Technological Entrepreneurship (M.S.)
Our STEM-designated program empowers you with the technology-based managerial and entrepreneurial skills that you need to lead innovative business ventures.
More and more, the creation of societal value and wealth is driven by sophisticated, new technologies—through both the increasing pace of technological change and the effective management of high-growth scaling.
As the only business school in Chicago embedded in a tech-focused university, Stuart School of Business is uniquely positioned to train students with backgrounds in STEM fields to take on key roles in startups and innovative tech companies in this fast-moving, competitive environment.
Stuart’s Master of Science in Technological Entrepreneurship program provides future technological entrepreneurs with the scientific and quantitative managerial skills to successfully engage in entrepreneurial activities, such as developing a business idea, commercializing a technology, or working as an intrapreneur to drive innovation within a tech-based company.
Courses cover essential entrepreneurial skills and knowledge, including but not limited to ideation, market recognition, customer discovery, prototype design, financial modeling, visualization and data analytics, and social media marketing analytics. Throughout the program, you will apply your learning in a capstone project.
Chicago boasts one of the largest innovation ecosystems in the world, and Stuart faculty collaborate closely with the city’s entrepreneurship community to help students develop their professional networks. You’ll also have support through Illinois Tech’s Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship and student entrepreneurship organizations on campus.
Through Illinois Tech’s one-of-a-kind Elevate program, you are guaranteed hands-on experiences, such as internships, throughout your graduate education, as well as personalized guidance from a career adviser, academic mentor, and alumni coach.
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
Combining interdisciplinary academics with a multi-semester capstone project, the STEM-designated M.S. in Technological Entrepreneurship program develops students’ strategic and quantitative skills in business, design, analytics, and decision making, and then provides opportunities to apply those skills in real time.
Career Opportunities
The M.S. in Technological Entrepreneurship program is ideal for students with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or other technical fields who are looking to gain the necessary skills in management, design, innovation, and business analytics to launch startups and take on leadership positions in businesses of all sizes where technology plays a central role.
The M.S. in Technological Entrepreneurship program combines qualitative and quantitative rigor across academic disciplines including business, design, statistics, analytics, and management science. You will build technology-based managerial and decision-making skills that are applicable across many industries and types of organizations.
The program requires successful completion of at least 33 credit hours. All courses listed are three credit hours each, except as noted. View business (BUS), business administration (MBA), design (IDX), finance (MSF), marketing analytics (MAX), and management science (MSC) course descriptions.
Core Courses
Required; 15 credit hours
MBA 576—New Technology Ventures
IDX 560—Introduction to Design Thinking
BUS 592—Master of Technological Entrepreneurship Capstone (nine credit hours)
Also select one of the following core courses for three credit hours:
BUS 510—Strategic Management
MBA 529—Social Entrepreneurship
Elective Courses
Select 15 credit hours (five courses) from the following approved list:
BUS 550—Business Statistics
MSF 503—Financial Modeling
MAX 501—Digital Marketing
MSC 517—Analytics for Decision Making
MSC 518—Marketing Research and Engineering
MSC 655—Visual Analytics—Data Analytics and Visualization
MSC 616—Social Media Marketing Analytics
MBA 505—Microeconomics and Game Theory
MBA 513—Operations and Technology Management
MBA 532—Artificial Intelligence
- Completed online application
- Official transcript submission with a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- No GMAT or GRE scores required
- Official TOEFL or IELTS score, if required. A minimum score of 85 on the internet-based TOEFL, 600 on the paper-based TOEFL, or 7.0 on the IELTS exam is required for admission consideration
- A one-page statement of purpose, with goals and objectives
- At least one letter of recommendation from an academic or professional reference
Current Illinois Tech undergraduates and recent alumni have options to reduce the number of credits required for this program through the university’s Accelerated Master’s Program. For more specific information about admission and the application process that pertains to you, visit the links below:
New to Illinois Tech Illinois Tech Undergrad Student
Scholarships
Students pursuing the M.S. in Technological Entrepreneurship degree who demonstrate a continuing commitment to innovation are eligible for the Chicago Innovation Scholarship, which awards up to $14,000 for the full two-year program. Read more about Stuart scholarship opportunities and tuition and fees:
Our Core Strengths
Kaplan Institute
The Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship was created to help innovative and entrepreneurial Illinois Tech students become the leaders, inventors, and entrepreneurs of the future.
Alumni
A global network of accomplished Illinois Tech alumni is available to engage with and support our students.
Faculty Collaboration
With smaller class sizes at Stuart School of Business, the level of access to faculty is high.
Student Relationships
With a cohort of students completing the two terms in unison, there are opportunities to develop lasting friendships and networks.
Active Learning
Faculty work closely with colleagues and graduate students at Stuart to create knowledge across a wide range of topics in business and technology.
Interdisciplinary Focus
Ideas, expertise, and resources from the fields of business, design, law, and technology produce a rich environment for learning and innovation.
Featured Faculty
Nik Rokop
Weslynne Ashton
Elizabeth J. Durango-Cohen
M. Krishna Erramilli
Ghazale Haddadian
Priyanka Sharma
Liad Wagman
Peter Zapf
Jeremy Alexis
Apply Your Learning in a Capstone Project
Which Tech Entrepreneurship Program at Stuart Is Right for You?
Stuart offers two master’s programs in technological entrepreneurship, both featuring the same interdisciplinary set of required courses and hands-on entrepreneurial experience throughout the program in a capstone project.
- M.S. in Technological Entrepreneurship—STEM-designated, so international graduates of the program are eligible to apply for an extension for Optional Practical Training in the United States. Offers elective courses focused on analytics and quantitative skills.
- Master of Technological Entrepreneurship—Offers flexibility for you to choose elective courses from across the university to fit your interests and goals.
Stuart Stands Out
Earn Two Degrees (Bachelor’s + Master’s) in Just Five Years with Accelerated Master’s Program
Only Business School in a Tech-Focused University in Chicago
Stuart is AACSB Accredited. Only 6% of Business Schools Globally Are.
—Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International