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The National Research Council Assessment of Research Doctoral Programs
The results of the National Research Council (NRC) Assessment of Research Doctoral Programs, conducted during the 2006-2007 academic year, are now available. This study involved 31 of UC Santa Barbara's academic departments, 795 faculty, and students from 4 pilot departments. All of the extensive work of the steering committee and departments has now come to fruition.
Among the 31 doctoral programs at UCSB assessed by the NRC, 10 programs, or nearly a third, have a range of rankings reaching into the top five in the country; 14, or 45 percent, are in the range of the top 10; and 20, or nearly two-thirds, are in the range of the top 20. These new rankings reflect UC Santa Barbara’s rapid rise in our world-class stature over the decades, and serve as a resounding affirmation of the quality and diversity of our doctoral programs, which form the fundamental basis of a strong research university. In the 1995 NRC report, four campus departments and programs were ranked in the top 10 in the country, and one in the top five. Most departments and programs improved their standing over the 1995 report, some very dramatically.
Using information from key indexes presented in the study results, 10 departments and programs across the disciplines at UC Santa Barbara were given ranking ranges that extended into the top five. Leading these programs was the Materials Department, which was ranked number one over its entire range, and was the only department in the country to be ranked so highly in any field of engineering. Other campus graduate programs with ranking ranges in the top five included Chemical Engineering, Communication, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Geography, Marine Science, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, and Theater and Dance. Of these, Theater and Dance, Marine Science, and Communication were not evaluated previously by the NRC.
UCSB’s programs in Anthropology, Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, Hispanic Languages and Literature, and History received rankings reaching into the top 10. Art History, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Comparative Literature, English, Psychology, and Religious Studies had ranking ranges reaching into the top 20.
NRC Results For All Universities
NRC Results For UCSB Overall and for Departments Specifically
- UCSB Overall and Domain-Specific Range of Rankings
- Department Overall Range of Rankings
Why is this study important?
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At this moment in time, graduate level-higher education is receiving increased scrutiny from national audiences (legislators, educators, funding agencies). Questions posed include those that address concerns about the preparation of students for careers that will contribute to the work force and efficiency, in terms of success rates (graduation) and time to completion of the degree for graduate students.
These questions highlight the need to have data on key graduate education outcomes.
Specific information that this study will provide, beyond the ranking ranges.
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The study will provide information about the following 20 indices for each participating university.
How this study will be helpful to UCSB.
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The 47 graduate programs in five colleges and divisions invite 800 new graduate students per year to study with world class faculty. Building on this excellence, there is a need to continually examine the goals of our programs as they relate to national and worldwide societal and scientific developments and challenges. This study provides a comprehensive set of indicators of excellence in graduate higher education. The information from participating programs will be used for ongoing conversations about how to improve our programs and ensure the success and professional impact of our graduates