Georgia Southern University Physical Science Programs Earn National Ranking for Number of African-American Graduates

April 7, 2010

Georgia Southern University’s Physical Science programs rank among the nation’s best in producing African-American graduates.

Georgia Southern is 11th in the U.S. in the most recent rankings by Diverse, the leading newsmagazine on diversity issues in higher education. In the 2007-08 academic year, the University had one of the nation’s highest rates of African-American graduates in Chemistry and in Physics.

“The College of Science and Technology is proud that our Physical Science programs are nationally-ranked for the diversity of their graduates, and their rank has been increasing steadily each year. The faculty in these programs take a student-centered approach to instruction and involve a vast number of students in undergraduate research; it is this engagement that attracts and retains students to these academically-challenging programs,” said Bret Danilowicz, Dean of the College of Science and Technology.

“We treat each student as an individual. We try our best to push students beyond their internal limits so that they can reach their intellectual potential,” said Dontarie Stallings, chemistry professor and faculty advisor for Georgia Southern’s chapter of the NOBCChE (National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers).

“It may sound cliche, but we actually care about the success of students beyond the grades they earn in our class,” Stallings continued. “I would like to believe that, when our students graduate from Georgia Southern, they leave with far more than just a degree. Our students walk away from our program prepared for the world ahead of them and recognizing that they have a support system they can always rely on.”

Georgia Southern’s Chemistry Department combines student-centered classes, broad-based laboratory instruction and opportunities for research into a comprehensive chemistry education. With over 500 undergraduate majors, the department ranks in the top 25 producers of American Chemical Society-certified B.S. chemistry majors nationwide.

The Physics Department provides state-of-the-art instruction in implementing a strong curriculum in physics as well as the opportunity for students to conduct research in physics and astronomy with world-class faculty. The department also houses the Georgia Southern Planetarium, providing both students and the public with an educational view of the night sky.

Georgia Southern University, a Carnegie Doctoral/Research University, offers 115 degree programs serving 19,000 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelors, masters and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. The University, one of Georgia’s largest, is a top choice of Georgia’s HOPE scholars and is recognized for its student-centered approach to education. Visit: www.georgiasouthern.edu.