About Us
The School of Media and Public Affairs is a recognized center for teaching and research in political communication, journalism, global media studies, and documentary filmmaking. Our faculty is composed of accomplished scholars, award winning journalists, and dedicated educators. Our mission is to explore how ideas and information are communicated and how the media influence policy and politics in a democracy.
SMPA students come to Washington with ambitious goals and curious minds. They are challenged to think deeply, creatively and globally. They explore both the practice and the impact of the media. They learn to be compelling communicators who understand the media’s complex role in the way we connect with one another and are governed.
Our location in the nation’s capital – just four blocks from the White House and three blocks from the State Department – provides our students unequalled access and opportunity. We bring together some of the most compelling and influential voices in media, politics and public affairs. Students have access to hundreds of jobs and internships in government, news and advocacy organizations. Our television studio, state of the art video equipment, editing suites, and digital media expertise provide exceptional opportunities to learn and produce in a hands-on environment.
SMPA’s activities extend into the community and around the world. We are home to a number of centers and programs including The Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication; The Global Media Institute; The Center for Innovative Media, which brings together The Documentary Center and the Public Affairs Project; the Semester in Washington Journalism Program; and the Prime Movers Media Program.
The approach to everything we do at SMPA – research, teaching, convening and production – stems from the belief that theory and practice are inseparable. Our students study with leading scholars and award-winning journalists who bring real world experience to the classroom. Our undergraduate and graduate programs combine elements of strategic communication, journalism, and political communication, preparing our students for distinguished careers in new and traditional media organizations, government, politics, and business.
The mission of the School of Media and Public Affairs is to investigate and teach how ideas and information are communicated through media and how media content and institutions function as a central ingredient of a democratic society.
Our commitment is to combine a liberal arts foundation with professional skills and experiences for our students. We believe that theory and practice cannot be separated, and that viewing them together provides the perspective that enables students to understand the relationships between media and the various institutions of public life—government, education, corporations and associations.
Increasingly, this means a commitment to technological sophistication as our students are required to communicate in converged multimedia environments.
SMPA Mission Statement
SMPA offers undergraduate degrees in political communication and in journalism and mass communication. We also offer a Master of Arts in Media and Public Affairs and in Global Communication.
Learn more about our graduate and undergraduate programs here.