US News rates grad schools
■ US News and World
Report’s rankings of graduate
programs leave some proud
while others are puzzled
By Brooke Ross
Oregon Daily Emerald
U.S. News & World Report re
leased its annual rankings of the
country’s graduate schools Mon
day, and several University gradu
ate programs received some of the
highest ranks in the nation.
The survey separately evaluated
graduate programs in business, ed
ucation, engineering, law and
medicine. Based on experts’ opin
ions and statistical data, 1,000 pro
grams were evaluated and 50
schools were chosen for the top
tier of each category.
Four University graduate pro
grams made it to the top tier. Spe
cial education was the third high
est in the nation for the second
consecutive year. The education
program ranked 11th, an improve
ment from last year’s 20th-place
finish. The cognitive psychology
program placed 18th, while the
psychology doctorate program re
ceived a rank of 45.
While several University faculty
members are excited about the
news, some questioned the merit
of the ranking system.
“It’s just astounding,” said Mar
tin Kaufman, dean of the college of
education. “There’s no question
that it gives one great pride to be
surrounded with a faculty of such
excellence and students of such
quality.”
Kaufman said the education
graduate program benefited from
125 grants last year, which is like
ly one reason for this year’s higher
rank. He said the money from
these grants allowed both faculty
and students to extend their re
search and involvement in com
munity education programs.
“It’s the importance and impact
of this research work that brings
visibility,” he said.
Kaufman said students have the
opportunity to participate in pro
grams that involve teaching chil
dren how to read, or they can do
research to examine and find solu
tions for school violence. He said
these interactive opportunities
have made the program more pop
ular, with the number of students
tripling in the last 10 years.
Michael Benz, area coordinator
for the special education graduate
program, said both the quality of
research and teaching also earned
the special education program its
high rank.
“We have a very strong faculty
in special education that’s heavily
involved in cutting-edge research,”
Benz said.
He said students may be drawn
to the program because they can
do research in a variety of areas in
volving people with disabilities,
including violence prevention, lit
eracy, and how to make school
transitions easier.
“Our students leave here with
teaching licenses and four or five
job offers,” Benz said.
The special education graduate
program has ranked in the top five
for several years, which he said is
because of the continued research
opportunities students have and
the quality of the program’s facul
ty.
“We have a very long, distin
guished history both in our teach
ing and research,” Benz said. “It’s
just an example of the kind of ex
cellence we’ve had here.”
However, not everyone is happy
with the rankings. The University
law school ranked in the second
tier, below the 50th rank, and
James O’Fallon, associate dean for
academic affairs, said the rankings
do not make sense.
“I don’t think they should be do
ing these rankings,” he said. “Peo
ple should not choose where to go
to school based on a crude, manip
ulated set of numbers.”
O’Fallon said this year’s law
school ranking is similar to last
year’s, but there are nearly 200
law schools in the country, so no
one person can determine a
school’s overall quality. For ex
ample, he said criteria such as
reputation and the salaries of for
mer students are considered, both
of which can be influenced by
outside circumstances that have
nothing to do with the quality of
the school.
“Even the U.S. News & World
Report acknowledges there are dif
ficulties in ranking, but it’s a pure
moneymaker for them,” he said.
ELF
continued from page 1
charges resulting from the alleged pos
session of destructive devices after a
June 2000 fire at Romania Chevrolet.
Luers, who had his trial post
poned after his attorney, Ken Mor
row, died unexpectedly last No
vember, is scheduled to go on trial
today in Lane County Court.
Marshall pleaded guilty last No
vember to conspiracy to commit arson
and possession of a destructive device
in connection with the June fire.
Romania Chevrolet General Ser
vices Director Rich Hazel said that
cleanup at the dealership is ongoing
and it would be difficult to speculate
how long it will take to complete.
incollaborationtiaiith
Concert Series
011381
Tickets on sale
Available at thi
Daft Punk
Eric Clapton j
Our Lady Peace
:Over The Rhine
| Idlewild
Ocean Blue
Semisonic to,
Sylk 130 Jf
All Ways Travel
• Airfare Specials •
Orlando -$198.00*
Chicago - $248.00*
Baltimore -$198.00*
Frankfurt -$508.00*
*tax not included, restrictions may apply.
Subject to change without notice.
Eurail Passes issued On-Site!!
E-mail: awt@luv2travel.com
Hot off the Press
and into your hands
Oregon Daily Emerald
Circulating 10,000 papers daily
007088V
EN PRINTING
EMBROIDERY
344-7265
triangie@pond.net
Not all t-shirts are created equal.
N
CRAFT CENTER
BICYCLE REPAIR |B^ PHOTOGRAPH
CERAMICS mtr STA1NED GLA^
DRAWING&PA1NT1NG WEAVING
JEWELRY
WOODWORKING
5PRIN6 ZOO 1 WORKSHOPS
Considering
Graduate
School?
A high GRE score is
critical to admissions success.
Take Kaplan and get a higher score.
GRE classes start April 7.
Call 1-800-KAP-TEST or visit
kaptest.com to enroll today!
Test prep, admissions and guidance. For life.
L_
'GRE Is the registered trademark of the Educational Testing Service.