Keramet Reiter
Among the distinguished faculty in UCI’s Department of Criminology, Law & Society – which placed third in the nation in U.S. News & World Report’s annual graduate school rankings – is Assistant Professor Keramet Reiter. Steve Zylius / UCI

Irvine, Calif., March 20, 2018 — The University of California, Irvine’s Ph.D. program in criminology, law & society placed third in the nation in U.S. News & World Report’s annual graduate school rankings – published online today – with six other fields of advanced study in the top 10 among public universities and 16 in the top 25.

“UCI has established itself as a world-class public research university in a wide range of fields,” said Frances Leslie, vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate Division. “These rankings confirm that our campus offers challenging and intellectually rich opportunities for students of all backgrounds to achieve academic and professional excellence.”

  1. alt placeholder Tiffany Nielsen, UCI assistant clinical professor of nursing, conducts a graduate class in Berk Hall. U.S. News & World Report ranked the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, established in 2016, 43rd among public universities and 66th overall, a jump of 16 spots over last year. Steve Zylius / UCI
  2. alt placeholder Among the distinguished faculty in UCI’s Department of Criminology, Law & Society – which placed third in the nation in U.S. News & World Report’s annual graduate school rankings – is Assistant Professor Keramet Reiter. Steve Zylius / UCI
  3. alt placeholder UCI’s Department of Chemistry placed eighth among public universities in U.S. News & World Report’s annual graduate school rankings. Its organic chemistry program came in third, and its inorganic chemistry program was seventh. Professor Gregory Weiss was among a group of UCI and Australian chemists who famously discovered how to unboil an egg. Steve Zylius / UCI
  4. alt placeholder In just its fourth year of eligibility, the UCI School of Law placed seventh in the nation among public universities in U.S. News & World Report’s annual graduate school rankings. In addition, it came in sixth for clinical training and eighth for intellectual property law. Steve Zylius / UCI

UCI’s criminology doctorate program jumped to third overall in the current rankings. Previously, the program was ranked fifth. Students in this interdisciplinary program study and conduct research under renowned faculty who probe the causes and consequences of crime, its impact on society and its interplay with the law. Additionally, in January, U.S. News found the campus’s online master’s program in criminology to be No. 3 in the country.

Other UCI graduate programs also fare well in today’s rankings. 

UCI Law continues its rise

In just its fourth year of eligibility, the UCI School of Law ranks seventh among public universities and 21st overall (an increase of seven spots over last year). In addition, it’s sixth among publics for clinical training (13th overall) and eighth among publics for intellectual property law (21st overall). UCI Law also placed in the top 13 in the law school diversity index. That’s up a spot from last year. UCI Law recently welcomed L. Song Richardson as its new dean, and the school will celebrate its 10th anniversary during the 2018-19 academic year.

A chemistry powerhouse

UCI’s traditionally strong Department of Chemistry, which was founded by Nobel laureate F. Sherwood Rowland, placed eighth among publics (20th overall). Its organic chemistry graduate program is third among publics (10th overall), and its inorganic chemistry graduate program is seventh among publics (15th overall). The school’s esteemed faculty includes two members of the National Academy of Sciences, two fellows of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and 18 fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Nursing makes its mark

Established in 2016 (though nursing science had been a program since 2007), the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing continues its dramatic rise in the U.S. News rankings, placing 43rd among publics and 66th overall (a leap of 16 spots over last year). In 2017, the school welcomed Adey Nyamathi, its founding dean, and introduced new programs, such as the master’s entry program in nursing, which has a community and population health focus. The school has elevated the nurse practitioner track to a Doctor of Nursing Practice program and will welcome its first cohort this fall.

Other top 25 UCI schools and programs are:

  • Francisco J. Ayala School of Biology, 12th among publics, 33rd overall
  • School of Education, 14th among publics, 24th overall
  • Computer science, 15th among publics, 30th overall
  • Physics, 16th among publics, 28th overall
  • Part-time MBA program, 19th among publics, 32nd overall
  • The Henry Samueli School of Engineering, 21st among publics, 35th overall
  • The Paul Merage School of Business, 21st among publics, 42nd overall
  • Mathematics, 21st among publics, 39th overall
  • School of Medicine research, 22nd among publics, 46th overall

U.S. News did not evaluate any arts, social sciences or humanities programs, as these are ranked in alternate years. Last year, UCI’s graduate program in critical theory was No. 1 in the nation.

UCI is one of the top doctorate-granting institutions in the U.S. and has more than 5,000 students engaged in advanced scholarship and world-class research.

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 30,000 students and offers 192 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $5 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit www.uci.edu.

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