Engineering management, nursing programs ranked among nation’s best

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Online programs offered by the University at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and its School of Nursing have been named among the best by U.S. News & World Report.

In its first year of eligibility, the master’s program in engineering management ranked No. 49 among 104 programs in U.S. News’ Best Online Master’s in Engineering Programs. The rankings were released Tuesday.

“To be ranked among the upper half of eligible engineering master’s programs during our first year of eligibility is a testament to the hard work, dedication and innovative thinking of our faculty and staff,” says Kemper Lewis, PhD, dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. “Non-traditional, flexible education programs like this provide working STEM professionals with valuable skills that are in high-demand across the workforce.”

The program provides graduate study for engineers who want “to build upon their technical competence to more effectively take leadership roles in their organizations and industries,” says Sabrina Casucci, PhD, associate professor of teaching in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, who serves as the program’s director.

Graduates apply best practices and engineering approaches to make strategic decisions and shape policies about personnel, finance and operations, she adds.

Other engineering groups, such as the school’s offices in online education, graduate education and research, and communications, as well as the Center for Industrial Effectiveness, contribute to the program.

To rank the master’s in engineering programs, U.S. News considered five categories: engagement, faculty credentials and training, expert opinion, services and technologies, and student excellence.

Also ranked is the School of Nursing’s RN to BS program, which ranked No. 39 among 361 of the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, according to U.S. News.

The program “builds upon knowledge and experience of registered nurses, preparing them to provide the necessary leadership to advance quality of care, patient safety and health services in an evolving health care system,” according to the RN to BS program website.

To rank the bachelor’s programs, U.S. considered four categories: engagement, services and technologies, faculty credentials and training, and expert opinion.