|
Anniversary Home | Newsroom Home | History
Staff | Faculty | Alumni | Council on American Politics
Who We Are
The Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM) is a professional school of politics at The George Washington University and is a division of the university's College of Professional Studies. The first school of its kind in the U.S., GSPM currently has 250 students, who are planning for careers in professional political management, enrolled in graduate degree programs, as well as students involved in international and external programs. As such, GSPM seeks to improve politics by educating its students and professionals in the tools, principles and values of participatory democracy, preparing them for careers as ethical and effective advocates and leaders at the international, national and local levels.
What We Do
Over its history, the GSPM has constructed an innovative and highly regarded curriculum, recruited an excellent faculty, attracted quality students, provided them with the best technical training and ethical guidance, and placed them in significant professional positions. By accomplishing these essential tasks of institution building, the GSPM has emerged as the leading institution for the study and teaching of political management in the United States and internationally.
A Brief History
In 1986, Neil Fabricant, a lawyer from New York City and former Legislative Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, realized that a new profession of politics was coming into being and that a dedicated school could nurture that development and, in the process, improve democratic politics.
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 was located 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 School of Arts and Sciences. Most recently, in 2006, the GSPM joined the newly created College of Professional Studies at GW.
Degree Programs
Political Management
Our core academic program provides students a broad base of political management skills as they earn a Master's Degree or Graduate Certificate. Students can focus their studies on one of the eight following areas within political management: Lobbying, Campaign Management, Issues Management, Fundraising, Corporate and Trade Association Public Affairs, Polling and Strategic Research, Public Policy and Politics, and Political Leadership.
Legislative Affairs
Students in the Legislative Affairs program gather the knowledge necessary to work effectively in the national policy-making arena with this master's degree designed for working professionals.
Strategic Public Relations
Beginning Fall 2007, students can earn a master's degree or graduate certificate while mastering core public relations skills and the practical application of strategic thinking. Topics of discussion include Media & Communications Theory, Ethics & Law, New Media Strategies, Evaluating Communications Programs, Crisis Communications, Media Relations, and Management Skills.
PAC Management
The Graduate Certificate Program in PACs and Political Management is designed to give professional PAC managers the fundamental skill set to effectively run their organization's political action committee and successfully tackle the daunting realities of political finance and action.
Research and Other Programs
Semester in Washington
Semester in Washington (SIW) offers non-George Washington University undergraduate students the opportunity to study applied politics in the heart of American politics. Students converge on the nation's capital to study elections, lobbying, and issues management.
Institute for Politics, Democracy & the Internet
The research endeavors of the Institute for Politics, Democracy & the Internet (IPDI) help shape the role of technology in the modern political landscape. Through the annual Politics Online Conference and groundbreaking publications and studies, IPDI teaches new skills that allow for the national and international exchange of ideas on the democratizing uses of the Internet and other new technologies.
Latin American Programs
The Latin American Project, focusing on campaign management, and the Governance Program aim to instruct students on the practical methods of conducting campaigns in Latin American and the practical issues faced by public officials.
Young Voter Strategies
The Young Voter Strategies (YVS) project plays a significant role in mobilizing the 18-to-30-year-old electorate and educating the public, candidates, and consultants on ways to engage young voters. A clearinghouse for research and polling on young voters, YVS compiles field, demographic, and political polling research on young voters from a variety of sources.
|
