COLLEGE STATION, Feb. 16, 2016 – Texas A&M University ranks No. 15 among the 50 best mathematics programs in the world, according to a new survey fromTheBestSchools.org, a leading resource for prospective students seeking a college or university degree.
Princeton University tops the list, released earlier this month and based in part upon the prestigious Shanghai Rankings, in which Texas A&M ranks No. 14 in mathematics. Half of the 50 institutions featured are located in the United States, including four of the survey’s top five. Texas A&M ranks eighth among those U.S.-based schools. The University of Texas at Austin is the only other Texas-based institution to make the list, coming in at No. 21.
“Taking this Shanghai Ranking as our point of departure, we researched the most important characteristics of each of the top 50 mathematics programs on the list in order to reveal why each university mathematics program appears where it does,” the website notes.
In Texas A&M’s case, TheBestSchools.org cites specifics, such as engaging research and education in all areas of mathematics, quality results with global impact, collaboration between departments, plentiful and productive research areas, flexible and comprehensive undergraduate studies and active outreach programs as factors in their decision.
Emil Straube, professor of mathematics and head of the Texas A&M Department of Mathematics, notes that the latest accolade is a shared one between his department and the Texas A&M Department of Statistics, given that it is based on the Shanghai Rankings as well as the U.S. News and World Report Best Global Universities in Mathematics rankings, in which Texas A&M is No. 17. Straube says both surveys combine mathematics and statistics into the broader category of mathematical sciences. Texas A&M also ranks No. 8 among the nation’s top mathematics graduate programs according to graduate students via GraduatePrograms.com and 13th nationally among public university mathematics departments in research funding.
“Through the dedication and hard work of many people during the course of many years, both Mathematics and Statistics at Texas A&M have achieved world-class status,” Straube said. “It is notable that in the current ranking, in addition to high-impact research, we are cited for our broad instructional and outreach efforts, as well as for our collaborations with other units. It is fair to say that this combination represents a substantial contribution toward realizing the goals of Vision 2020. The mathematical sciences in the College of Science represent an eminently profitable investment for the university.”
To see the complete list and find additional information about the survey, go to http://www.thebestschools.org/features/best-mathematics-programs-in-world-today/.
To learn more about the Texas A&M Department of Mathematics, visit http://www.math.tamu.edu.