U.S. News & World Report ranks Virginia Tech, Pamplin programs among the best nationally
The university’s online master’s degree in information technology continues to top the list for veterans.
For the third consecutive year, Virginia Tech’s Master of Information Technology (VT-MIT) program has been named the No. 3 Best Online Program in the nation. The program also retained its top spot as the preferred choice for veterans for the fourth year running.
Making its first appearance for rankings of online MBA (OMBA) programs, the Pamplin College of Business Online MBA scored highly in areas of concentration in general management, where it was ranked No. 13, and in business analytics, which was ranked No. 14.
One of the indicators used by U.S. News for assessing the quality of online MBA programs is peer assessment in which high-ranking academic officials are asked to rank the quality of MBA programs. For this metric, Pamplin was ranked No. 12 out of 345 online MBA programs surveyed by the media company.
“The high rankings of Pamplin’s online degree programs are a result of our continued commitment to providing flexible educational opportunities for all Pamplin students while maintaining the highest academic standards,” said Saonee Sarker, Richard E. Sorensen Dean in the Pamplin College of Business.
“We are dedicated to continually improving upon the learner experience and fostering the development of a ‘next generation’ Pamplin College of Business, one that continues to address the demands of the market while meeting the needs of our students.”
At the forefront of interdisciplinary education
The Master of Information Technology (VT-MIT) program is a collaboration between the College of Engineering and the Pamplin College of Business and combines a variety of courses provided by the Department of Computer Science and the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, both in the College of Engineering, and the Department of Accounting and Information Systems, the Department of Business Information Technology, and the Department of Management, all found in the Pamplin College of Business.
“The VT-MIT program stands at the forefront of academic excellence, offering a dynamic curriculum that transcends traditional boundaries,” said Parviz Ghandforoush, associate dean for Pamplin graduate programs and the program's executive director.
“Students can shape their educational journey through a program that is not confined to a singular discipline. Instead, it empowers students to forge a personalized course of study that seamlessly integrates interdisciplinary elements of technology and business.”
According to Ghandforoush, the university’s motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), is reflected in the program’s steadfast commitment to veteran education.
“The program actively focuses on fostering accessibility to quality instruction, particularly tailored to the realms of IT and cybersecurity careers,” he said. “It goes beyond the conventional, aiming to enhance students' technology marketability and prepare them for the challenges and opportunities of today's professional landscape.”
U.S. News characterizes the highly ranked programs as having strong traditional academic foundations “based on the excellence of entering students, graduation rates and instructor credentials.” The five categories U.S. News uses to assess online business and technology programs are engagement, peer assessment, faculty credentials and training, student excellence, and services and technologies.
The rankings by U.S. News & World Report measure the faithfulness of online degree programs to traditional academic standards while also evaluating their incorporation of effective methods tailored for online learning.
