The University of Arizona has the top graduate geology program in the country, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report college ranking.
Celebrating geosciences professors broke out some of those foam fingers that say "We're No. 1" in their office on Thursday, said department head Karl Flessa.
At $11.6 million, the UA does more earth science research funded by National Science Foundation grants than any other school.
UA scientists study how mountains are made and eroded; the history and future of climate change; how mineral deposits are formed and found; and the effects of water diversion from the Colorado River.
The competitive graduate program saw 130 applications last year.
Flessa said the credit belongs to a wide range of faculty, staff and alumni. "We couldn't be No. 1 if the UA wasn't so strong in general," he said.
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The UA's department of geosciences, of which geology is a part, has 130 undergraduate students, many of whom do research, and it teaches thousands of students each year in general education courses like oceanography.
