Graduate program, law school receive high national ranking
By Christie Genocho
Santa Clara's MBA program and law school each received high billing in national rankings released in early April.
The Leavey School of Business's MBA program claimed the 11th spot in U.S. News and World Report's annual rankings of graduate schools for 2004, climbing from its ranking of 17th in 2003.
The title of 11th-best out of 218 part-time programs can be attributed to the influx of applications this year, which was at its highest in three years. This occurs in the same year as the kick-off of the Campaign for Santa Clara, a fund-raising campaign that seeks $350 million for improvements on the university, part of which will be allocated to the construction of a new business school.
As of fall 2002, 1,043 students were enrolled in the MBA program, with 80 percent working professionally in Silicon Valley, a breeding ground for business.
"As the premier business program for Silicon Valley, our MBA program has long been recognized in the region as combining rigorous study with reflective engagement in real world issues," said Barry Z. Posner, dean of the Leavey School of Business and professor of leadership in a press release. "This integration of theory and practice within the framework of ethical decision making now has the attention of national business educators."
The School of Law also appeared in U.S. News and World Report's list, ranking 91st. It ranks as one of the top 10 most diverse law programs, and has shown significant improvement in bar passage statistics, which soared from 72 percent to 82 percent this year. Ninety percent of graduates are employed within nine months of graduation, contributing to the school's top 100 ranking.
"We are very proud of our great reputation," said Mack Player, law school dean in a press release. "It is a testament to the experience of our faculty and staff and is indicative of our position among the country's top law schools."
Within the law school, the intellectual property law program also ranked in the top 10 for the sixth year in a row.
"We are very pleased at the high ranking received by the high tech law program," said Alexandra Horne, assistant dean for law and technology, who heads the high tech law program. "The ranking highlights our established reputation, and is a testimonial to our outstanding faculty, ties to industry, and academic expertise. By using our unique position in Silicon Valley and close relationship with the high tech industry, we are able to offer our students a wonderful opportunity to work with world-class legal talent."
The nineth ranked program specializes in high tech and intellectual property law, including copyright, antitrust, technology licensing and Internet law.