ASU named one of the best earth science schools


According to U.S. News & World Report’s 2013 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools,” the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University ranks among the top 20 graduate schools in the country.

The publication’s recently released list ranks ASU’s earth sciences program 17th among public and private graduate programs, making it the highest ranking science program at ASU, and among the top 10 universities in the western United States. More than 100 earth sciences graduate programs were surveyed.

This year, two out of four specialty earth science programs were ranked in the top 20 in the nation. These include geochemistry (ranked 16th) and geology (ranked 17th). 

As a result of its strong, diversified team, the school has become involved in a number of high-profile projects, such as the National Science Foundation’s EarthScope program and the development of geologic training programs for NASA’s astronaut candidate class, all of which have dramatically increased the visibility and standing of the school.

This ranking, however, does not reflect the teaching and research efforts of the school’s faculty in astronomy, astrophysics, and cosmology.

Tied for 17th, the rankings overall put ASU on par with earth sciences graduate programs at Brown University; University of California, Los Angeles; University of California, Davis; University of California, San Diego; and University of Chicago.

The School of Earth and Space Exploration is an academic unit of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences