MEDIA RESOURCES

DALLAS, Texas (SMU) - U.S. News & World Report placed SMU Cox among the top schools in the nation for MBA programs for working professionals. The Executive MBA (EMBA) program moved up four positions, from 19 last year to 15 this year. The Professional MBA (PMBA) program received its first-ever mention in the ranking, debuting at number 22. The only evening MBA program in Texas placing in the Top 25, the Cox PMBA program is ranked among such schools as Northwestern University, University of Chicago, and New York University.

"These rankings validate the quality of our programs for working professionals and the strong support SMU Cox receives from the Dallas business community and working professionals seeking graduate business education," said Albert W. Niemi, Jr., dean of the Cox School of Business. "This makes our goal of expanding our facilities to address the business development needs of Dallas and the surrounding communities ever more important."

In fall 2003, SMU Cox will break ground on the new James M. Collins Executive Education Center, a state-of-the-art teaching and conference facility. The facility will be a hub for business education and will house the school's Executive MBA program as well as the Division of Executive and Management Development.

The EMBA and PMBA programs meet the diversified needs of working professionals, allowing them to earn an MBA degree while still working full time. The EMBA program includes a rigorous, broad-based curriculum that is designed for mid-and senior-level managers. Successful EMBA students should have 10 years of professional experience and a record of career achievements. The PMBA program offers a flexible class schedule and two campus locations for fully employed professionals with at least two years of work experience.

SMU's Cox School of Business offers a full range of business education programs, from BBA and full-time MBA to Professional MBA (PMBA), Executive MBA (EMBA), and Executive Education. SMU Cox is ranked among the top business schools nationally and internationally by major publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Financial Times, Forbes, and U.S. News & World Report. In addition, the school's Business Leadership Center (BLC), Caruth Institute of Owner-Managed Business, American Airlines Global Leadership Program (GLP), and Associate Board executive mentoring program are recognized nationally and internationally.