Loyola University Chicago

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Loyola and Chicago

  

Loyola and its students enjoy Chicago's exceptional cultural and economic resources. In addition to providing an unparalleled setting for educational opportunities, Chicago is also one of the most prestigious cities in the world in terms of recreation and entertainment.

A hub of commerce and culture, Chicago serves as an expanded campus for Loyola students. Fast Company magazine named Chicago its 2008 U.S. City of the year for its thriving economy, impressive architecture, notable politicians, groundbreaking music, and innovative environmental policies.

Academic Opportunities

Loyola students take advantage of many academic opportunities in Chicago, including:

  • Three Chicago area campuses: Lake Shore, Water Tower, and Medical Center
  • Research and fieldwork opportunities at many major local institutions, including the Lincoln Park Zoo, Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, Chicago Public Schools, and more
  • A diverse cultural and economical environment that enhances the Loyola community's global sophistication

   Chicago Fun Facts

How much do you know about Chicago? Think again! Here is some interesting information about the Windy City.

Quick facts:

  • Chicago is home to 70 museums, 200 theatres, 6,500 restaurants and 200 annual parades.
  • Three of the world's tallest buildings are located in Chicago: Sears/Willis Tower, AON Center, and John Hancock Center.
  • The title of "The Windy City" was bestowed on Chicago in 1893 by New York Sun editor Charles Dana. He was tired of listening to long-winded politicians boast about the World's Fair that was held in Chicago the same year.
  • Chicago currently has 2,701,926 residents in its 228 square miles.
  • More than 33 million people visit Chicago each year.
  • Only 58% of Chicago residents were born in Illinois. Twenty-two percent of Chicago residents were born in another country.
  • Chicago has 50 wards; 198 neighborhoods; 13,550 police officers; 47,330 fire hydrants; and 6,300 active taxis at any given time.

Bigger is better:

Chicago is home to the world’s largest:

Chicago firsts:

The following things were created in Chicago:

  • Ferris wheels
  • Steel frame skyscrapers
  • Softball
  • Elevated railways
  • Zippers
  • Daytime soap operas
  • McDonald's restaurants
  • Electric irons and cooking ranges
  • Grain reapers
  • Bifocal contact lenses
  • Winding watches
  • Butterfingers
  • Twinkies

Famous buildings:

  • Sears/Willis Tower, the tallest building in North America and the third tallest building in the world. Including its antennas, the total height of the Sears Tower is 1,725 feet.
  • Tribune Tower, home of the Chicago Tribune newspaper, has exterior walls that are embedded with authentic pieces of famous buildings including Westminster Abbey, the Alamo, the Great Pyramid, Taj Mahal, Fort Sumter, and Arc de Triomphe.
  • Old Water Tower building, constructed in 1869, was one of the only buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire.

Movies filmed in Chicago:

Since 1980, more than 500 feature film and television productions have been shot in Chicago, including:

  • A League of Their Own
  • Bad Boys
  • Barbershop I, II
  • Batman Begins
  • Chicago: The Musical
  • Ferris Bueller's Day Off
  • Home Alone I, II, III
  • Miracle on 34th Street
  • My Best Friend's Wedding
  • National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
  • Ocean's 11 and Ocean's 12
  • Sixteen Candles
  • Stir of Echoes
  • Stranger Than Fiction
  • Surviving Christmas
  • The Blues Brothers
  • The Break-Up
  • The Dark Knight
  • The Fugitive
  • The Weather Man
  • What Women Want
  • When Harry Met Sally
   

Songs:

Chicago has served as the inspiration for many songs, including:

  • Bad, Bad Leroy Brown (Jim Croce)
  • Chicago (Sufjan Stevens)
  • Dear Chicago (Ryan Adams)
  • In the Ghetto (Elvis Presley)
  • Lake Shore Drive (Aliotta, Haynes and Jeremiah)
  • Little Joe From Chicago (Nat King Cole)
  • My Kind of Town (Frank Sinatra)
  • Sweet Home Chicago (various artists)
  • Tonight, Tonight (The Smashing Pumpkins)

Famous Chicagoans:

Here is a list of notable people who were born or have lived in or near Chicago:

  • Gillian Anderson
  • John and Jim Belushi
  • Ray Bradbury
  • Gwendolyn Brooks
  • Wesley Clark
  • Hillary Rodham Clinton
  • Nat King Cole
  • Common 
  • Billy Corgan
  • John and Joan Cusak
  • Walt Disney
  • Tina Fey
  • Harrison Ford
  • Bob Fosse
  • Benny Goodman
  • Edward Gorey
  • Buddy Guy
  • Dorothy Hamill
  • Ernest Hemingway
  • Jennifer Hudson
  • R. Kelly
  • John Malkovich
  • Bill Murray
  • Barack and Michelle Obama
  • Bill Rancic (a Loyola alum!)
  • Donald Rumsfeld
  • Pat Sajak
  • Shel Silverstein
  • Gary Sinise
  • Louis Sullivan
  • Vince Vaughn
  • Kanye West
  • Frank Lloyd Wright

   Entertainment and Recreation

There is always something fun and exciting to do in Chicago! The Windy City has something to offer everyone.

  • Art. The Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the new Loyola University Museum of Art are just some of the many art museums and galleries located in Chicago.
  • Dining. There are thousands of restaurants located in Chicago. The city is famous for its deep dish pizza and fantastic hot dogs. (No visit to Chicago is complete without trips to  Gino's East and Portillo's!)
  • Horticulture. Chicago Botanic Gardens is one of the country's most visited public gardens. The Chicago Park District maintains two world-class conservatories in Lincoln Park and Garfield Park.
  • Lake Michigan. This Great Lake boasts 25 miles of public beachfront for biking, rollerblading, swimming and boating.
  • Museums. The Museum of Science and Industry, Field Museum, and Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum offer impressive exhibits and interactive learning experiences.
  • Music. There are countless musical venues in Chicago, ranging from large pavilions such as the United Center to smaller locations like  House of Blues and the Vic Theatre. Chicago is known for its world-class music festivals, including the Jazz Festival, Blues Festival, and Lollapalooza.
  • Navy Pier. A Chicago landmark since it first opened in 1916, Navy Pier now showcases restaurants, shops and entertainment including an IMAX theatre, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, a 150-foot-high Ferris wheel, a musical carousel, an 18-hole miniature golf course, and the Skyline Stage outdoor performance pavilion.
  • Parks. The Chicago Park District maintains 552 parks in the city. Grant Park is located in the heart of downtown Chicago and is home to the famous Buckingham Fountain. Millennium Park opened in 2004 and is an award-winning center for art, music, architecture, and landscape design.
  • Shopping. Loyola's Water Tower Campus is located steps away from Chicago's Magnificent Mile, the world-famous shopping destination in the city. Another popular shopping area is located on State Street, which is home to several major department stores. Jeweler's Row, also known as the diamond district, is located on Wabash Avenue.
  • Sports. Chicago was recently named the "Best Sports City" by Sporting News. It is home to many national sports teams, including: baseball: Cubs and White Sox; basketball: Bulls; football: Bears; and hockey: Blackhawks.
  • Tours. Walk through the Gold Coast/Near North/Lincoln Park neighborhoods and the Bucktown/Wicker Park neighborhoods and discover Chicago's cultural gems while tasting delicious foods on a Chicago Food Tour.
  • Theatre. Many of the nation's most prestigious theatres are located in Chicago, including Steppenwolf, Goodman and Chicago Shakespeare. The impressive downtown theatre district also sponsors a Broadway in Chicago series.
  • Wildlife. Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo is the largest free zoo in the country. The Shedd Aquarium is the largest indoor aquarium in the world, with more than 8,000 aquatic animals.

   Internships and Careers

Chicago is home to one of the largest and most diversified economies in the world, providing students with countless internship and career options.

  • Thousands of internship opportunities in a wide range of industries, including media, commerce, medicine, banking, the arts, social services, sports, and more
  • Loyola's Career Development Center offers services like resume critiquing and career self-assessment workshops to help students determine and articulate their strengths, values, and interests as they relate to career areas and jobs. Numerous career opportunities in the city contribute to the decision of 90% of Loyola students to remain in Chicago after graduation.

   Service-Learning

Education at Loyola extends beyond the classroom. Many students expand their experience by participating in service-learning projects, which combine academic instruction with community-based learning by connecting learning objectives to service objectives.

  • Hands-on service-learning opportunities that introduce students to the complexity of social issues by combining classroom studies with community work
  • Loyola's Center for Urban Research and Learning (CURL), which works closely with community activists and organizations to perform research that addresses community needs
  • The Magis Initiative, which enhances the learning experience with an emphasis on collaborative leadership, community engagement, spiritual exploration, diversity, and global perspectives

   Suburban Immersion

In addition to all the wonderful opportunities available in Chicago, local suburbs also have a lot to offer.

   To Learn More...

Here are links to some useful Chicago Web sites.

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LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO · 1032 W. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60660 · 773-274-3000
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