University of Virginia Darden School of Business

What Is the University of Virginia Darden School of Business?

The University of Virginia Darden School of Business — informally known as UVA Darden — is a graduate business school located at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. It is known for its use of the case method, in which students learn by working on case studies drawn from real-world business situations.

History of the University of Virginia Darden School of Business

The University of Virginia Darden School of Business (UVA Darden) was founded in 1955. Its name is derived from Colgate Whitehead Darden, Jr., a former Democratic congressman and governor of Virginia who served as President of the University of Virginia between 1947 and 1959. During his tenure as president of the university, Darden helped found the graduate business school, which was then named in his honor.

Today, UVA Durden offers an MBA program, a doctoral program, and various executive education programs. In recent years, the school has developed several flexible programs designed for students wishing to study abroad or complete their studies through a combination of online coursework and in-person residencies. Their Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) program, a 12-month program offered in collaboration with the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, can be completed through online classes and in-person residencies.

According to U.S. News and World Report's college rankings, the Darden School of Business is one of the top business graduate programs in the United States. In 2018, it ranked 13th, near business schools such as UCLA-Anderson, Carnegie Mellon-Tepper, Cornell-Johnson, and UT Austin-McCombs. Darden is also highly ranked by Forbes and BusinessWeek.

Foreign Exchange at The University of Virginia Darden School of Business

Students who wish to gain international experience through their graduate education can participate in the UVA Darden foreign exchange program, which holds partnerships with several prominent universities throughout the world. These include the Peking University in China, the University of Science and Technology in Hong Kong, the Melbourne Business School in Australia, and the Stockholm School of Economics in Sweden, among others.

Over the years, UVA Darden has developed a strong network of over 16,000 alumni. Among them are many prominent members, such as Steven Reinemund, former CEO of PepsiCo. (PEP); Mark Sanford, former Governor of South Carolina; and John Strangfeld, CEO of Prudential Financial (PRU).