History of the School

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The Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM) was founded in 1986 when Neil Fabricant, a lawyer from New York City and the former legislative director for the American Civil Liberties Union, convinced the New York State of Regents that the emerging new profession of politics was driving a need for a school to educate future professionals. He argued that that a school dedicated to advancing the ethical practice of politics - not political science, public policy or public administration - could strengthen the profession and in the process improve the democratic process.

Fabricant's creative vision led to the founding of the Graduate School of Political Management, which began classes in September of 1987 with 24 students. The School operated as an independent graduate school, chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, and offering a master's degree in political management on the Manhattan campus of Baruch College. In September 1991, GSPM opened a degree program in Washington, DC, on the campus of The George Washington University (GW). In July of 1995, the University acquired the GSPM and made it a component of its Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. Most recently, on January 1, 2006, the GSPM joined GW's College of Professional Studies, which offers innovative master's degree programs designed for working professionals.

Throughout its 20-year history, the GSPM has expanded from the original political management master's degree to gradate degrees in legislative affairs and strategic public relations and one-year graduate certificates in public relations, political management and political action committee (PAC) management. The School has over 1,500 alumni and over 250 current students enrolled in graduate-level programs.

The Graduate School of Political Management is the first institution of high education devoted to applied politics, integrating the analytical science and the practical art of politics. GSPM has constructed a highly regarded curriculum that provides students with the best education experience and ethical guidance and then places them in appropriate professional positions. These include positions in political parties, polling and research organizations, advocacy groups, state and national legislative offices and public relations firms. On August 25, 1996, The New York Times referred to the GSPM as "The West Point of the Political Wars." See the full article.

The School has recruited a faculty of academics with practical experience and professionals with academic training. Numbering 50 strong, the GSPM faculty is highly regarded in both political and academic circles, recognized for their expertise across the entire range of political activities, including legislating, lobbying, campaigning, advocacy, polling, and communications. Many faculty members head their own political management firms, while others are full-time campaign managers, consultants, or advisors to government officials. Although composed mostly of adjuct professors, GSPM's faculty participate in regular faculty meetings and take an active role in the school's leadership and curriculum development.

In developing the nation's preeminent professional school of politics, the George Washington University has pursued four major goals:

• To establish a community of students, scholars and professionals devoted to learning, teaching, research and critical thinking in political management and its relationship to democratic government
• To recruit, train and graduate the next generation political professionals and, in the process, establish the School's degree as the standard of excellence in professional politics
• To increase access to politics for under-represented groups
• To develop and promote the highest ethical and professional standards of political management

More than half of GSPM students are women and minorities, and the School enjoys an increasing flow of students from around the world, especially developing democracies in Latin America and Asia. The expanding access to political proficiencies by these groups is a major benefit of the social role that professional schools can play. GSPM provides opportunities to address these issues in the classroom, offering special-topics courses like "Women and Political Leadership." GSPM's international programs bring lessons learned through U.S. politics and governance to public leaders around the world. The Latin American Project focuses on campaign management, while the Governance Program helps political professionals in Latin America face common issues in democracy using applied solutions.

A key component of the Political Management master's degree requires students to take at least one class that discusses the role of ethics in politics. Rooted in political philosophers but grounded by practical case studies, these courses include "Ethics and Political Management," "Ethics, Law and Politics," and "Ethics and Leadership." In the "Ethics, Law and Politics" course, students develop their own code of professional conduct. Applying ethical arguments to the study of politics is a thread that continues to run throughout all the GSPM courses.

GSPM Dean Christopher Arterton said, "Contemporary politicians maneuver in a world in which legislation is influenced as much by public opinion polls and 30-second advocacy ads, as by the schmoozing and backslapping of lobbyists in the Capitol corridors. What you know has become as important as who you know. We have seen that success in politics, and even access to those in power, now depends increasingly on the acquisition of the expertise taught at such places as the GSPM."