West Virginia University’s master’s program in public administration jumped 41 spots in the latest rankings of graduate programs by U.S. News and World Report released Tuesday (March 12), the most significant move among the nine programs and more than 10 specialties included in the rankings.

In all, 11 programs gained ground; additionally, 19 were among the top 100, led by Petroleum Engineering at 12th in the nation.

“We are excited and honored to be ranked as the 82nd Master of Public Administration program in the nation,” said Department Chair Maja Holmes. The department had been ranked 123rd last year.

“This distinction is a tribute to the commitment of our faculty to academic excellence through meaningful research and teaching to promote public service and advance public policy in the state of West Virginia and beyond,” she said.

“These rankings set the stage for a continued upward trajectory for the Department of Public Administration and its faculty and students as the Master of Public Administration program prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary and continues to be the only internationally accredited Master of Public Administration program in the state.”

Other top 100 graduate programs were:

• School of Pharmacy: 36
• College of Education and Human Services: 93
• Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering: 58
• Chemical Engineering: 99
• Civil Engineering: 89
• Computer Engineering: 98
• Industrial/Manufacturing/Systems Engineering: 60
• Law Schools: 100
• Primary Care Medicine: 48
• Medical Research: 84
• Social Work: 70
• Environmental Law: 74
• Health Care Law: 76
• Tax Law: 96
• Physics: 100
• Political Science: 96

Other programs included in the rankings were:

• Engineering School: 118
• Electrical/Electronics/Communications Engineering: 132
• Mechanical Engineering: 104
• Public Health: 102
• Clinical Law Training: 112
• Intellectual Property Law: 124
• International Law: 145
• Trial Advocacy: 159