University of Missouri-Columbia - advice please

Dear American friends

I am currently enrolled in a PhD program at the University of Tasmania is Australia. I just have instigated discussions with the University of Missouri-Columbia to undertake some of my study there in 2004.

Can anyone advise me where this university ranks or stands in the scheme of things in the USA?

Many thanks

 

Random thoughts - please feel free to contradict me if my statements diverge from your reality.
In the USA, each state has it's own "state university system." In some states, like California, this system is quite extensive and comprises the University of California at _ _ _ _ _ campuses, the California State University at _ _ _ _ _ campuses as well as a whole community college system that probably boggles the mind in its extent. In Massachusetts, where there is an abundance of private colleges/universities, there is a relatively smaller state university system. In states like, let's say Montana, where the population density is relatively small, the state university system (as well as the private university system) is proportionately small. With all that in mind, Missouri has a relatively small state university system. It has several campus sites and serves a geo-political-economic area that is less than "thriving" (subjective judgement). With all that being said, there are probably about a zillion unemployed PhDs who would sacrifice body parts to become tenured at this school. What I'm trying to say is that this is a major school in its geographical area. I'm certain that those who teach there are well qualified and those who are students are given excellent educational opportunities. If this school offered a degree program of interest to me, I would not hesitate to move forward in the process. In any case, good luck.
Jack

 

This is 'Mizzou' we are talking about. A 'top school' as judged by US News (#73 with a few other schools I believe.) Although I have no firsthand knowledge of this school, I suppose it would be considered second tier in the old ranking system. It is still ranked higher than schools I do know about (UofU and USU) that are very good schools compared with the universe of schools out there.

Tony

 

It's in the BIG-12 (argueably the top NCAA football conference this year) and sometimes has a good football team. By some people thinking, that means it is a great school.

 

UM-C is a large Research school...

about midway between St. Louis and Kansas City in Missouri. The school is very large with a pretty good reputation in the Midwest. Columbia is the flagship campus of the University of Missouri system as well as its largest. My daughter is looking at it's anthropology program for her MA and indicates it is highly regarded in that field. The reality of the rankings for these large research universities is that the schools within the university are not all equal. Some may be highly respected and others lesser so. The premier institute for forensic anthropolgy in the US is, apparently, the University of Tennessee. Over 2000 apply to its anthropology program most of those for forensics and only 200 will be accepted to all fields in the department. It works out to about a 7% acceptance rate for forensics. That is a lower acceptance rate than at many of the "top schools". The next 2 are U of Arizona and New Mexico and none of them would normally be considered premier universities like the Ivies. I would do your research based on your field rather than the schools overall reputation. As far as the town goes, Columbia is pretty nice and is only about an hour from STL and KC so there will be plenty of social opportunities. Good Luck.

 

Sorry to butt in to this with an off topic question.

what do you think about Fordham University in New York and particularly it's business faculty...

Your opinions will be highly appreciated

Thanks

 

U of Missouri-Columbia is a well-regarded university in academia. One of the most well-known and published faculty in my field of instructional technology (David Jonassen) is at Missouri-Columbia.

Tony Piña
Faculty, Cal State U.-San Bernardino

 

Well done Peter

...I am close to taking the PhD plunge myself!

Cheers,

George

 

Hi Peter:

This is not statistically based, but I suspect that Missouri-Columbia would rate as well among US schools as Tasmania among Australian schools. Maybe better--and this is not a "shot" at Tasmania by any means.

In any case, you could study there assured that it is a well-respected institution. Someone with a doc from Mizzou would not be an object of opprobrium at all.

Besides, this project of yours sounds like it's accepted by UTas, and since as I understand it UTas is your degree-granting institution, that's the most important test to be met.

 

I worked at UMC for 5 years, attended a year, and lived in Columbia. MO for 4 years.

UMC is a a pretty good school with about 25,000 students in a city of around 100K with school is in session. Unemployment is low there, but you will find MBAs working as file clerks.

Academics have great schools (J-School) and low points (Computer Science), but other than being a bit stuffy, I would recommend it. The Grad schools are much better than the undergrad programs.

Feel free to PM me if you want some specifics. I'd be happy to connect you with someone that is still there who might be able to give you some insight and introductions when you arrive.

 

Uh, that would be 14 years. Duh.

 

Thank you to all respondents. Apologies for not posting sooner.

I also note that the University of Missouri is one of the 250 regionally accredited universities listed in the John Bear authored NOOSR education guidelines as granting degrees comparable to Australian awards.

To gnomic:

Thank your for your kind offer, which I will surely take up if things progress. I am yet to hear back from UMC, but I remain hopeful. There are a lot of ducks to line up on the wall before I can even think about making the trip. Notwithstanding, the election in the US in 2004 fits my thesis perfectly so if I miss out on UMC then I will certainly try for others.

To George Brown:

Yes, I've taken on a PhD at Tas Uni. I am a part-time student without facilities on-campus, so only visit once a month or so to see my supervisor. A sort of distance student, although I only live 5 minutes drive from the campus. (Hell, everyone only lives 5 minutes drive from anywhere in Hobart!).

My thesis is "Issue Ownership in Politics" - looking at why voters vote in certain ways, and how voters perceive leaders. 2004 is a key year for my research with both a general election in Australia and a Presidential election in the US. I am trying to find a university in America that will take me for a few months, or maybe longer, maybe during and/or after the Presidential election. A chap called John Petrocik is head of Politics at Missouri and has published in my field. I am hoping he will take me on.

I get a mention here http://www.utas.edu.au/government/students.html at the Tas Uni School of Government post-grad web site, and should have a thesis abstract posted early next year.

Kind regards