculum
    • Access to state-of-the-art technology in the MBA suite
    • Graduate assistantships available
    • Alumni scholarships available
    • Choose from five specializations
      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Business Analytics
      • Cybersecurity
      • Finance
      • Healthcare Administration

  • StudentSpotlight

    Hear why these student's chose ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's 12-month Accelerated MBA program.

  • Tailor Your Learning

    Students in the Accelerated Program have the opportunity to select a specialization that is specifically designed to help them reach their career goals! Our specializations are built for driven individuals who aspire to do more than earn a degree β€” they're ready to lead, innovate and transform the business industry. Each specialization combines real-world application with our forward-looking curriculum, equipping students to challenges and anticipate opportunities.

    1. Artificial Intelligence

    Transform your career by gaining expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI) β€” no coding experience is needed. Professionals with AI skills can earn wages that exceed those of their peers by as much as 25%.

    2. Business Analytics 

    In today's business environment, data-driven decision making is essential. This specialization will allow you to master modern analytics tools and drive organizational growth through data-driven strategies.

    3. Cybersecurity

    Learn how to protect enterprise assets in the digital age. Our industry-aligned program will teach you how to lead security initiatives and manage cyber risks.

    4. Finance

    Get ready to make your mark on the business landscape as you learn how to navigate modern markets with confidence, master innovative financial strategies and transform businesses from the ground up.

    5. Healthcare Administration

    Students focusing on this area of specialization will learn to run medical facilities in expert ways while partnering with real medical centers to solve today's business health challenges.

    View Full Details

     

  • Graduate Assistantships (GAs) are made available each year in the Accelerated MBA Program, providing much-needed experience for graduate students while increasing their future employment options.  Graduate assistants typically serve in a support role at ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ while completing the Accelerated MBA Program.

    Applications for 2025-2026 Graduate Assistantships are now CLOSED.

    * To apply for a GA position, you must first be admitted to the MBA Program *

    Apply for a Graduate Assistantship

    Types

    Graduate assistantships are offered in both academic and administrative areas.  Assistantships provided through academic departments typically involve teaching responsibilities.  Assistantships in administrative offices involve research and a variety of office-specific tasks.

    Graduate assistantships may be available in the following ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ campus departments/offices (but not limited to):

    • Admissions
    • Alumni & Development
    • Athletics
    • ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ
    • Center for Entrepreneurship
    • Center for International Education
    • College of Fine Arts
    • Information Technology
    • Kirkland Fine Arts Center
    • Marketing & Media Relations
    • Student Development
    • Tabor School of Business

    Selection and placement of graduate assistantships will be determined by the end of April (prior to the June start date), based on enrollment of each Accelerated MBA cohort.

    Eligibility 

    • To be eligible for a graduate assistantship, a student must be admitted to the Accelerated MBA Program.
    • Students who receive an assistantship must be enrolled in a minimum of six hours of graduate level course work during a regular semester.
    • Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA throughout the Accelerated MBA Program.
    • Graduate assistants will not receive the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Alumni Scholarship in conjunction with the GA tuition waiver.

    Responsibilities

    • Assistantships begin when classes begin in June and continue through graduation in the following May.
    • Students should expect to work a minimum of 20 hours per week (schedules will be determined by the GA and supervisor).

    Tuition Waiver

    • The graduate assistantship provides a student with a tuition waiver of 30% for enrolled courses.

    Stipend

    • Graduate assistants earn a monthly stipend of $500, as long as they are enrolled full-time.

    Housing

    • Discounted housing is available for graduate assistants in . The Woods is a privately owned apartment complex that partners with ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ for on-campus housing. The GA is only responsible for paying the deposit and utilities. 

    Timeline

    • April 1: GA applications due
    • Mid-April: Interviews
    • End of April: GAs selected and placed
    • First of June: GAs begin employment

    More information

     

    John Pirelli"The opportunity to gain valuable work experience in an ever-growing information technology industry, earning reduced tuition and obtaining a fast-track master's degree are just a few reasons why the Graduate Assistantship Program is excellent for making your professional dreams come true."

    - John Pirelli '19/MBA '21

     

    Sophia Schwalbachβ€œThe opportunities to have reduced tuition, earn money and work for the Marketing Department, all while obtaining my MBA, are invaluable assets that are helping me become a successful career professional.”

    - Sophia Schwalbach '19/MBA '20

  • ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ's Accelerated MBA Program begins with an intensive review of topics (also known as Boot Camp) before beginning three terms with seven- or eight-week courses. Students are often enrolled in two or three courses at a time. The MBA Program is 40 total credit hours.

    Summer: 

    • MB501: Boot Camp (1 credit)
    • MB540: Financial Accounting (3 credits)
    • MB5**: Specialization Course #1 (3 credits)

    Fall: 

    • MB510: Personal Values & Business Ethics (3 credits)
    • MB530: Financial Fundamentals (3 credits)
    • MB5**: Specialization Course #2 (3 credits)
    • MB520: Globalization & World Economics (3 credits)
    • MB560: Cases in Financial Decision Making (3 credits)
    • MB5**: Specialization Course #3 (3 credits)

    Spring: 

    • MB5**: Specialization Course #4 (3 credits)
    • MB550: Strategic Marketing Analysis (3 credits)
    • MB590: Business Strategy (3 credits)
    • MB600: Capstone (3 credits)
    • MB610: Global Business Consulting (3 credits)

    View MBA Course Descriptions

    Take an MBA Class During Your Senior Year!

    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ University undergraduate students in the Tabor School of Business, or students majoring in Arts Administration, Music Business or Sport & Recreation Management, may take an MBA class during their senior year. 

    Contact Jaclyn Cantwell, Director of the MBA Program, at jcantwell@millikin.edu, 217.424.3503, or stop by ADM-Scovill 105E.

    To register, please complete this form: Concurrent Enrollment Registration Form

  • When does the Accelerated MBA Program start and how long is it?

    • The Accelerated MBA Program begins in June of each year and ends 12 months later, in May of the following year.

    What's the Accelerated program like?

    • It's designed for recent graduates or younger professionals from ALL majors.
    • You will start the program with a review course (referred to as Boot Camp) covering core business topics and helpful soft skill training to ensure that all graduate students have the same knowledge base at the start of the program. Students then advance through their 13 courses, often taking a few at a time, each lasting seven or eight weeks.
      • In-person courses meet once a week for 3.5 hours each (days and times will vary each term). In-person courses do not meet during holiday breaks.
      • Online courses are asynchronous.
      • The course schedule can be found in the Curriculum section above.
    • Students can choose between five specializations: Artificial Intelligence, Business Analytics, Cybersecurity, Finance or Healthcare Administration.
      • The four courses in each specialization are offered online.
    • Students have the opportunity to travel internationally as part of the curriculum.
    • The average cohort size is 15-20 students.

    What if I have to miss a class?

    • You can attend class remotely when "life happens!"  Our MBA classroom, designed with high-tech equipment, allows MBA students the flexibility to attend class virtually, as well as watch a recording of class.  **Please keep in mind this is not to be used as a permanent arrangement.**  

    How many credit hours are required in the program?

    • 40 total credit hours

    How much does the program cost?

    • Information on tuition and fees can be found

    Is financial aid available?

    What are the admission requirements?

    When is the deadline to apply for the Accelerated Program?

    • May 1 of each year

    How do I apply?

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