CAPPA continues rise in public affairs rankings
The public affairs master’s program in the College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs (CAPPA) improved 22 places to No. 95 in the nation in the 2022 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate School rankings.
Maria Martinez-Cosio, interim dean for the college, said the ranking reflects CAPPA’s growing reputation for improving urban communities in equitable and sustainable ways. This focus is part of The University of Texas at Arlington’s strategic emphasis on fostering sustainable environments.
“CAPPA’s unique mix of interdisciplinary expertise in administration and policy fields—such as public administration, public policy, and city and regional planning—with design fields such as architecture, landscape architecture and interior design positions the college to continue rising among public affairs schools” Martinez-Cosio said.
She also noted the efforts of students and faculty to continue quality learning during the pandemic. “We know that our faculty and students have learned how to be flexible and nimble in both delivering and receiving the theoretical grounding needed for a strong foundation and also in engaging in applied work in their fields,” Martinez-Cosio said. “We know that this year, although difficult, will only serve to strengthen us in the future.”
Martinez-Cosio also credited the many public affairs graduates who continue to give back to the college through the classroom and through providing valuable internships and jobs to students and recent graduates.
“The success is a true team effort,” she said.
David Coursey, interim chair for the Department of Public Affairs and Planning and director of the Master in Public Administration (MPA) program, said its growth and research output helped boost its rankings.
“This rating reflects the tremendous work of our faculty, staff and students, as our MPA program has doubled in size since the college’s formation and added five new outstanding faculty last year,” Coursey said. “In addition, our grant research and top journal publications output are rapidly increasing, as is the success of our students, including our 16 new doctoral graduates.”
The U.S. News rankings of public affairs programs are based solely on peer assessment survey results. In fall 2019 and early 2020, U.S. News surveyed deans, directors and department chairs representing 276 master's programs in public affairs and administration. The lists of schools individuals surveyed and specialty areas evaluated were provided by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration and the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.