Anderson School of Management

Anderson School of Management. It is the graduate business school of the University of California, Los Angeles, located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Founded in 1935, the school offers a range of degree programs including the Master of Business Administration, specialized master's degrees, and a Doctor of Philosophy program, alongside executive education. Consistently ranked among the top business schools globally, it is renowned for its strength in entrepreneurship, entertainment management, and technology.

History

The school was established in 1935 as the College of Business Administration at the University of California's Southern Branch. Its founding was part of a broader expansion of professional education within the University of California system during the Great Depression. In 1987, the school was renamed in honor of John E. Anderson, a prominent Los Angeles businessman and alumnus, following a substantial donation from the Anderson Foundation. Key milestones include the 1995 opening of its current main building, Marion Anderson Hall, named for the donor's wife, and the 2007 launch of the fully-employed MBA program to serve working professionals in Southern California. The school's evolution has been closely tied to the growth of industries in the Los Angeles region, from aerospace to entertainment.

Academics

The school's flagship program is its full-time Master of Business Administration, which features a core curriculum and numerous specializations. Other degree offerings include the Master of Financial Engineering, Master of Science in Business Analytics, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Management. The academic approach emphasizes applied learning through centers like the Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation and the Easton Technology Management Center. The Harold and Pauline Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation oversees the renowned Knapp Venture Competition, while the Fink Center for Finance & Investments provides resources for students focusing on investment banking and asset management. The school also maintains a strong focus on global business through international exchange programs with institutions like London Business School and National University of Singapore.

Campus and facilities

The school is situated on the northern edge of the UCLA campus in Westwood. Its central facility is Marion Anderson Hall, which houses classrooms, administrative offices, and the Rosenfeld Library. A significant expansion, UCLA Anderson's new building, opened in 2016, featuring state-of-the-art lecture halls, team study rooms, and the Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The school also operates the UCLA Anderson Forecast, an economic research center, from its campus. Executive education programs are conducted in dedicated spaces designed for senior leaders from companies like The Walt Disney Company and Northrop Grumman.

Rankings and reputation

The school is consistently placed among the elite business schools in major global assessments. Its full-time MBA program is typically ranked within the top 20 by publications such as U.S. News & World Report, Financial Times, and Bloomberg Businessweek. The school is particularly highly regarded for its specialization in entrepreneurship, often topping lists from Poets&Quants and Princeton Review. Its Master of Financial Engineering program is frequently ranked first or second globally by QuantNet. This reputation is bolstered by strong career outcomes, with graduates securing positions at leading firms like Google, Amazon, McKinsey & Company, and Goldman Sachs.

Notable alumni and faculty

The school's alumni network includes numerous influential leaders across various sectors. In finance and investment, notable graduates include Howard Marks of Oaktree Capital Management and Susan Wojcicki, former CEO of YouTube. In entertainment and media, alumni include Haim Saban of Saban Capital Group and Robert Iger, former CEO of The Walt Disney Company. The faculty has included prominent scholars such as Richard Roll, a leading financial economist known for his work on the Capital Asset Pricing Model, and Judy Olian, who served as dean before becoming president of Quinnipiac University. Other distinguished former faculty include behavioral economist Shlomo Benartzi and strategy expert Alfred E. Osborne.

Category:University of California, Los Angeles Category:Business schools in California Category:Educational institutions established in 1935