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Throughout our history, Chicago Booth has taken a distinctive approach to business education.

One of the first business schools in the United States, Booth pioneered a new way to teach business—one that took a more comprehensive, creative, and professional approach than the rote memorization that was standard at the time. In 1922, under the leadership of Leon Carroll Marshall, Booth’s fourth dean, the school graduated the nation’s first PhD student in business.

But by the 1950s, underfunding had led to a loss of momentum. Dean W. Allen Wallis and associate dean James H. Lorie, PhD ’47, joined forces to create a new kind of business education. Inspired by the German approach to medical education—which required students to study anatomy, physiology, and other basics before applying their knowledge—their new framework prioritized foundational disciplines such as accounting, economics, and statistics.

That framework became The Chicago Approach, the transformative educational philosophy that sets Booth apart from every other business school in the world. Rooted in the fundamental scientific disciplines at the heart of business—economics, accounting, psychology, sociology, and statistics—The Chicago Approach provides a framework that can be applied to solve business problems across industries and regions.

As business evolves, so too does The Chicago Approach. To meet the need for more advanced leadership training, we introduced LEAD, one of the first experiential leadership development programs offered at a major business school. Now a core component of all Booth MBA programs, LEAD empowers students to build leadership skills that they can draw on throughout their careers.

Today, we’re applying The Chicago Approach to lifelong learning opportunities for our global community. Our alumni gain insights from industry leaders at thought leadership events, learn from our faculty in Back to Booth classroom sessions, and build professional skills in our global Executive Education programs.

125 Years of Educating Future Business Leaders

Discover some of the history behind our academic offerings, and the people who helped shape our business school into what it is today.

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Discover the Impact of our Alumni

Our alumni have launched disruptive companies, transformed industries, and made enduring impact globally. Discover more about their bold ideas and leadership across the globe. 

Learn More about Our Approach to Business Education

Stories from our Community

Discover the history of The Chicago Approach to business education, and our how unique educational philosophy is applied to create enduring impact.

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Choose Your Path to Success

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Interested in one of our MBA programs? Looking to attend an event that celebrates our 125th-year anniversary, or give to Booth? Continue your engagement with us.

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MBA Programs

Achieve more with an MBA degree from Chicago Booth. Offered in four formats—including Executive MBA programs based in Chicago, London, and Hong Kong—to suit your personal and professional goals.

MBA Programs
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Alumni

Discover the impact, diversity, and reach of our global alumni community.

Alumni