BES program overview
Business, Entrepreneurship, & Society (BES), the newest of the ACM Chicago Programs, introduces and builds upon the central themes of entrepreneurship – creativity, innovation, and problem solving – as the fundamental tools of successful businesses and organizations of all types.
In addition, students are asked to consider and apply these themes within the broader context of their experience living and working in Chicago as a major urban center.
Students participating in the semester-long BES program will be guided by the program director and faculty members to engage in their work with a personal sense of self-reflection, creativity, innovation, and open-mindedness as they participate in the four key components of the program:
Note: Students participating in the spring trimester option will take the core course, program seminar, and will have a choice between an internship or an independent study project.
Through their experiences living, working, and learning in Chicago, students will
- explore case studies of Chicago entrepreneurs;
- develop contacts with Chicago-based business leaders and entrepreneurs;
- gain hands-on experience in an internship;
- pursue an independent study project through which they develop a tangible result or "product" to demonstrate the quality of their work;
- learn to recognize entrepreneurial opportunities in everyday life; and
- deepen their knowledge of the city from a variety of perspectives in order to better understand the interconnections among business, society, and the arts within Chicago's vibrant urban milieu.
Quick Facts
- Term: Fall semester, spring semester, & spring trimester (March-May)
- Language prerequisite: None
- Language of instruction: English
- Living arrangements: Apartment
Application deadlines
March 15, 2010
Fall 2010 semester
March 15, 2010
Spring 2011 semester early application date
Do I need to apply early?
The early application date is available for students whose college requires that all off-campus study applications for the entire upcoming academic year must be completed the prior spring semester. If your college does not require a spring decision for programs the following spring, you may simply apply by the regular application deadline.
October 31, 2010
Spring 2011 semester
If the deadline has passed and you are interested in applying, contact the ACM Office immediately. Late applications may be accepted on a space-available basis.
Related Programs
Program contacts
Emily Gaul
Program Associate
205 W. Wacker Drive, Suite 220
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312.263.5000
egaul@acm.edu
More program contacts »
Publications & Resources
Chicago Programs brochure
Chicago Programs Student Handbook 2009-10
Chicago Programs internship list