Undergraduate business program ranked best in the nation
William & Mary's Undergraduate Business Program is the best in the nation for marketing, according to the 2013 Bloomberg Businessweek Best Undergraduate B-Schools ranking. The marketing program was third in the 2012 ranking.
One feature new to the program was the new Design Studio, which looks “more like an industrial workshop or art studio than a classroom,” according to Bloomberg’s report on the program. The classroom, which features movable whiteboards, open spaces and unique problem-solving tools, is home to two new courses — “Creativity & Innovation” and “Sustainability Inspired Design.”
Both courses allowed students to explore the role of innovation in marketing, business, and other organizational contexts. In addition, the “Sustainability Inspired Design” Course won the Page Prize for Sustainability Issues in Business from the University of South Carolina Moore School for Mason Marketing Professor Michael Luchs.
Another difference in the program that set it apart is that Mason School faculty take an “experiential” approach to teaching, meaning that faculty engage students through semester-long simulations, working with on research projects and branding projects for community clients. Faculty expertise includes branding, advertising, strategy, international marketing, consumer behavior, customer experiences, product and service design.
“This ranking recognizes the talent and hard work of our faculty and students and confirms that we are building something truly special here in Miller Hall,” said Mason School of Business Dean Lawrence B. Pulley. “Our new Design Studio, our innovative teaching in marketing and elsewhere, and the enriching experiences we provide students all enhance the education and preparation our students receive. And we would agree that it is second to none.”
In addition, the Undergraduate Business Program at the Mason School was recognized by Businessweek for being the nation’s second-best in sustainability. This was the same rank that the program held in 2012. Overall, the program is rated as the 27th in the country.
According to Bloomberg, the ranking itself is based on student responses to the question asking them to rank their program’s offerings. The ranking is based on the average; schools with the lowest average are ranked the highest.
More information is available about the rankings at the Bloomberg Businessweek site: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-05-13/the-best-undergraduate-b-schools-for-marketing
