curriculum
The School of Media and Public Affairs offers a variety of academic options including two undergraduate majors, two Master's programs, and a joint Five Year BA/MA program with the Graduate School of Political Management. SMPA also offers a unique 8 credit summer production program which is open to all GW undergraduate students. Prospective majors at GW can review our undergraduate application information here. Undergraduate students can find the new SMPA course conversion sheet here.
Download our Spring 2009 Course Descriptions
Download our Selected Topic Courses, Spring 2009
Download our Fall 2008 Course Descriptions.
Undergraduate Programs
Courses in the Journalism and Mass Communication undergraduate program address writing, research and critical thinking skills while analyzing the ever-changing nature of media technology and production. Download the Journalism and Mass Communication program application here. Download the Declaration of Minor form here.
Political Communication courses in the undergraduate major examine the nexus of communication, journalism and political science. Download the Political Communication program apllication here.
On campus major applications are due the first week of March and the first week of October.
The next application deadline is October, 2008.
Broadcast Summer, open to all GW undergraduate students, is an exciting six-week summer program that provides a rare glimpse into the planning and production of public affairs television programs in Washington, D.C.
Graduate Programs
The School of Media and Public Affairs Master of Arts degree offers students the opportunity to study current research on the interactions among media, domestic and international politics, strategic and political communication, public diplomacy, globalization and economics. This program is designed for students whose primary interest is in media and communication. For more information click here.
The SMPA also offers, jointly with the Elliott School of International Affairs, a Master of Arts degree in Global Communication. This new degree program will begin in the fall of 2008. The curriculum blends a rigorous academic education in communication theory and international affairs with advanced professional training. This program is designed for students whose primary interest is in international relations. More application information can be found here.
A five-year dual degree program is also available for undergraduate students in Political Communication or Journalism and Mass Communication interested in pursing an MA in Media and Public Affairs. The program allows students to complete the MA degree in less time at a considerable tuition savings.
The SMPA Documentary Center now offers a Certificate in Documentary Filmmaking, a six month intensive exploration in the theory and practice of documentary filmmaking. The program emphasizes documentary film genres, visual literacy, film conceptualization, script writing, and the hands-on elements of video production: lighting, camera, sound and Final Cut Pro editing. Participants in the Certificate Program will produce, as a group, a short 10-15 documentary film on a selected topic. Course descriptions can be found here. For more information and an application please contact The Documentary Center here.
The SMPA also offers a wide range of courses each semester. A current list can be found here.
The School of Media and Public Affairs is a dynamic, interdisciplinary program based in the heart of Washington, D.C., where media, public affairs and politics intersect. At SMPA our undergraduate and graduate programs combine elements of strategic communication, journalism and political communication with contemporary issues in domestic and international politics.