Program Overview
M.S. in Commerce Program
The M.S. in Commerce Program at the University of Virginia is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in business, combining business knowledge with their existing skill set to impact the world around them. The program is unique in that it offers students from different educational majors the opportunity to learn from each other and refine their ability to interact with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
Program Structure
The program features a team format, where students are assigned to a five-person team consisting of individuals from other tracks, educational majors, and interests. This format allows students to build on and learn from the strengths of their fellow team members, which is beneficial in class projects and applicable to the working world.
Curriculum
The curriculum includes a range of courses, such as:
- Global Immersion Experience: a class in the spring semester focusing on international business trends, followed by a trip abroad in May to learn about how businesses operate in different areas of the world.
- Team Format: students are assigned to a team and work together on projects, learning from each other's strengths and weaknesses.
- Organizational Behavior: a required class that highlights psychological and sociological principles that affect team dynamics in a workspace, alerting students to possible biases and issues affecting team dynamics.
- Microsoft Teams: a platform used for discussion and collaboration, allowing students to reflect on class material and apply it to real-world situations.
- Storytelling Choice Day: a day focused on compelling storytelling and communicating in the business world, where students learn about each other's interests and backgrounds.
Benefits
The program offers several benefits, including:
- Diversity of experience and background, which strengthens team dynamics and projects.
- Opportunities to learn from and interact with individuals from different backgrounds and identities.
- A curriculum that encourages deep-level diversity and promotes a community where students can maximize their learning through their peers.
- A team format that challenges students to compromise on differences in ideas and come up with business solutions that appease everyone.
Student Testimonials
Students in the program have praised the emphasis on diversity and the opportunities to learn from and interact with individuals from different backgrounds. They have also appreciated the team format, which allows them to build on and learn from each other's strengths.
Conclusion
The M.S. in Commerce Program at the University of Virginia is a unique and comprehensive program that offers students a range of benefits, including diversity of experience and background, opportunities to learn from and interact with individuals from different backgrounds, and a curriculum that encourages deep-level diversity. The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in business, combining business knowledge with their existing skill set to impact the world around them.
