UofSC med school leads nation for grads practicing in underserved areas
US News: International MBA keeps No. 1 spot; UofSC home to more than 60 ranked programs
Posted on: March 29, 2021; Updated on: March 29, 2021
By Megan Sexton, msexton@mailbox.sc.edu
The University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia is the top medical program in the country for graduates who are practicing in areas where there is a shortage of health care professionals, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate School rankings.
The medical school’s distinction is part of the U.S. News rankings released Tuesday (March 30); the rankings show that UofSC is now home to more than 60 nationally ranked programs. Among those is the International MBA program in the Darla Moore School of Business, which retained its No. 1 ranking for the eighth consecutive year.
“From meeting the health care needs of South Carolina’s underserved communities to preparing graduates to excel in careers in all corners of the world, these rankings demonstrate the work our faculty, staff and students do each day to improve the lives of people across the state, nation and world,” says William Tate, the university’s provost and executive vice president of academic affairs.
The School of Medicine’s No. 1 ranking fulfills the university’s mission by providing doctors for underserved areas, sometimes referred to as “medical deserts.” The Columbia med school also ranks No. 45 for the number of doctors practicing in primary care specialties and No. 54 for graduates practicing direct patient care in rural areas. The School of Medicine is ranked No. 76 nationally in primary care, improving 14 spots from last year’s U.S. News rankings.
“We are proud to be producing graduates who are committed to providing exceptional patient care to underserved communities,” says Dr. Les Hall, dean of the UofSC School of Medicine Columbia. “Our school was established to create a pipeline of quality health care professionals for South Carolina. These rankings are a clear illustration that we are achieving that mission and more.”
The Moore School continued its reign as the highest-ranked international business master’s program in the country. The International MBA has been ranked in the top three for 32 straight years.
“The Moore School has proven once again that we are the top International MBA program,” says Peter Brews, dean of the Moore School. “A testament to our top-notch faculty and the overall excellence of our program, the No. 1 ranked International MBA in the nation shows that we are committed to providing an exceptional educational experience. As the No. 1 International MBA program, we prepare our students for future career success, but also emphasize the importance of networking, integrity and resiliency.”
The university’s ranked graduate and professional programs include diverse areas of study in the sciences, humanities, technology, engineering, health sciences, law and business. These programs help train graduate students destined to become future leaders in their fields, providing the skilled workforce needed to propel the state’s economy. The University of South Carolina has more nationally ranked programs by U.S. News than any other university in the state.
Other highlights from the new rankings include:
- 7 for school library media
- 9 for services for children and youth
- 17 for library and information studies
- 23 for criminology program
- 25 for part-time MBA
- 25 for nuclear engineering
- 25 for speech language pathology