University of California Irvine

The University of California Irvine was established along with two other University of California campuses in the 1960s as part of the California Master Plan for Higher Education. The other two campuses were located in San Diego and Santa Cruz. The expansion was necessary after the growth of the University of California due to veterans returning from World War II and taking advantage of the G.I. Bill. The site of the new campus was Irvine Ranch, an area of land with an agricultural focus that bisected Orange County. The site was chosen to accommodate a growing population as well as to complement the growth of UCLA and UC Riverside. It was also designed as a master planned community in the area.

The other campuses in the expansion were named after the city where they were built. However, Irvine did not exist when UC Irvine began. Instead, the college was named after James Irvine, a landowner who administered the Irvine Ranch. The Irvine Company sold 1,000 acres of the ranch to the university for one dollar since company policy did not allow donation of land to a public entity. In 1964, the university purchased another 510 acres in order to expand. The City of Irvine was not incorporated until 1971.

President Lyndon B. Johnson dedicated UC Irvine in 1964 and the campus began holding classes in 1965, despite the fact that many of the buildings were still under construction. The first commencement was held in 1966 with degrees conferred to 14 students. Today, UC Irvine is the second largest employer in Orange County and contributes over $4 billion to the economy of the area. More than 29,000 undergraduate and graduate students attend UC Irvine and the school ranks among the top universities in the United States.

University of California Irvine Accreditation Detail

The University of California Irvine is accredited by the Senior Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Accreditation indicates that the college has met standards of quality, capacity and effectiveness as set forth by the accrediting agency, insuring that students are provided high quality in education. In addition to regional accreditation, UC Irvine programs may be accredited by industry specific organizations.

University of California Irvine Application Requirements

Students who have not earned college credit are freshman applicants. Students must provide an official transcript demonstrating a 3.0 GPA in core subjects if students are a California resident or a 3.4 GPA if they are non-residents. Students must have completed two years of history, four years of English, two years of laboratory science, two years of foreign language, one year of visual and performing arts as well as one year of college preparatory electives.

Students who have earned 60 semester or 90 quarter credits are considered transfer students at UC Irvine. Students must provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. A 2.4 GPA or higher is required, although a GPA o 3.0 or higher is required in competitive degree programs. Students must have completed two courses in English composition, one course in mathematical concepts and four courses from two of the following areas:

• Arts and Humanities
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Physical and Biological Sciences

Students are permitted to transfer up to 70 semester or 105 quarter units of credit for lower division coursework. Students who have more than 70 semester or 105 quarter units may be given credit for the courses taken and grades in those classes are used to compute grade point average at UC Irvine.

Graduate students must hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in order to apply for graduate school at UC Irvine. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all undergraduate work and must provide an official transcript from every college or university attended. Students must provide GRE test scores for most programs at UC Irvine. Additional admissions requirements may be necessary in order to apply for specific graduate programs. Students are encouraged to discuss requirements with an admissions counselor before applying.

University of California Irvine Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition for undergraduate program at the University of California Irvine is $14,749.47 per year for California residents and $39,457.47 for non-residents. Graduate tuition is $16,493.50 per year for California residents and $31,395.50 for non-residents. Financial aid is available for all students in the form of grants, scholarships, loans and work-study programs. Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to qualify. Graduate students may also qualify for fellowships as well as teaching and research-assistant employment opportunities.

University of California Irvine Degree(s) Available

Doctor of Philosophy in Management

The University of California Irvine offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Management through the Paul Merage School of Business. The program prepares students for careers in teaching and research at the university level. The program is highly-individualized, allowing students to pursue their own interests. It is a full-time program with a strong foundation in methodological and theoretical training. Students work closely with faculty members in the Business School as well as other departments on campus. Students are required to complete a teaching component as well. Students are able to concentrate their studies in the following areas:

• Accounting
• Finance
• Information Systems
• Marketing
• Operations and Decision Technologies
• Organization and Management
• Strategy

The program begins with a Qualifications Phase which provides students with a general exposure to their area of concentration. The program offers a flexible menu system that consists of two options for courses, one in research methods and the other in theoretical breadth courses. All courses are approved by faculty from the student's area of specialization. Students in this phase acquire knowledge of research, theory and key issues as well as an appreciation of critical analytic abilities.

The Dissertation Phase requires students to complete a significant original research project and a dissertation demonstrating their creativity and ability to launch as well as sustain a career in research. Students must defend the dissertation as their final examination. The Dissertation Phase takes approximately 24 months to complete once they have been accepted into the phase, which normally occurs three years after entering the doctorate program.

The Ph.D. in Management at the University of California Irvine offers students flexibility with a highly-individualized program. Although the program is full-time, some courses required for the program may be completed online, allowing students to meet family, work and social obligations. Students are encouraged to discuss online options with their faculty advisor at the University of California Irvine.