Great Business Schools, an organization dedicated to matching prospective business students to the right business school, has ranked the Department of Management’s undergraduate degree No. 6 in its “25 Best Business Bachelor’s Degrees for 2020.”

The announcement praised the management major as one of the best traditional on-campus Business Management bachelor’s degree programs. Specifically mentioned are the interdisciplinary nature of the program, the faculty’s expertise, as well as the school’s mentorship and advisory programs designed to help ensure success for each student.

“I’m super thrilled,” said Devi Gnyawali, head of the Department of Management. “We know our program is strong, but it’s good to have affirmation from an external source.”

Gnyawali cites the department’s emphasis on its three Concentration Options, as well as the interdisciplinary nature of the department and its programs as elements which set Pamplin’s management program apart from similar curriculums from other institutions.

First and foremost,” Gnyawali explained, “Few programs have a clear emphasis on degree options like we have.” He continued, “We also have the most interdisciplinary department in Pamplin, maybe even at Virginia Tech.”

Echoing Gnyawali’s assessment, the Great Business Schools release stated that “The Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech offers an undergraduate management degree with three options: Human Resource Management; Management Consulting and Analytics; and Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Technology Management. All three bachelor of science in business management programs prepare students for careers as effective leaders and managers in a wide variety of business environments.”

The release continued, “Pamplin’s vision can be summed up in three words: learning, research, and international. Faculty members participate in business-related research projects, and the school has a strong focus on global business and cross-cultural interactions.”

According to Great Business Schools, the rankings are based on research conducted on all accredited, reputable business schools in the United States. From that start, Great Business Schools then ranks the programs according to five factors that emphasize quality and return on investment:

  • Cost
  • Graduate earnings
  • Graduation rate
  • Job placement
  • Student satisfaction

The data used for the rankings comes from U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), and Niche, a school ranking and review company.

Gnyawali mentioned how integral a role the department’s faculty play into rankings such as this. “Our faculty team is extremely strong,” he said. “They are strong in research and instruction. Our faculty take great pride in working with and instructing our students.”

David Townsend, assistant professor of management, explained that he believes the focus on emerging technologies is one of the keys to the department’s success. “Other schools may have similar programs, but we are focusing on emerging technology and are instructing our students on how they can build, design, and lead organizations in the future.”

In an area like business management that can change dramatically over a short period of time, Townsend believed that the department can continue to grow and improve by continuing to deliver “world-class content.”

“In order to maintain relevance, we need to continue to admit excellent students. We need to continue our partnerships with world-class corporations like Capital One and Blue Prism. We need to continue delivering world-class content, students, and partnerships.”

Much like Townsend, Gnyawali is not content to let the department rest upon its laurels. “We have an upward momentum. The challenge lies in further improving it.”