The University of Missouri–St. Louis Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice retained its U.S. News & World Report ranking of fourth nationally. The ranking, which was released this week in the 2016 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools Guide Book, spotlights the department’s top-notch doctoral degree program.

“Whether it be at the graduate, undergraduate or precollegiate level, UMSL is committed to providing outstanding programs,” UMSL Provost Glen Cope said. “Earning prestigious rankings, such as our inclusion in the Best Graduate Schools Guide Book, is further validation of the excellent efforts made by our hardworking faculty and staff.”

Eight additional UMSL programs were among those listed for recognition by U.S. News and World Report. They are education, public policy administration, clinical psychology, psychology, nursing, social work, biology, and chemistry and biochemistry.

U.S. News analyzes more than 1,200 graduate programs in various disciplines each year to create the rankings.