UWG|Online Programs Rank Among the Best in U.S. News & World Report
UWG ranked above online CIT programs at Auburn University, Columbia University and Mississippi State University. The graduate online CIT program ranked first in the nation for faculty credentials and training and also topped the list for student services and technology. UWG debuted this program only one year ago, making this prestigious ranking even more impressive.
“This recognition, one of many, is the result of the great work of the faculty and staff in the computer science department and all those colleagues across campus,” said Dr. Adel Abunawass, professor and chair for the department of computer science. “With this recognition, we look forward to continuing to increase the stature of the program as well as that of UWG as a high-quality and affordable destination for graduate education.” The UWG program is completely online and is aimed at providing its students, within two years of study, with the skill set needed for a fulfilling career in computer science.
U.S. News & World Report also recognizes UWG’s online programs in nursing, business, education and criminology. "It is very gratifying to see so many of the University of West Georgia's online programs recognized among the very best. Many of our faculty, such as Dr. Adel Abunawass, were among the early pioneers of online course delivery, and are uncompromising in their commitment to quality,” said Dr. Melanie Clay, director of extended learning at UWG. “It is clear that the institution's strategic investments in online delivery are yielding dividends that will enable us to make our personalized brand of world-class education available to more Georgians."
UWG’s online graduate nursing program, ranking 34th nationwide, prepares professional nurses for practice as well as educator and administrative roles in diverse healthcare settings. “This strong ranking validates the commitment of the School of Nursing to student-centered learning and innovative pedagogy for 21st century practice,” said Dr. Kathryn Grams, Dean of the School of Nursing. “Even though the graduate programs are 100% online, the faculty are fully engaged with students and deliver quality caring instruction in a personal environment.”
The online graduate business program is ranked 51st in the nation. "The quality of our faculty is unparalleled," said Dr. Faye McIntyre, Dean of the Richards College of Business. "Each professor has a great deal of experience in online learning and receives extensive training before having the opportunity to teach one of our classes. They are constantly researching new methods for successfully translating an in-person class to online instruction." The majority of students in the WebMBA program are mid-career professionals. Professors encourage students to work in a team-based format, allowing them to form strong bonds by learning from one another’s career experiences.
In addition to being ranked 56th overall, the online bachelor program in criminology is ranked fourth nationwide for faculty credentials and training. “The online degree program in criminology is taught by some of the best educators in the nation, period,” said Dr. N. Jane McCandless, Dean of the College of Social Sciences. “Each faculty member in the department is working toward five-star accreditation in online learning. Feedback from students continues to confirm the high standards of quality that our faculty members expect of the students and of themselves.”
The University of West Georgia online programs allow students to earn degrees regardless of their geographical location or the field in which they obtained a bachelor’s degree. "We have students from all over the U.S. and in other countries as well," said Dr. Dianne Hoff, Dean of the College of Education. "What makes our online programs exceptional is that our professors work to blend the best teaching techniques to ensure a personal and accessible learning experience for the student. Through the use of synchronous and asynchronous learning, our online students have the benefit of a live class but are able to access the course from anywhere in the world." The online graduate programs in education received a rank of 101, nationally.
“I am delighted at the national recognition our online programs have received,” said Dr. Beheruz N. Sethna, president of UWG. “UWG is now clearly a nationally recognized player in online education, and this is a tribute to our faculty in several disciplines and colleges across the University. The University of West Georgia demonstrates each day that we can provide exceptional online experiences without cutting back on traditional and face-to-face education. We're proud of our ability to provide students with flexible learning options without sacrificing scholarly excellence.”
To see the full list of rankings from U.S. News & World Report, please visit www.usnews.com/education/online-education.
