UCLA Anderson

History

In 1881, the California State Legislature authorized the creation of a southern branch of the California State Normal School in downtown Los Angeles to train teachers for the growing population of Southern California. In 1914, the school shifted to its new campus on Vermont Avenue in East Hollywood. In 1927, it was renamed as the University of California at Los Angeles. UCLA opened its new campus in 1929 with four buildings- Royce Hall and Haines Hall in the north, and Powell Library and Kinsey Hall in the south. The UCLA graduate division got established in 1934. The School of Management was established in 1935 and the MBA degree was authorized by the Regents four years later. In 1950, the School was renamed as the School of Business Administration. The name changed to Graduate School of Business Administration five years later. In 1970s, the School’s name was changed to Graduate School of Management. The School was renamed in honor of John E. Anderson, who endowed the school with a huge fund.

MISSION STATEMENT

When UCLA Anderson was founded during the Great Depression 75 years ago, its mission was to provide business education and thought leadership to individuals and communities in the Southern California region. Today, we are recognized internationally as an innovator in management education and research.

Core Strengths of the School

Looking-forward has been the motto of Anderson School since its inception, and it was the first school of the nation to come up with a field study program nearly 50 years back. The program is structured to instill critical analytical thinking in students that would enable them to drive the change in business. The curriculum is designed for bold individuals who look out for new paths and innovative techniques to solve current business issues. The School understands the needs of potential employers who are on the lookout for individuals with exemplary teamwork skills. The program is designed to accommodate this need and students work in a collaborative environment and help each other flourish. Though the core courses of the first year are mandatory, students have the flexibility to sequence them according to their choice. These courses provide a holistic understanding of the various functional disciplines in business and equip the students with the vital managerial skills required for them to succeed as business leaders of tomorrow. The program offers a diverse range of electives for the students to choose courses that best align with their career goals. Students develop an in-depth understanding on the best practices and trends followed in the industry through these electives.

The Applied Management Research AMR program allows the students to get first-hand experience while working for numerous clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, micro-finance institutions and startups. There are projects available in three disciplines namely- Management Field Study, Business Creation or Special Project. The Management Field Study is the traditional course where students work for a top organization and do deep-rooted analysis on the pressing business issue bothering the company. The Business Creation Option is for student entrepreneurs who want to start their ventures while studying. The Special Project Option exposes the students to a strategic issue facing an industry. The School has more than 3000 clients offering projects across a wide range of industries such as Real Estate, Finance, Technology, Healthcare and Hospitality.

Uniqueness in MBA Pedagogy

The Center for Global Management CGM provides the much needed global exposure that enables the students to develop a global perspective on the different aspects of conducting a business at a global level.

The Lawrence and Lori Fink Center for Finance & Investments connects the students to the investment community with the objective to tap the knowledge they possess and transform it into applicable practices.

The Harold and Pauline Price Center for Entrepreneurial Studies fosters the innovative spirit of the students with the intention to transform them into successful entrepreneurs and business leaders, who will provide cutting-edge sustainable solutions to the society.

CONCENTRATIONS OFFERED

LOCATION ADVANTAGES

The School is located in the sprawling city of Los Angeles in Southern California. The city is nicknamed as the “city of angels” and is home to renowned organizations covering a broad range of industries. The city is a leader in motion picture production, television productions, video games and recorded music. It is often termed as the “Creative Capital of the World” with the largest number of artists, writers, filmmakers, actors, dancers and musicians working in the city. Los Angeles is home to Hollywood and hosts the annual Academy awards. The Walt Disney Concert Hall, located in downtown, is home of the renowned Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra.

CAREER SUPPORT

Whether students want to advance in their careers or make a career switch in the field of business development, consulting, investment banking, technology, corporate finance, general management or marketing, the Parker Career Management Center has always provided the much needed support to the students. First-year students get benefited from the Parker Series in launching their career search. The Anderson Career Team ACT meets at regular intervals where the first-year students discuss the latest trends in the job market, review and polish their resume and work on acquiring the latest skills that are in demand in the market. There are on-campus networking opportunities for the students, where more than 200 companies visit the campus and hunt for potential candidates. The Days on the Job DOJ week connects the students with the hiring managers and executives of the top companies of NYC, Boston, Seattle, San Francisco and LA.