Bradley University

Founded by Lydia Moss Bradley in 1897, Bradley University is a private, independent university offering undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs in the liberal and fine arts, the sciences, business administration, communications, education, engineering, and the health sciences. Our residential campus of 6,000 students blends large school opportunities with a small school personality where there is a commitment to excellent teaching and personal attention to students. Bradley’s comprehensive programs offer an effective integration of liberal education, professional preparation, and personal and social development.

Lydia Moss Bradley had seen all of her hopes, ambitions, and dreams for her six children end in their untimely deaths. She and her husband, Tobias Bradley, had devoted much time, thought, and discussion to how their wealth might be used as a fitting memorial to their deceased offspring and considered establishing an orphanage. Lydia Bradley

Unfortunately Tobias died in May of 1867, before their dream could be realized. Alone, Mrs. Bradley devoted herself unreservedly to the achievement of their goal. After some study and travel to various institutions, Mrs. Bradley decided that, instead of an orphanage, she wanted to found a school where young people could learn how to do practical things to prepare them for living in the modern world. In 1892 she purchased a controlling interest in Parsons Horological School in LaPorte, Indiana, the first school for watchmakers in America, and moved it to Peoria. She specified in her will that the school should be expanded after her death to include a classical education as well as industrial arts and home economics: “.  it being the first object of this Institution to furnish its students with the means of living an independent, industrious and useful life by the aid of a practical knowledge of the useful arts and sciences.”

Vision
Bradley University is committed to excellence. Already one of the best private comprehensive universities in the Midwest, Bradley will be one of the finest institutions of its type in the nation.

Mission
Bradley University is committed to nurturing the multifaceted development of students to enable them to become leaders, innovators, and productive members of society. Our graduates are prepared for life and professions in a changing world and they are able to cross academic, geographic, and cultural boundaries. A Bradley education is characterized by small classes, active learning, mentoring by highly qualified faculty, challenging academic programs, opportunities for study abroad, and numerous co-curricular activities.

Courses Offered

• Accounting Department
• Administration of Criminal Justice Department
• Art Department
• Biology Department
• Business Management and Administration Department
• Chemistry & Biochemistry Department
• Civil Engineering and Construction Department
• Communication Department
• Computer Science and Information Systems Department
• Economics (LAS) Department
• Economics Department
• Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
• English Department
• Family and Consumer Sciences Department
• Finance and Quantitative Methods Department
• Foreign Languages Department
• History Department
• Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering and Technology Department
• Interactive Media Department
• Leadership in Education, Human Services, and Counseling Department
• Marketing Department
• Mathematics Department
• Mechanical Engineering Department
• Music Department
• Nursing Department
• Philosophy and Religious Studies Department
• Physical Therapy and Health Science Department
• Physics Department
• Political Science Department
• Psychology Department
• Sociology and Social Work Department
• Teacher Education Department
• Theatre Arts Department

Colleges & Schools

• Foster College of Business Administration
• Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts
• College of Education and Health Sciences
• College of Engineering and Technology
• Graduate School
• College of Liberal Arts and Science

Contact Details
Bradley University
1501 W Bradley Ave
Peoria, IL 61625
(309) 676-7611
Official Website: http://www.bradley.edu/