School Details
Western Illinois University is a public university that is located in the small town of Macomb, Illinois. WIU was established in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School and focused on teacher training for a small body of students. As it grew, Western Illinois State Normal School became the Western Illinois State Teachers College. Today, WIU is made up of two campuses that offer a wide range of academic programs. WIU strives to be a leader in educational quality, opportunity, and affordability among its peers and focuses on a mission of preparing socially responsible, diverse students, faculty, and staff to lead in a global society.
The school offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, as well as certificates. WIU has a quality online program that allows students to take classes from any location. WIU online students are not required to attend face-to-face meetings, and students are able to do coursework according to their individual schedules. WIU offers many online courses and online degree programs.
Accreditation & Licensing
Western Illinois University is accredited by:
Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
All Programs
Art & Liberal Arts
Western Illinois University offers an online Anthropology degree program that stands above the rest for several reasons:
- You'll take part in ground-breaking research with grants from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education
- You'll build relationships with regional institutions, including the Field Museum of Natural History and the Dickson Mounds Museum
- The Western Anthropology and Sociology Club sponsors activities like film nights, field trips, ancient metal working, and job search workshops
- You'll have the opportunity to attend a summer archaeological field school or take part in a short-term study abroad and explore life in a different culture
Find out more about the Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology today!
The online Bachelor of Arts in General Studies degree program from Western Illinois University allows you to consult with an advisor to create a personalized plan of study that is compatible with your individual interests and goals. While it is not required, you may choose up to three minors to complete as part of your degree plan.
Western Illinois University offers an online Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. Students in this program have the unique opportunity to take an active role in designing their educational experience as they tailor the curriculum to meet their individual academic and professional goals. Additionally, there are four transcripted concentrations available:
- Renewable Energy & Biofuels Technology
- Renewable Energy & Wind Technology
- Renewable Energy: Policy Planning & Management
- Youth Leadership
Business
The MBA with a concentration in Accounting online degree is designed for those interested in advancing their careers in this area. The curriculum consists of courses in core MBA topics and courses in Accounting. Topics covered include finance, economics, corporate information systems, management, and more. Learn to be a leader in a global business world.
Courses in Accounting may include:
- Financial Analysis
- Advanced Management Accounting
- Fraud Examination
- Advanced Federal Taxation
- Issues in International Accounting
This online accounting degree program is flexible but offers the same degree as you would find in the classroom. You will gain a personal connection with faculty who are focused on your success and will grow your professional network.
Advance your career through this MBA with a concentration in Business Analytics degree online. The curriculum consists of courses in core business topics and courses in Business Analytics. Business topics covered include accounting, economics, corporate information systems, management, and more. Learn to be a leader in a global business world.
Courses in Business Analytics may include:
- Applied Data Mining
- Statistical Software/Data Management
- Statistical Software-R
- Data Visualization
- Categorical Data Analysis Using Logistic Regression
This online business analytics degree program is flexible but offers the same degree online as you would find in the classroom. You will gain a personal connection with faculty who are focused on your success and will grow your professional network.
Advance your career through this MBA with a concentration in Economics. The curriculum of this online finance degree consists of core business topics and courses in Economics. Business topics covered include accounting, finance, corporate information systems, management, and more. Learn to be a leader in a global business world.
Courses in Economics may include:
- Economic Development
- Labor Economics
- International Trade
- International Monetary Economics
- Econometrics
This online finance degree program is flexible but offers the same degree online as you would find in the classroom. You will gain a personal connection with faculty who are focused on your success and will grow your professional network.
Advance your career through this MBA with a concentration in Finance degree online. The curriculum consists of courses in core business topics and courses in Finance. Business topics covered include accounting, economics, corporate information systems, management, and more. Learn to be a leader in a global business world.
Courses in Finance may include:
- Financial Analysis
- Commercial Property and Liability Insurance
- Investment Security Analysis
- Futures Options
- International Financial Management
This online finance degree program is flexible but offers the same degree online as you would find in the classroom. You will gain a personal connection with faculty who are focused on your success and will grow your professional network.
The online MBA with a concentration in Management from Western Illinois University prepares students for one of the most important areas of business, management. The curriculum consists of courses in core MBA topics, an elective, and Management. The MBA is flexible, allowing students to pursue specific professional goals. Courses cover topics in finance, economics, leadership, management, corporate information, decision making, global markets, and more. Courses in Management will teach students about organization behavior, leadership within organizations, human resource management, managing organizations, environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and ethics.
The online MBA with a concentration in Supply Chain Management is designed for students who want to advance their careers in this area of business. The curriculum consists of MBA core courses and courses in Supply Chain Management. The MBA courses will teach students about finance, accounting, economics, corporate information systems, leadership, management, and more.
Courses in Supply Chain Management may include:
- Project Management
- Supply Chain Risk Management
- Worldwide Logistics/E-Commerce
- Supply Chain Management
- Transportation/Warehouse Management
- Strategic Procurement/Sourcing
This program is flexible but offers the same degree online as you would in the classroom. You will gain a personal connection with faculty who are focused on your success and will grow your professional network.
Criminal Justice, Safety & Law
You can anticipate excellent job placement opportunities once you have earned your Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management from Western Illinois University. The online emergency management degree has a comprehensive and relevant curriculum that responds to increased natural disasters and technological advancements.
Through the online emergency management bachelor’s degree program, you learn from faculty with expertise and practical experience. Your online studies explore new technologies such as:
- GIS
- Drones
- Next generation 911 technology
- Comprehensive data systems
You can prepare for leadership roles with the Bachelor of Science in Fire Protection Services / Fire Administration from Western Illinois University. The online fire science degree examines such topics as:
- Fire tactics
- Firefighter safety
- Fire prevention
- Ethics and fire service law
Through the online fire science bachelor’s degree program, you gain the credentials to compete in the fierce competition for fire chief positions. Your online studies prepare you for the responsibilities of managing a fire service agency.
You can earn your degree from one of the largest law enforcement programs in the US with the Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement & Justice Administration from Western Illinois University. The online administration degree boasts faculty with such backgrounds as:
- FBI
- Sheriffs
- Attorneys
- Correctional officers
Through the online administration bachelor’s degree program, you train for professional careers in corrections, security, and law enforcement. Your online studies hone your critical thinking and provide real-world practical applications to carry into your work.
You can gain expertise in policing with the Graduate Certificate in Police Executive Administration from Western Illinois University. The online administration program explores such areas as:
- Civil and criminal liability
- Diversity and the police
- Ethics in criminal justice
- Management issues in public safety administration
Through the online administration graduate certificate program, you develop the professional skills needed to progress through the police supervisory ranks. Your online studies include a capstone project; you have three years to complete all the coursework.
You can gain the skills to manage and lead with the Master of Arts in Public Safety Administration from Western Illinois University. The online administration degree focuses on such areas as:
- Criminological theory
- Civil and criminal liability
- Research and quantitative skills
Through the online administration master’s degree program, you gain expertise in many areas to help you advance your career and salary. Graduates of this reputable program continue to be in high demand by agencies across the state and beyond.
Education
The online master’s in curriculum and instruction allows you to build upon your education in undergraduate studies. It is designed for practicing teachers who teach from PreK through the middle grades and can be extended to the secondary level with specialized and catered course options. Learn more about being a practicing educator and instructor while enhancing your understanding of student diversity, applying theory and research to the classroom setting, and developing the ability to serve as leaders in schools or programs.
Customize your degree by choosing one of these areas of specialization:
- Early Childhood Education
- Elementary Curriculum
- Literacy Education
- Math Education
- Science Education
- Social Studies Education
This individually tailored online education degree is designed to prepare students to make data-driven, research-based decisions. There are two options to choose from: Professional Education or Language, Culture, and Education.
The Professional Education option is an interdisciplinary degree that has a lot of room for electives. The Language, Culture, and Education option is also interdisciplinary and pairs well with the ESL endorsement sequence for licensed teachers, and the post-baccalaureate TESOL program. Both options cover such key disciplines as:
- Psychology
- Philosophy
- Anthropology
- Sociology
Enroll in this master’s in literacy online degree and advance professional opportunities. Reading and literacy are the building blocks upon which almost all other learning is built. Prepare to make a difference in student success now and in the future by working to improve literacy skills.
This program offers two areas of emphasis:
- Reading Specialist
- Reading Teacher
The Reading Specialist emphasis leads to a Reading Specialist endorsement and contains coursework that focuses on K-12 learners. The Reading Teacher emphasis leads to a Reading Teacher endorsement and contains coursework that is appropriate for the level of the desired endorsement. If you choose, either emphasis can be completed by students who are not seeking an endorsement but simply a master’s degree.
An online special education degree can prepare you for a career working with the special needs population. With this program, you will learn ways to effectively work with students who need special teaching.
There are two tracks to choose between. Track I is for those with general education certification who want to also earn special education certification. Track II is for those who already have special education certification but wish to increase their skills through advanced study.
Enroll in this instructional design degree online and advance professional opportunities. In today’s world, it is hard, if not impossible, to escape technology. This has led to a need for professionals who are able to successfully bring technology into schools and the classroom. This program prepares you to meet this need, so you are able to utilize educational technology for instructional purposes. Careers can be related to education, business, industry, or others. Overall, the curriculum helps develop, produce, and evaluate different methods.
There are two areas of emphasis to choose between:
- General
- Technology Specialist
Enroll in this master’s in STEM education online degree and advance professional opportunities. Are you a secondary mathematics teacher who wants to teach dual credit and college-level courses? If so, this STEM teaching degree can help you achieve your goals.
The curriculum contains four core courses:
- Mathematics
- Computational math
- Statistics
- Secondary mathematics content knowledge
The remainder of this flexible program is based on your interests and career goals. You will choose electives and a research capstone.
Healthcare
Advance your career through this Master of Business Administration online degree with a concentration in Health Services Administration. The curriculum consists of courses in core business topics and courses in Health Services Administration. Business topics covered include finance, accounting, economics, corporate information systems, management, and more. Learn to be a leader in a global business world.
Courses in Health Services Administration may include:
- Ethical Conduct and Conflict in Health Sciences
- Legal Aspects of Health Services Management
- Introduction to Health Policy
- Health Services Organizational Behavior and Leadership
This online Healthcare Administration degree program is flexible but offers the same degree online as you would find in the classroom. You will gain a personal connection with faculty who are focused on your success and will grow your professional network.
Math & Science
Get ready for a career in business, industry, or government via a different pathway with this online master’s in mathematics. It is an alternative to traditional programs. It also serves as a stepping stone toward a doctoral degree.
The curriculum combines core courses and a range of specialized focus area courses. All students receive solid graduate-level training in analysis, computational mathematics, and statistics. Then students choose an area of focus either in a single field within mathematics or in a discipline related to mathematics. Some of the options covered include:
- Applied mathematics
- Pure mathematics
- Data science
- Computer science
- Teaching of mathematics
Nursing
Nurses pursuing licensure as a Registered Nurse can apply to this RN to BSN program even before they complete their associate degree. Students are able to complete up to nine credits prior to becoming licensed, cutting time off of their overall degree completion.
The online Bachelor of Science in Nursing program provides students with a well-rounded education in the arts, sciences, and humanities. Nurses gain experience practicing appropriate clinical judgment and develop their professional role. Faculty mentors help students focus on their future and achieve their goals.
Students study a variety of topics, including:
- Health assessment
- Ethical and legal issues in professional practice
- Concepts in community health nursing
- Transcultural nursing
- Mental health nursing
Psychology & Human Services
Western Illinois University online offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology to students interested in a General concentration. Students of this program have the chance to earn an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, earning both degrees in five years. Studies may include but are not limited to:
- Criminology
- Social psychology
- Inequality
Full-time faculty are actively involved in research within their fields. Experiential learning opportunities include internships and customizable electives. Graduates with this degree may find pursuable career paths as program directors, administrative workers, managers, and more.