UGA programs remain strong in U.S. News & World Report 's Best Graduate Schools for 2008

Abstract

Note to editors: This release is embargoed until 12:01 a.m. EST on Friday, March 30, 2007.

Writer/contact: Wendy Jones , 706/542-6927, wfjones@uga.edu

UGA programs remain strong in U.S. News & World Report 's Best Graduate Schools for 2008

Athens , Ga. – Several of the University of Georgia 's graduate programs are once again ranked in the top 50 according to the latest issue of “ America 's Best Graduate Schools” published by U.S. News & World Report . UGA's College of Education is ranked in a tie at 26th , the School of Law is tied at 36th and the Terry College of Business is tied at 46th .

“We are pleased again this year to see a number of UGA programs listed among the very best in their respective fields,” said President Michael F. Adams. “Our graduate programs are a critical part of the university's mission. UGA's graduate faculty and students are dedicated to excellence and make a significant contribution to the research enterprise of the state and nation.”

Maureen Grasso, dean of UGA's Graduate School , agreed. “These rankings reflect the quality of our graduate programs and are also a testament to the superb faculty and students at the University of Georgia . We will continue to build on our strengths and welcome the challenges such rankings present,” Grasso said.

“Our continued ranking among the nation's top education schools, reflects the excellence and hard work of our faculty and students.” said Louis A. Castenell Jr., dean of the College of Education. “While the U.S. News rankings are weighted in favor of research and we strive to be a national leader in that area, we are also one of the largest and most productive among the top 50 education schools with an enrollment of 1,078 students in graduate teaching programs alone – second only to Teachers College at Columbia University. Ultimately, our most important commitment is to make a positive difference in the lives of children and families in Georgia and elsewhere by preparing world-class education and health professionals.”

In specialty programs, six UGA graduate education programs are again ranked in the top 10: elementary education tied for fourth; vocational/technical education ranked fourth; secondary education tied for fifth; higher education administration ranked sixth; the counseling / personnel services program tied for ninth; and the college's curriculum / instruction program tied for ninth.

“The University of Georgia School of Law is one of the top law schools in the nation. We have one of the country's most academically talented student bodies, and we rank among the very finest public law schools in the country. While we recognize that some place considerable emphasis on rankings like those produced by U.S. News, the fact is that these lists have virtually no impact on the operations of our school,” said Rebecca Hanner White, dean of the School of Law.

In terms of public law schools, Georgia Law is ranked among the top 15 schools in the nation and is one of the top four in the Southeast. On the overall rankings, UGA shares its position with the law schools at the University of California, the University of Colorado-Boulder, the University of Maryland, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Wake Forest University, the University of Alabama and Indiana University-Bloomington.

The Terry College of Business maintained its top 50 position in the U.S. News ranking of graduate business programs. Ranked 46th , Terry was the fifth most selective public graduate program in terms of acceptance rate, at 31.9 percent. The average starting salary and bonus for 2006 M.B.A. graduates also improved over the previous year, rising to $76,154.

“It's gratifying to be regarded among the top M.B.A. programs in the country and to count ourselves among the top 20 public business schools,” said Robert Hoyt, interim dean of the Terry College . “We remain very committed to our unique brand of personalized leadership development that includes one-on-one professional coaches for all our M.B.A. students. We believe this blend of business expertise and leadership skill will continue to be welcomed and well-received by employers.”

UGA also tied for 58th among Ph.D. programs in the biological sciences. In the biological sciences specialties, ecology / evolutionary biology ranked 10th .

Previous years' rankings which continue in this year's listing include: The School of Public and International Affairs ranked third (2004); public finance and budgeting ranked third and public management ranked second (2004); clinical psychology tied for 32nd (2004); and master of fine arts tied for 21st and printmaking ranked third (2003).

The rankings will be available online at www.usnews.com beginning at 12:01 a.m. Friday, March 30. The full rankings will be available in book form Monday, April 2, with excerpts in the April 9 issue of the magazine. The rankings methodology also is available on the U.S. News Web site.

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