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March 31, 2006 -- Five of the University of
Virginia's graduate schools are again ranked among the nation's
best, according U.S. News & World Report’s 2007 edition
of America’s Best Graduate Schools.
The School
of Law retained the eighth place ranking it earned a year
ago.
The Darden School of Business is
tied for 13th, up from 14th a year ago. “U.S. News is the
fourth major publication to rank graduate business schools this
academic year,” said Darden Dean Robert F. Bruner. “Darden’s
ranking improved in each of the four polls. I think the higher
rankings are a reflection of Darden’s commitment to offering
the best graduate business school experience possible.”
The School
of Medicine was ranked 25th in research, up one spot from
last year. “We are very pleased with the latest rankings and believe as we continue to refine our curriculum, to provide outstanding patient care, and develop new leading-edge medical research, our national profile will continue to be enhanced,” said Dr. Arthur Garson Jr., vice president and dean of the U.Va. School of Medicine. “Our work in educating new physicians is especially drawing attention in the rankings as residency directors continue to increase the score they give U.Va. This means our graduating medical students are making favorable impressions with their ability to care for patients as they continue their medical education.”
The Curry School
of Education is 19th, up from 22nd last year. “The
Curry School continues to do well in the rankings, despite
a methodology that only partially fits our activities,” said
Curry Dean David Breneman. “Many of the top-rated private
universities and some of the top-rated public universities
concentrate their resources primarily on graduate education
and research, whereas Curry not only does that, but also invests
substantially in clinical faculty who are connected to our
teacher education program and who do little sponsored research.
Because the U.S. News rankings are weighted in favor of research,
one way for us to advance even further in the graduate rankings
would be to reduce teacher preparation, which we’re not
going to do. Teacher education is one of the primary justifications
for society’s support of public schools of education."
The School of Engineering
and Applied Science came in at 38th after a significant
rise last year.
In addition to the overall rankings, U.S. News ranks individual
departments and areas. In law, U.Va. ranks ninth for international
law. In the Darden School, management is No. 7 and nonprofit
is tied for No. 6. In the Curry School, special education is
No. 4, secondary education is No. 7, elementary education is
tied for No. 8 and curriculum/instruction is No. 10.
Ph.D. programs in the sciences were ranked in this year's edition.
The programs were last ranked in 2002. In the latest rankings,
computer science was tied for No. 29, physics was tied for No.
35, mathematics was tied for No. 38, biology was tied for No.
40 and chemistry was tied for No. 42.
"Outstanding doctoral programs and graduate students are vital to Arts &
Sciences," said Edward Ayers, dean of Arts & Sciences. "It is nice that the rankings recognize their excellence."
U.S. News ranks a longer list of sub-categories, and the University
will update its Web site if necessary at www.virginia.edu/Facts/Glance_Rankings.htm. | 
