What's the relationship between the size of a university department and quality?

Question

Can a college's psychology department really be recognized as "one of the best" with a faculty of only 4 full time and 2 part time professors? It seems to me that psychology is too broad a field to be adequately represented by 4 full time professors.

Answer 1

Size matters of course, but what is more important is how you use the size that you have. That principle would seem to hold true for university psychology departments as for other things.

Answer 2

Yes, it is possible. The reason it is possble is because there are a number of criteria besides quantity that go into assessing the quality of a department. These include faculty reputation, which involves how well published they are, distinctive awards, and where they received their respective PhDs. Also, the rate of transfer of the departments students is accounted for as well. Suppose you take two departments, one of which has 50 faculty or more (like UCLA) and another with just 6 total. Now suppose that the rate at which the undergrads at these two departments transfer for grad work to the top programs is the following: The large deparment, while graduating, say, 350 students a year, put only around 6 students a year into top 20 programs. While the small deparment graduates less than 20 students a year, but puts 4 students a year into the top programs. A Placement rate like that would definately receive high marks. Another is the student to faculty ratio, which can give a stronger focus (or weaker focus as the case may be) to undergraduate development.

It is not hard to provide an adequate presentation of a broad field--like psychology--to undergrads, with only 6 faculty. They may not be experts in every field, but they have been trained welel enough to give all that an undegraduate needs. Even some of the best departments in the world, even the large ones, can not be as comprehensive as smaller schools. But also, the fact that a department has a large faculty roster does not necessarily mean that it wil be anymore comprehensive because many departments (especially at research institutions) like to populate their faculty roster with like-minded scholars. This is why most departments have an area of strength or specialty. But the best deparments will have both.

One final thing: U.S.News and college rankings similar to that often make high judgments based on non-academic crteria, including the amount of funding a department gets and the number of positive comments received from current and former students of that department. Neither is a very objective reason for thinking a department is worthy of high ranking.

Answer 3

"One of the best" is like putting "New and Improved!" on your box of detergent. It tells you nothing unless they quantify what the "best" is, so if they don't give you some numbers to back up the claim, I would treat the statement as without basis. What really matters is "Will they be able to meet my needs and give me the education I need?" The larger the faculty, the greater the course offerings, and the more likely they are going to attract "prestigious" instructors. (In quotes because they are often not the best educators.) However, it's not all that simple, because at large schools a lot of the lower-division work can be shoved off onto graduate students. Hence my suggestion below.

Consider this. Departments love to brag on their successful graduates. They should be able to give you people to contact that can talk honestly about their time there. They may not be as flattering in hindsight as the school thinks they will be! Also, you can ask them about your specific interests in a low-stress environment.

Answer 4

teacher to student ratio is a good start. Next the publications of the professors and the topics they are experts at should sway your interests.

Answer 5

yes you will get the attention and get to ask questions contain your school work have good space area