UALR’s systems engineering program in the Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology (EIT) is again among the top-ranked engineering programs at a public university in the South, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report.

The list ranks engineering programs at universities that offer only bachelor’s or master’s degrees in the field.

UALR’s program ranks behind only Virginia Military Institute and The Citadel, small military colleges, among public universities in the south and is ranked No. 60 overall, up from No. 64 last year.

“Receiving such a prestigious ranking two straight years validates the momentum and growing reputation our engineering program has achieved,” said EIT Dean Eric Sandgren.

“We believe in the ‘systems’ approach that focuses on the overall principles of engineering and how the various disciplines work together rather than just focusing on one component,” he said.

“Our program’s specializations in mechanical, electrical, telecommunications, and computer engineering help prepare our students to land jobs at industry-leading companies as well as the chance to get graduate degrees at top universities or even start their own companies.”

This will be the last year UALR qualifies in this category of the rankings. EIT’s new Ph.D. program in engineering science and systems was launched in August.

“The competition in the U.S. News & World Report rankings will grow much stiffer as starting next year our program will be compared to renowned Ph.D.-granting programs such as those at MIT, Stanford, and the University of Michigan,” Sandgren said. “But we fully intend to continue to move forward and pursue excellence in every aspect of our engineering program.”

The U.S. News rankings of undergraduate engineering programs accredited by ABET — formerly known as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology — are based solely on the peer judgments of deans and senior faculty who rated each program they are familiar with on a scale from one, or marginal, to five, distinguished. Engineering school deans and faculty members were surveyed for this ranking in spring 2011.