Two TU graduate programs among top 65 in nation

By Rebecca Kirkman on February 2, 2022

The “U.S. News & World Report” 2022 Best Online Graduate Education Programs Rankings placed two Towson University graduate programs among the nation’s best.

TU’s College of Education (COE) ranked No. 46 in the Best Online Master in Education Programs—45 spots higher than its 2021 ranking and the only Maryland university in the top 100. Towson University’s master’s in applied information technology (AIT) ranked No. 64 in the Best Online Master in Computer Information Technology Programs.

“We are proud that these online master’s programs continue to be recognized as being among the very best in the country,” says Melanie Perreault, provost and executive vice president for academic and student affairs. “The faculty have worked hard to create an outstanding educational experience that positions our graduates competitively for high-demand jobs in these fields.”

“U.S. News” evaluated online master’s programs offered by the College of Education in transformational educational leadership and instructional technology.

The rankings place value on faculty credentials and training, which aligns with TU’s strengths, says COE Associate Dean Laila Richman.

More than 80% of instructors in the transformational educational leadership program are full-time faculty who also teach face-to-face, and the program is designed for flexibility to meet the needs of today’s educators.

“Faculty work collaboratively and intentionally to craft course routines and assignments that make best use of the asynchronous online format,” says Carla Finkelstein, instructional leadership and professional development department chair. “We're able to build a sense of community among students with our cohort structure and small group interactions.

“We are dedicated to offering personalized learning and support to our students through one-on-one faculty advising and an embedded internship where students are guided in completing and reflecting on leadership activities throughout the program.”

Faculty within the Department of Educational Technology & Literacy are experts in online program design, bringing those best practices to their students. 

“We enable faculty and graduate students to design highly interactive and engaging courses that help students personalize their learning by receiving continuous feedback and guidance to support their professional and career goals,” says department chair Mahnaz Moallem, noting that a maximum class size of 18 students allows faculty to maintain a highly interactive and collaborative learning environment.

In the Fisher College of Science & Mathematics, the AIT program requires students to choose at least one post-baccalaureate certificate to complete before earning the master’s degree. There are eight certificates to choose from, making the program customizable and vocation oriented.

TU is one of only three schools in the state, joining UMBC and Johns Hopkins University, to appear in the online information technology program list. This is the second year the program has been ranked by “U.S. News.”

“‘U.S. News’ ranking our applied information technology program for two years in a row is an achievement that we are very proud of,” says Michael McGuire, chair of the Department of Computer & Information Sciences (CIS). “It contributes to Towson University’s stellar reputation in the computing disciplines and really puts the CIS department on the map.”

The guide's criteria also credits institutions for implementing best practices for online learning and offering technologies and services catered toward remote learners, such as incorporating learning analytics platforms and adaptive learning as well as providing remote access to admissions counseling, resume writing and career placement support.

More recent rankings and achievements:

• U.S. News & World Report has once again named Towson University one of the best public universities in the country. The publication’s 2022 Best Colleges rankings placed Towson University No. 99 among national public universities.
• Washington Monthly ranked Towson University in the top 35 national public universities in its 2021 College Guide and Rankings. In the sub-category of social mobility, TU is 35th overall and the only Maryland institution in the top 50. The university ranked No. 30 in the Northeast region on the publication’s “2021 Best Bang for the Buck” list—the highest-ranking university in Maryland.
• The Wall Street Journal / Times Higher Education 2022 College Rankings placed TU No. 117 among public institutions nationwide. TU was also among the top national institutions for student outcomes, one of four pillars measuring factors like the salaries graduates earn and the debt burden they carry.
• The Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) placed Towson University among the top 9% worldwide in its 2021-22 World University Rankings.
• Princeton Review included TU among the best colleges in the northeast in its 2022 Best Colleges: Region by Region list.
• Towson University was recognized by Insight into Diversity magazine with a Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award in both 2020 and 2021.