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Business, Entrepreneurship, & Society

Chicago, Illinois

Note: The application deadline for the fall Chicago Programs has been extended.  If you are still interested in applying, go to www.acm.edu/apply and contact the ACM office immediately.

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

Application deadline extended! Please contact the ACM Office for more information.

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

Business, Entrepreneurship, & Society

Chris Walker During my semester in Chicago, I did things that have changed my life and opened new doors for my future. Having a chance to meet with some founders of small companies gave me hope that anything is possible and that everything has a first step. Meeting with these people on a regular basis gave me more confidence and motivation to go out and start doing instead of just learning. I also got to know Chicago and its history, making me more comfortable with my surroundings, and showing me the diversity Chicago has to offer. A semester in Chicago may not be what you think about when you study abroad, but for me I was a million miles away from what I had previously known.

—Chris Walker, Chicago Business, Entrepreneurship, & Society, Fall 2008

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