NANCY MARCUS

Florida State University's environmental law, speech-language pathology and five academic programs within the College of Education are among the best in the nation, according to new rankings in U.S. News and World Report's "2009 Edition of America's Best Graduate Schools."

"Florida State has earned a reputation for excellence as a graduate research institution that blends outstanding teaching with research that has important ramifications for people's lives," said Dean of Graduate Studies Nancy Marcus. "These latest rankings provide examples of the level of achievement reached by many of our graduate programs and help explain the success of our graduate students as they pursue their careers."

The FSU College of Law's environmental law program was ranked 10th.

"These rankings reflect the breadth and depth of our expertise in areas ranging from water law to energy law to land use planning," said Law Dean Don Weidner.

Within the College of Education, the graduate program in higher education administration was ranked 18th in the nation; education policy was 19th; student counseling and personnel services was 19th; education administration and supervision was 19th; and educational psychology was 24th.

"Our college's rankings are a reflection of the continued outstanding work of our faculty and students, and this year's rise is evidence of the quality of our research and training, both key components of our mission," said Education Dean Marcy P. Driscoll.

U.S. News also ranked the College of Communication's master's program in speech-language pathology 18th and the master's program in public affairs -- housed in FSU's Reubin O'D. Askew School of Public Administration and Policy -- 27th in the nation.

Each year, the magazine ranks a new subset of programs. In addition, the magazine republishes rankings of academic areas surveyed in previous years. These include the College of Information's No. 10 ranking and the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice's No. 11 ranking.