Current Status of Graduate Physical Education: Program Demography and the Issue of Program Ranking

Published rankings of graduate departments, programs, and faculties play an important role in American higher education. Rankings serve as a measure of prestige, and prestige in higher education is very important, especially as it relates to career patterns and career opportunities. The purpose of this paper is to identify the most pertinent and controversial issues surrounding prestige rankings in graduate physical education, and examine their importance and consequences. Appropriate research and related literature are presented and examined, with conclusions, implications, and suggestions being offered as results.