Orientation

Welcome

We're looking forward to meeting you!

The Fall semester and your start in the Illinois PSM are just around the corner.  This page has important information and steps that you must take to begin your graduate school experience.  

Welcome to Illinois and to the Illinois PSM!

We have important information about your Fall 2024 enrollment and your orientation. 

The information on this page supplements the information in your admissions letter from the Graduate College's Graduate and Professional Admissions. Carefully review all of the information in your letter and on this page. Then, begin working on the necessary action steps to join one of the most unique master's degree programs in the world.

There's information on this page about:

  • Basics - your Illinois computer accounts, ID card, etc.
  • Advising - consulting with your program advisor about fall courses
  • Business - your PSM business courses for fall
  • Registration - registering online for the fall semester
  • Orientation - your program kickoff
  • Connections - directory and social media connections with your new peers, and
  • Resources - information and links for transportation, housing, community information, and more.

Do you have questions or need more information? We're here to help. Contact the Illinois PSM office at PSMdegree@illinois.edu or (217) 265-5363.

 

Basics

FIRST, have you accepted our offer of admissions? If you have, terrific! If you haven't, do that now. In your admissions letter, you'll see "To submit your official admission acceptance decision to the Graduate College, please click here." Follow that link to let us know that you're coming. Access your admissions letter by signing in with the username and password that you created to submit your application.

SECOND, your admissions letter has information that specifically applies to you, including your 9-digit University ID Number (UIN) and Admit ID. It will also note any special admissions conditions. Make sure that you read it and understand all of the information in your letter.

THIRD, there are several easy, yet crucial steps that you need to take now and when you arrive on campus. The Graduate College has prepared a step-by-step Quick Guide to Graduate Life for

  • setting up your NetID and Enterprise ID,
  • creating your student email account,
  • getting your i-card, your official University photo ID card, and
  • submitting your final undergraduate transcripts,
  • and more.

 

Advising

Each Illinois PSM program is headed by a major advisor who serves as your principal academic advisor and mentor for your graduate school experience. Your major advisor will guide your selection of fall semester science courses and on other academic and professional matters. Initial advising for fall semester can be done by email, telephone, or Zoom as many student are off campus during the summer. Contact your major advisor to schedule a time to plan your program of study:

After consulting with your advisor and reviewing the business course information below, you can register for fall courses (see the "registration” section below).

International students: You will register for courses after you arrive on campus and check-in with International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). Once checked-in, you will have access to the online course registration system. Check-in dates, times, and locations are available on the ISSS website.

PSM Seminar 

Each semester you will register for a PSM seminar. You may register for either 0 or 1 credit hour.

PSM 501 – PSM Industry Seminar I
0-1 credit hours

CRN 54911, Section A (1 credit hour)
OR
CRN 60375, Section B (0 credit hours) 

Mondays 5:00 - 6:20 pm (This may change to Wednesdays at the same time.)
Meets all semester

Business 

This fall, you will complete a minimum of four hours of business courses and the PSM industry seminar. Register for these courses online via Student Self-Service, along with your science courses (see "Registration" section below). Note the class days and times of the business courses as you are planning your science curriculum courses with your major advisor. Some of the required business courses are offered only once during your 16-month program, so take them in sequence with your cohort.

All PSM students will take:

BADM 595 – Business Fundamentals 
Section PSM
2 credit hours
CRN 56572
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:00 - 7:50 pm
Meets August 26 – October 18 (first half of the semester)
3003 Business Instructional Facility

This course is for PSM students only

Summary: Designed to provide a cohesive understanding of marketing from a managerial perspective. Students will learn how to develop a coherent and comprehensive marketing strategy for a product or service. Specifically, it provides the conceptual frameworks and tools necessary to create superior customer value, capture the value through appropriate pricing mechanisms, persuasively communicate and profitably deliver that value, and sustain both the value and the performance in the face of ever-changing customer needs and competitive offerings. Students examine companies by matching their internal strengths and weaknesses with opportunities and threats posed by their environments. Students learn to spot and evaluate opportunities for new ventures and examine the totality of a business proposal.

ETMA 430 – Project Management
2 credit hours
Section LC1
CRN 76956 (online lecture)
Tuesdays, 10:00-11:50 am
Meets all semester

Summary: The first-semester industry seminar provides opportunities for you to refine your career objectives, plan and execute your internship search, learn professional skills and knowledge, and connect with people from industry.

More Business course options will be announced as the Fall 2024 semesters draws closer, if you have a time conflict with ETMA 430. Please contact Natalie for the list.

Notes:

  1. BADM 595 and PSM 501 are PSM students only and all PSM students take these courses. The other business courses may be with students in other graduate degree programs in the Gies College of Business or in the College of Engineering.

  2. For the industry seminar series (PSM 501, 502, and 503) and for the internship (PSM 555), you have the option of 0 or 1 credit hours. The zero credit hour option does not impact your grade point average; the final course grade is either 'S' or 'U' (satisfactory or unsatisfactory). If you choose the one credit hour option, a letter grade is assigned ('A', 'B', 'C', etc.) and is included in calculating your grade point average. The course requirements are identical, regardless of credit hours. The credit hours earned in these courses do not satisfy any other degree hour requirement (i.e., the 32 science hours, the 10 business hours, or the 42 total program hours).  You must complete these courses regardless of the hours elected.

REGISTRATION

After you and your major advisor have decided on fall semester courses, you may register online. Log-in to UI-Integrate Self-Service to register. To log in, you will use your EnterpriseID and password. A step-by-step instructions page is available to help you navigate through the system. Register for your science courses and for the business courses listed above.

Meet with your advisor and register as early as possible. Some courses may be filled, so allow time to find alternative courses if necessary. You do not have to register for all of your courses at one time, and you can exit and login to the registration system as often as necessary.

The Office of the Registrar provides important services that you will use during your enrollment at Illinois. You should familiarize yourself with academic deadlines, course registration, tuition, grades, graduation, transcripts, and other important information and services provided by the Office of the Registrar.

International students: You will register for courses after you arrive on campus and check-in through International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS). Once checked-in, you will have access to the online course registration system. International student check-in dates, times, and locations are available on the ISSS web site.

For the fall payment schedule, payment options, including international payments by wire transfer, visit the Making Payments webpage. 

 

Orientation 

August 21, 2024

Location: Illini Union, Green Street, Urbana 

Attendance at orientation is mandatory. Please make your travel arrangements accordingly.

Tentative Registration and Continental Breakfast: 8:30 am; Program starts at 9:00 a.m. 

Dress: Business Casual preferred

Kickoff for your Illinois PSM experience begins with Orientation. You'll meet with your peers, faculty members, and others. Orientation is informative and social -- the principal goals are for you to meet and begin working with your Illinois PSM colleagues, to understand the necessary transition to graduate-level study, learn about internship options and processes, and to start exploring the wealth of learning opportunities available to you at Illinois. Attendance is mandatory.

Connect with other students and alumni!  We create a directory of students and alumni to help you get to know everyone.  This is an ideal way to begin networking with other new students, the returning second-year students, and with Illinois PSM graduates.  Take a few minutes to tell us about yourself using this online form. If you have questions, or if you do not want your information shared, please let us know.

 

International Students

Strong English skills are highly encouraged for the Illinois PSM. There are many resources once you arrive on campus. Please visit the International Student and Scholar Services English resource page. You may also wish to consider the Intensive English Institute (IEI) Program for this summer. The application deadline will be posted soon. Please contact the Intensive English Institute at iei@illinois.edu with questions.

 

 

Graduate College Orientation Resources: Grad Map: The Graduate College Guide to Student Life

 

Connections

Start connecting with your new peers and colleagues:

  • Directory:  We'll create a directory of students and alumni to help you get to know everyone.  This is an ideal way to begin networking with other new students, the returning second-year students, and with Illinois PSM graduates.  
  • LinkedIn: It's never too soon to network. Join the Illinois PSM LinkedIn group, exclusively for Illinois PSM students, alumni, and associates.
  • Facebook:  See pictures, announcements, and events on the Illinois PSM Facebook page.
  • Quad Day - The U of I has more than 1,000 student organizations.  On Sunday, August 20 (tentative), representatives from many of these organizations will be available to talk about their clubs and encourage you to participate.
  • Twitter:  Timely info nuggets on career fairs, events, program news, and other PSM-relevant information are available on Twitter.
  • Instagram: Pictures, tips and more on the Illinois PSM Instagram Account.

 

Resources

Air Transport

 

Shuttle Services

  • Express Air Coach - Servicing Chicago/O'Hare airport and West Lafayette, Ind. (Purdue University)
  • Illini Shuttle - Servicing Chicago/O'Hare airport, downtown Chicago, and select Chicago suburbs
  • Peoria Charter Coach - Servicing Chicago/O'Hare airport, Chicago/Midway airport, Chicago's Union Station, other Chicago suburbs, Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington [BMI], Normal/Illinois State University, and Peoria, Ill.
  • Suburban Express - Servicing the Chicago area with direct weekend service

 

Train + Bus Transport

International Students: International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) has a web page with additional travel resources. 

Accommodations: If you arrive to campus before your lease begins, we suggest staying at a hotel. This suggested list is not exhaustive, and you may find other hotel that suits your needs better. 

  • TownePlace Suites by Marriott Champaign/Urbana Campustown, 603 South Sixth Street, Champaign, IL 61820
  • Hampton Inn Suites, 1200 West University Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801
  • Hilton Garden Inn, 1501 South Neil Street, Champaign, IL 61820
  • I Hotel & Illinois Conference Center, 1900 South First Street, Champaign, IL 61820
  • Illini Union Hotel, 1401 West Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801

Campus Transportation

Campus Resources

  • Bookstore – Official university bookstore textbooks and supplies
  • Canvas – Illinois’ Blackboard online learning management system
  • Financial Aid – Office of Student Financial Aid
  • Financial Wellness, Cultivating Currency - a financial resource for students at Illinois
  • Graduate and Professional Admissions – The official admitting office for Illinois graduate students
  • Health Care and Wellness - information on insurance, McKinley Health center, counseling and wellness centers 
  • International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) - The campus office devoted to international students, scholars, faculty, and staff
    • International Student Orientation Videos (note: created for Undergraduate Students - Graduate Students have different housing options):
      • Your Journey to the University of Illinois - Getting Started: YouTube   Youku
      • Your Journey to the University of Illinois - Transitioning: YouTube   Youku
      • Your Journey to the University of Illinois - Becoming a Successful Student:  YouTube   Youku
  • Library – Portal to one of the world’s largest public university collections
  • Registrar – Office of the Registrar
  • Student Affairs - A wealth of information on student organizations, cultural centers, health and wellness, cultural centers and diversity, and much more
  • Off Campus Community Living – OCCL offers free assistance to locate housing, review leases and help with landlord disputes (You may wish to try ABODO or Apartment List for a local apartment search. The University of Illinois nor the Illinois PSM endorses this website nor the companies who advertise on the site.)
  • University Housing at Illinois - University-owned residence halls and apartments

Media

Community Resources

Campus & Surrounding Area Events

  • Sporting Events - Illinois is home to 19 Big Ten, Division 1 Sports teams including Basketball, Football, Baseball, Soccer, Tennis, and Golf (who recently one their 5th consecutive Big Ten Title).
  • Farm Progress Show - Every other year, Illinois hosts this three-day showcase. Attendees will see products from manufacturers and suppliers of fertilizers, seeds, farm equipment, livestock equipment and more. August 26-28, 2025, Decatur, IL