UTSA has been recognized for having several of their graduate programs ranked in the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools Rankings because of the university’s goals of student success and growth. According to the rankings, there are five programs that stand out: social work, public administration, engineering, education and business administration.
“Our internationally acclaimed faculty provide outstanding scholastic and research training in a variety of disciplines ranging from the humanities and arts to the hard sciences,” Ambika Mathur, dean of the UTSA Graduate School, said. “This training results in our students being very attractive to employers in global markets.”
U.S. News and World Report examined more than 2,000 graduate programs. The overall score was determined by data strategists who sent surveys to more than 22,000 academics and professionals in the country who would rate the quality of the programs at the schools from one to five. UTSA’s graduate school has been around for a shorter time than many other schools but has quickly gained recognition.
In the summer of 1973, 671 graduate students were admitted to UTSA’s Graduate School and master’s degrees were offered in business administration, education, bicultural-bilingual studies, English as a second language, environmental management, Spanish, biology, mathematics and systems design. Since then, the program has expanded greatly.
UTSA currently offers 65 master’s degree programs, 25 doctoral degree programs and 31 graduate certificate programs to more than 4,600 graduate students across seven colleges.
“UTSA cultivates academic excellence in graduate education due to several factors,” Mathur said. “The primary factor is our outstanding cadre of master’s and doctoral students who come to us from San Antonio, Texas, across the country and around the world.”
The program was so influential that five of the university’s graduate programs were listed:
Social work was ranked No. 5 in Texas and No. 77 in the U.S. and public administration was ranked No. 6 in Texas and No. 123 in the U.S. Both degrees are part of the School of Public Policy and offer ways for students to become public agents for policy.
Engineering is ranked No. 8 in Texas and No. 148 in the U.S. This program has four departments: biomedical, civil and environmental engineering, electrical and computer engineering and mechanical engineering.
Education is ranked No. 9 in Texas and No. 134 in the U.S. This program is focused on learning how to work with K-12 education, higher education, school counseling, school psychology, bilingual education, teaching English as a Second Language, health and nutrition, and kinesiology.
Business administration is ranked No. 9 in Texas and No. 127 in the U.S. The program is accredited to the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and wants to educate their students on all the new ways people communicate in business.
Mathur is happy for the recognition UTSA has received but stresses how vital it is for students to heed her words of wisdom in order for UTSA to have continued success.
“[As a student you have to] talk to your professors and get engaged in research,” Mathur said. “Find out what it takes to be a successful applicant in your area and work toward those achievements. For example, work in a lab and learn innovative technology, prepare for entrance exams such as the GRE and GMAT [and] maintain a high grade point average. Most importantly, stay engaged with your professors for the best recommendations they can give you.”
