DENTON (UNT), Texas – U.S. News and World Report has named two graduate program concentrations in the University of North Texas College of Health and Public Service (HPS) number one in Texas and fifth in the nation on its 2020 list of Best Graduate Schools – local government management, and homeland security and emergency management. Rehabilitation counseling was also named first in Texas – and sits at no. 11 among public universities and no. 12 overall.  

“These stellar rankings further build on the reputation of our faculty and quality of our staff, alumni and students,” said Dr. Neale Chumbler, dean of the college. “It’s an honor to be recognized with such a high standing among peer institutions and I believe that our talented faculty members have earned these accolades and deserve to be held in such high esteem.”  

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program specialization in local government management jumped three spots nationally from last year and for the first time, the MPA is also ranked in the public financing and budgeting category, where it sits at no. 27.     

“The continued excellence of the UNT MPA program is again recognized with our many national rankings,” said Dr. Brian Collins, chair of the Department of Public Administration. “In particular, our top five national ranking in local government is a testament to faculty commitment and our respected alumni in local government throughout the metroplex and the nation.”

UNT has long been a pioneer in emergency management education, having established the nation’s first bachelor’s degree program in 1983. Today, UNT offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in the Department of Emergency Management and Disaster Science and an emergency management specialty in the MPA program within the Department of Public Administration. This is the first year HPS has been ranked in the homeland security and emergency management category.

“This ranking reflects UNT’s longstanding reputation in the field of emergency management and it affirms our commitment to promoting societal resilience to disasters by providing a top-notch education to the next generation of emergency management professionals,” said Dr. Gary Webb, chair of the Department of Emergency Management and Disaster Science.

The rehabilitation counseling graduate program has jumped three spots since 2015 – the last time there were rankings in this category.

“We are tremendously proud of the recognition by U.S. News and World Report and believe that it exemplifies the hard work of our faculty, staff, students and alumni,” said Dr. Chandra Carey, interim chair of the Department of Rehabilitation and Health Services. “This forward momentum in ranking is indicative of the dedication of our master’s degree program to provide a high-quality education which prepares competent leaders in the field of rehabilitation counseling.”

For more information on the UNT College of Health and Public Service and any of its degree programs, visit hps.unt.edu.