U.S. News and World Report identifies education graduate programs among best in nation

US News and World Report’s 2024 rankings have placed the education graduate programs in University of Delaware’s College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) within the top 13% of all education programs across the nation. Housed within CEHD’s School of Education (SOE), the education graduate programs are now ranked 34th among 255 programs. 

“I’m proud to see that US News and World Report continues to recognize the strength of our CEHD graduate programs in education,” said Gary T. Henry, dean of CEHD and professor in SOE and the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration. “Our programs reflect the excellent work of both our faculty and graduate students, who pursue nationally recognized research in equitable teaching and learning, literacy, mathematics, school psychology and more. Our faculty also continue to create rich opportunities for our graduate students, supporting them throughout their coursework, independent research and professional development. 

U.S. News and World Report evaluated CEHD on its research activity, the academic excellence of their entering students, their faculty resources and opinions on program quality from education school deans and school hiring professionals.

Research-driven programs

The SOE offers a broad portfolio of competitive, research-driven graduate programs, including a Ph.D. in Education with five specialization areas, a Ph.D. in Educational Statistics and Research Methods (ESRM), an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, and several master’s or specialist programs in educational technology, literacy, special education, school psychology and teacher leadership. CEHD faculty also teach within the interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Education and Social Policy program and M.S. in Interdisciplinary Evaluation Science, housed within UD’s Graduate College.

Informed by research and grounded in rigorous methodological approaches, CEHD’s graduate programs in education are designed and primarily taught by nationally-known, award-winning faculty in the SOE. Students develop content knowledge and advanced skills through coursework, thought-provoking symposia and immersive practicum experiences.

Outside of the classroom, many students also have an opportunity to work closely with faculty on educational research. In 2023, CEHD faculty garnered over $27 million in funded research projects, many of which supported graduate student assistantships.

For example, Arielle Lentz, a Ph.D. in ESRM student, is working with Kenneth Shores, assistant professor in the SOE, on an Institute of Education Sciences-funded project to examine equity and access in Delaware career and technical education (CTE). Lentz and Shores shared the results of their research on the postsecondary and employment outcomes for students in Delaware’s CTE program in a recent episode of the UD Partnership for Public Education podcast, Evidence for Education. 

Supportive faculty 

Across graduate programs, students consistently highlight CEHD’s supportive faculty members and staff. Committed to the development of their graduate students, CEHD faculty offer mentorship and guidance as students prepare to become educators, researchers and leaders in their fields.

Samantha Akridge, a Ph.D. in Education student, shared her experience working with Laura Desimone, CEHD director of research and the L. Sandra and Bruce L. Hammonds Professor in Teacher Education in the SOE.

“Laura has given me the opportunity to work with data on one of her projects and pursue a research question in my area of interest, which I greatly appreciate,” said Akridge. “In working on this project, she has helped me navigate some of my first experiences with writing a proposal for and subsequently presenting at a national conference, as well as beginning to navigate the writing and publication process.”

Recognizing the integral role that faculty play in the professional development of graduate students, CEHD hired seven new faculty members in 2023. Many of these new faculty members teach and advise within CEHD’s graduate programs and the interdisciplinary programs housed in UD’s Graduate College. 

For more information about the U.S. News and World Report rankings and other ranked UD graduate programs, visit UD’s Institutional Research and Effectiveness Rankings webpage.

Article by Jessica Henderson. Graphic by Shelly Silva.