U.S. News rankings propel Georgia State University College of Law higher in several categories
April 23, 2009
ATLANTA – The part-time program of the Georgia State University College of Law has been ranked No. 15 in the country in the U.S. News Media Group's 2010 edition of America's Best Graduate Schools, and the Atlanta school moved into the 65th position overall – up from its 77th position last year.
The college's highly regarded Health Law program, ranked 10th last year, moved up four spots in the current rankings and tied for No. 6 with Georgetown University and Seton Hall University.This year's edition of the annual rankings – which includes more than 1,500 graduate school programs nationwide – evaluated law school part-time programs for the first time, as well as modified the law school rankings methodology to include class admissions data for both full and part-time entering students.
"The latest rankings from U.S. News confirm what we already know, and that is the law school continues to make terrific progress in delivering a great legal education to our students at Georgia State Law,” said Dean Steven J. Kaminshine. “I'm particularly proud of our part-time program, which has long been recognized as a tremendous program in the Atlanta community. The Center for Law, Health & Society, under the direction of Charity Scott, has made great strides in a relatively short time to become one of the top health law programs in the country, and we are pleased to see it receive such well-deserved recognition."
The College of Law's part-time program harkens back to the school's origins. The creation of the program was one of the reasons the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia voted in 1974 to establish the College of Law, following the closing of the evening program at Emory University. The law school opened its doors in 1982. The program accommodates students who wish to study law on a part-time basis, with the typical semester load consisting of 9-10 credit hours rather than 15.
Kaminshine said the part-time program is successful because the college makes a special effort to afford part-time students access to all of the programs and resources available to full-time students and because part-time students bring an added dimension to the law school community. Though part-time students take most of their courses in the evening, these students have a full opportunity to participate in moot court, law review and trial litigation programs as well as beneficial student life activities.
The Center for Law, Health & Society has become a hub of health law activity, attracting faculty from across the nation and holding conferences on cutting-edge issues like stem cell research and conscientious objection in health care. This marks the third year in a row U.S. News & World Report has ranked the health law program in the top 10. Scott gives credit for this success to the high quality of faculty, professional staff and students in the program.
"The rankings reflect the extraordinarily high caliber of our faculty, fellows, students, and academic professionals," Scott said. "Our health law program benefits tremendously from being part of a vibrant young law school and a great urban research University which together genuinely promote strong engagement with our community as well as innovative interdisciplinary research and education."
The Georgia State University College of Law has moved steadily through the U.S. News overall rankings, from No. 97 three years ago to No. 65 for the 2010 edition. In 2007, it celebrated its 25th anniversary.
The U.S. News rankings are available online and featured in the May U.S. News & World Report magazine, on newsstands April 28, 2009.
Contact:
Wendy Cromwell
404.413.9050
wcromwell@gsu.edu