Two University of Colorado at Boulder specialty programs were ranked in the top 15 nationally in the U.S. News & World Report's 2004 rankings of America's Best Colleges as reported on the magazine's Web site, .
CU-Boulder's undergraduate program in aerospace engineering sciences was ranked ninth among public universities offering doctoral degrees and 13th among both public and private doctoral universities. The Leeds School of Business undergraduate entrepreneurship program was ranked eighth among public universities and 14th among public and private national universities.
The aerospace engineering program is known for its rigorous, hands-on curriculum, which prepares students to assume leadership positions in the design, testing and operation of aerospace and related systems, said professor and department chair Charbel Farhat.
Among the department's notable undergraduate alumni are NASA astronauts Scott Carpenter, Vance Brand, Marsha Ivins and the late Stuart Roosa and Ellison Onizuka.
"We are pleased to be recognized among the nation's top aerospace programs as we are committed to graduating students who have the hands-on skills and experience necessary to be successful in the field," said Farhat.
"Entrepreneurship is a strategic priority for the Leeds School of Business and we are glad to see this recognized by U.S. News," said Dean Steven Manaster.
The CU-Boulder entrepreneurship program is supported by the Robert H. and Beverly A. Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, said Manaster. In addition to the undergraduate ranking, the MBA entrepreneurship program has been ranked among the top 20 by U.S. News for four consecutive years.
The entrepreneurship program at the Leeds School was also ranked 10th by business faculty and 14th overall in Entrepreneur Magazine's 2003 survey of the top 100 entrepreneurial colleges. The CU-Boulder doctoral level entrepreneurship program was ranked first in the nation by the International Council of Small Businesses in 1997.