Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL
Quick Facts
“Transforming Lives. Inventing the Future.”
Data from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) & U.S. Dept. of Education
About Illinois Institute of Technology
Innovating for the Future: A Chicago Hub for Practical Research & Design.
Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) stands as a vibrant private research university in the heart of Chicago, dedicated to a unique blend of practical learning and groundbreaking discovery. Tracing its origins back to 1890, the university was born from the visionary "Million Dollar Sermon" of minister Frank Wakely Gunsaulus, who advocated for a school where students would "learn by doing." This ethos, championed by benefactor Philip Danforth Armour, Sr., laid the foundation for the Armour Institute, one of its esteemed predecessors.
In 1940, Illinois Tech officially emerged from the significant merger of the Armour Institute and the Lewis Institute, a pivotal moment that combined their rich traditions of engineering, liberal arts, and science education. This consolidation created a powerhouse of innovation, further enhanced by its close association with modernist architecture through the influential work of Dean Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, whose iconic designs shaped its very campus.
Today, Illinois Tech is recognized as an R2: Doctoral University with high research activity, offering a comprehensive array of programs across architecture, business, design, engineering, industrial technology, information technology, law, psychology, and science. Prospective students seeking an education that emphasizes real-world application, critical thinking, and a vibrant urban experience will find a dynamic environment designed to transform lives and invent the future, true to its motto.
Key Highlights
- ✦Established in 1890, resulting from the merger of the Armour Institute and Lewis Institute.
- ✦Classified as an R2: Doctoral University – High research activity, demonstrating a strong research focus.
- ✦Located in Chicago, Illinois, providing a dynamic urban campus on 120 acres.
- ✦Serves a diverse student body of 6,943, including both undergraduate and postgraduate students.
- ✦Operates under the inspiring motto: "Transforming Lives. Inventing the Future."
- ✦Known for its practical "learn by doing" educational philosophy.
- ✦Historically significant in modernist architecture, with campus designs by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
Timeline
Schools & Colleges
2 notable schools within Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago-Kent College of Law
A notable professional school that merged into Illinois Tech.
Institute of Design
A distinct professional school that merged into Illinois Tech, contributing to its design programs.
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