Nineteen WUSTL graduate, professional programs in U.S. News’ top 10

Social work, occupational therapy rise to No. 1

Nineteen WUSTL schools, academic areas and departments at the graduate and professional levels currently hold top 10 rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of graduate and professional programs, which were released Friday, March 28.

The George Warren Brown School of Social Work earned a No. 1 ranking among master’s of social work programs, topping its No. 2 ranking from 2004, when U.S. News last ranked social work programs.

“We are delighted that the Brown School continues to be ranked with the best schools of social work in the nation,” said Edward F. Lawlor, Ph.D., dean and the William E. Gordon Professor. “I am so grateful for the hard work of our faculty, staff and students that has helped us maintain our leading reputation in the field.”

The School of Medicine ranks No. 3 among research-oriented medical schools after holding the No. 4 spot the past two years. Many individual programs at the School of Medicine are very highly ranked by U.S. News as well: The Program in Occupational Therapy is tied for the No. 1 rating, the Program in Physical Therapy is tied for No. 2, and the Program in Audiology and Communication Sciences is No. 5.

“In the Program in Occupational Therapy, our goal is to foster excellence in teaching, research, scholarship and service, and we are proud to be recognized for those traits by U.S. News as we share the top spot in the nation,” said Carolyn Baum, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA, the Elias Michael Executive Director of the Program in Occupational Therapy at the School of Medicine. “It’s very rewarding to receive this recognition for our talented students, faculty and staff.”

“Our highly creative academic research and clinical faculty and exceptional students are the backbone of our leading Program in Physical Therapy,” said Susan Deusinger, Ph.D., executive director of the Program in Physical Therapy at the School of Medicine. “We are pleased that our culture of excellence, innovation and collaboration has again received national recognition.”

Other academic areas in the School of Medicine were in the top 10. Pediatrics is tied for a No. 7 ranking after being rated No. 9 in 2007. Internal medicine (No. 8) retains its top 10 standing.

“Our extraordinary students, faculty and staff are what sets Washington University School of Medicine apart as such an outstanding place to learn,” said Larry J. Shapiro, M.D., executive vice chancellor for medical affairs and dean of the School of Medicine. “While these rankings are determined by relatively few parameters, they are not without consequence. We are proud of our continued No. 1 standing in student selectivity and of the national recognition among such exceptional institutions.”

The Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts fared very well among master’s of fine arts programs, climbing six spots to a tie for No. 15.

“We’re very pleased by the new ranking and believe that it reflects the emphasis placed on the M.F.A. program as a strategic priority,” said Jeff Pike, dean of the College and Graduate School of Art and the Jane Reuter Hitzeman and Herbert F. Hitzeman Jr. Professor of Art. “In addition to launching a new master’s degree in visual arts, we’ve directed significant scholarship funding to graduate students and devoted the entire Lewis Center building to graduate studios. I’m also confident that the program will continue to thrive under the leadership of our new graduate director, Patricia Olynyk.”

Two individual areas also rank within the top 25: printmaking (tied for No. 14) and painting/drawing (tied for No. 19).

The School of Law remains in the top 20 for the third straight year, retaining its No. 19 ranking. Within the School of Law, the trial advocacy program remains among the nation’s best at No. 4 in the nation, as does the clinical training program, which ranks No. 6.

“I am gratified that the excellence of our faculty, students and alumni continues to receive recognition,” said Kent D. Syverud, J.D., dean of the law school and the Ethan A.H. Shepley University Professor.

The Olin Business School’s MBA program claims a spot among the top graduate programs in the country, rising four places to tie for No. 25 overall. In addition, two of Olin’s programs are recognized for their excellence: The school’s part-time program, the Professional MBA, ranks No. 12, and the Executive MBA program is tied for No. 16.

“We’re pleased that Olin’s position in the U.S. News & World Report is improved,” said Mahendra R. Gupta, Ph.D., dean of Olin Business School and the Geraldine J. and Robert L. Virgil Professor of Accounting and Management. “Given the high caliber of our MBA program, we expect that trajectory to continue. Above all, our world-class program is defined each day by our outstanding students, alumni, faculty and staff, and we salute them for our continued success.”

WUSTL’s Department of Education in Arts & Sciences — ranked alongside schools of education at other universities — continues to soar in the ranking, leaping three places to tie for 38th. U.S. News ranked the department No. 41 in 2007 and No. 46 in 2006.

Overall, 47 graduate and professional academic areas at the University rank in U.S. News’ top 25.

U.S. News ranks some graduate schools, areas and departments — such as law — annually, and some — such as social work — on a rotating cycle.

Many of this year’s rankings are in the April 7-14 issue of U.S. News magazine, available at newsstands March 31.

The “America’s Best Graduate Schools” guidebook, published by U.S. News, will be available April 1.

The U.S. News rankings also can be found online at usnews.com.