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Materials - UC Santa Barbara

Materials graduate program, graduate advisor.

Questions? Contact:

AJ Johnson , Staff Graduate Advisor Angela Pitenis , Graduate Diversity Officer Chris Van de Walle , Faculty Diversity Offier  

A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE

Please meet our  UCSB Materials alumni .

UCSB Materials Alumni on LinkedIn

UCSB Materials students and alumni are invited to join our LinkedIn group .

The Next Leaders for Tomorrow's Materials

Our researchers and students make a tremendous impact on the world.  The UC Santa Barbara Materials graduate program is consistently ranked the best graduate program in materials science and engineering in the country, and in the world. Our prestigious graduate program in materials science and engineering has been ranked #1 among public universities by US News several years in succession, and #1 by the National Research Council's most recent rankings. 

Program Overview

Ph.D. in Materials, with specialization in any of the following areas of research:

• Electronic & Photonic Materials (compound semiconductors, quantum structures, advanced lasers, solid state lighting, microelectromechanical systems)
• Functional & Quantum Materials (ferroelectrics, optical materials, zeolite molecular sieves and catalysts)
• Macromolecular and Biomolecular Materials (self-assembling polymers, complex fluids, biopolymers, biomembranes, conducting and photonic polymers)
• Structural Materials (advanced alloys, ceramics, composites, coatings, structural polymers, multifunctional materials)

Program of Study

The curriculum in each area has the flexibility needed to provide multidisciplinary educational opportunities in the field of advanced materials, encompassing topics such as optoelectronic devices, composites, and micromechanics. Materials synthesis, processing and characterization feature prominently with courses in the processing of ceramics, alloys, composites, semiconductor materials, and polymers, as well as advanced topics in electron microscopy. Programs of study and research are individually tailored to accommodate research needs and student interest. Multidisciplinary education is strongly encouraged by means of joint faculty supervision of research and by the selection of courses. Students are also encouraged to cross over traditional boundaries into other campus departments (for example, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biology, Chemistry and Physics) through collaboration and taking courses in those departments, as appropriate. There is no foreign language requirement.

The Materials Department features an outstanding faculty . Ten faculty members hold membership in the National Academy of Engineering, which reflects an exceptionally high national standing. Further, several faculty members have been awarded the most prestigious prizes and awards in their respective fields, including the NSF Career Award, the Sloan Fellowship, the Humboldt Senior Scientist Award, the APS Fluid Dynamics Prize, the ASM Gold Medal, and the SIAM Dahlquist Prize. Faculty in the department look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with talented and motivated graduate students.

Graduate Fellowships

The Department invites applications from keen students and offers a number of attractive fellowships and teaching and research assistantships. It is our experience that students enjoy UC Santa Barbara’s tradition of open collaboration and interdisciplinary research. Santa Barbara is a beautiful coastal campus with many cultural and recreational opportunities to augment student life. The overall environment is very supportive of scholarly and creative work.

Diversity Statement

The Materials Department is deeply committed to supporting a diverse graduate student cohort, and encourages and mentors students from all backgrounds to develop as scholars and professionals.  A list of resources related to diversity supported by the department and campus can be found here ( https://materials.ucsb.edu/about/diversity ).  The Department adheres to the University of California Diversity statement( https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/governance/policies/4400.html ) that underscores the importance of educating a diverse population.   The Graduate Division further provides programming and resources for students ( https://ext-prod.graddiv.ucsb.edu/our-services/mentorship-inclusivity ).

www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/admissions/diversity/diversity-resources-for-graduate-students

MATERIALS DEPARTMENT Engineering II Building, 1355 University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5050

Phone: (805) 893-4362 Email: [email protected]    

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In This Section

Penn State has been a leader in materials science and engineering education and innovation since the very beginning. Our programs are consistently rated highly in many rankings, including U.S. News & World Report. Here are a few examples of recent rankings, primarily relating to our academic standing.

National Science Foundation Research Expenditure Rankings

Penn State’s research enterprise ranks 22nd in the country in total research expenditures, according to the latest National Science Foundation rankings of Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) research expenditures, released in December 2022.   #1 in Materials Science (fourth consecutive year) #2 in Materials Engineering (fourth consecutive year) #4 in total overall Engineering

U.S. News and World Report Rankings

Graduate Programs #11 in Materials Engineering (2024)

Undergraduate Programs In materials engineering where the highest engineering degree offered is a doctorate. #9 in Materials Engineering  (2024)

Best Global Universities #28 in Materials Science (2022)

Online Education Penn State World Campus's online programs are among more than 1,200 programs surveyed by U.S. News and World Report and are ranked best in the nation in 2022 . Only regionally accredited institutions whose programs are offered mostly or entirely online were evaluated. #16 in Best Online Bachelor's Programs (tie) #11 in  Best Online Bachelor's Programs for Veterans (tie) #3 in  Best Online Master's in Engineering Programs #3 in  Best Online Master's in Engineering Programs for Veterans

Note that specialty rankings are not available in all disciplines at the undergraduate level, and not all disciplines are ranked every year. 

QS World University 2023 Rankings by Subject

#26 - Materials Science

Academic Ranking of World Universities

2022 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 

#14 in Materials Science & Engineering #43 in  Metallurgical Engineering

Penn State colleges rank highly in Academic Ranking of World University Subjects | Penn State University (psu.edu)

2021 Best Materials Engineering Graduate Programs Ranking by U.S.News (2016 - 2021)

Posted by MSE Supplies Admin on May 01, 2020

• The top 10 schools on the list remain the same year over year.  Among the top 10 schools, University  of California - Berkeley has advanced the most on the ranking over the last year, leaping from No. 6 to No. 2, tied with Northwestern University . In contract, University  of Illinois - Urbana Champaign (UIUC) moved from No. 3 to No. 6, which was the same spot ranked for UIUC two years ago.  
• Among the top 30 programs, both the University of Maryland and  Texas A&M University have advanced 7 spots to this year's No. 23 from No. 30 in last year's ranking. 
• Michigan State University  climbed up 10 spots over the last year from No. 46 to the current position of No. 36. 
• Over the period of the last two years, the schools with the most gains in ranking include Texas A&M University and the  University of California - Irvine , both of which climbed up 14 spots. Texas A&M University  soared from No. 37 to No. 23 in just two years. The University of California - Irvine has demonstrated steady increase in the ranking position over the last two years from No. 50 to No. 36 in the current ranking.

Review the list below to see the detailed ranking numbers compiled by   MSE Supplies  ( www.msesupplies.com ) .  

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School of Materials Science and Engineering

Mse graduate program rises to seventh in 2022 u.s. news rankings.

The School of Materials Science and Engineering rises to seventh in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools Rankings.

“I am proud of our graduate program, and the scholarship of our faculty and students, who while enduring the many challenges, continue to put in their collective efforts to be the best that MSE can be with everything we do,” Naresh Thadhani, MSE Chair said.

The Georgia Tech College of Engineering is ranked eighth among the best graduate schools in engineering and fourth among public universities.

All of Georgia Tech’s graduate programs rank in the top ten in their disciplines.

• Aerospace (No.4)
• Biomedical (No.2)
• Chemical (No.4)
• Civil (No.2)
• Computer (No.5)
• Electrical (No.5)
• Environmental (No.6)
• Industrial (No.1)
• Materials (No.7)
• Mechanical (No.5)
• Nuclear (No.6)

100 Best Materials Science schools in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Materials Science. A graph of 146M citations received by 4.19M academic papers made by 1,094 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

For Materials Science

2. University of California - Berkeley

3. Stanford University

4. Harvard University

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

6. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

7. Georgia Institute of Technology

8. Pennsylvania State University

9. Cornell University

10. University of Texas at Austin

11. Northwestern University

12. University of California - Los Angeles

13. University of Wisconsin - Madison

14. University of Washington - Seattle

15. University of California - Santa Barbara

16. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

17. California Institute of Technology

18. Purdue University

19. University of California-San Diego

20. University of Pennsylvania

21. Texas A&M University - College Station

22. Ohio State University

23. Princeton University

24. University of Florida

25. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

26. Columbia University

27. University of Maryland - College Park

28. Iowa State University

29. University of California - Davis

30. Johns Hopkins University

31. Carnegie Mellon University

32. Yale University

33. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

34. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

35. University of Southern California

36. Rice University

37. University of Arizona

38. Arizona State University - Tempe

39. University of Colorado Boulder

40. University of Utah

41. Michigan State University

42. University of Chicago

43. Case Western Reserve University

44. University of Pittsburgh

45. Duke University

46. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

47. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

48. University of California - Irvine

49. University of Virginia

50. University of Delaware

51. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

52. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

53. University of Rochester

54. University at Buffalo

55. Boston University

56. University of California - San Francisco

57. New York University

58. Washington University in St Louis

59. Brown University

60. Providence College

61. University of California - Riverside

62. University of Connecticut

63. Stony Brook University

64. University of Houston

65. University of Kentucky

66. University of Notre Dame

67. University of Central Florida

68. University of Cincinnati

69. Drexel University

70. University of Illinois at Chicago

71. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

72. University of Iowa

73. Clemson University

74. University of Georgia

75. Vanderbilt University

76. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

77. University of Akron

78. University of South Carolina - Columbia

79. Washington State University

80. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

81. Lehigh University

82. Oregon State University

83. University of New Mexico

84. University of Missouri - Columbia

85. Northeastern University

86. Emory University

87. Missouri University of Science and Technology

88. Florida State University

89. Wayne State University

90. Tufts University

91. Auburn University

92. Kansas State University

93. University of South Florida

94. Colorado School of Mines

95. University of Oklahoma - Norman

96. Texas Tech University

97. University of Alabama

98. University of Miami

99. University of Maryland, Baltimore

100. University of Kansas

The best cities to study Materials Science in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge , Berkeley , Stanford , and Ann Arbor .

Chemistry subfields in the United States

Doctoral Program in Materials Science

PhD Application Deadline DECEMBER 15 View Application Steps

How to Apply

Funding & resources, usc graduate application, dissertation topics, phd alumni snapshot, research topics database.

Emily Anne Vargas

View more Doctoral Student & Alumni Profiles

Alina Garcia Taormina

David Johnson

Materials science doctoral students citizenship, materials science doctoral students age, recent department videos.

Published on June 8th, 2021

Last updated on August 18th, 2023

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Emily Anne Vargas PhD in Materials Science

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

My mom always used to say to me “No olvides tus raíces aunque estés en la cima.” Which means to never forget your roots, even when you are at the top. To never forget why you started, how you started, and to give back to the communities that made you who you are today. My second favorite quote is “You don’t know what you don’t know.” Ask questions. Find a mentor that can help answer the questions you didn’t know how to ask or knew to ask. 

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?

Being a first-generation college graduate, the first engineer in my family, and the first person to go to graduate school. I couldn’t have done it without my family’s support and unconditional love. They immigrated from Cuba with nothing but the clothes on their backs and, in turn, provided the opportunity for me and my sister to live out the American Dream. 

What's your favorite impulse purchase from the past 12 months?

My K2 Inline Skates! My friend, Jose, has been teaching me how to rollerblade on campus (I haven’t fallen…yet). 

Please describe a little about your research and what excites you about it.

I’m currently working on how the manufacturing process affects the microstructure of oxide-oxide ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) and how the microstructure affects the overall mechanical behavior! I like to think about my research like the show “How It’s Made”. You don’t quite realize how the smallest of changes in a manufacturing process can truly impact the outcome of whatever material or product you’re making. I also like how I can see the real-world applications of my research. CMCs are used in high temperature applications ranging from car brakes to heat shields for rockets! 

If you could choose any other profession outside of engineering or computer science, what would it be? 

I would be a visual artist! In my spare time, I love to draw and paint and almost went to an art magnet school for high school.

What are some factors that helped you decide to pursue your PhD at USC?

I made a list of non-negotiables when choosing PhD programs and ultimately, they all were components that led to my happiness. Location, being near an international airport so I could visit my family, Vitamin D (sunshine makes all the difference!), my faculty advisor and the research topic, how much effort the university puts in DE&I initiatives, and the people/culture. Many people don’t realize the culture from undergrad to grad is vastly different, so surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals is super important to maintaining your health and well-being physically, mentally, and emotionally. Shout out to Andy Chen and Kevin Henry for showing me how much USC cares about their students and treats them like family!

If you were to recommend to an incoming student 3 places to go in California/Los Angeles, what would they be?

Joshua Tree National Park (and any other National Parks in the neighboring area) for stargazing, Smorgasburg if you’re a foodie, and the Huntington Library.

What is a memory you'll cherish about your time at USC?

Meeting my best friends, Jose, Joel, and Sophia, and forming a WhatsApp group called “The Pupusa Squad” one day after we had gotten lunch together at a pupuseria. Together, we played hooky one time at a conference held at UC San Diego and explored La Jolla and the beaches. 

What's one thing about you that might surprise me?

I currently serve as the Vice-Chair on the National Board of Directors for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. I’m the youngest Vice-Chair the organization has ever had. 

What are your plans after graduation?

I’d like to work in either the aerospace, automotive, or energy/power industry as a chief composites engineer within R&D.

Hometown (city, country):

Miami, FL, USA.

Personal Website (if any):

https://composites.usc.edu/emily-vargas/

Faculty Advisor:

Dr. Steve Nutt from the USC M.C. Gill Composites Center.

Alina Garcia Taormina PhD in Materials Science

"Never forget who you are and how much you're capable of."

I love photography, so anytime I get the chance to go out and shoot photos, it is so grounding for me. I recently bought a new camera lens and was so excited to get to use it on my recent trip up to the pacific northwest.

My research focuses on the synthesis and development of metal-polymer core-shell composite micro-lattice materials through the exploration of various physical vapor deposition coating conditions and configurations. Additionally, in collaboration with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, I have investigated the mechanical behavior of stitched nano-architected lattice materials to gain further insight into fabricating macro-scale 3D printed parts that contain nanoscale features. What excites me about my research is that nano- and micro-architected lattices are an emerging class of materials and there is still so much to learn and discover about their properties and functionalities. 

I'd want to be a filmmaker! Before switching over to chemistry in undergrad, I was pursuing film production. It had always been a dream of mine to work in film, but I am grateful I also found my passion in STEM.

The three places I would recommend to go in CA/LA would be the beach for a bonfire or a day with friends, Grand Central Market for a nice variety of good food, and definitely a weekend trip to Joshua Tree.

All the times my lab-mates and I were able to spend together. I will cherish every time we were able to get together as a group and take a trip, have a game night, celebrate a birthday, go shoot some photography, go out and eat delicious food, and be there for one another. 

I have a pet turtle, and I enjoy playing tennis.

Prof. Andrea Hodge

David Johnson PhD in Materials Engineering

The best piece of advice I have ever been given is as follows: "Time spent building relationships is time best spent."

My greatest accomplishment is making it into USC for their Materials Science PhD program!

My favorite impulse purchase, even though it happens quite a bit, will always be a double scoop from Salt and Straw, an ice cream shop here in LA.

My main research goal is to better understand protein-cell membrane interactions through the use of model membranes, some biophysics, and a lot of nonlinear optics. I think it is an exciting field because much of the basic research that we do contributes directly to a greater understanding of how to combat neurodegenerative  diseases like Parkinsons or Alzheimers

If I had to choose a profession outside of my current field, I would be a confectioner working in an ice cream shop or a candy store. Everyone leaves with a smile when they are getting sweets, what better profession could you ask for?

A big factor in choosing to pursue my PhD at USC was the city of LA itself. My wife is a social worker who, because of being in an incredibly diverse city, has had many opportunities to serve the city of LA which was important for me. Additionally, I love the foods from cultures around the world that I get to eat within a 15 minute drive.

There are so many cool things to see and do in LA, but I can only give three so here they are: a show at the Hollywood Bowl, a game at Dodger Stadium (I'm a big baseball fan), and you NEED to get Korean BBQ in Koreatown. In fact, you could probably do that all in one day if you get lucky.

I haven't been at USC for long, but I have already enjoyed building relationships with my classmates in the program. I can't boil it down to one moment, but those are the memories that I will cherish most when I leave.

One thing about me that could surprise you is that I was a member of the University of Illinois Varsity Men's Glee Club in my undergrad! We were on the schedule to perform a Shostakovich piece at Carnegie Hall with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, but it was cancelled because of COVID-19. A real bummer.

After graduation, I am planning on moving closer to my immediate family in Illinois to find a job in the state. I hope to raise a family there with my wife while also pursuing a fruitful career with my PhD.

Champaign, IL, USA.

My advisor is Wade Zeno (the best).

Materials Science & Engineering MS/PhD

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering offers three graduate degree programs: the Master of Engineering (MEng), 5th Year Bachelor of Science and Master of Science (BS/MS), and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Master of Engineering (MEng)

In collaboration with other departments in the College of Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering is offering a professional masters degree. The accelerated program is designed to develop professional engineering leaders in materials science and engineering who are seeking knowledge and leadership experience in MSE.

Prospective students will be engineers, typically with industrial experience, who aspire to substantially advance in their careers and ultimately to lead large, complex organizations, both in the public and private sectors.

You may choose to apply to either the full-time one-year program or part-time program for working professionals. You will be asked to choose which option you will be considered for during the application process. Both options employ the same standards and criteria for admissions.

5th Year Bachelor of Science and Master of Science (BS/MS)

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering offers a five-year combined BS/MS program to our undergraduate student cohort. In this program, the existing four-year undergraduate program (BS) will be augmented with a fifth year of graduate study that provides a professionally-oriented component, preparing students for careers in engineering or engineering management within the business, government, and industrial sectors. This five-year program emphasizes interdisciplinary study through an independent project coupled to coursework.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Students pursuing the PhD may also declare a designated emphasis (DE) in one of the following programs: Communication, Computation, and Statistics; Computational and Genomic Biology; Computational Science and Engineering; Energy Science and Technology; or Nanoscale Science and Engineering.

Contact Info

[email protected]

Berkeley, CA 94720

At a Glance

Department(s)

Materials Science & Engineering

Admit Term(s)

Application Deadline

December 4, 2023

Degree Type(s)

Masters / Professional

Degree Awarded

GRE Requirements

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QS World University Rankings rates MIT No. 1 in 11 subjects for 2024

QS World University Rankings has placed MIT in the No. 1 spot in 11 subject areas for 2024, the organization announced today. The Institute received a No. 1 ranking in the following QS subject areas: Chemical Engineering; Civil and Structural Engineering; Computer Science and Information Systems; Data Science and Artificial Intelligence; Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Linguistics; Materials Science; Mechanical, Aeronautical, and Manufacturing Engineering; Mathematics; Physics and Astronomy; and Statistics and Operational Research. MIT also placed second in five subject areas: Accounting and Finance; Architecture/Built Environment; Biological Sciences; Chemistry; and Economics and Econometrics. For 2024, universities were evaluated in 55 specific subjects and five broader subject areas. MIT was ranked No. 1 in the broader subject area of Engineering and Technology and No. 2 in Natural Sciences. Quacquarelli Symonds Limited subject rankings, published annually, are designed to help prospective students find the leading schools in their field of interest. Rankings are based on research quality and accomplishments, academic reputation, and graduate employment. MIT has been ranked as the No. 1 university in the world by QS World University Rankings for 12 straight years.

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Materials science and engineering program at ut austin ranked no. 23 in the world.

The Materials Science and Engineering graduate program within Texas Materials Institute and The Cockrell School of Engineering was named No. 23 in the world by  U.S. News & World Report . UT Austin ranks as the No. 1 Texas university No. 43 university in the world.

More than 80 students are enrolled in the our Materials Science and Engineering graduate program and they work alongside renowned engineering faculty to develop cutting-edge solutions across many research areas. 

U.S. News & World Report’s annual engineering graduate program rankings are based on student acceptance rates, faculty/student ratios, research expenditures, reputation among engineers in industry and academia, the number of doctoral degrees produced, the percentage of faculty elected to the National Academy of Engineering and entrance exam scores.

Cockrell School of Engineering College of Natural Sciences

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Johns Hopkins graduate programs again ranked among nation's best

'u.s. news & world report' includes 38 jhu programs among the top 10 in the u.s. in its annual rankings, including no. 1 ranked programs in nursing and public health.

By Hub staff report

Johns Hopkins University has 38 graduate schools, academic programs, and specialties ranked among the top 10 in the nation, including nine with No. 1 rankings, according to the latest edition of "Best Graduate Schools" from U.S. News & World Report , published earlier today.

Two schools at Hopkins—the Bloomberg School of Public Health and the School of Nursing —earned No. 1 rankings overall, and the School of Education entered the top 10, according to U.S. News & World Report .

Portions of the publication's annual list were released today but rankings for schools of medicine and engineering were delayed and will be released at a later date.

Among the new rankings released today:

The School of Nursing's DNP program ranked No. 1 for the third year in a row. Its master's degree programs tied at No. 1, up from No. 2 last year. In gerontology, the school moved up two spots to No. 1 for primary care, and up one spot to No. 2 for acute care. In other specialty areas, the School of Nursing's doctoral programs ranked:

• Psychiatric/mental health: No. 1
• Family: No. 3 (tied)
• Leadership: No. 4 (tied)
• Nursing Anesthesia: No. 36 (tie)

Public Health

The Bloomberg School retained its longtime No. 1 overall ranking among public health programs—it has held the top spot since 1994, the year the rankings began. In specialty areas, the Bloomberg School ranked:

• Environmental Health Sciences: No. 1
• Epidemiology: No. 1
• Health Policy and Management (Public Health): No. 1
• Social and Behavioral Sciences: No. 1
• Biostatistics: No. 2

Johns Hopkins tied at No. 8 in the Education category, up from No. 13 last year. The school also tied at No. 23 in higher education administration programs.

Public Affairs

Overall, Johns Hopkins programs in public affairs tied at No. 39. In subcategories, Johns Hopkins tied at No. 6 in Health Policy and Management (Public Affairs), No. 11 in International/Global Policy and Administration, and tied at No. 35 in Public Policy Analysis.

U.S. News & World Report updates some of its rankings each year and republishes the most recent rankings in other areas. Among the republished rankings for Hopkins, which are still current:

Biological Sciences

Hopkins is tied for No. 6 overall with six top 10 specialty rankings:

• Molecular biology: No. 3 (tie)
• Cell biology: No. 4
• Neuroscience: No. 4 (tie)
• Immunology: No. 5
• Genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics: No. 6 (tie)
• Biochemistry, biophysics, and structural biology: No. 8

Biostatistics

Hopkins is ranked No. 1 (tie) for Biostatistics at the doctoral level. (Note: U.S. News & World Report also ranks biostatistics as a sub-category of public health, where Hopkins is No. 2.)

The university is tied at No. 20 in Chemistry and ranks No. 9 in the Biochemistry subcategory.

Computer Science

The university is tied for No. 24 overall and tied at No. 21 in the specialty of Artificial Intelligence.

Earth Sciences

The university is tied at No. 30 in Earth Sciences.

Johns Hopkins' program in economics is tied at No. 22.

English tied at No. 13 overall with the following specialty rankings:

• Literary criticism and theory: No. 3
• British literature: No. 10 (tie)
• American literature after 1865: No. 17

Health Care Management

The university is No. 7.

Johns Hopkins ranks No. 10 overall, with the following specialty rankings:

• African-American history: No. 3 (tie)
• Cultural history: No. 4 (tie)
• U.S. Colonial history: No. 5 (tie)
• Women's history: No. 6 (tie)
• African history: No. 7 (tie)
• European history: No. 7 (tie)
• Modern U.S. history: No. 16 (tie)

Mathematics

Johns Hopkins is tied at No. 20 in Mathematics with the following specialty rankings: + Analysis: No. 18 (tie) + Algebra: No. 23 (tie) + Applied Math: No. 25

Overall, the university is tied at No. 13 with the following specialty rankings: + Living Systems: No. 5 (tie) + Cosmology: No. 7 + Condensed Matter: No. 13 (tie)

Political science

Overall, political science is tied at No. 41. In sub-categories, Johns Hopkins ranked: + Political theory: No. 8 (tie) + International politics: No. 24 (tie)

The university's graduate program in psychology is tied at No. 12 overall and tied at No. 5 in the subcategory of behavioral neuroscience.

Overall, sociology is tied at No. 29. The sub-category of sociology of population is tied at No. 17.

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.cls-1{fill:#a91e22;}.cls-2{fill:#c2c2c2;} double-arrow 2024 U.S. News & World Report's Best Undergraduate Materials Engineering Programs

Undergraduate mse program ascends national ranking in latest u.s. news & world report issue.

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering at The Ohio State University is pleased to announce that its  materials science and engineering undergraduate program  is ranked 11th in the nation overall and 6th in the nation among public institutions according to the U.S. News & World Report's 2024 Best Colleges issue.

Among the program characteristics considered during peer assessments is the range of undergraduate courses and programs offered. Ohio State's materials science and engineering program includes lecture courses, labs, electives, and a year-long senior research project that aligns with a focus area chosen by the student. 

Current enrollment for the undergraduate program is 149 students, generating a 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio. Personable learning environments rich with hands-on, applied learning opportunities provide MSE students with the foundation for a successful engineering career.

Department faculty  enjoy research projects which align with respective expertise and offer undergraduate students real-world experience in biomaterials, ceramics, electronic materials, metallurgy, and polymers. Research expenditures for the department surpassed $18M during the 2022 academic year with most expenses dedicated to Federal projects.*

Most students who graduate with a B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Ohio State begin their career in industry while more than a quarter transition to a  graduate program .** 

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering congratulates the leadership team, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and supporters who make this program successful. The quality of industry-ready students and critical research developments derived from the materials science and engineering program are impressionable. Lastly, the department congratulates the other nine undergraduate engineering programs at Ohio State who clinched spots in the top 25 of their specialty.

Undergraduate program rises in national rankings

The College of Engineering  |  September 18, 2023

Ohio State’s undergraduate engineering program again ranks first in Ohio and has risen to 14th among public universities nationwide in  U.S. News & World Report’s  2024 Best Colleges issue. Among both public and private institutions, Ohio State Engineering ranks 25th overall, up two spots since last year.

The Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering’s undergraduate program ranked 10th in the nation, the highest of Ohio State’s nine departments or specialties that received enough votes for inclusion. Other Ohio State engineering undergraduate programs ranking among the nation’s best include materials engineering (11) , industrial/manufacturing engineering (16), aerospace engineering (17), civil engineering (17), mechanical engineering (19), electrical engineering (20), computer engineering (21) and chemical engineering (23).

U.S. News and World Report  began evaluating undergraduate computer science programs in a separate category in 2020. In this year’s issue, Ohio State climbed four spots to rank 33rd among 554 programs nationally, and 21st in the artificial intelligence specialty category.

“With 10 of our programs improving their rankings this year, this is also the first time in more than a decade we’ve reached the echelons of the top 25 overall, and we plan to stay there,” said College of Engineering Dean Ayanna Howard. “Our upward trajectory reflects the dedication of our faculty and staff, as well as the collaborative spirit among our extraordinary students.”

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To help prospective graduate students find a school that fits their needs, U.S. News released the 2024 rankings for multiple graduate fields.

Depending on the job or field, earning a graduate degree may lead to higher earnings, career advancement and specialized skill development.

But with several types of degrees and hundreds of graduate schools, it can be difficult to narrow down the options. To help prospective graduate students find a school that fits their needs, U.S. News released its 2024 Best Graduate Schools rankings today. They evaluate business, education, fine arts, health, law, library studies, nursing, public affairs, science, and social sciences and humanities graduate programs. Medical school and engineering rankings are not being released at this time.

A notable methodology change includes a new salary indicator based on profession in the business rankings.

Additionally, for the first time in four years, there are new rankings for a blend of doctoral and master's programs in audiology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, pharmacy, nurse midwifery and speech-language pathology. Graduate programs in nurse anesthesia and social work are also ranked for the first time since 2016 and 2022, respectively. Those and other specialty rankings are based on reputation ratings from scholars at other surveyed schools.

Read each program's specific methodology for the most detailed explanations of all the changes. The rankings are one source of information among many that prospective college students can use to inform their college decision. Below is a summary of the top-ranked schools in four major graduate program areas:

Best Law Schools

Best business schools, best nursing schools, best education schools.

Among the top 10 law schools . Yale Law School in Connecticut and California-based  Stanford Law School shared the top spot again. The  University of Chicago Law School in Illinois maintained its No. 3 rank, followed by a four-way tie at No. 4: Duke University School of Law in North Carolina, Harvard Law School in Massachusetts, the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and the University of Virginia School of Law .

Columbia Law School in New York ranked No. 8 again, while there was a three-way tie for No. 9: New York University School of Law , Northwestern University's Pritzker School of Law in Illinois and the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor Law School .

Looking beyond the top 10, multiple law schools moved up in the rankings. William & Mary Law School in Virginia, for instance, jumped nine spots from a tie at No. 45 to a five-way tie at No. 36.

U.S. News also ranked 13 law specialties: business/corporate, clinical training, constitutional, contracts/commercial, criminal, dispute resolution, environmental, health care, intellectual property, international, legal writing, tax and trial advocacy. (You can filter by specialty on the  main ranking page .)

Meanwhile, in the  part-time law school rankings – which consists of law schools with at least 20 part-time students enrolled in fall 2022 and fall 2023 – the top three stayed the same. The  Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., is once again at the top while D.C.-based  George Washington University Law School , now No. 3, switched places with the  Fordham University School of Law in New York City, which claimed second place.

Previously ranked at No. 3 and No. 6 respectively, the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and Stanford Graduate School of Business took the top spot in this year's full-time MBA program rankings . Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management and the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business moved down from their previous places in the top two to tie at No. 3.

While the top 10 mostly consists of the same schools as last year, both the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business joined those ranks this year. UC Berkeley rose from a three-way tie at No. 11 to a three-way tie at No. 7, while UVA moved up four spots from No. 14 to a tie at No. 10.

Farther down the full-time MBA rankings, there were some big changes. For example, Pitt's Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business soared 39 spots from a tie at No. 86 to a tie at No. 47.

Meanwhile, the very top of the part-time MBA rankings looks similar to last year, with the same schools in the top 5: UChicago, UC Berkeley, Northwestern, NYU's Leonard N. Stern School of Business and the Anderson School of Management at the University of California—Los Angeles. But UChicago took the No. 1 spot from UC Berkeley this year.

Moving up from No. 2, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing in Maryland tied with Emory University's Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing in Georgia to claim the top spot in this year's nursing master's program rankings. Duke University School of Nursing in North Carolina climbed up by one to claim the third spot.

Johns Hopkins ranked No. 1, as it did last year, in the Doctor of Nursing Practice program rankings. George Mason University School of Nursing in Virginia – which reported more graduates and resources per faculty – soared from a four-way tie at No. 39 to take the No. 2 spot. Duke tied with the University of Washington School of Nursing to round out the top three.

Duke also ranked No. 1 in all of the ranked nursing master's nursing practice specialties, including administration, family, both acute and primary care adult gerontology, and mental health.

Once again, Teachers College, Columbia University in New York was No. 1 in the graduate education schools rankings. This year, however, it tied with the University of Wisconsin—Madison School of Education , which climbed two spots.

The University of Michigan—Ann Arbor's School of Education dropped from the top position to tie with the UCLA School of Education and Information Studies at No. 3. UCLA was previously tied at No. 7.

U.S. News also ranks nine education specialties, with the College of Education at Michigan State University claiming the top spot in the following categories: curriculum and instruction, educational administration, elementary teacher education, higher education administration and secondary teacher education.

Searching for a grad school of education? Access our  complete rankings  of Best Graduate Schools.

Grad Degree Jobs With $100K+ Salaries

Tags: students , graduate schools , medical school , business school , law school , education graduate school , engineering graduate school , MBAs , nursing programs

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Several SDSU graduate programs named best in the U.S.

S AN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Several programs at San Diego State University have made the list of the best graduate schools in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report.

In its updated rankings released Tuesday, SDSU was named in seven different categories of graduate schools.

The master’s degree program in speech-language pathology was ranked 12th in the nation and the College of Education was No. 48 out of 255 in the list of the best education schools . SDSU’s School of Public Health was 29th in its category, while audiology was 30th and physical therapy was ranked 53rd in their respective categories.

SDSU’s part-time MBA program in the Fowler College of Business was also named 53rd in its category.

Meanwhile, SDSU’s master’s degree in nursing was ranked No. 55 out of 169 in the best nursing schools in the country which, according to the university, is its highest ranking in at least five years.

Rankings were determined by the average of ratings each program received after peer assessments conducted by faculty, deans and other administrators. Weighted factors included research activity and academic quality as well as faculty resources and student selectivity.

Visit U.S. News and World Report’s site to see the full list of rankings in various categories.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.