UF’s Hough Graduate School of Business provides some of the best specialized masters programs in the world, according to Eduniversal, a French-based university ranking agency.
Among U.S. public universities, seven of UF’s programs placed in the top 10.
The Thomas S. Johnson Master of Science in Entrepreneurship program ranked No. 3 among U.S. public universities, No. 8 nationally and No. 30 worldwide.
“I think it has a lot to do with the innovative and unique approach that we bring to the delivery of our program,” said Jamie Kraft, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. “I’m certainly very pleased. It’s always great to get recognition.”
The Master of Arts in International Business and the Master of Science in Management both ranked No. 4 among U.S. public universities.
Other programs that ranked highly among U.S. public universities include the Master of Accounting and Master of Science in Marketing, both at No. 9, and Master of Arts in Economics and the full-time Master of Business Administration, both at No. 10.
Eduniversal takes three broad criteria into consideration when compiling the rankings: reputation of the program, salary of first employment and satisfaction of the students, according to its website.
“It’s not an easy program,” said Jane McNulty, associate director for the Master of Science in Management program. “The same professors are teaching the first-year MBA students, so they are getting a very high-quality education.”
In an attempt to help students find jobs, the programs emphasize finding a lasting career after graduation.
“There is a big push for professional development to prepare students to enter the workforce, and I think that’s a very different model to other programs on campus,” said Ana Portocarrero, director of the Master of Arts in International Business and Master of Science in Management programs.
Cecelia Hardwick, a 22-year-old graduate student in the management program, said she’s satisfied with her experience in the program.
“I’m not surprised by the ranking at all,” she said. “They’ve done a great job, and they’ve put a lot of focus on finding a career after school.”
Selcuk Erenguc, senior associate dean and director of the Hough Graduate School of Business, said the combination of factors makes the program unique.
“When you put together world-class faculty, outstanding students and state of the art curriculum, what you get is an excellent program,” he said.
Kraft said he believes that as much as ranking agencies weigh other metrics, it ultimately boils down to students.
“At the end of the day, our success is driven by the successes our students bring to the marketplace,” he said.
