New AI MBA Concentration at UVA Darden
The University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business has unveiled a new AI MBA concentration designed to meet one of the most pressing demands of the modern workforce: fluency in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and decision sciences. With this move, Darden positions itself squarely at the intersection of business strategy and emerging technology, exactly where top employers search for talent.
The Future Is Quantitative
The new AI MBA concentration in Data Analytics and Decision Sciences is more than a nod to what’s trending; it’s a strategic response to both student interest and the business world’s increasingly data-driven operations.
In short, this isn’t just about learning Python or running regressions. It’s about graduating ready to lead in environments where machine learning models and decision science frameworks guide billion-dollar bets.
Darden’s new offering includes a curated slate of 25 course options, with students completing a minimum of six to earn the AI MBA concentration. This approach allows for depth and flexibility, making it ideal for those aiming to tailor their MBA to future-focused roles in tech, finance, consulting, or entrepreneurship.
“Students who complete the concentration will bring proven analytical and quantitative abilities to employers,” Vice Dean Yael Grushka-Cockayne explains.
Building Toward This Moment
This launch didn’t come out of nowhere. Darden has been a quiet trailblazer in data-related curriculum and research for years. The school already offers joint degrees in analytics with UVA’s McIntire School of Commerce and a dual Master’s/MBA program with the UVA School of Data Science.
Last fall, Darden deepened its stake in the ethical AI conversation with the creation of the LaCross Institute for Ethical Artificial Intelligence in Business. Funded by a record-breaking donation from alumnus David LaCross (MBA ’78) and his wife, Kathy, the institute serves as a cross-disciplinary hub for research, teaching, and collaboration on AI’s impact on business and society.
Positioned for Placement and Leadership
Darden gets high marks for having the highest “employed at graduation” rate among all the top U.S. business schools, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings. For students looking to break into tech-driven industries or level up in their current roles, this new AI MBA concentration may offer a competitive edge in the job market, especially when boosted by Darden’s tight-knit community and top-tier recruiting outcomes.
The new AI MBA concentration in Data Analytics and Decision Sciences expands Darden’s already impressive lineup of specializations. Like many of its peer institutions, the school is evolving to ensure its grads aren’t just employable, but indispensable.
For prospective MBA students with an eye on the future, Darden’s latest move is a compelling one. In a world where AI is reshaping everything from supply chains to customer engagement, Darden is offering not just a seat at the table, but the tools to lead it.
***
If you’re exploring MBA programs that blend business leadership with advanced tech fluency, consider how SBC can help you stand out. Whether you’re aiming for Darden or another top school with a focus on AI and analytics, we offer personalized support to strengthen every part of your application.
From our All-In Partnership to targeted services like essay editing, resume review, and interview prep, we’re ready to help you build a winning strategy. Contact us today for a free 15-minute advising session with a Principal Consultant.
Here’s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on our SBC team.
Ashley
Ashley is a former MBA Admissions Board Member for Harvard Business School (HBS), where she interviewed and evaluated thousands of business school applicants for over a six year tenure. Ashley holds an MBA from HBS. During her HBS years, Ashley was the Sports Editor for the Harbus and a member of the B-School Blades Ice Hockey Team. After HBS, she worked in Marketing at the Gillette Company on Male and Female shaving ...
×Pauline
A former associate director of admissions at Harvard Business School, Pauline served on the HBS MBA Admissions Board full-time for four years. She evaluated and interviewed HBS applicants, both on-campus and globally. Pauline's career has included sales and marketing management roles with Coca-Cola, Gillette, Procter & Gamble, and IBM. For over 10 years, Pauline has expertly guided MBA applicants, and her clients h ...
×Laura
Laura comes from the MBA Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS) and is an HBS MBA alumnus. In her HBS Admissions role, she evaluated and interviewed hundreds of business school candidates, including internationals, women, military and other applicant pools, for five years. Prior to her time as a student at HBS, Laura began her career in advertising and marketing in Chicago at Leo Burnett where she worked on th ...
×Andrea
Andrea served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at Harvard Business School (HBS) for over five years. In this role, she provided strategic direction for student yield-management activities and also served as a full member of the admissions committee. In 2007, Andrea launched the new 2+2 Program at Harvard Business School – a program targeted at college junior applicants to Harvard Business School. Andrea has also served as a Career Coach for Harvard Business School for both cu ...
×Jennifer
Jennifer served as Admissions Officer at the Stanford (GSB) for five years. She holds an MBA from Stanford (GSB) and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Jennifer has over 15 years experience in guiding applicants through the increasingly competitive admissions process into top MBA programs. Having read thousands and thousands of essays and applications while at Stanford (GSB) Admiss ...
×Erin K.
Erin served in key roles in MBA Admissions--as Director at Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and Assistant Director at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB). Erin served on the admissions committee at each school and has read thousands of applications in her career. At Haas, she served for seven years in roles that encompassed evaluation, outreach, and diversity and inclusion. During her tenure in Admissions at GSB, she was responsible for candidate evaluation, applicant outreach, ...
×Susie
Susie comes from the Admissions Office of the Stanford Graduate School of Business where she reviewed and evaluated hundreds of prospective students’ applications. She holds an MBA from Stanford’s GSB and a BA from Stanford in Economics. Prior to advising MBA applicants, Susie held a variety of roles over a 15-year period in capital markets, finance, and real estate, including as partner in one of the nation’s most innovative finance and real estate investment organizations. In that r ...
×Dione
Dione holds an MBA degree from Stanford Business School (GSB) and a BA degree from Stanford University, where she double majored in Economics and Communication with concentrations in journalism and sociology. Dione has served as an Admissions reader and member of the Minority Admissions Advisory Committee at Stanford. Dione is an accomplished and respected advocate and thought leader on education and diversity. She is ...
×Anthony
Anthony served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he dedicated over 10 years of expertise. During his time as a Wharton Admissions Officer, he read and reviewed thousands of applications and helped bring in a class of 800+ students a year. Anthony has traveled both domestically and internationally to recruit a ...
×Meghan
Meghan served as the Associate Director of Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute, a joint degree program combining the Wharton MBA with an MA in International Studies. In her role on the Wharton MBA admissions committee, Meghan advised domestic and international applicants; conducted interviews and information sessions domestically and overseas in Asia, Central and South America, and Europe; and evaluated applicants for admission to the program. Meghan also managed ...
×Amy
Amy comes from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where she was Associate Director. Amy devoted 12 years at the Wharton School, working closely with MBA students and supporting the admissions team. During her tenure at Wharton, Amy served as a trusted adviser to prospective applicants as well as admitted and matriculated students. She conducted admissions chats with applicants early in the admissions ...
×Ally
Ally brings six years of admissions experience to the SBC team, most recently as an Assistant Director of Admission for the full-time MBA program at Columbia Business School (CBS). During her time at Columbia, Ally was responsible for reviewing applications, planning recruitment events, and interviewing candidates for both the full-time MBA program and the Executive MBA program. She traveled both internationally and dome ...
×Erin B.
Erin has over seven years of experience working across major institutions, including University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School, and NYU's Stern School of Business. At Columbia Business School, Erin was an Assistant Director of Admissions where she evaluated applications for both the full time and executive MBA programs, sat on the admissions and merit scholarship committees and advised applicants on which program might be the best fit for them based on their work experience and pro ...
×Emma
Emma comes from the MBA Admissions Office at Columbia Business School (CBS), where she was Associate Director. Emma conducted dozens of interviews each cycle for the MBA and EMBA programs, as well as coordinating the alumni ambassador interview program. She read and evaluated hundreds of applications each cycle, delivered information sessions to audiences across the globe, and advised countless waitlisted applicants. ×
Kate
Kate served in the MBA Admissions Office at Columbia Business School for over five years. In her capacity as an Associate Director, Kate advised applicants daily and reviewed hundreds of applications per cycle. She was also an applicant interviewer, a liaison to other offices within the School, and a CBS representative at events around the world. Kate managed several recruiting and operational projects for the Admissions Committee. After Columbia Business School, Kate transitioned into cam ...
×Holly
Holly worked as a member of the NYU Stern MBA Admissions team for seven years and holds an MBA from NYU Stern. In her tenure as Director of NYU MBA Admissions, Holly worked closely with admissions teams from Columbia, Michigan Ross, UVA Darden, Cornell Johnson, Berkeley Haas, Yale SOM, and Duke Fuqua on recruiting events domestically and internationally. On the NYU Stern admissions committee, Holly conducted interviews, planned and hosted events, and trained staff on reading and interviewi ...
×
