University of Illinois - Academics

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

The University’s business and agricultural programs are world-renowned and very popular, but the liberal arts and sciences programs do not receive the same patronage from the University. Some students complain about the state of the English building compared to the engineering buildings, claming that arts majors are passed over in favor of other majors. However, U of I still has great drama and writing departments, and it has recently added a creative writing master’s degree. Efforts are being made to reach out to other interests, but the bulk of this school is still the engineering department. If that’s your interest, U of I is definitely a competitive choice.

Many professors are dedicated to teaching and reaching out to their students. Most make themselves available, and a few have even been known to give out their home phone numbers. Still, it can be hard to get acclimated to a school of 28,000, which is why the University implemented discussion groups to accompany big lectures (though not all lectures are huge, and some classes are entirely discussion-based). These discussion sections are generally led by teaching assistants (TAs), some of whom are excellent teachers, though others are less than enthusiastic. If you want help outside of class, the best bet is office hours or online notes. Most big classes, such as general education classes, have Web sites that include notes and PowerPoint presentations online, so you never miss anything even if you skip a class or can’t keep up with the teacher’s notes. Of course, every university has its share of terrible teachers, but the faculty is generally well-informed and caring, and every once in a while, you meet a really great teacher who inspires you.

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Students Speak Out

UIUSJ says: Business

The College of Business at the U... The College of Business at the U of I is nationally ranked, but the Business Career Services department is third in the country. It is by far one of the best parts of being in the College of Business. The teachers know their subject and have had real world experience in that field. There's a ton of group work, which can be incredibly frustrating, but that's how businesses accomplish their goals in the real world. 12345 Academics: March 30, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

It is the third-best engineering... It is the third-best engineering school in the country. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

If you need assistance, teachers... If you need assistance, teachers strongly encourage you to see them. They find a way to get you into their office, to work with you one-on-one, and to answer any questions you might have. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

There are good teachers, and there... There are good teachers, and there are bad teachers. The pattern that can be seen in the bad teachers is their nonchalant attitude when you come in for office hours or when they are too critical of your work and do not acknowledge progress. Some do not care to improve their teaching strategies even if they have been told to do so. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

The staff and faculty at the U of... The staff and faculty at the U of I are said to be among the most scholarly in the nation according to its Web site. And when you’re at a competitive university like this one, this is what one might expect. I have encountered the best and the worst of them. The best are those individuals that care about your progress. They know that, for example, you are not an expert in English literature; you are here to learn and are open to constructive criticism. If you need assistance, they strongly encourage you to see them. 12345 Academics Report

Facts

Did You Know?

U of I offers Discovery Courses for all freshmen. These classes are small and geared towards first-year students. Instead of being overwhelmed by a huge lecture class in their freshman year, students can participate in class and have one-on-one discussions with the teacher.

The Writers’ Workshop offers free writing help for all students. You can walk in with a rough draft and walk out with a polished paper, free of grammatical errors and writing goofs.

U of I offers winter courses abroad through the department of LAS, with $500 scholarships offered to all LAS students. Courses abroad are a chance for adventuresome students to explore a foreign city while meeting like-minded undergrads. Courses abroad offered in 2008 included Paris, France; Salvador, Brazil; Istanbul, Turkey; Delhi, India; and Burkina Faso.

U of I boasts the third largest academic library in North America, topped only by Yale and Harvard. This makes it the largest public university library in existence.

Vodafone, one of the largest mobile telecommunications network companies in the world, recently donated a $3.3 million grant to the College of Engineering, naming it one of the best engineering programs in the country.

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