Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia College of Education tied for No. 22-up from No. 87-in U.S. News and World Report’s 2014 Best Online Programs rankings for its master’s degree programs. The overall ranking recognizes the college’s programs in adult education, educational psychology, reading education and workforce education.
The U.S. News survey results were based on admissions selectivity, faculty credentials and training, student engagement and accreditation, and student services and technology.
“Our faculty recognize that to be a 21st century College of Education that serves and prepares professional educators, leaders and scholars, we must be innovative and creative in designing and offering online courses and programs that are relevant to the needs of the field,” said Craig H. Kennedy, dean of the College of Education. “I am excited about the willingness of our faculty who put in the extra effort to make our college one that is accessible and responsive to the needs of the state.”
The college will launch a new online master’s degree program in human resources and organization development in fall 2014. It has three more proposed online master’s degree programs in social studies education, middle grades education, instructional design and development and five graduate certificate programs awaiting approval.
“The school library media and instructional design degree programs, with corresponding educator certification, are being offered online,” said Christa Deissler, an academic professional in the department of career and information studies. “We moved these programs online to increase our reach to the entire state.”
The education college launched UGA’s first online degree program in 2001 with the master’s in adult education. It also offers an online bachelor’s degree in special education, and several online certificate and endorsement programs.
The learning, design and technology program has offered blended programs (half online and half in class at the UGA Gwinnett campus) for several years.
The education college has a long history of providing Georgians’ access to UGA’s academic and professional programs. For a half century, COE faculty have traveled the state to provide professional development to teachers and educational administrators.
More recently, the college has led program development at UGA’s Gwinnett campus, where it offers 22 graduate degrees in several fields and at its Griffin campus, where it offers three graduate degrees and an undergraduate degree.
For more information on the U.S. News and World Report’s 2014 Best Online programs, see www.usnews.com/education/online-education.
For more on UGA’s online programs, see http://online.uga.edu/online-offerings/degrees-in-education. For more on the COE’s online programs, see www.coe.uga.edu/degree-programs/?category=online.
