University of Illinois at Chicago

About the University of Illinois at Chicago

University of Illinois at Chicago is a public institution that was founded in 1982. UIC is an acclaimed research center and a vital partner in the educational, technological, and cultural fabric of one of the nation's largest and most diverse cities. UIC is among the top five most diverse campuses in the nation and a national leader among urban, public higher education institutions in providing access to underrepresented students. UIC is focused on eliminating disparities in health, education and economic opportunity. Community engagement is a centerpiece of UIC’s urban mission. Faculty, students and staff in every college work with neighborhood, foundation and government partners on a wide range of projects to improve the quality of life in metropolitan areas around the world.

UIC’s mission is:

• To create knowledge that transforms our views of the world and, through sharing and application, transforms the world.
• To provide a wide range of students with the educational opportunity only a leading research university can offer.
• To address the challenges and opportunities facing not only Chicago but all Great Cities of the 21st century, as expressed by our Great Cities Commitment.
• To foster scholarship and practices that reflect and respond to the increasing diversity of the U.S. in a rapidly globalizing world.
• To train professionals in a wide range of public service disciplines, serving Illinois as the principal educator of health science professionals and as a major health care provider to underserved communities.

• College of Applied Health Sciences

  The College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago is a multi-disciplinary community of health science scholars, educators, and students who contribute to the health and well-being of people, particularly those living in an urban environment.The UIC College of Applied Health Sciences is nationally known for educating professionals who help people achieve or maintain the health and freedom to live the lives they choose for themselves.

  The college has five departments: biomedical and health information sciences, disability and human development, kinesiology and nutrition, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Areas of concentration include diet and exercise, cardiovascular health, motor control, neuroscience, rehabilitation science, physical therapy, occupational therapy, health information management, biomedical and health informatics, medical illustration and disability advocacy.

• College of Business Administration

  UIC Business transforms student potential into career success, with the proven skills to become leaders in today’s global economy. Students connect to Chicago’s living classroom through project-based courses, case competitions and a full-service Business Career Center.

  The college focuses on the core disciplines: accounting, finance, information management, marketing and management. Working professionals can study in flexible MBA programs and an online undergraduate completion program for transfer students.

• College of Dentistry

  The UIC College of Dentistry, which celebrated its centennial in 2013, trains leaders who give back to their communities. Students work in underserved areas in Chicago, the U.S. and other countries, and at student-run clinics for patients who are homeless or uninsured.

  Besides the Doctor of Dental Medicine degree, the college offers graduate degrees for future researchers and educators. The DMD Advanced Standing program offers a path for dentists who trained outside the U.S. to practice in this country.

• College of Education

  The UIC College of Education produces educators who make good on the promise of public education in Chicago and communities around the country. Its mission includes a focus on educating African American and Latino children, the majority of Chicago Public Schools students.

  The college offers undergraduate and graduate programs to develop teachers, principals, researchers and community leaders. The goal: social change through education that fosters self-worth, self-confidence and self-advocacy.

• College of Engineering

  The UIC College of Engineering offers learning, research and internships for a fulfilling career. Engineering and computer science graduates excel in areas from biotechnology, cybersecurity and information technology to nanotechnology, civil infrastructure, and energy/environmental technology.

  The college’s 20 student organizations offer hands-on learning and professional development. More than 500 companies and organizations have hired UIC students and graduates over the last two years. UIC engineering graduates help drive social and economic progress in business, industry, government and education.

• Graduate College

  The UIC Graduate College supports the research, scholarship and success of over 8,000 graduate students in 64 doctoral and 93 master’s degree programs. Working with the other UIC colleges, the Graduate College provides professional development opportunities for academic success and future careers. With programs like PASSAGE Scholars, the college follows UIC’s commitment to increasing the number of underrepresented students in graduate studies.

• Honors College

  With faculty mentors and small class size, the UIC Honors College offers exceptional students many opportunities for advanced intellectual growth, leadership and community service. Students participate in undergraduate research, internships, study abroad and other activities. In their senior year, they complete an Honors Capstone project. A GPA of at least 3.4 is required for the Honors College.

• College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

  The UIC College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is dedicated to the idea that a strong liberal arts and sciences education is the best foundation for a bright future.

  By taking courses across a broad range of disciplines — including literature, biology, history, economics, foreign languages and more — students gain the critical skills to succeed in any field. The result: creative problem-solvers, effective communicators and strong leaders.

• College of Medicine

  At the UIC College of Medicine, clinical experience begins in the first two years. The college is the nation’s largest medical school, with campuses in Chicago, Rockford and Peoria that provide urban and rural experience. College of Medicine faculty and fellows are on the forefront of new knowledge, including diabetes, cancer and genetics. The MD program prepares students for careers in medical practice, research, teaching and community medicine. Through joint degree programs, medical students can also earn a graduate degree in business, public health, law or science.

• College of Nursing

  The UIC College of Nursing is ranked among the best: No. 1 in Illinois and No. 13 nationally by U.S. News & World Reports and No. 2 in research funding by the National Institutes of Health. The college draws students from around the world to Chicago and regional campuses in Peoria, the Quad Cities, Rockford, Springfield and Urbana. Students gain experience in the college’s award-winning nurse-managed clinics. The college was the first in the U.S. to be designated a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Development.

• College of Pharmacy

  The UIC College of Pharmacy has shaped pharmaceutical research, education and practice for more than 150 years. With campuses in Chicago and Rockford, the college prepares students for the changing world of pharmacy and offers hands-on learning in urban and rural settings.

  The college is consistently ranked among the top five among U.S. colleges of pharmacy for research funding from the National Institutes of Health. Ten specialized centers and institutes, and collaborations with more than 20 countries, help shape the pharmaceutical industry around the world.

• School of Public Health

  The UIC School of Public Health is the only public health school in Illinois accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. Dedicating to creating a healthy society, the school emphasizes real-world learning to make a difference in populations around the world.

  Through partnerships with community groups and government agencies, students and faculty are involved in projects that include violence prevention, HIV/AIDS prevention, water quality, maternal and child health, emergency and disaster preparedness, asthma education and health disparities.

• Jane Addams College of Social Work

  The UIC Jane Addams College of Social Work carries forward the mission of Jane Addams and the Hull-House movement, adapting social work to the needs and realities of today’s urban settings.

  As a premier institution for graduate study, the college is a recognized leader in social work research, education and service. Faculty, staff and students share a commitment to social justice and a passion for making a difference in the world, working with communities, policymakers, agencies and individuals.

• College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs

  The UIC College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs has an international reputation for promoting just, resilient and livable communities — cities that work.

  The college improves the quality of urban life through education, research and community engagement in transportation, housing, economic development, policy analysis, government finance and more. Students get hands-on experience in internships with more than 100 agencies and companies in the Chicago area.

• College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts

  As a college of visual and performing artists, designers, architects, historians and museum professionals, we educate and mentor the next generation of cultural producers. We offer a range of academic programs spanning across evolving creative disciplines, organized under four schools.

  Our internationally recognized faculty is committed to fostering a transformative learning environment and transmitting the skills and knowledge required for students to become critical thinkers, innovative practitioners, involved community members, and leading professionals in their field.

  Immersed in the vibrant urban fabric of Chicago, we recognize that myriad possibilities arise when smart, energetic artists, designers, and scholars engage with the city.

  So please enjoy exploring the college websites and learning about our innovative faculty and students. The UIC College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts is one of the most dynamic intellectual and creative learning and research environments in the country. 

History of the University of Illinois at Chicago

As part of the University of Illinois, UIC grew to meet the needs of the people of Illinois, but its deepest roots are in health care. The Chicago College of Pharmacy, founded in 1859, predated the Civil War is the oldest unit in the university. Other early colleges were the College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Columbian College of Dentistry.

These Chicago-based health colleges became fully incorporated in 1913 as the Colleges of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy. In the decades following incorporation, several other health science colleges were created. Together with the Colleges of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy, they formed the Chicago Professional Colleges of the University of Illinois. In 1961, the professional colleges became the University of Illinois at the Medical Center.

Following World War II, the University of Illinois increased its presence in Chicago by creating a temporary, two-year branch campus on Navy Pier. The Chicago Undergraduate Division primarily accommodated student veterans on the G.I. Bill. The program allowed all students to complete their first two years of study in Chicago before going downstate to finish their undergraduate degrees at Urbana-Champaign.

After the war, and after the wave of returning veterans seeking education benefits under the G.I. Bill had passed through, demand for a public university in Chicago remained high. The university made plans to create a permanent, degree-granting campus in the Chicago area.

The University of Illinois at Chicago Circle – named for the nearby ultra-modern freeway interchange – opened in February 1965. “Circle,” as it was called, was a degree-granting institution, with ambitions to become a great university. A member of the faculty proudly noted it was the first university to be named for a transportation feature since Oxford and Cambridge.

Within five years of the campus’s opening – a period during which it was the fastest growing campus in the country – enrollment grew from 5,000 to 18,000 and almost every department offered graduate degrees. Befitting the location of the campus at a crossroads of immigration, many of Circle’s students were first in their families to attend college – as are many of UIC’s students today.

Accreditation

The University of Illinois at Chicago is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in the North Central region of the United States.

Rankings

• In the 2016 U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of colleges and universities, UIC ranked as the 129th best in the “national universities” category. 
• The 2015 Times Higher Education World University Rankings ranked UIC as the 18th best in the world among universities less than 50 years old.

• There are more than 200 student clubs and organizations to check out, including fraternities and sororities.
• Through the UIC Undergraduate Research Experience, interested college students can pair up with faculty mentors and create a research project in a variety of academic areas. Each spring, students then present their findings at the university's Student Research Forum.
• Outside of academic work, student athletes compete on the UIC Flames sports teams, which are typically strong competitors in the NCAA Division I Horizon League and are supported by mascot Sparky D. Dragon.

University of Illinois--Chicago offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, women's center, placement service, day care, health service, and health insurance. University of Illinois--Chicago also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Of the students at University of Illinois--Chicago, 9 percent have cars on campus. Alcohol is permitted for students of legal age at University of Illinois--Chicago.

Chicago is among the world’s great cities, and is the third largest in the U.S. Its nearly 2.7 million residents are spread throughout more than 100 neighborhoods. And, roughly one in ten of them who has a college degree is a UIC alumnus. Chicago is home to 11 Fortune 500 companies, with another 21 residing in its metropolitan area. Moreover, UIC sponsors one of the largest college career fairs in the Chicago area with thousands of students and recent alumni participating.