U of A Programs Rank Well in U.S. News Online Graduate Programs for Veterans

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas ranked well in the May release of the U.S. News and World Report’s 2015 best online graduate engineering and education programs for veterans.

The report included two graduate programs in the College of Engineering and several graduate programs in the College of Education and Health Professions.

The online master’s degrees in engineering and electrical engineering were ranked 25th nationally among 48 ranked programs and 18th among public institutions in the “Best Online Graduate Engineering Programs for Veterans” report.

“We are pleased that our online engineering programs have once again been recognized for their quality and affordability,” said John English, dean of the College of Engineering. “We are proud to be able to provide a useful resource to veterans, who have made so many sacrifices for our country. I know that Ed Pohl, director of the Master of Science in Engineering program, has drawn upon his military experience to ensure that our program helps veterans achieve their educational and career goals, and this ranking is evidence that his efforts have been successful.”

Online graduate education programs ranked 31st nationally among 156 ranked programs and 25th among public institutions in the “Best Online Graduate Education Programs for Veterans” report.

“Veterans have great contributions to make in preparing the next generation for work and life. We are proud to offer academic degrees that can help them achieve their professional goals,” said Tom Smith, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions. “It’s good to see our programs recognized as viable options for our military service members to earn advanced degrees and put their experience and talents to work in education fields,”

The Master of Science in Engineering degree has been offered since 2009 and is open to students with an ABET-accredited bachelor’s degree in any engineering field. The online electrical engineering degree provides an opportunity to students who have earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering to learn about future electric energy systems.

Graduate education degrees delivered online include:

• Master’s and doctoral degrees in adult and lifelong learning
• Master’s, specialist and doctoral degrees in educational leadership
• A master’s degree in educational technology
• Master’s and doctoral degrees in human resource and workforce development education
• An educational specialist degree in curriculum and instruction
• A master’s degree in physical education
• A master’s degree in special education.

U of A faculty and their academic departments on the Fayetteville campus develop online degree programs. The university participates in initiatives such as the Quality Matters Program to ensure the quality of online courses remains high, said Javier Reyes, vice provost for distance education.

“We are pleased that the steps taken by the University of Arkansas to expand access to educational offerings will benefit veterans and others who cannot come to the Fayetteville campus every day,” Reyes said. “We congratulate the faculty for developing high-quality online programs that have earned recognition from U.S. News and others. We will continue to invest in the infrastructure that supports their efforts.”

A full list of online programs offered by the university is showcased on the University of Arkansas ONLINE website. The U of A Global Campus supports academic units in the development and delivery of online courses and programs.

The U.S. News rankings identified programs that provide veterans with high-quality, flexible online education options, according to U.S. News. Only programs previously ranked in the top 75 percent of the U.S. News “Best Online Programs” report earlier this year were considered in the veterans report.

The rankings methodology only covers programs offered by institutions that are certified for the GI Bill. The programs must also be offered by schools participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program or by public institutions that charge in-state tuition for all out-of-state veterans.

The University of Arkansas overall is also ranked among the top schools for veterans in the nation, according to the 2015 Guide to Military Friendly Schools. The U of A is one of seven military friendly schools to offer discounts and scholarships to military veterans and their families, making school more affordable.

About the College of Engineering: The University of Arkansas College of Engineering is the only comprehensive Ph.D.-granting engineering program in the state of Arkansas. The college offers graduate and undergraduate degrees in nine engineering fields, as well as incorporating distance learning and interdisciplinary programs. Faculty in the College of Engineering conduct research in many key areas, including electronics, energy, healthcare logistics, nanotechnology, transportation and logistics.

About the College of Education and Health Professions: The College of Education and Health Professions prepares teachers for all levels of public school, school administrators, school researchers and policymakers, special education teachers, adult educators and professionals for higher education. On the health side, the college prepares nurses, speech-language pathologists, health educators and administrators, recreation professionals, rehabilitation counselors and human performance researchers.

About the Global Campus: The Global Campus supports academic colleges and schools in the development and delivery of online programs and courses. It provides instructional design support, technology services and assistance with marketing, recruiting, compliance and strategic academic planning. It also provides conference services, workforce development and computer training opportunities through its Rogers facility.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.