ASU public service programs rise in the rankings

U.S. News and World Report ranked Arizona State University’s graduate degree programs within the College of Public Service and Community Solutions among some of the best in the nation.  

The ASU School of Criminology and Criminal Justice graduate criminology program is ranked No. 5 in the nation, tied with three other programs. The doctoral program launched in 2008. Its online criminal justice graduate program also ranked fifth in the 2018 U.S. News and World Report rankings of online graduate degrees.

“This is a reflection of our faculty’s dedication to graduate education and a tribute to their outstanding research, scholarship, teaching and mentoring of students,” said Cassia Spohn, director of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. “I believe that it also reflects the quality of the doctoral students who have graduated over the past 10 years and who are now making their marks on the discipline.”

The ASU School of Public Affairs graduate program moved up four spots to break the top 10, coming in at No. 9 up from No. 13 in 2017. Overall, the School of Public Affairs is tied with Princeton, New York University, University of Minnesota and University of Texas-Austin. Rankings are based on 282 programs.

Most notably, the school ranks even higher in the following public affairs specializations: No. 2 in local government management, No. 3 in homeland/national security and emergency management, No. 4 in IT management, No. 5 in urban policy, No. 7 in public management and leadership, and No. 8 in environmental policy. It is also ranked No. 9 in nonprofit management, No. 10 in public finance and budget programs, and No. 12 in public policy analysis.

“Our meteoric rise in the rankings is a reflection of the top quality of our world-class faculty. The fact that we are ranked in the top 10 in the U.S. in eight specializations demonstrates the breadth of our quality and the vast scope of our intellectual leadership,” said Donald Siegel, director of the School of Public Affairs.      

U.S. News and World Report ranked the ASU School of Social Work No. 30 in the nation, up two positions from its last ranking among 251 accredited programs in the nation that were included in the survey.

"Our continued ascension in the ranking affirms the quality of the faculty and staff at the School of Social Work," said James Herbert Williams, director of the School of Social Work. "The new ranking recognizes the outstanding scholarship and education at our school."

"Our achievements in terms of quality are all the more important given our commitment to accessibility and inclusiveness," said Jonathan Koppell, dean of the College of Public Service and Community Solutions. "We have expanded the offerings in our college and the number of students reached."

U.S. News and World Report rankings are based on peer-assessment survey results, rating the academic quality of master’s programs. Specialty areas are ranked by educators at peer schools. 

Graphic by Safwat Saleem/ASU