Grad programs ranked among best

Seven University programs have placed in U.S. News & World Report's 1998 listing of top graduate schools in the country.

Medicine, business, public affairs, nursing, political science, engineering, and economics are included in the "America's Best Graduate Schools" issue and guidebook.

The highest ranking achieved was by the School of Medicine and Dentistry, which placed third on the list of top primary care schools.

"We're very gratified to be ranked so highly once again in such a striking variety of disciplines," said Provost Charles Phelps. "We're very proud of our faculty and the research they conduct as well as the education they provide-- from training tomorrow's health care providers to developing the corporate, policy, and technology leaders of the next century."

The guide lists the top schools in 30 disciplines and also ranks schools by specialties within the disciplines.

The Simon School, which has been among the top 25 business schools since U.S. News began its survey in 1990, again ranked 20th.

The School of Nursing ranked 18th for top nursing programs overall, while the adult and geriatric nurse practitioner programs were ranked among the Top 10. Also at the Medical Center, the geriatrics program was ranked 10th.

In the magazine's first-ever ranking of public affairs programs, the University's master's in public administration and public policy placed 30th; the health policy and management program ranked 10th as a specialty.

The doctoral program in political science ranked 10th, with international politics ranked 6th as a specialty; and the doctoral program in economics ranked 14th in the nation. The School of Engineering and Applied Sciences' programs ranked 50th in the country.

The Eastman School was ranked first in the most recent U.S. News survey of graduate music programs, which was announced last year.

The graduate school rankings will appear in the March 2 issue of U.S. News & World Report, which will be on newsstands February 23. The rankings also are available online at www.usnews.com.