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Talking Points


Innovative academic programs


  • The Illinois Leadership Programs (i.e., I-Programs): Free programs to help students learn to become a leader by building relationships, working in teams, and utilizing leadership opportunities. The four I-programs (Insight, Intersect, Ignite, Imprint) hold workshops and conferences that students can attend to learn different specific skills focusing on networking, personal strengths and weaknesses, building communication skills, and systems thinking.
  • Medical Scholars Program (MD/PhD program): Committed to preparing a diverse group of physician-scholars to work on the multi-dimensional problems facing medicine today. The MSP program allows students to focus on their passion for cutting-edge research while providing clinical training.
  • The Afro-American Studies & Research Program (first on campus): The teaching and research of AASRP focus primarily on the experiences of people of African descent in the US. The program integrates courses and research from the social sciences and humanities in the College of LAS. Five core faculty and 40 faculty affiliates from the various departments participate.
  • The College of Law LL.M. Program (nation's oldest): The LL. M Program is designed to introduce international law students to the U.S. legal system while also providing the opportunity for further study in their own area of academic or professional interest.
  • Unit One Program (first living-learning community on campus): Unit One is an academic program located in Allen Hall and is co-sponsored by the Vice Chancellors for Academic and Student Affairs. The goal of Unit one is to provide an enriched academic program that also addresses the personal and programatic needs of its freshman and sophomore students.
  • Sports psychology: Illinois offers one of the most prestigious programs of study in exercise and sport psychology in the nation. The first sport psychology laboratory was established here in 1925 by Coleman Griffith.
  • The Hoeft Technology & Management Program: The T&M Program bridges the traditional gap between business and engineering scholars. This coursework rewards students with an academic minor that intergrates the two areas without sacrificing any of their major studies.
  • Advertising: The College of Communication's advertising program was established in 1949 and was the first in the nation. It is still ranked among the nation's top programs.
  • The Institute of Communications Research doctoral program: This internationally recognized program for interdisciplinary education, scholarship, and public service in communication and culture was founded in 1947. It established Communications Studies as a new scholarly field.
  • LEEP--The Graduate School of Library and Information Science extends their number-one-ranked program to students who are not able to relocate to campus. Through this online scheduling option, students without on-campus access are able to complete their Master's of Science or Certificate of Advanced Study degrees.

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