FCBA

Mission I History I Placement Rate I Points of Pride I Visit Dates I National Council of Advisors I Accreditation I The Fosters I Directory

Undergraduate Majors

Select a Major Accounting Actuarial Science Economics Entrepreneurship Finance International Business Management Marketing Management Info. Sys. Insurance

 

Undergraduate Minors

Select a Minor Business Administration Business Studies Decision Analysis Economics Management Management Info. Sys. Marketing Professional Sales

 

Graduate

Select a Program E.M.B.A M.B.A. M.S.A.

 

Business Centers

Select a Center Economic Research Economic Education Executive Development

 

History of the FCBA

Through the generous gifts of Lydia Moss Bradley, Bradley Polytechnic Institute opened its doors in 1897. Mrs. Bradley founded the college as a tribute to her children, who died in their youths, as well as her late husband, Tobias. The school was originally a two-year junior college, but by 1920, many programs of study were extended into four years. It was in this year that business education began at Bradley. 

In 1920, the Department of Business Administration and Economics was organized, offering a two-year program of study. At this time, Loyal G. Tillotson joined Bradley Polytechnic as the only full-time faculty member in the department. The courses were taught by Tillotson and a few part-time instructors, who were people within the local business community. In the next three years, demand for a four-year program became so great that in 1923, the Bachelor of Science program was instituted within Bradley Polytechnic Institute. The B.S. degree consisted of thirty hours in economics, accounting, business correspondence, business law, salesmanship and advertising, 
as well as the other college requirements. 

In 1922, the first extracurricular activity, the Commerce Club, was introduced within the Department of Business Administration and Economics. Two years later, in 1924, Zeta Pi, an honorary business fraternity, was introduced In 1924, the Department of Business Administration and Economics became the Department of Business Administration, with Loyal G. Tillotson appointed the first dean. By 1930, the faculty grew to four full-time instructors, and it was in this year that Harold Avery, the first faculty member with a Ph.D., was hired in the department. 

The first textbook published by a Bradley business faculty member was Improvement of Instruction in Typewriting by Safrona L. Smith, co-authored with E.G. Blackstone, published by Prentice-Hall in 1936.

In 1946, Bradley Polytechnic Institute was fully reorganized, and became Bradley University. One of the units became the School of Business. In the years just before World War II,
enrollment had decreased. However, after the war was over, enrollment increased dramatically. To respond to the increasing demand, the newly founded School of Business was organized into four departments: Accounting, General Busiess, Marketing and Retailing, and Economics, with  the School of International Studies added in 1948. Also in 1946, the Graduate School made its University debut. However, graduate courses in the Master of Business Administration and Master of Arts in Economics did not begin until the 1948-49 school year. The MBA program continues today, but the MA in Economics was ended in 1961. 

By 1950 another reorganization of the university resulted in the formation of separate colleges, including the College of Commerce. Robert A. Jamieson became first dean of the business college. The name of the college was changed to the College of Business Administration in 1956 to reflect the contemporary name for business schools.

In 1978, AACSB International: The Association to Advance College Schools of Business (AACSB) granted special business accreditation to the undergraduate program. 

In April 1983, AACSB accredited the MBA program. In May 1984, AACSB granted separate accreditation to the undergraduate accounting program. At this time, Bradley was one of only 40 schools in the United States to receive such accounting accreditation. 

In 1993, Risk Management was added as a new area of study. Risk Management is a field of study built upon the fact that every organization faces a myriad of risks. The well-being of organization, employees and their families, competitors, customers, and the general public can depend on how such risks are handled. Risk management uses organizational resources to identify, evaluate, and treat risk effectively. A thorough understanding of risk management is essential to the effective management of any for-profit or not-for-profit entity.

In 1994, the College of Business Administration received a new identification: the Foster College of Business Administration. The college was named to honor a generous gift given by Tom and Ellen Foster, both of whom were Bradley graduates. 

In 1995, the MBA program was significantly revised. The program was changed to include new core classes, and added new concentration options. 

Also in 1995, the Foster College of Business Administration began to offer a Master of Science in Accounting degree. The purpose of this program is to meet the additional educational requirements needed to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam. In 2001, the Foster College of Business Administration inaugurated the Executive MBA in Leadership program.

Today, the Foster College of Business Administration consists of 53 full-time faculty, over 1050 undergraduate students, and 200 graduate students. Undergraduate students can study Accounting, Actuarial Science, Business Management and Administration, Management Information Systems, Economics, Entrenprenship, Finance, International Business, Marketing, and Risk Management and Insurance. Graduate students can study in one of six concentrations offered through the MBA program, or conduct advanced studies in Accounting.

 

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Bradley University • Foster College of Business
1501 West Bradley Avenue, Peoria, IL 61625
(309) 677-2253• FAX (309) 677-3374