CSUF Ranked No.1 in Awarding Master’s Degrees in Mathematics to Asian-Americans, Hispanics

July 25, 2003 :: No. 10b

Cal State Fullerton is ranked first in the nation in awarding master’s degrees in mathematics to Asian-American students, as reported this month in Black Issues in Higher Education. The university also is tied with two institutions in Texas for the top spot in granting master’s degrees in math to Hispanics.

The magazine’s report of graduate rankings follows it publication last month of undergraduate rankings, which showed that Fullerton is fourth nationally in awarding bachelor’s degrees in all disciplines combined to minority students. Both sets of rankings are based on 2001-2002 data submitted by institutions of higher education to the U.S. Department of Education.

“Cal State Fullerton has a long tradition of encouraging our math students to pursue graduate studies in master’s and doctoral programs,” said James O. Friel, chair and professor of mathematics. “One of the exciting things about our talented master’s degree recipients is that many of them will be teaching in our local schools and helping Orange County students to succeed in their math classes.”

In earning the top spot in the awarding of master’s degrees in math to Asian-Americans, Cal State Fullerton outranks UCLA, Columbia University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Houston-University Park, University of Central Florida and Harvard, respectively.

In the category of master’s degrees in mathematics awarded to Hispanics, Fullerton ranks ahead of New Mexico State, UCI, University of Florida, University of Iowa and City University of New York’s Hunter College.

By graduate academic programs, the university also is ranked:
• fifth for master’s degrees awarded in English and letters to Hispanics;
• seventh for those awarded in physical sciences, social sciences and history to Hispanics;
• 10th for master’s degrees in education to Asian-Americans;
• 12th for those in social sciences and history to Asian-Americans;
• 13th for master’s degrees in physical sciences to Asian-Americans and in ethnic studies to Hispanics;
• 19th in awarding master’s degrees in education to Hispanics and 20th for those to American Indians.

« back to University News