During your first year in the Kelley Full-Time +Flex MBA Program, you’ll join one of our six Career Foundation Academies—immersive career development designed to take you beyond the classroom to become ready for the internship and career you want.
Set yourself up for success with an immersive career development MBA Academy
Bridge the gap between theory and the real world
As a cornerstone of the the Full-Time + Flex MBA Program, the Kelley MBA Academy experience offers a deep dive into your chosen industry through networking, company visits, and real-life consulting projects. Your journey is structured to provide a solid MBA foundation in your first year before moving into specialized mastery in your second year.
Immerse yourself in your primary career interest to prepare for internship recruitment. Academies are a professional development experience led by top-ranked Kelley faculty and current industry leaders.
Available to those who choose to remain in Bloomington, Indiana, for their second year, you’ll have the option to explore a strategic Academy that allows you to gain advanced credentials and specialized leadership skills.
Career support that moves at the pace of business
You don’t have to navigate your career journey alone. Each Academy surrounds you with a dedicated support system and direct access to Academy companies which actively recruit and partner with Kelley students. The Academies give you:
- Industry insiders: Receive one-on-one mentoring from your Academy director
- Certified coaching: Work with a career coach who specializes in your specific industry.
- Peer support: Gain insider tips from a second-year MBA mentor who has already secured their full-time offer.
Our MBAs are ready to lead on day one. That's why recruiters turn to Kelley.
First-year Academies
First-year Academy
Consumer Marketing Academy
Brand management and consumer product marketing immersion
First-year Academy
Strategy and Operations Academy
Problem-solving and execution skills for consulting and corporate leadership.
Optional, Year 1 or Year 2
PLUS Life Sciences
For careers in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences
Second-year Academies
Optional second-year Academy
Organizational AI Academy
Hands-on, no-code, immersive experience for integrating AI into business
“During Academy Week, I visited eight companies over four days and had an impactful conversation with a Kelley alum that started my process of securing an internship in marketing at Eli Lilly and Company.”
Aki Kiyomiya, MBA’25
Questions?
Want to learn more about the Academy experience? Connect with a current Full-Time +Flex MBA student to learn more about their time in one of the Academies.