Liautaud Graduate School of Business

University of Illinois at Chicago, Liautaud Graduate School of Business History

University of Illinois at Chicago, founded in 1965, is a public, coeducational institution. The 183-acre campus is located in an urban area in Chicago. Total undergraduate and graduate enrollment is 24,353.

The Liautaud Graduate School of Business was founded in 1977 and is located on the main campus. The basic educational approach is to provide a thorough background in fundamental management tools, analytical concepts, and problem-solving techniques. These skills are complemented by an academic environment that stresses teamwork, effective communication and listening skills, and an understanding of the broader issues that confront today’s manager in the United States and abroad.

University of Illinois at Chicago, Liautaud Graduate School of Business Academics

The Liautaud Graduate School of Business offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Science in Accounting (MSA), Master of Science in Management Information Systems (MS/MIS), and Master of Arts in Real Estate (MARE) as well as a doctoral program in business administration/management information systems, and joint degrees in public health, accounting, nursing, economics, management information systems, and pharmacy. The strongest areas of study are finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, and accounting. Regular programs bring distinguished speakers and visiting professors to campus, including professional topics seminars and lecture series.

Fifty-four total credits are required to complete the MBA, including 30 elective credits. Required courses include:

• Introduction to Financial Accounting
• Microeconomics for Business Decisions
• Introduction to Corporate Finance
• Introduction to Operations Management
• Organizational Behavior
• Introduction to Marketing

Students may eliminate or substitute requirements by taking an exam with prior study in the subject.

The minimum time permitted to complete the master’s degree program attending full time is 4.5 terms; maximum, 6 years. For students attending part time, the minimum is 2 terms; maximum, 6 years.

There are 85 total full-time graduate business faculty, of whom 95% hold a doctorate; there are 26 part-time faculty, of whom 95% hold a doctorate. Faculty salaries are rated above average for Category I institutions, based on the AAUP rating system. Average number of courses faculty teach is 4; average business class size is 35.

University of Illinois at Chicago, Liautaud Graduate School of Business Unique Programs

Library

The library subscribes to 17,600 periodicals. The business library is particularly strong in the documents department, which is a depository library for U.S. government documents, State of Illinois documents, and municipal documents. Students have access to such databases and networks as LUIS, Illinet Online, Current Content, and Wilsonline. Other opportunities for research consist of InfoTrac, BRS, and Dialog.

Computers

Graduate business students need not have their own PCs. The business school has its own computer facilities, consisting of access to the mainframe as well as to 150 networked PCs with current software.

Career and Job Placement

Placement services are extensive. Placement services for alumni include individual consultation and resume referral workshops. Placement is available through the Career Service Office.

International Students

International students must take the TOEFL. International students must score 570 on the Paper-Based TOEFL (PBT) or 80 on the Internet-Based (iBT) version. They also must submit a translation of their transcripts and proof of adequate funds to cover the entire length of study. There is a $60 application fee. Financial aid is available for these students and consists of merit-based aid. The application deadline for fall entry is February 15.

Calendar

The school operates on a traditional semester basis. Semesters are 16 weeks long; summer sessions, 8 weeks. Graduate programs are offered during the evening only.

University of Illinois at Chicago, Liautaud Graduate School of Business Admissions

A bachelor’s degree is required, along with a GPA of 3.0. Most important admissions factors are GMAT results, work experience, and grades in upper-level courses. A strong mathematics background is required.

The number of applicants for the 2006-2007 class was 532; 189 were accepted; 100 enrolled. The average GPA was 3.0; average GMAT score was 585. Transfers are accepted.

Students may begin the MBA program in the fall and spring. To apply, students must submit an application form, 2 transcripts, GMAT scores, a nonrefundable application fee of $50, 2 letters of recommendation, essays, and a resume. The application deadlines are May 15 for fall entry; November 15, spring. Students are notified of the admissions decision approximately 6 weeks after the application is received. The latest acceptable test date for fall entry is May 15. Once accepted, students may defer admission up to 1 semester.

University of Illinois at Chicago, Liautaud Graduate School of Business Financial Aid

Stipends and programs available for minority students include scholarships. The FAFSA and the school’s own financial statement are required. Check with the school for current application deadlines.

Tuition for in-state residents is $682 per credit, or $13,788 per year. Nonresidents pay $1182 per credit, or $25,786 per year. On-campus room and board costs approximately $11,250; books and supplies, $1389; and other fees, $2962, for an estimated annual total of $29,389 for in-state residents and $41,387 for out-of-state residents. Graduate student housing is available. There is a referral service to help procure off-campus housing.

University of Illinois at Chicago, Liautaud Graduate School of Business Students

Thirty-five percent of the current graduate business school class are enrolled full time. The greatest percentage of students are from Illinois (83%). Forty-one percent are women, 20% are minorities, and 12% are foreign nationals. The average age at entrance is 29; ages range from 22 to 56. One percent enter directly from undergraduate school. Students’ undergraduate majors were as follows: 38%, business; 16%, engineering; 14%, liberal arts; 10%, math and science; 7%, economics; and 5%, social sciences. About 1% of entering students leave by the end of the first year due to academic or personal reasons. In 2006, 79 graduate business degrees were awarded.