Second-tier schools in "genre" literature?

[Imaginary]

I hate to ask like this, but I'm not certain how else to go about it. All along, I've been choosing universities based on where , authors of relevant articles in my specialization are teaching. Most recently, I have started doing Google searches as well, with minimal success.

 

Basically, I have a list of about 10 universities, and I guess about eight of them are "famous." Honestly, I wouldn't know, but that's what a former professor has told me. This professor thinks I should choose "second-tier" universities to add to my list to increase my chances of admission.

 

I have checked the ratings of some of these colleges, and yes, some of them are highly ranked. Based on Google searches, I've found about four more that are not so highly ranked, but I'm also not sure of the fit.

 

I am searching for universities that have at least one professor researching speculative fiction- science fiction or fantasy, as well as alternate history. Feminism and race are also interests.

[asleepawake]

If you're looking at MA programs, FAU has a track in Science fiction/fantasy and several faculty members in those areas.

[Imaginary]

I wish I were. That would make things easier.. but I will already have an M.A. I am only looking for PhD programs. Thanks, though! I should have been more specific.

[ProfLorax]

I would suggest searching "Octavia Butler" in the MLA Bibliography. Even if you are not interested in her work, anyone who writes about Octavia Butler is most likely interested in sci-fi, race, and gender. I did a quick search, and I found over 200 articles. The first was written by Jane Donawerth, who is my mentor at UMD; I had no idea she was interested in science fiction! 

[apres-coup]

I'm sure UC Riverside is on your list already, but they have really cool speculative research constellations and faculty and collections. (This is not my area but I think it's very neat.)