Athens, Ga. – University of Georgia graduate programs continue to rank among the best in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2015 edition of America’s Best Graduate Schools. The School of Law moved up to rank 29th, the College of Education moved up to rank 33rd and the Terry College of Business moved up to rank 48th.
“Universities are increasingly judged by the quality of their graduate programs and graduate students,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “It is gratifying to see these UGA programs recognized for the good work of the faculty and students. I believe that strong graduate programs at the flagship university are critical to the excellent academic reputation of this university as well as to the economic well-being of the state of Georgia.”
“These rankings recognize the academic excellence of our graduate programs,” said Maureen Grasso, dean of the UGA Graduate School. “The university’s commitment to ensuring the quality of the teaching, research and public service provided by our faculty is closely intertwined with graduate education. With their leadership, the graduate programs prepare our students to be the leading researchers, entrepreneurs, teachers and artists who will ensure the economic competitiveness and quality of life for all of us.”
The School of Law moved up four positions in the U.S. News & World Report rankings. It is currently tied for 29th overall and is counted among the top 11 public law schools in the nation.
“The law school continues to focus not on rankings but on providing an outstanding legal education for the next generation of lawyers,” said Dean Rebecca Hanner White. “We are pleased to offer a wide range of civil and criminal experiential learning opportunities-now totaling 14-in addition to strong co-curricular programs including moot court and mock trial. Earlier this year, Georgia Law teams brought home the top trophy in our country’s oldest and most prestigious moot court competition and in the invitation-only ‘best of the best’ moot court tournament-the National Moot Court Competition and the Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Competition, respectively. Further demonstrating the quality of education provided by Georgia Law is the fact that six Georgia Law alumni in the last nine years have served in U.S. Supreme Court judicial clerkships, which are widely considered the most selective and impressive positions that recent graduates can obtain.”
The College of Education moved up from 43rd to 33rd in graduate programs rankings. The college also continued to rise among public schools of education, moving up to 23rd from its ranking of 33rd last year.
Along with the significant increase in overall ranking for the college, six programs were ranked in the top 10 nationally. Those specialty programs include student counseling and personnel services (second), technical/vocational education (second), elementary teacher education (fifth), secondary teacher education (sixth), higher education administration (eighth) and curriculum/instruction (ninth).
“We are thrilled with all of the positive changes occurring at the College of Education,” said Craig H. Kennedy, dean of the College of Education. “The new U.S. News rankings support what we are seeing on the ground-faculty’s efforts in research are having a greater impact, we are developing new and innovative approaches to instruction, and increasing our outreach to the community. Importantly, that hard work is gaining national recognition.”
The full-time MBA Program at the Terry College of Business has risen to No. 48 in the nation and No. 23 among public programs.
“For the fourth year in a row Terry’s MBA Programs have risen in this ranking, which is proof that our commitment to providing a top-flight business education is being recognized across the country,” said Charles B. Knapp, Terry College interim dean. “This is especially exciting as we move forward with Phase I of the Business Learning Community, which will create a new, cutting-edge environment for our MBA students.”
In science Ph.D. programs, UGA tied for 42nd in biological sciences, tied for 52nd in mathematics and tied for 56th in chemistry. The programs are all housed in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.
In biological and agricultural engineering programs, UGA’s College of Engineering tied 19th.
The rankings, with the methodology, are available online at http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools. Highlights of the graduate school rankings will be published in the Best Graduate Schools 2015 edition book, available April 8.
