School Details
The University of Illinois at Springfield is part of the University of Illinois System with over 50 years of experience in preparing future leaders. The university is dedicated to active teaching and learning, fostering meaningful research, and impactful civic engagement to prepare graduates for contributions to society.
UIS offers a diverse range of degree-granting programs through its four colleges, prioritizing student-focused teaching and learning, integrity, inquiry, civic engagement, diversity, strategic thinking, and accountability. For those seeking flexibility and convenience, UIS provides more than 50 online programs that maintain the same high-quality standards as on-campus coursework. These online courses offer students the opportunity to complete a degree, acquire new skills, advance in their current careers, or explore new professions from anywhere in the world.
Choose from programs in the university’s four colleges:
- College of Business & Management
- College of Health, Science & Technology
- College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
- College of Public Affairs & Education
Accreditation & Licensing
University of Illinois at Springfield is accredited by:
Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
All Programs
Art & Liberal Arts
The University of Illinois at Springfield offers an online Bachelor of Arts in English degree designed to help students prepare for teaching careers, jobs as editors and writers, or graduate work at the master's or doctoral level. The curriculum covers a wide range of topics in:
- British, American & World Literature
- Creative, Digital & Professional Writing
- Specific Genres
The University of Illinois at Springfield offers an online Bachelor of Arts in History degree program that is identical to the on-campus version except for admission requirements. Students receive broad-based humanities training and develop research capabilities, analytical methods, and communication skills that are useful in fields such as history, politics, government, business, law, journalism, writing, and administration. The curriculum covers topics like:
- The rise of agriculture, cities, states, and writing systems
- Marginalized groups on the periphery of civilization
- Near Eastern cultures, societies, beliefs, and traditions
- Gods and heroes of early Europe
- Portraits of Jesus in history
The University of Illinois at Springfield offers an online liberal arts degree that emphasizes the integration of key learning categories with a variety of instructional methods, resulting in a well-rounded and individualized academic experience. Students gain enhanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills, learn to be engaged and responsible citizens who consider ethics and consequences of actions, and become familiar with a broad and integrated core of knowledge. In planning their degree program, students must choose electives that address the following categories, with at least one upper-division course in each area required:
- Identity – the search for meaning
- Work – the value of vocation
- Nature – ecology of the planet
- Institutions – the social web
- Language – the crucial connection
- Heritage – the living past
- Art – the aesthetic dimension
The online political science degree program from the University of Illinois Springfield offers a flexible course of study that will provide you with a solid foundation for a career in law, politics, public service, research, or teaching. You'll have the opportunity to study:
- American national & state politics
- Politics & law
- Political philosophy
- Comparative & international politics
- Political behavior
The online MA in Liberal & Integrative Studies degree program from the University of Illinois at Springfield begins with the student designing an individualized degree proposal that is tailored to fit their particular goals, needs, and interests. This degree proposal must be interdisciplinary, but may also focus on an area such as:
- Human Resource Development;
- Global Education;
- Philosophy;
- Women & Gender Studies;
- African-American Studies;
- Technology; or
- Society & The Law
The program culminates in a master's project or thesis supporting the student's research and findings.
The University of Illinois at Springfield offers the online Master of Arts in Political Science. In this program, students have the ability to tailor their course of study to meet their individual research interests and professional goals, with the option of choosing an area of emphasis in:
- American National & State Politics;
- Comparative Politics / International Relations;
- Political Theory; or
- Public Law
Graduates are prepared to advance or begin their career in political science or a related field.
Business
The University of Illinois at Springfield offers an online Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Students will develop and educational foundation in business and also learn skills of critical thinking, problem solving, and leadership.
The University of Illinois at Springfield offers an online Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems degree. Students learn technical skills and also managerial skills to manage organizations of technical expertise.
Develop a comprehensive understanding of legal, economic, and political systems through the online Bachelor of Science in Public and Nonprofit Administration. Through this online bachelor’s program, students will learn analytical skills, organizational planning, communication, and human behavior. Students will gain a fundamental understanding of business management with an emphasis on public and nonprofit organizations.
Course topics include, but are not limited to:
- Public budgeting
- Social science research methods
- Law and ethics
Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will have the skills and knowledge to lead and manage people and organizations. They will excel at management, negotiations, designing, and improving programs in the public and nonprofit sectors. The online bachelor’s degree program in public and nonprofit administration will give graduates a competitive advantage in their careers.
Through the online Master of Business Administration in Applied Finance, students will gain a thorough understanding of financial principles and practices. Students will learn budgeting, valuation, risk management, and stock trading. They will also explore regulatory issues, ethics, and investment networks.
Courses include, but are not limited to:
- Business strategy
- Managerial finance
- Management accounting
Students will complete a capstone project that showcases their capabilities of applied finance theories and implementations. Graduates will be prepared to enter the field with the right skills necessary to succeed. The online master’s degree program in applied finance can pave the way to a lucrative career in the finance industry.
With the online Master of Business Administration, students will prepare themselves for business careers by developing critical thinking skills, analytical abilities, and strategic decision-making capabilities. Students will learn the fundamentals of business approaches and applications. They will also gain knowledge of finance, marketing, accounting, organizational behavior, and information systems.
The online MBA can lead to many careers, including but not limited to:
- Business Analyst
- Financial Planner
- Merchandiser
With the online MBA, graduates can position themselves as top candidates for competitive, fast-paced leadership positions. Graduates will receive broad-based skills and knowledge to bring to a variety of industries. For the business-minded, goal-oriented student, the online MBA is the right choice.
Students will be ready to move into leadership positions in the HR field through completing the online Master of Business Administration in Human Resource Management. Since employees are the most valuable asset in an organization, students will learn to manage, develop, and oversee activities to enable companies to utilize the full potential of their workforce. Graduates will have the training necessary to manage within legal and regulatory requirements and to analyze important information in the HR sector in order to offer correct solutions.
Career opportunities include, but are not limited to:
- Vice President of Human Resources
- Director of Global Engagement and Culture
- Employee Relations Manager
Completion of the online MBA in HR management empowers graduates with the ability to engage in HR-related situations that may arise within both smaller and large-scale organizations. Experienced faculty and relevant subjects provide students with an effective and applicable curriculum. This program can be the starting point for a successful career in HR upper management.
With the online Master of Business Administration in Supply Chain Management, students will learn the process of supply chain management and logistics. Instruction will focus on preparing students for management careers in the supply chain industry. With up-to-date software and technology, students will learn to master supply chain knowledge and problem-solving skills.
Career options for graduates include, but are not limited to:
- Global Logistics Manager
- Industry Analyst
- Supply Chain Consultant
- Transportation Director
Graduates of the online master’s degree in supply chain management will be prepared to handle various situations that may arise on the job. Graduates will have strengthened their core business knowledge while expanding critical-thinking and analytical skills. The online master’s degree in supply chain management will mark a path to success for graduates.
The University of Illinois at Springfield offers an online Master of Public Administration degree. The program strives to educate current and prospective employees in the field with disciplinary knowledge and skills to help them succeed. Curriculum addresses legal, political, and administrative processes and structures in public sector and nonprofit organizations.
Concentrate on finance through this online master’s degree program. Learn key aspects of financial management in various organizations. Gain a complete understanding of investments, managing and protecting money, financial theory, and quantitative finance. An advisory board of industry professionals provides engaging curriculum and case study competitions.
Courses include, but are not limited to:
- Applied behavioral finance
- Financial analytics and budgeting
- Entrepreneurial finance
The online Master of Science in Finance will equip students with teamwork skills, enable them to take a lead role in achieving strategic financial solutions, and provide them with a solid understanding of risk management. Career opportunities include stockbroking, accounting, and investment banking. Graduates will be prepared to work with various groups and organizations to achieve financial goals.
The University of Illinois at Springfield offers an online Master of Science in Management Information Systems degree. Students prepare for challenging positions in business and information technology fields. The curriculum provides a background for understanding problems and processes of organizations in information systems development.
Computer Science & IT
The University of Illinois at Springfield offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program that prepares students for challenging careers as professionals in the public and private sectors. The core curriculum provides a strong foundation in computer science. Electives are chosen in consultation with the student’s adviser to ensure depth of knowledge in topics of particular interest to the student.
The University of Illinois at Springfield offers a Bachelor of Science in Information System Security program in which students learn the fundamentals of information security, including design and implementation of secure systems, security assessment, and computer security ethics. Graduates have the necessary skill set to enter into security-centric careers in network and computer administration, system analysis, computer support, and the like.
- Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems
- Fundamentals of Remote Sensing
- Advanced GIS Applications
The University of Illinois at Springfield’s Master of Science in Computer Science program focuses on the design, analysis, and implementation of software programs. Courses are also offered in security and information assurance.
The MS degree in Data Analytics from the University of Illinois at Springfield combines the foundational mathematical knowledge of data science and the computational methods and tools for processing data sets. Students will learn how to interpret, analyze, represent, and visualize large amounts of information to extract important insights.
Courses allow students to learn programming with R, Python, Scala, and Java. Several courses have significant hands-on components involving real-world problems. Graduates will be prepared to enter a professional career or enter a PhD program.
Potential career paths for students in this online masters in data science include:
- Big data developer
- Data analyst
- Statistician
- E-commerce analyst
- Market research analyst
- Information security analyst
- Environmental data specialist
Criminal Justice, Safety & Law
You can learn about crime with the Bachelor of Arts in Criminology & Criminal Justice from the University of Illinois at Springfield. The online criminal justice degree also develops your skills in communication and critical thinking to help you in your professional duties.
Through the online criminal justice bachelor’s degree program, you learn about the agencies within this system—courts, police, corrections, community-based programs, and the like. Your online studies explore how these agencies do the following:
- Prevent crime
- Meet the needs of victims
- Rehabilitate criminals
You can gain expertise in data security with the Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Administration from the University of Illinois at Springfield. The online cybersecurity program leads to such careers as:
- Cybersecurity manager
- Information security analyst
- Chief information security officer
- Governance, risk, and compliance officer
Through the online cybersecurity graduate certificate program, you focus on policy development and security governance. Your online studies may also explore digital forensics, vulnerabilities, and controls.
As a STEM professional, you can learn the tools and practices to defend against cyberattacks with the Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Management from the University of Illinois at Springfield. The online cybersecurity degree prepares you with such skills as:
- Digital forensics
- Penetration testing
- Vulnerability assessment
- Information and network security
Through the online cybersecurity graduate certificate program, you gain hands-on experience from the world-class faculty. Your online studies may also cover policy-making and business continuity, all part of the bigger picture of keeping data secure.
The online Master of Arts in Legal Studies program provides a comprehensive understanding of the legal system and how it works. The curriculum offers an interdisciplinary liberal arts education, teaching professional skills, legal theory, and the role of law in American Society. Emphasis is placed on analytical thinking, research, and writing skills while developing professional and scholarly abilities.
You can gain expertise in building secure digital networks with the Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management from the University of Illinois at Springfield. The online cybersecurity degree leads to work in such roles as:
- Information security analyst
- Chief information security officer
- Cybersecurity management consultant
- Governance, risk, and compliance officer
Through the online cybersecurity master’s degree program, you learn the latest practices, policies, and models to protect against cyber attacks. Your online studies address the technical and non-technical skills of information safety.
Education
Enroll in this instructional design degree online and advance your professional opportunities. It is hard, if not impossible, to escape technology in the modern world. The same is true for the education field. This means there is a corresponding need for educators comfortable working with this technology in education. With the online instructional design degree, you will learn to integrate digital technologies into teaching and learning. Graduates are qualified for building and/or district-level technology coordinator positions.
Enroll in this master’s in ESL online degree and advance professional opportunities. As the world becomes more globalized, there is a need for instructors to teach students whose first language is not English. Whether English is their second, third, fourth, or higher language, you will be able to meet the needs of these students in the classroom. Graduates are culturally and linguistically responsive.
The curriculum includes such courses as:
- Theoretical Foundations of Teaching English as a Second Language
- Assessment of ESL Students
- Linguistics
- Cross Cultural Studies for ESL
University of Illinois at Springfield offers an online Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Online Pedagogy. Higher Education professionals can benefit from this program’s courses in effective practices for the online learning environment. The curriculum provides background on building online course content, designing assessments, and more.
University of Illinois at Springfield offers an online Graduate Certificate in Leadership & Learning. This program provides training in curriculum, assessment, and pedagogy for leaders in PK-12 environments. Students of this program can complete the coursework separately or in combination with a MA degree.
University of Illinois at Springfield offers an online Graduate Certificate in Legal Aspects of Education. This program combines fundamental legal issues with the education field by introducing scenarios that are likely to be encountered. The coursework prepares administrators and teachers to handle these situations in the best way possible.
Become a leader in K-12 schools, higher education, and educational organizations by earning this online education degree. This program prepares you to better serve students as collaborative, proactive educational leaders. Not only will you learn ways to improve practices in education, but you will also prepare to pass appropriate state testing to advance your career.
This is a highly flexible online education degree. Design your own concentration based on your interests and career goals. An advisor is there to help you every step of the way.
Enroll in this instructional design degree online and advance your professional opportunities. It is hard, if not impossible, to escape technology in the modern world. The same is true for the education field. This means there is a corresponding need for educators comfortable working with this technology in education. With the online instructional design degree, you will learn to integrate digital technologies into teaching and learning. Graduates are qualified for building and/or district-level technology coordinator positions.
All students in this master’s degree will prepare to serve students as collaborative, proactive educational leaders. Not only will you learn ways to improve practices in education, but you will also prepare to pass appropriate state testing to advance your career.
Enroll in this master’s in ESL online degree and advance professional opportunities. As the world becomes more globalized, there is a need for instructors to teach students whose first language is not English. Whether English is their second, third, fourth, or higher language, you will be able to meet the needs of these students in the classroom. Graduates are culturally and linguistically responsive.
All students in this master’s degree will prepare to become leaders in K-12 schools or higher education. Not only will you learn to improve practices in education, but you will also prepare to pass appropriate state testing to advance your career.
Enroll in this instructional design degree online and advance professional opportunities. Online learning reached an all-time high during the pandemic. Now that the world is back to “normal,” online learning remains popular. With this online master’s in higher education students learn effective practices for online teaching, building course content, and designing quality assessments, meeting the need for instructors capable of providing education in an online environment.
All candidates in this master’s degree program, regardless of their area of concentration, prepare to better serve students as collaborative, proactive educational leaders. Not only will you learn ways to improve practices in education, but you will also prepare to pass appropriate state testing to advance your career.
Become a leader with this online educational leadership degree. Graduates work in K-12 schools, higher education, and educational organizations. This program prepares schools to better serve their students as collaborative, proactive educational leaders. It also teaches them to pass appropriate testing for career movement.
Graduates are ready to:
- Manage school improvement issues
- Enhance teacher performance
- Use data-driven decision-making
Earn this online special education degree and begin a career working with a growing part of the student population, those with special needs. This program leads to an endorsement to teach in a PK-12 special education setting. Students will complete such courses as:
- Assessment of Students’ Learning Difficulties and Disabilities
- Characteristics of Exceptional Children
- Strategies for Teaching Children with Special Needs
All students in this master’s degree program, regardless of concentration, will prepare to better serve students as collaborative, proactive educational leaders. Not only will you learn ways to improve practices in education, but you will also prepare to pass appropriate state testing to advance your career.
Become a leader in education with this online education administration degree. Graduates are leaders in K-12 schools, higher education, and educational organizations. This program combines fundamental legal issues with the education field by introducing scenarios that are likely to be encountered. Coursework prepares administrators and teachers to handle these situations in the best way possible. Graduates are prepared to improve practices in education and ensure educational standards are met.
Healthcare
Illinois Springfield offers the online Master of Public Health. This program provides top notch public health education in the United States and globally, preparing competent public health professionals, to improve health, prevent disease, reduce health disparities, and enhance quality of life through education, scholarship, and service. Students are provided educational experiences that meet the needs of the public health profession by preparing students for successful careers.
The department offers two options for graduate-level study in public health:
- MPH General – a strong interdisciplinary foundation for practice in public health
- MPH Environmental Health – emphasizes preparation in risk assessment, emergency preparedness, or environmental health policy.
Combine technical knowledge, management principles, and the medical field with this online master’s in health informatics. Technology is becoming increasingly important in healthcare, improving accuracy in medical information and ensuring that this information is shared quickly and securely.
Learn all aspects of healthcare information systems, including:
- Storage
- Retrieval
- Analytics
- Secure sharing
Serving as a critical link between medicine and technology, this program provides the fundamentals and best practices for the design and implementation of healthcare informatics systems. Courses, taught by an expert faculty, offer an interdisciplinary perspective, optimizing the synergy between technical knowledge, management principles, and the medical field. Students are also able to participate in collaborative research.
Math & Science
This online mathematics degree program is available as either an opportunity to obtain a bachelor’s degree or as an undergraduate minor in Mathematical Sciences. With either option, you will study mathematics, operations research, and statistics. Graduates will find careers in:
- Teaching
- Research
- Industry/Engineering
- Insurance
- Management
Others go on to graduate study in Mathematical Sciences. Regardless of your end goal, you will appreciate the flexibility of online learning.
The online Master of Arts in Environmental Studies program helps students gain an understanding of ways to balance social and economic needs with environmental realities. Students also learn how to use resources imaginatively for sustainable development and become aware of the role of values in issue formulation and policy making. Graduates will be able to develop basic literacy in the natural and social sciences and the humanities as they contribute to an understanding of environmental affairs, critically analyze environmental problems, and identify and evaluate environmental problems. Concentrations are available in:
- Sustainable Development and Policy
- Environmental Planning and Management
- Environmental Humanities
Psychology & Human Services
Students with an associate’s degree or previous college credits can apply to this online bachelor’s in Psychology degree program. Online students can pursue an individualized concentration to match their personal interests and career goals.
This program is designed to give students a broad understanding of Psychology applicable to many entry-level positions in business, government, industry, and education. Students will learn professional skills as well as critical thinking and scientific logic. Nearly half of all Psychology majors go on to pursue advanced degrees to become researchers, clinical psychologists, counselors, case managers, administrators, grant coordinators, probation officers, and more.
The Certificate in Child Advocacy Studies (CAST) is a three-course program to help train and educate frontline child welfare workers. The curriculum has been approved by the Zero Abuse Project.
Courses are designed to increase knowledge of key child maltreatment concepts. Current University of Illinois at Springfield students can add this certification to their existing curriculum. New students may complete certification for additional career opportunities, and professionals can use the program to fulfill continuing education requirements.
Students will complete courses in:
- Perspectives on child maltreatment and child advocacy
- Professional and system response to child maltreatment
- Global child advocacy studies OR Childhood trauma: risk and resiliency
The online master’s in Human Services from the University of Illinois at Springfield provides advanced professional education to prepare students for multiple roles and settings within the field. Social Service Administration is the only concentration offered fully online.
This program specialization focuses on leadership skills necessary in Human Services settings. Students will be encouraged to examine aspects of their own lives and past experiences in order to understand their beliefs, values, and biases to better work with vulnerable individuals. Courses examine the ways in which Human Services professionals design, assess, treat, advocate for, counsel, and collaborate with those in need.
This concentration provides education in the following areas:
- Staff development and supervision
- Social services administration
- Nonprofit management
- Grant writing in human services
- Financial management in the nonprofit sector
- Fundraising in the nonprofit sector
Religion & Philosophy
The online Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy offers students the opportunity to explore timeless questions about existence, morality, knowledge, and society. Aspiring philosophers now have unprecedented access to a transformative educational experience that transcends geographical boundaries and fosters intellectual growth and exploration. This online program offers a range of benefits that enhance the learning experience and empower students to pursue their intellectual passions with flexibility and convenience.
The three main areas of study are:
- Core Analytical Philosophy
- History of Philosophy
- Values
Students have access to many online academic resources for research and study. Students have opportunities to apply philosophical insights to practical contexts through research projects, critical essays, and philosophical dialogues. By grappling with complex philosophical questions and engaging in thoughtful dialogue with peers and faculty members, students cultivate the intellectual curiosity, empathy, and critical thinking skills necessary to navigate the complexities of the modern world with wisdom and discernment.