What is the T&M Seminar and how do I apply?
The T&M Seminar course (BADM/ENG 261) is a one-credit hour course that provides students with an introduction to technology and management careers through a series of talks presented by industry leaders from Fortune 500 and Fortune Global 500 companies. Students would be eligible for the course during the semester of their sophomore year.
What majors are eligible to apply?
Students from the following majors are eligible to apply:
Gies College of Business (all majors)
The Grainger College of Engineering (all majors)
College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (Agricultural and Biological Engineering majors only)
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (Chemical Engineering majors only)
Is my CS+X or X+DS major eligible?
If the "X" in CS+X or X+DS is eligible as a stand-alone major, then the + major also is eligible. At this time, only the following + majors are eligible.
- Computer Science + Bioengineering
- Computer Science + Physics
- Business + Data Science
- Finance + Data Science
- Accountancy + Data Science
Are students transferring to UIUC eligible to apply?
You must be enrolled as a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign at the time you apply to this program.
How are students selected for the T&M Program?
Students are selected through a competitive application process. Students will complete the initial application over winter break of their sophomore year. The application includes essay questions that assess an applicant's background, interests, academic qualifications, leadership potential, and personal/professional goals. After a careful review of the applications, selected students will be invited to participate in two admissions interviews, one with the program director and one with an academic director. After all interviews are complete, the program director and the two academic directors will compare notes and work together to build a cohort of 68 students who aptitude, interests, and career aspirations align with the T&M program's mission and goals.
What is the makeup of the program's student body?
The program traditionally admits roughly equal numbers of engineering and business majors.
Do engineering majors selected for the T&M minor have any special privileges to enroll in any non-T&M courses taught by Gies Business?
Engineering majors do not have any special privileges to enroll in non-T&M courses in Gies. Students can view the restrictions and notes on Course Explorer to see courses that are available to them.
How much additional work does the T&M minor involve?
The T&M minor requires 22 credit hours for completion. The courses are neither more challenging nor less difficult than required junior and senior courses in engineering and business majors. The capstone senior project accounts for four credits and typically requires the diligent application of time and effort in the fourth semester of the program. The are two optional international immersion trips offered each year and they are each worth one two credit hour.
Can I get elective credit for any of the T&M courses I take?
This depends upon the specific policies and guidelines of individual departments. Your academic advisor will be able to provide you this information.
If I apply and am selected to be interviewed, what if I am studying abroad during the spring semester and can't attend interviews in-person?
All admissions interviews are conducted virtually, so you can participate from wherever you are studying! Demonstrating curiosity and an openness to trying new experiences might actually help differentiate you from other students who apply for the program.
Can I study abroad while I'm in the T&M Program?
Our best advice is to study abroad either during your freshman or sophomore year. The required courses for the T&M minor are offered only once a year and follow a specific sequence. The only course with multiple sections is FIN 221 for the engineering students, and that class can be taken at any time after a student is selected for the T&M Program. Application to the T&M Program requires a commitment to the coursework and an understanding that the required courses to complete the minor span two consecutive years (four consecutive academic semesters on campus). Exceptions have been given by program leadership to engineering majors who co-op the fall semester of their senior year if an equivalent to the Business Process Modeling course can be taken either during the summer following the student's junior year or during the winter term during their senior year.
Do I have to have a high GPA to be selected into the T&M Program?
A proven track record of academic success can help a student's chances of being selected for the program. However, many other things are taken into consideration that are not reflected on a transcript, such as leadership, intellectual curiosity, work ethic, and how the student can contribute toward creating a positive learning experience for other members of the class.
Are co-curricular events required?
There are a 2-3 required events each semester and it is expected that you will attend those events while in the program. Most students take advantage of as many of the T&M events as possible, knowing that the skills gained and the professional connections made are a significant part of what makes T&M such an impactful experience.
Will participation in the T&M Program delay my graduation?
The vast majority (roughly 90%) of T&M students complete their major(s) and the T&M minor in four academic years. To do so requires careful planning, especially for those students who did not come to Illinois with significant hours of AP credit or who had not already met the foreign language requirement for their college. Some students elect to take courses over the summer or winter break to stay on track to graduate in four years. Others elect to return to campus for a ninth semester, confident that the investment to acquire the T&M minor will reap dividends throughout their professional career. We strongly encourage you to work with your academic advisor to carefully plan the rest of your undergraduate academic career. You will be required to show your tentative class schedule as part of the application process.
Is it possible to take one or more T&M courses without being enrolled in the program?
Courses unique to the T&M minor can only taken by students selected for the T&M Program.
Can graduate students apply to the T&M Program?
No, the T&M minor is only for undergraduates in qualifying majors. There is a Master of Science in Technology Management graduate program.
Can international students apply to the T&M Program and/or will it affect my chances of being admitted?
Yes, international students are eligible to apply to the T&M Program and it will not affect your chances of being admitted.