UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The recently released 2014 QS World University Rankings by Subject shows that among 30 academic disciplines evaluated, Penn State ranks among the top 200 institutions in 29 subjects, placing the University once again in the top tier of institutions worldwide. The 30th subject, pharmacy, is not applicable to Penn State.
In addition, Penn State ranks in the top 50 in eight subject areas: 15th in agriculture and forestry, 21st in materials science, 25th in Earth and marine sciences, 30th in geography, 31st in education, 36th in communication and media studies, 37th in mechanical, aeronautical and manufacturing engineering, and 38th in English language and literature.
For these rankings, QS Intelligence Unit (QSIU) -- a division of QS Quacquarelli Symonds, an international higher education data-research firm -- evaluated 3,002 universities and ranked 689 institutions in total.
Now in its third year, the QS World University Rankings by Subject is an extension of the overall QS World University Rankings. According to the company's website, the by-subject rankings are designed to "provide comparative information at discipline level and to highlight the excellence of institutions in specialist areas."
The subject rankings' methodology draws together such indicators as academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per faculty, and faculty productivity and impact, to form an international ranking of universities.
Visit the QSIU website at www.topuniversities.com for more information and a full list of 2014 rankings.