Online Programs Rank Among Nation's Best

OMAHA – U.S. News and World Report has named two online degree programs from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) as some of the best in the country and as the best in their field in Nebraska.

The rankings, which were released Tuesday, Jan. 10, name UNO’s Masters of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice as the No. 2 program of its kind and UNO’s online Bachelor of General Studies (BGS) degree at No. 24.

Both rankings place UNO as home to Nebraska’s top-ranked online bachelor’s degree and criminal justice master’s degree programs.

UNO’s College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CPACS) is home to both the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice as well as the Division of Continuing Studies, which houses the BGS program.

“These rankings are well deserved for both programs,” CPACS Dean John Bartle said. “Our criminal justice faculty are nationally prominent, the curriculum is contemporary and the advising and placement is top-notch. Additionally, our BGS degree has the flexibility for students to craft a multidisciplinary degree just right for any profession, especially new and emerging ones.”

All of UNO’s online students have full access to a team of professional academic advisors who provide guidance and support.

As part of its online course offerings, UNO provides live streaming audio and video; recorded audio and video; mobile applications; and online labs.

UNO’s online bachelor’s and masters degree programs are co-marketed by University of Nebraska Online Worldwide, a university-wide distance education initiative that provides access to more than 100 online degree and certificate programs.

Masters of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice

UNO’s online Masters of Science degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice is designed to meet the needs of working professionals as well as traditional students in providing access to education in a flexible format.

The 36-hour program features courses that range in topic from risk assessment to violent crimes to corrections to juvenile justice.

Last year, U.S. News and World Report ranked the Criminology and Criminal Justice program as having one of the top 20 overall graduate programs in the country at No. 17.

To determine its rankings, U.S. News and World Report looked at five categories, including student engagement; faculty credentials and training; student services and technology; admissions selectivity; and peer reputation.

Bachelor of General Studies

With more than 50 areas of concentration that can be completed either entirely online or through a mixture of online and on-campus coursework, UNO’s BGS is a flexible and multidisciplinary option for adult learners, transfer students, online learners and military-affiliated students.

The BGS also features flexibility through comprehensive academic advising for students online, over the phone, on campus and at Offutt Air Force Base.

“The individualized format provides opportunities for students to customize the degree to support career goals, satisfy personal aspirations, or prepare for graduate study,” explains Gina Toman, assistant dean of CPACS and director of the Division of Continuing Studies.

UNO’s BGS degree was first offered in 1951; the program began offering distance education courses in 1997 and an entirely online degree in 2007.

In determining its rankings, U.S. News assessed UNO’s BGS program on four general categories: student engagement; faculty credentials and training; student services and technology; and peer reputation. Detailed results are available at the U.S. News website.

As of 2017, there are approximately 1,300 students currently pursuing a BGS degree.

For media requests, please contact Charley Reed, UNO associate director of media relations, at 402.554.2129 or unonews@unomaha.edu.