Students walk to class on the North Plaza on the Fairfax Campus. Photo by Evan Cantwell.
The international security master's program at George Mason University's Schar School of Policy and Government was ranked third in the nation in its first appearance on U.S. News and World Report's annual list of the nation's Best Graduate Schools.
The program is the fastest growing among Schar's professional degree programs, said Dean Mark J. Rozell, and is in strong company, behind only the Naval Postgraduate School and Harvard.
“The security studies master’s degree program gives students access to the leading policy professionals and scholars in the field,” Rozell said. “Our faculty includes former heads of federal agencies such as NSA and the CIA, former ambassadors, former members of Congress, former directors of major think tanks, as well as many of the best security studies scholars.”
Schar's public affairs programs are ranked ranked 44th.
Other Mason programs that have been ranked before saw significant gains in the rankings released March 20, including the graduate nursing program and part-time MBA program, which share a goal of serving the needs of the community.
The nursing master’s program is tied for 55th nationally of 292 programs studied, a jump of 18 positions from last year and 29 positions the past two years. Its doctor of nursing practice program is tie for 44th, a gain of 10 spots.
The part-time MBA program is tied for 47th of 278 programs evaluated, a bump of six spots from last year and 27 spots the past two years.
“Our focus is to serve the working professionals in this region,” said Paige Wolf, senior assistant dean of graduate programs in the School of Business. “We develop curriculum and delivery modes and locations to serve that community. We’re adapting to the market and needs of the working professional.”
For example, Wolf said the School of Business is moving in the fall to a more flexible class delivery model so graduate students can finish their studies more at their own pace.
Carol Urban, director of Mason’s School of Nursing in the College of Health and Human Services, said the nursing graduate programs are unique because of their interdisciplinary public health focus and commitment to working in the broader community.
The Mason and Partners (MAP) clinics improve access to health care for low income, underserved and uninsured patients, and engage nursing students and students in other health-related programs in direct provision of health care services through service learning.
“We rely both on the collaboration of people within the college departments, within the colleges, but also people outside the colleges, and I think that’s the big draw,” Urban said. “For Mason, that’s what’s really unique.”
U.S. News and World Report acknowledged several other Mason programs. Search for all Mason program rankings here.
The College of Health and Human Services is tied for 33rd in the category of health care management programs. The history program, in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, is ranked 44th.
The criminology program in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences is 11th, and the systems engineering and operations research program in the Volgenau School of Engineering is tied for 28th in the category of Industrial/Manufacturing/Systems.
The Antonin Scalia Law School remained tied for 41st nationally. Its part-time program (fourth nationally) and intellectual property program (tied for 21st) ranked best in Virginia.
The education program in the College of Education and Human Development remained tied for 62nd of 265 programs evaluated. Its special education program is tied for 16th.