Carnegie Mellon News Online Edition: April 18, 2001: Graduate Programs Earn High Marks
Carnegie Mellon News Online Edition
In This Issue
Goin' Buggy!

CMRI Reorganizes

Graduate Programs Earn High Marks

Daniel Resnick Earns H&SS Award

Meeting of the Minds Scheduled for May 9

Carnegie Science Center Rewards Excellence

Kevin Lamb Heads Analytical Team

Obituaries:
Whitaker and Shull

Drama Presents Largest Stage Production Ever

$1.8 Million Given for New Software Center


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Photo of Pradeep Khosla
Graduate Programs Earn High Marks in U.S. News & World Report Magazine Survey
CIT is Tops in Computer Engineering; Heinz Retains #1 Position in Information Technology and Management

Carnegie Mellon's graduate programs in public affairs, engineering and business, and its doctoral programs in psychology and economics rank among the nation's best, according to U.S. News & World Report magazine's annual qualitative and quantitative analysis of "America's Best Graduate Schools." The rankings appeared in the April 9 issue of the magazine (www.usnews.com).

In the reputational survey of public affairs programs, the Heinz School tied for seventh overall with the University of Michigan, the University of Southern California and the University of Texas at Austin. Harvard University and Syracuse University tied for the top spot.

In specialty areas the Heinz School retained its number one ranking in information and technology management, and placed third in criminal justice policy and management, fourth in public policy analysis, sixth in public finance and budgeting, and 10th in environmental policy and management.

Public affairs ratings were determined by surveys of deans and program directors.

The U.S. News and World Report rankings mean that the hard work and unique expertise of the Heinz community is being recognized by the rest of the world," said Jeffrey Hunker, new dean of the Heinz School. "I am proud to be joining this excellent school. I expect that next time Heinz will be ranked even higher."

In 1998, the last year U.S. News & World Report ranked public affairs programs, the Heinz School tied for eighth overall with the University of Michigan and the University of Southern California. It ranked first in information technology, fourth in public policy analysis, fifth in criminal justice policy, sixth in public finance and budget and eighth in public administration and public policy.

In the survey of engineering schools, the College of Engineering retained its number eight ranking. Overall ratings were determined by surveys of deans and corporate recruiters (40 percent), faculty resources (25 percent), research activity (25 percent) and student selectivity (10 percent). The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) topped the engineering school ratings.

In specialty engineering fields, Carnegie Mellon ranked first in computer engineering-up from fourth last year-and 10th in the category of electrical/electronic/communications. Specialty areas were ranked by engineering school deans.

"These rankings are particularly significant because nearly all of the programs on this list are much bigger in size than ours," said Pradeep Khosla, head of the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department. "The rankings reflect the impact of the contributions of the faculty, alumni and students in Electrical and Computer Engineering.

"It is important to remember that the rankings reflect the outcomes of our strategy and are not used to drive our strategy of investment," Khosla added. "We have been building areas such as embedded systems, wireless and broadband tele- communications, information security, information networking, data storage systems and silicon systems long before they were fashionable."

In the survey of business schools, the Graduate School of Industrial Administration (GSIA) placed 17th, up from 19th a year ago. Stanford University has the top-rated business school. Overall business school rankings were based on surveys of deans and corporate recruiters (40 percent), placement success (35 percent) and student selectivity (25 percent).

In specialty areas ranked by deans, GSIA was second in management information systems and quantitative analysis behind MIT, and third in production/operations management behind MIT and Purdue University.

We recognize the interest associated with the rankings, however, our priority is to prepare students to enter the marketplace among the best-trained business leaders in the world," said GSIA Dean Douglas Dunn and Deputy Dean Fallaw Sowell in a memo to the business school community.

"We believe students, faculty and alumni have been well served by a strategy focusing on perpetual innovation, and a commitment to the highest quality educational experience will remain our priority."

Carnegie Mellon's doctoral program in psychology ranked in a ninth-place tie with the University of Wisconsin, and its doctoral program in economics tied for 19th with New York University. The university's program in cognitive psychology was rated second behind Stanford. Doctoral program ratings were determined by the results of surveys sent to academics in each discipline.

Photo of Roberta Klatzky
Our department has a distinctive identity in the field of psychology, one that can be traced back to the pioneering work of (Herbert) Simon and (Allen) Newell," said Roberta Klatzky, professor and head of the Psychology Department.

"We set the highest standards for psychological science. We stand for rigorous empirical work, combined with detailed and explicit theory, which is often computational. We take on projects that are worth doing, that make a difference to people," Klatzky said.

In 1998, the last rankings for psychology and economics, Carnegie Mellon ranked sixth and 19th, respectively. This is the first year the magazine has ranked schools in the cognitive psychology category.

The April 9 issue also includes 1999 ratings for computer science and pure and applied logic in which the School of Computer Science (SCS) ranked third overall behind MIT and Stanford, and the doctoral program in pure and applied logic rated 10th.

SCS ranked in each specialty area as well in 1999-first in software, second in artificial intelligence, fifth in hardware, sixth in theory, seventh in graphics: user interaction and ninth in databases.


Business School Ranks 11th for International Students

The Graduate School of Industrial Administration (GSIA) ranks 11th in this year's American Universities Admission Program (AUAP) ratings of the top business schools for international students.

The ratings are determined by more than 25 directors of admission who are members of the AUAP. Schools are rated according to world image, academic reputation and the average starting salary of its graduates.

The University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School ranked first, followed by Harvard University, Stanford University, Northwestern University and Columbia University.

In specialty areas, GSIA ranked second in management information systems, production/operations management and quantitative analysis behind the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and second in e-commerce behind Vanderbilt University.

Bruce Gerson
04/18/01


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