The McIntire School of Commerce recently received a top national ranking from Computerworld mgazine for its master's degree program in Management Information Systems.
Computerworld magazine ranked the University's program among the top 25 technology-oriented business masters programs in the country.
The Commerce School's program is ranked No. 21 - even though it offers a one-year M.S. program rather than the traditional two-year M.B.A. program.
Ryan Nelson, program coordinator and Commerce professor, said the students enrolled for their master's degrees are mainly people who have been out of college and now are working in the business world.
The program is run in an "executive style," Nelson said.
Participants arrive in Charlottesville every other weekend for two days of intensive study, as well as two full weeks of class work during the school year, he said.
There are 30 students currently enrolled in the program.
He added the program's primary objectives are the "management of information technology systems" and the development of skills that will allow the students to become proficient leaders in technological fields.
Nelson said the program strives to incorporate knowledge about information technology into several different areas of business, such as accounting, management and marketing.
Information technology skills are not confined to a separate class, he said, but instead are a vital part of all aspects of the program.
Commerce Prof. D. Keith Hennett, who is participating in the program, said he attributes the high ranking to the unique style used to teach the students.
"Everything has a technology twist, rather than just a general business focus," Hennett said.
He emphasized the multi-faceted nature of the program as one reason for its high ranking.
He added that another factor that adds to the program's success is the age of the students.
Most students have been working for about six to eight years, Hennett said, and that enables the University to "draw on the experiences of students in the class as much as the faculty."
He said students are required to either be working in the field of technology or to have worked on technology-related projects in other companies.
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