The University of Texas School of Public Health's doctoral program in health education has been ranked #1 in the nation by an independent group of researchers.

Researchers contacted 44 universities that offer doctoral programs in health education. Twenty-eight universities responded, including the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of Michigan, three of the top U.S. schools of public health. The respondents provided informa-tion in eight categories: student/ faculty ratio, external funding for research, student activity, articles published, citations received, journal editorship, mentoring and placement, and student support such as assistant-ships for teaching and research.

Researchers used that information to rank the universities; the UT School of Public Health came out with the highest overall score. It also scored highest in three of the eight individual categories: articles published, student/faculty ratio, and student support.

The ranking is important because
it enhances funding opportunities and student recruitment.

"We are extremely proud that our doctoral students specializing in health education are receiving
the very best education in the nation," says Dean Guy S. Parcel, Ph.D., who is also the John P. McGovern, M.D. Professor in Health Promotion. "I congratulate

the faculty for being leaders in their field and for their excellence in teaching and research."

The study was conducted by researchers from Texas A&M University, the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, and the University of Alabama.

" W e are extremely proud that our doctoral students specializing in health education are receiving the very best education in the nation... I congratulate the faculty for being leaders in their field and for their excellence in teaching and research."