U.S. News and World Report ranked Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies’ graduate information systems program No. 1 for the second year in a row.

The iSchool is ranked highest out of the 11 schools on the 2014 “Best Graduate Schools” list. Other schools on the list include the University of Michigan, University of Pittsburgh and University of North Carolina, among others.

The rankings are based on evaluations by deans, program directors and senior faculty members at other universities, said Elizabeth Liddy, dean of the iSchool.

The iSchool also ranked third in Digital Librarianship, third in School Library Media and fourth in Library and Information Studies, all of which are graduate programs, according to U.S. News and World Report’s website.

“Because the rankings are provided by professionals within other universities, it shows that our peers recognize the quality of the education we provide,” Liddy said. “Our courses, learning experiences and the quality of the graduates of our school further reinstate this.”

Officials within the iSchool take pride in the school’s ability to quickly incorporate the latest technology amid an ever-changing field, Liddy said. This is exhibited in courses and students’ experiences, allowing for consistently high rankings, she said.

The rankings will help serve in funneling prospective students to the iSchool, said Jill Hurst-Wahl, associate professor of practice and director of library and information science.

The ranking will supplement the 20 degree programs available through the school. The variety in the degree programs the school provides creates the right environment for the No. 1 ranking, she said.

“We are a unique iSchool in that we take a broad focus of the user and the technology,” Hurst-Wahl said. “In all of our programs, we are interested in teaching students how their degree relates to the real world, no matter what the degree is.”

The iSchool currently holds the highest post-graduation employment rate on campus, said Max Greenberg, a junior information management and technology major. The best aspects of the iSchool are its “learning by doing” atmosphere and the excellence in professional leadership, he said.

Greenberg said he believes the education provided by the iSchool pertains to one of the most relevant areas of study to date, and has real-world applications. During his freshman year, Greenberg interacted with professors, and the positive learning experiences gave him the opportunity to work with SIDEARM Sports, a technology company led by iSchool professor Jeff Rubin.

“The ability to work directly with the systems and technologies that the professors lecture about is what makes the iSchool unique,” Greenberg said. “There is no doubt in my mind that this program is deserving of the top ranking.”

The iSchool has a high percentage of international students in its graduate program. This creates many opportunities for students to gain international perspectives from their fellow students, said Liddy, the iSchool dean. With technology thriving off of global perspectives, she said the school takes pride in the diversity of its student body.

“What sets the iSchool apart from other colleges of its kind is its level of forward thinking,” said Jay Getman, a freshman information and technology major. “Both the graduate and undergraduate programs are full of gifted and capable students that make the ranking well-deserved.”

Published on March 20, 2013 at 11:31 pm

Contact Annie: apalme05@syr.edu