Illinois Institute of Technology · Career Pathway Courses
Turn Coursework Into Career Credentials
Industry certifications, career accelerators, and professional skills — built into your degree, for academic credit.
4
Career Pathway Courses
$74,840
Median Starting Salary
3
Open for Enrollment
18
Internship Fields
Median starting salary from the Illinois Tech First Destination Survey, which collected responses from 91 percent of undergraduate graduates. See the outcomes dashboard for figures by college and major.
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Not Sure Which One?
All four Career Pathway Courses below carry academic credit and are taken through the registrar like any other course. Three are open for enrollment now; Salesforce Foundations is not accepting new students at this time. If you are deciding between them, book a career coach and bring your degree plan.
Every course below opens and closes. Nothing is hidden from you — open only what you need, and skip the rest.
1BRVN 200: Braven Career Success
3 credits · small teams with a Leadership Coach · real employer capstoneNEW — FALL 2026ELEVATE QUALIFYING▾
Partnership with Braven
A 3-credit hybrid course that prepares sophomores and juniors to land strong jobs after college. Work in small teams of 5–8 guided by a professional Leadership Coach. Build professional application materials, develop interview-ready skills, and complete a team-based capstone with a real employer — all in one semester. Qualifies as an Elevate requirement or optional experience and satisfies the career component for Chicago Difference and Hope Chicago scholars.
Course Structure
Fall 2026 Sections
What You Will Gain
- Application materials (resume, cover letter, LinkedIn)
- Mock interview experience
- Networking and team project skills
- One-on-one Leadership Coach mentorship
- Real employer capstone
- 3 academic credits
Eligibility
- Who: Sophomores and juniors
- Major: None required
- Credits: 3 (counts toward GPA)
- Offered: Fall only
What Students Say
“Braven helped me better understand how to present myself as a strong, purpose-driven candidate. I learned how to articulate my story in a way that highlights my strengths and values.” — Spring 2024 Braven Fellow
“Braven pushed me out of my comfort zone to attend networking events and solidify my pitch. It made me confident in the applicant I was for an internship, fellowship, or when searching in the job market.” — Spring 2024 Braven Fellow
2Virtual Internships (VI)
Remote, project-based placement in one of 18 fields · for credit or non-creditROLLING STARTSELEVATE QUALIFYING▾
Partnership with Virtual Internships
A remote, project-based internship in your chosen field, with placement support into one of 18 fields (IT, Business, Engineering, and more). Undergraduates can complete it for credit through BUS 495-07 (3 credits, includes a 6-week internship, fulfills free elective credits), or as a non-credit 8–10 week internship for a $200 program participation fee. Graduate students pay the $200 fee if selected. Internships are unpaid.
Two Ways to Enroll
For credit: register for BUS 495-07 (CRN 16823) and apply for your internship during the first week of Fall classes (Aug 17) — do not use the apply link. Non-credit: apply through the Illinois Tech cohort link below and choose from the currently open start dates.
Current Status
The August 2 deadline for the October 12 non-credit start has passed. Non-credit cohorts run on rolling start dates, so open the cohort link below for the next available one. For-credit students should focus on BUS 495-07 registration and the August 17 application window instead.
What You Will Gain
- Placement support into one of 18 career fields
- Dedicated Internship Success Advisor
- One-on-one coaching throughout
- Real, project-based, resume-ready experience
- Global career exposure
- 3 free elective credits (for-credit option)
Important: Apply only through the Illinois Tech cohort link above — not the main VI website — to join the sponsored cohort. Questions? The Elevate team manages Virtual Internships: elevate@illinoistech.edu.
3Illinois Tech Global Career Accelerator
Project experience with leading companies · 3 credits · five tracksFALL 2026 OPEN▾
Partnership with Podium Education
Add real-world experience to your resume for credit with access to an exclusive career network. Gain exposure with leading companies while earning 3 Illinois Tech credits in this semester-long experience.
Available Tracks
What You Will Gain
- Field experience from top companies (The Grammys, L’Oreal, Intel, OpenAI)
- Industry tools (ChatGPT, Tableau, Shopify)
- 3 Illinois Tech credits
- Certifications
- Early career network access
Impact
- 95% of alumni report career benefits
- 84% said it made their degree more valuable
- 78% became more competitive
- 10,000+ students helped level up
Figures reported by Podium Education, the program provider, from its own alumni surveys.
4Salesforce Foundations
The most widely used CRM platform · academic credit · not enrolling new studentsENROLLMENT PAUSED▾
Partnership with Camp4 Consulting
Current Status · Enrollment Paused
Salesforce Foundations is not accepting new students at this time. The course sequence is on hold pending forthcoming updates, and no new sections are scheduled. Students in a current section should continue with their instructor as normal. Revised offerings will be posted when they are confirmed.
When it runs, the sequence develops Salesforce platform skills through hands-on coursework and applied projects, for academic credit, and prepares students for industry certification exams. The description below reflects the sequence as it was most recently offered.
What You Will Gain
- Salesforce platform expertise
- Industry-recognized certifications
- Real-world project experience
- Direct career pathway opportunities
Where This Pathway Leads
- Junior Salesforce Administrator, 0–2 years: $78,000 median
- Business Development Rep: $65,327 average
Most graduates of a Salesforce credential work for Salesforce partners, consultancies, and customer organizations rather than for Salesforce itself. Sources: Salesforce Ben Administrator Salary Guide, March 2026; Indeed, August 2026.
For Context · Salaries At Salesforce
- Account Executive: $93,258
- Solutions Engineer: $154,889
- Software Engineer: $176,756
These are averages across all experience levels at Salesforce, not starting salaries, and they are not what this pathway leads to directly. Account Executive is typically a promotion from Business Development Rep; Solutions Engineer postings ask for at least two years. Source: Indeed company salary estimates, August 2026.
Not sure which one fits? A 25-minute conversation settles it — turn your coursework into credentials that get you hired.
All external resources and salary figures independently verified by Career Services, August 2026.
