Several sports science programs win top ranking
Posted on: December 21, 2016; Updated on: December 21, 2016
By Allen Wallace, WALLACJ7@mailbox.sc.edu, 803-777-5667
The University of South Carolina claimed the No. 1 spot in the U.S. and No. 3 in the world in the 2016 ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments.
The rankings credit the Arnold School of Public Health’s exercise science and athletic training programs, the College of Education’s physical education program and the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management’s sport and entertainment management program. The athletic training program shifted from the College of Education to the Arnold School for the fall 2016 semester.
ShanghaiRankings, also known as the Academic Ranking of World Universities, is regarded as one of the three most influential rankings of international universities, and has been cited by numerous publications including Inside Higher Ed, The Guardian and The Christian Science Monitor. The group has been ranking academic subjects since 2009, but this is their first ranking of sport science schools and departments.
The leaders of the colleges that contributed to the rankings say it has taken a team effort to earn the position.
“Our department of exercise science has grown rapidly in student enrollment, nationally recognized faculty, scholarship and grantsmanship,” says Thomas Chandler, dean of the Arnold School. “Their success is due to high-quality, engaged students who are supported by strong mentors, researchers, staff, leadership and program directors. As a result, this department has become a major player in the Arnold School, the University, and the field of sports science.”
“Our sport and entertainment management program has been showing a phenomenal growth in both quantity and quality in recent years,” says Haemoon Oh, dean of the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management. “This world ranking is not a surprise and it reflects strongly on our forceful endeavor toward global leadership, industry engagement and experiential education in our SPTE curriculum. We have an incredibly talented and dedicated faculty to work closely with students. We will continue working hard on the fundamentals that differentiate us from others.”
"Our physical education faculty and students are improving the health and lives of children and families," says Jon Pedersen, dean of the College of Education. "To be recognized for their hard work, research and dedication to the physical education of our communities, is outstanding and well deserved."
ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Sport Science Schools and Departments examined 361 universities which engage significantly in sport science research. The rankings are based on the measurement of publication, citation, citations per publication, top 25 percent journal publications and internationally collaborated publications. The bibliometric data is collected from Web of Science database with a time window of five years. For more information about the methodology and indicators of the ranking, visit ShanghaiRanking's website.
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