Strategic Business Development & Entrepreneurship

Gies students majoring in Strategic Business Development & Entrepreneurship are leaders, decision makers, and insightful thinkers who aren't afraid to challenge the status quo.

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has been named one of the top 5 producers of unicorns—privately held startup companies valued at more than $1 billion—and the #13 producer of serial entrepreneurs by PitchBook, which tracks public and private equity markets.

Your academic journey

The typical plan of study includes business core courses, major core courses, and the required number of major electives. The major electives sample is not a comprehensive list. Students work directly with a Gies academic advisor to determine appropriate coursework, scheduling, and number of credit hours needed to fulfill degree requirements.

  • Business core courses

    Course Title Notes
    ACCY 201 Accounting and Accountancy I
    ACCY 202 Accounting and Accountancy II
    BADM 210 Business Analytics I
    BADM 211 Business Analytics II
    BADM 275 Fundamentals of Operations and Management
    BADM 310 Management and Organizational Behavior
    BADM 320 Principles of Marketing
    BADM 449 Business Policy and Strategy
    BUS 101 Professional Responsibility and Business
    BUS 201 Business Dynamics
    BUS 301 Business in Action
    BUS 401 Business in a Global Perspective
    FIN 221 Corporate Finance
  • Sample Major Courses

    Course Title Notes
    BADM 367 Management of Innovation and New Technology
    BADM 446 Entrepreneurship: New Venture Creation
    FIN 423 Financing Emerging Businesses
  • Sample Major Electives

    Course Title Notes
    BADM 312 Designing and Managing Organizations
    BADM 314 Leading Negotiations
    BADM 322 Marketing Research
    BADM 327 Marketing to Business & Government
    BADM 329 New Product Development
    BADM 332 Sustainable Product Design & Marketing Plan I
    BADM 359 Problem Formulation and Solving in Business
    BADM 395 Social Entrepreneurship & Social Change
    BADM 445 Small Business Consulting
    BADM 447 Legal Strategy for Entrepreneurship Firm

Job categories

Entrepreneurship

Use your strongest passions and help solve meaningful problems for your consumers and clients.

Business development

Business development managers are responsible for growing businesses by finding new opportunities, researching leads, and establishing relationships.

Consulting

A management consultant, also sometimes called a management analyst, helps a company or government entity plan and execute projects.

Career services

Gies Business is committed to career and professional development and supports all students with career advising, skill development workshops, résumé reviews, career fairs, and much more.

Support for your entrepreneurial interests