January 17, 2006

MEDIA CONTACT: Wendy Carey 

(202) 994-3087; wcarey@gwu.edu

Chuck Cushman

(202) 994-9598; cushmanc@gwu.edu

GW's GRADUATE SCHOOL OF POLITICAL MANAGEMENT JOINS

COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES

Move Provides More Flexibility to the Graduate School of Political Management's Curriculum

WASHINGTON - The George Washington University announced that its Graduate School of Political Management joined its College of Professional Studies on January 1, 2006, after 10 years in GW's Columbian College of Arts and Sciences.  The move allows the Graduate School of Political Management's coursework to better adapt to the constant changes of political professions and to enhance its focus on industry best practices.

"GW's College of Professional Studies is more directly in line with the action-oriented, applied program of the Graduate School of Political Management," said Graduate School of Political Management Dean Christopher Arterton.  "The change has been avidly sought by the faculty and strongly urged by the Graduate School of Political Management's principal advisory group, the Council on American Politics, following more than two years of discussion and negotiation involving the top leadership of the University."

The move shifts all of the Graduate School of Political Management's programs to the College of Professional Studies, including the master's degree in political management, the master's degree in legislative affairs, the certificates in political management and political action committee (PAC) management, and cooperative programs with the College of Europe in Brugge, Belgium, and the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain.  The program on Governance and Sustainable Democracy in Latin America, the Latin American political communications program, the Institute for Politics, Democracy and the Internet (IPDI), and the newly formed executive programs, also will switch. Students who enter the degree program after this move will receive Master of Professional Studies degrees.

"This move presents exciting opportunities for us all," said GW's College of Professional Studies Dean Roger Whitaker.  "The Graduate School of Political Management will bring to the College of Professional Studies about 260 graduate students, an impressive group of expert faculty, and a national reputation for programmatic excellence."

The Graduate School of Political Management at The George Washington University prepares students for participation in democratic politics, providing them with the critical thinking, knowledge, and skills necessary to succeed in professional careers in applied politics. The school also seeks to advance professionalism in politics by assisting the careers of its alumni, by generating knowledge in the field, by lauding appropriate professional conduct so as to promote ethics and professional standards, and by advancing awareness of democratic values and traditions of fair play.

The College of Professional Studies offers both full-and part-time undergraduate and graduate programs that continue the educational experience for those in emerging and rapidly changing professions.  Programs draw on the expertise of GW faculty and outside partners--professional associations, community organizations, consulting enterprises, and industry leaders--to present innovative, forward-looking curricula with immediate relevance in today's workplaces.

For more news about the College of Professional Studies, visit www.cps.gwu.edu.

For more news about the Graduate School of Political Management, visit www.gspm.gwu.edu.

For more news about GW, visit the GW News Center at www.gwnewscenter.org.

-GW-