Seven Programs Rated Tops In Nation

Harvard's graduate programs in classics, economics, English, music, physics, political science and religion were ranked best in the nation in a study by the National Academy of Sciences released this week.

Physics was the only University department to be ranked number one in both faculty quality and educational effectiveness.

Gary Feldman, Baird professor of science and the chair of the Physics Department, said although numerical rankings are "over-simplifications," he was pleased by the ranking.

"We have worked hard on our graduate program, particularly in insuring that the department provides a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere for female students," Feldman said in a written statement.

In an interview yesterday, Feldman said that the number of female graduate students in the Physics Department has been above average for the last few years and will be about a third of the class this year.

"In terms of faculty, we try to have a distinguished faculty and to do good work," he said.

Kenneth A. Shepsle, chair of the Government Department, said he was also pleased by the ranking. He said Harvard's high placement was because of the quality of the faculty.

"It's simply an outstanding faculty," Shepsle said. "Our citation density [ratio of citations to number of faculty members] is by far the largest in the country."

Shepsle said faculty research complements teaching, making graduate education stronger overall.

"Graduate education is all about training students to be scholars. Graduate students are part and parcel of the research entity," Shepsle said. "The relationship is very tight. The only way to remain excited is to remain active in research."

Gregory Nagy, Jones professor of classical Greek literature and chair of the Classics Department, said while he and his colleagues are happy with the ranking, "we're not resting on our laurels."

Nagy said what makes the classics department strong is "not only the level of scholarship, but also the product of our faculty and our academic range and diversity."

Almost all of Harvard's graduate programs placed in the top 10, with the notable exception of the engineering categories, where the University did not break into the rankings at all.

--Elizabeth T. Bangs contributed to the reporting of this story.