FAQs

Registration

How can I find out my registration time?

Your date and time for Advance Registration is available on iCampus. To find out when that information is available on iCampus please visit the Office of the University Registrar’s website.

How do I add a class after the semester begins?

During the first three days of fall and spring classes (after the first day of classes in summer), students may continue to register (add or drop classes) via iCampus. Students registering for the first time, on or after the first day of classes for the fall or spring semester will be charged a $25 late registration fee.

In some cases, students may be permitted to register for one or more classes after the third day of classes. See your advisor for more information and permission.

After the second week of classes in fall or spring semesters (after the first day of classes in summer semester), you will need to register in person at the Student Service and Referral Center in Moulton Hall Room 107; or you will need to send your registration request (with your signature) via US mail to Office of the University Registrar, Illinois State University, Campus Box 2202, Normal, IL 61790-2202 and/or fax the request to 309/438-3193. If you choose US mail, we suggest you send your letter via certified mail with a return receipt requested.

Degree Requirements

How long do I have to finish my degree?

Beginning with the semester in which you take your first core or elective class, you have six years to finish your degree. Students who exceed the six-year limit have to prove they are still current in the core/elective class(es) that were taken more than six years before their projected graduation date. There are generally three ways to do so: (1) recent work experience in the area covered by the class, (2) writing a paper or doing research in any areas which have changed since the class was taken, or (3) re-taking the class. If several classes were taken in your first semester of core/elective classes (e.g. as a full-time student) and you are now a part-time student, it can sometimes be difficult to be current in all areas at the same time. Be sure to contact your MBA advisor for help in arranging your schedule.

Can I do an independent study?

Maybe, but there are several issues to consider before an answer can be given to your question. First, except in rare cases, only one 3-hour independent study OR one 3-hour internship can be counted toward your MBA degree. Second, you must have a reason for doing an independent study instead of taking a class. For example, is there some topic you want to study to enhance your career but a class on that topic is not offered at Illinois State? Third, since faculty do not receive any extra pay or any course release time for supervising an independent study, there must be some other reason for them to want to work with you. For example, will it add to their publication list, will it give them access to confidential corporate data, or will it help them develop the curriculum for a new class?

Once a faculty member agrees to supervise an independent study project for you, you need to submit an Independent Study Form to the MBA Office (available on the MBA Web site), giving a short description of the proposed project. The faculty member, that faculty member's department chair and the MBA Director need to approve the project and sign the form, Then an override is done and you register for ACC 450, FIL 400, MKT 400, or MQM 400, ordinarily for 3 hours of credit.

If I receive a grade of D or F in a course, do I need to take that class over?

Yes, unless it was an elective course, in which case you could either repeat the same elective or take another elective. "Courses completed at Illinois State with grades below C will not count toward a graduate degree, but all grades of D and F in graduate courses at Illinois State will be included in computing the cumulative grade point average [except that when a course is repeated, the grade the student earns in the repeat will replace the original grade in the cumulative GPA calculation]." -- quoted from the 2002-2003 Graduate Catalog and from Graduate School Policy 1235: Repetition of Course Requirements.

Can I take the Educational Investment Fund class for MBA credit?

Yes, however, you must complete an application, meet the prerequisite requirements and receive the consent of the instructor to register for the class.

Furthermore, you must do an extra research project to make the class worthy of graduate credit.

MBA students must register for the class as FIL 400: Portfolio Management, NOT FIL 370. It is very important you do so, or you will not receive MBA elective credit for the class.

Applications are available from the instructor or your MBA advisor.

Can I take the internship in college teaching class for MBA credit?

Yes. Students interested in a career in college teaching should consider taking this class as an elective. The class is offered during fall and spring semesters, and a sample syllabus is posted on the Web at: http://www.coe.ilstu.edu/ci/syllabi/index.shtml. The course is C&I 491: Internship Seminar in College Teaching.

Graduate standing is required to register for the course. Students wishing to register should contact the C & I 491 instructor. Also, you need advance approval from the MBA Program to count this toward your MBA degree. See you MBA advisor for assistance.

Should I do a thesis?

A thesis is recommended for students who are planning to continue on to a Ph.D. program, or who have a strong, specific research interest.

There are several advantages in choosing to do a thesis. A thesis can count for up to two electives (6 credit hours). Thesis research may be beneficial to you or your employer, and may result in a journal publication or an award. Faculty are very accessible at Illinois State and are willing to work with students to make the thesis a manageable project. Thus you will be better prepared to tackle a Ph.D. dissertation, which is a much larger project, and usually is completed with much less faculty direction. In addition to learning about the content of your thesis, you can develop skills and learn a lot about research, including focus, time management, and editing. You can also cultivate great faculty contacts.

Some disadvantages to a thesis are that it may cost you money from your own pocket to complete the research and, as with any large research project, it may take longer to complete than you originally expected. Additionally, faculty you are working with may go on sabbatical, resign, or retire before your project is complete.

It is recommended that you consult with your MBA advisor for assistance in determining if a thesis is right for you.

Graduate Assistantships

What is a graduate assistantship?

Graduate assistantships provide financial support for select graduate students, and are intended to facilitate progress toward a graduate degree.  There are approximately 40 GA positions within the College of Business.

In the College of Business a full-time graduate assistant will work 20 hours per week, typically 10 hours each for two faculty members.  GA's may assist with research projects or evaluations, or assist faculty with undergraduate business classes.  A half-time graduate assistant will typically work 10 hours per week.

Because graduate assistantship positions in the College of Business are limited students are welcome to apply for GA positions in other departments on campus. 

GA's are provided with tuition waivers and a monthly stipend.  GA's must be full-time students in the MBA program (registered for 9 hours) and must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0.

How do I apply for a graduate assistant positions in the College of Business or other departments on campus?

All GA postings are available for review on Illinois State University's employment webpage. There you can find a listing of all available GA positions and apply for an appointment.

Financial Aid

 How many hours do I need to take to qualify for financial aid?

Graduate students must be enrolled for a minimum of 5 hours per semester (half-time status) to be eligible for federal and state financial aid programs.

Where can I find out about financial aid?

If you are interested in federal or state loan programs, you should see Mr. Shawn Rigsby in the Financial Aid office. Mr. Rigsby is a financial aid advisor who works with graduate students. The Financial Aid office phone number is 309-438-2231. Shawn's direct line is 438-2744.

There are numerous other types of financial assistance available. To learn about these visit the MBA web site at:

http://www.mba.ilstu.edu/current_stu/fin_assis.shtm.

Also see the Scholarship Resource Office in Fell Hall, Room 251.

And occasionally other financial aid opportunities are posted on the MBA bulletin board outside the MBA Office.

What's an academic talent tuition waiver?

The University allocates funds to supplement tuition for graduate students. Each semester a limited number of Academic Talent Tuition Waivers are awarded to domestic and international M.B.A. students. These awards cover all or part of the tuition, but students are responsible for fees.

DOMESTIC -- Awards are based on an applicant's academic credentials at admission, participation in M.B.A. activities, and academic record in the M.B.A. program. A grade point of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last sixty hours of undergraduate coursework or a GMAT score of at least 550 is required for incoming students. A cumulative graduate grade point of at least 3.5 is required for continuing MBA students. Applications are available at the M.B.A. office and should be submitted by the close of advance registration for fall and spring semesters (or by the end of the sixth week of the summer session). The first round of decisions is made two weeks before the start of the semester. A second round of decisions for fall and spring semesters is made after the second week of the semester. Applications are also available on the MBA web site at: http://www.mba.ilstu.edu/current_stu/fin_assis.shtm.

INTERNATIONAL -- International students who are in their SECOND or later semester of the MBA program and who have done well during their first semester in the MBA program at Illinois State may apply to the Office of International Studies for a tuition waiver. These awards are based on financial need and academic success.

What scholarship opportunities are available?

There are numerous scholarship opportunities available to MBA students. See the MBA web site at http://www.mba.ilstu.edu/current_stu/fin_assis.shtm and the Graduate School web site at http://www.grad.ilstu.edu/financial/ for scholarship information and applications.

Additionally, you can search for scholarships through the Financial Aid Office web site at http://www.fao.ilstu.edu/scholarships/index.shtml, or visit the Scholarship Resource Office in Fell Hall, Room 251.

And occasionally other scholarship opportunities are posted on the MBA bulletin board outside the MBA Office.