Want to earn an advanced degree?
The University of 棉花糖直播 at Lafayette is a good place to do it, according to U.S. News & World Report.
The publication gave high marks to five degree programs in its 2020 Best Graduate Schools national rankings released Tuesday. U.S. News & World Report researched and ranked graduate programs in business, education, engineering, law, medicine and nursing.
UL Lafayette鈥檚 B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions were each recognized.
鈥淭here are no graduate or undergraduate degree programs in law or medicine at the University, so recognition in each of the remaining programs that U.S. News & World Report considered underscores the strength of the entire graduate program,鈥 said Dr. Mary Farmer-Kaiser, dean of the Graduate School.
U.S. News & World Report placed the University鈥檚 College of Education at No. 134, an increase of 38 spots compared to last year鈥檚 rankings.
Dr. Nathan Roberts, dean of the college, attributes its success to many factors, including instruction in traditional classroom settings, online courses, opportunities for networking with peers and faculty members, and initiatives such as lesson pacing.
鈥淟esson pacing allows students to complete work when it鈥檚 convenient, either at an accelerated rate or one tailored around family, work and other considerations that require a flexible routine,鈥 Roberts explained.
The College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions master鈥檚 degree in nursing program also climbed, to No. 156 from No. 172.
The college鈥檚 doctor of nursing practice program also made the list but did not receive a numerical ranking. U.S. News & World Report often cites noteworthy programs without assigning a number.
Dr. Melinda Oberleitner, dean of the College of Nursing and Allied Health Professions, attributed the college鈥檚 strong showing to dedicated faculty members who 鈥渄eliver rigorous and high-quality programs of study.鈥
鈥淎s national shortages of nurses with master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees 鈥 such as nurse practitioners and nurse educators 鈥 persist, the college remains committed to training graduates in a range of disciplines who are qualified to help fill workforce needs,鈥 Oberleitner said.
UL Lafayette鈥檚 MBA program was ranked No. 178 in the 鈥減art-time MBA鈥 category said Dr. J. Bret Becton, dean of the B.I. Moody College of Business Administration. Whether students are enrolled part-time, full-time or online, however, the curriculum is the same.
鈥淚n any format, our MBA is designed to provide students from varied educational and professional backgrounds the knowledge and tools they need to flourish in a range of careers,鈥 Becton said.
The College of Engineering鈥檚 graduate programs were also recognized, although the publication assigned no numerical ranking.
The University offers a master鈥檚 degree in engineering and a doctoral degree in systems engineering. Each degree offers concentrations in chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical and petroleum engineering.
U.S. News & World Report鈥檚 rankings are compiled based on factors such as student engagement, faculty credentials and training, student service, and technology and peer reputation. They are based on university-reported data from the 2018-2019 academic year.
The rankings are designed to help prospective college students make decisions about where to enroll and what programs they want to pursue.
Photo: Dr. Terrence Chambers, a mechanical engineering professor and director of the University鈥檚 Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy Center, and graduate student Deepakjain Veerendrakumar, test the cells of a solar panel with a thermographic camera. Credit: Doug Dugas / University of 棉花糖直播 at Lafayette.