UC Irvine: Innovative, inclusive, and inspiring business leaders are made here

There’s plenty of business innovation blooming in central Orange County, Southern California. In the city of Irvine, researchers are studying how artificial intelligence affects product recommendation bias online. In another project, a revolutionary “Random Walk” model is being developed using neuroscience and physics concepts to boost creativity in humans and AI. More brilliant minds are bringing attention to the dangers of marketing geared to children, especially when it comes to future junk food, cigarettes, and alcohol consumption.

These research projects are groundbreaking and forward-thinking in the face of a rapidly changing world. They’re being conducted by faculty members at the University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine), where business, technology, and inclusive excellence thrive at the Paul Merage School of Business. As a world-class research institution, it is part of the top 10% of business schools globally — and for good reason. Here, students prepare to become the business leaders of the future with the guidance of distinguished faculty members, and a curriculum that’s industry-relevant and leverages emerging technologies.

The Merage School is just as big on inclusivity. A focal point to business transformation, diversity, equity, and inclusion is its cornerstone to the social and academic culture here. Campus is rife with community initiatives that serve and support students from all walks of life. An example: three years ago, a grant was secured for the UC-HBCU Initiative, with HBCU standing for historically Black colleges and universities. It resulted in a seven-week summer programme at the Merage School’s campus, aimed at inspiring attending students from HBCUs to pursue their doctoral education in business.

That’s just one example, but the school’s initiative to create a global community doesn’t stop there. It’s packed with groups like the Asian/Pacific Islander Initiative, Black Management Association, Women in Business, and more — so you’re guaranteed to find your footing no matter where you’re from.

Merage School of Business’s Full-Time MBA programme is ranked 44th in the US (US News & World Report). Source: UC Irvine

STEM-designated master’s programmes

Part of the prestigious University of California system, the Merage School is at the forefront of business education. Programmes reflect the constant ebb and flow of industry trends, making Merage’s STEM-designated master’s programmes the preferred launchpad to boost careers.

Programmes include the Full-Time MBA (FTMBA), Master in Management (MiM), Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA), Master of Finance (MFin), and more.

You’ll start by learning the core fundamentals, and then pivot to your choice of electives, which you can tailor to your career goals. You’ll take on hands-on projects in collaboration with real-world digital firms and round up your learnings in the final Capstone. The courses are infused with technology and artificial intelligence materials such as the “Natural Language Processing and Applications” for the MSBA, or “Fintech” for the MFin degree. They’re taught by world-class faculty who bring out your best potential through individualised attention.

“I chose the Merage School because the faculty don’t treat you like just another name on their roster,” Mayuri Garg says, a graduate of the MFin programme. “This program offers not just a solid financial foundation but also career advising through ProSeminar. I am confident that being a part of this community will help me excel in more than just my courses, but also my job search.”

Merage School students get involved with cutting-edge research projects that transform the business landscape. Source: UC Irvine

Professional development with a world-class career centre

There’s no shortcut to success, and the Merage School understands this better than anyone. The Merage Career Centre plays an important role in the UC Irvine experience, offering bouts of activities for professional development. These services are world-class, and play a huge part in the Merage School’s over 16,000 alumni graduates succeeding in diverse careers around the world. From healthcare to information technology and accounting, graduates are thriving at globally known companies like Deloitte, Amazon, and Disney.

“Coming into the MSBA programme, I knew I wanted to take full advantage of the career resources that the Merage School has to offer,” says graduate Diana Rivera. “From designing my LinkedIn profile, to tailoring my resume and preparing for interviews, and attending ProSeminar, the Merage Career Centre was vital in preparing me for my job search.”

Employment support from the Merage School is unique in that the team goes the extra mile to understand who their students are, and how best to help them stand out. While courses like ProSeminar are embedded within the curriculum, dedicated specifically to career management, the school offers activities such as industry-led seminars and workshops, networking opportunities, job search preparation, mentorship, and more.

Even luckier for UC Irvine students — the city’s located right in Orange County’s tech coast, giving students access to real-world projects and opportunities. Irvine has been deemed the #1 for tech hubs, which means faculty and students collaborate with the country’s leading firms in fintech, biotech, electric vehicles, AI, and more.

“I feel lucky to have had people who genuinely care about each individual student’s career goals help me land at my dream company,” says Rivera, who’s now working at The Walt Disney Company. “Without their guidance and support, I wouldn’t have started the career I wanted so soon after graduating.”

Check out the Paul Merage School of Business today to enhance your career.

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