CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The University of Illinois College of Business is offering a new four-week certificate program to give non-business majors a leg up when they hit the job market.
The crash course seeks to give students a competitive edge, augmenting their primary studies with business fundamentals that apply in nearly every career, said Cele Otnes, the director of the program.
“This program will really round out students’ resumes, setting them apart from thousands of other graduates in their majors,” she said. “It shows that they were proactive to make themselves more marketable and also demonstrates their intellectual curiosity.”
She says resume building is especially important as students compete for work in an economy that is still recovering from a deep and lingering recession.
“It’s hard to differentiate yourself in a market like this,” said Otnes, a U. of I. marketing professor. “There are signs that the economy is turning around, but it’s still tough out there and this program can help.”
The 72-hour program is a “boot camp” on the basics of business, she said, covering accounting, finance, marketing and management. Students will receive training in entrepreneurship, business ethics and sustainable business practices, along with skills such as resume building, business writing and effective presentations.
The certificate program also will include a case-study competition that will give students a chance to develop solutions for real-world business problems.
Classes are scheduled on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from May 24 to June 17, and will be taught by more than a dozen professors from the nationally ranked College of Business at the U. of I.
The program is open to students with at least a junior standing at the U. of I. or other four-year colleges, as well as graduates. Cost is $3,500, along with a $300 charge for program-related fees.
Officials hope the pilot program, offered through the new Illinois Summer Management Institute, becomes an annual event. A complete course schedule is online.
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