Sandeep Krishnamurthy, professor and director of the University of Washington-Bothell business program, said this was the school’s first try at getting the program ranked nationally.

Whatever lobbying the school did, whatever credentials they presented, their strategy worked. Business Week magazine recently ranked UW-Bothell’s part-time master in business administration (MBA) program as third in the Pacific Northwest and 51st in the country.

“This is an extraordinary accomplishment for the program and the campus,” said UW-Bothell Chancellor Kenyon Chan.

“We were delighted,” added Krishnamurthy. “We really felt validated by it.”

Krishnamurthy noted the Pacific Northwest ranking involved not just Washington, but Alaska and surrounding states.

“We are really very excited, frankly,” he said.

UW-Bothell’s MBA offerings consist of two part-time programs: a technology MBA offered at the UW-Bothell campus and a leadership MBA offered at the Eastside Leadership Center in Bellevue. The 22-month evening programs are advertised as catering to working professionals.

How are the UW-Bothell’s offerings different from other MBA programs? Krishnamurthy said he and his staff have tried to create programs that are solidly rooted in business theory, but are of practical value to students and employers.

“It’s a rigorous education, but it’s pragmatic,” he added.

Krishnamurthy stated the business staff has taken extra steps to keep both programs responsive to local businesses. He further talked about having a well-qualified teaching staff. He said the business programs uses full-time teachers many with Ph.D.’s. They do not use teaching assistants. To Krishnamurthy, it’s all a matter of paying attention to the fundamentals.

“It’s the X’s and O’s,” he said. “Are you adding value to their (the student’s) lives.”

Combined, the two MBA programs currently have 108 students. Krishnamurthy anticipates adding 40 students next year. He said officials just opened the application process.

“The demand is quite intensive,” Krishnamurthy said.

“The word has gotten out, let’s put it that way... It’s a very happy situation.”

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