University of Illinois Chicago
Application Information
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Partner Institution
Chicago Tech Circle
- Chicago Tech Circle gives UIC students skills they need to add value to Chicago companies’ work in data and AI — as paid consultants, interns, or even full-time hires.
- Duration
- 1 semester course + 1 semester industry immersion, leading to membership in our talent marketplace
Enrolling students now for fall 2025
- Program Participants
Chicago Tech Circle welcomes UIC undergraduates from varied academic backgrounds:
- College of Engineering students
- Finance or other majors from the College of Business
- Social science or other majors from the College of Arts and Sciences
Most UIC students — especially those with no background in data and AI — join CTC by taking CS 218, a course that provides a strong foundation in these subjects, and then completing a semester-long industry immersion “lab.”
Computer science and data science majors/minors may have access to an alternative pathway. See below for more information.
Why should I join Chicago Tech Circle?
Understanding data and artificial intelligence will open up a wider range of jobs as you finish your UIC degree and look for work after graduation.
Consider this:
- Today, only 16 percent of data-science-oriented jobs in Illinois have people to fill them
- The demand for data- and AI-skilled workers is expected to grow 60 percent in the next two to three years
You can pair data and AI exposure with any career interest or UIC area of study. You’ll stand out to employers with a better understanding of data and AI, a stronger résumé, and the ability to tell a persuasive story about how you used teamwork and project-based skills to solve a problem.
Our program
Chicago Tech Circle offers:
- Classroom skill development: Build fluency in data and AI by taking the semester-long CS 218 course. Designed for students with no prior experience with either subject, it teaches key concepts and allows students to apply them in team projects.
- Industry immersion lab: Students who have taken the CS 218 course can develop their data and AI skills further in one of three industry immersion “labs.” Each lab provides on-the-ground experience applying data and AI in an area where companies are expanding: health equity, sustainable finance, or the future of energy.
- Talent marketplace: Once students have a basic data and AI skill set, they can become part of CTC’s talent marketplace. Companies and organizations may select students from our talent pool for paid work: short-term consulting projects, micro-internships, full-length internships, and more.
Getting started
If you have no background in data or AI, fill that gap by joining CTC! Your first step will be to apply to the CS 218 course. You are a good candidate for the CTC experience if you:
- Have completed 30 college credit hours and have UIC sophomore standing or higher
- Like to exercise your critical-thinking abilities
- Are curious about data and AI
- Have done well in a UIC course that fosters logical and analytical thought, such as MATH 105, MATH 110, ACTG 2010, ECON 120, or STAT 101
If you already do have some knowledge of data and AI — because you are majoring in computer science or data science, and have completed coursework through CS 251 for example — you should also join CTC! Depending on your prior experience, you may be eligible to go straight into the CTC talent marketplace, or you can choose to take CS 218 and participate in an industry immersion lab.
How to apply
Fill in our interest form to begin the process. We will be in touch about next steps.
We also suggest you follow the Chicago Tech Circle page on LinkedIn!
Questions?
We are here to answer your questions about Chicago Tech Circle, help you identify the best way to get started in the program, and more. Email us at chicagotechcircle@uic.edu and a member of our team will get back to you.
School-Specific Program Information