MEREDITH RODRIGUEZ
Assistant News Editor
The Graziadio School of Business and Management continues to be recognized by business publications around the world. This comparatively new graduate school, with its first full-time MBA class graduating in 1987, attributes innovative programs, esteemed faculty and experienced students for its continued success.
BusinessWeek magazine ranks Pepperdine’s Executive MBA program among the top 25 in the world, an honor the school has carried since 2001.
The Financial Times, one of the world’s leading global business news organizations, ranked the school for the first time. The GSBM’s full time MBA program was ranked 55 among all U.S. programs and 92 in the world.
“Both publications rankings are highly valued and well-perceived,” Linda Livingstone, dean of GSBM, said. “It is our mission to develop values-centered leaders by seeking to achieve the highest level of academic quality and recognition. Being recognized by two of the leading business publications in the world proves that we are standing by our mission and achieving our goals.”
In addition, the full-time program was ranked No. 2 in the world for organizational behavior.
The Financial Times ranking is based on a set of criteria that weighs graduate achievement including salary career advancement, program diversity and faculty research. This year, the Financial Times surveyed 7,900 alumni from nearly 150 business schools.
Responses from alumni surveys placed Graziadio ahead of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, Harvard Business School and Stanford Graduate School of Business in organizational behavior.
While these are the most prestigious honors the school has received, its recognition does not stop there.
Forbes magazine ranks Graziadio among its top business schools in 2005 for return on investment for a MBA degree in 2005.
The US News & World Report 2006 online edition of America’s Best Graduate Schools lists Pepperdine’s full-time MBA program among the top 83 in the nation.
QS Top MBA, the world’s leading information site for MBA applicants and students, ranked the Graziadio School among the top 15 most diverse business schools in the nation.
Livingstone cites invaluable professors and programs for the business school’s success.
Content is taught by the business school not only inside but also outside of the classroom, according to Livingstone. Outside experts are brought in to teach up-to-date information on the ever-changing world of technology, corporate structuring, diversity, entrepreneurship and new developments in global markets.
Another one of the important elements of the Executive program is the class adviser, according to Livingstone.
The adviser remains with the class throughout the entire program, attending all classes and meeting individually with the students and study groups between sessions.
“This role is particularly important in guiding the student through the required projects,” Livingstone said. “This is a unique characteristic of the Graziadio School’s EMBA program.”
Students also have the opportunity to travel internationally to gain real-world experience through Pepperdine’s Executive MBA program.
Recently more than 45 EMBA students returned from an international trip to China, where they visited the U.S. Embassy, met the Air Chief Marshal of Thailand, and met with top executives to several Chinese and Thai companies.
Local field trips led by professors have proven equally invaluable, according to Livingstone, “providing an opportunity to illustrate and examine timely application of innovative ideas taught in the classroom.”
Finally, Livingstone said the school depends on the quality of its students to compete with some of the top business schools in the world.
The school accepts executives from some of the top corporations in the world, who contribute their expertise in the classroom.
“We’re proud of the fact that we have a high percentage of women adding value to the classroom, too,” Livingstone added. The school ranked among the top three in the world for its high percentage of female students.
Still, the school aims to continue improving.
“It is important that as the business world changes, we update the standards of our curriculum and create an environment both inside and outside of the classroom conducive to the global society around us,” Livingstone said. “We are always seeking ways to improve all of our programs.”
11-10-2005