master's in
media and public affairs

An internationally recognized center for research and teaching in political and international communication, the George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs (SMPA) offers a master’s program for students seeking a rigorous grounding in theoretical and practical communication issues related to globalization, US media and politics, comparative media systems, and the media’s role in international relations. Click here to view a six minute introduction to the program.

This program is designed to enhance careers in an array of professions – including public and non-profit management; government relations; public diplomacy; political public relations and consulting; corporate external relations; journalism; policy analysis; and academia.

The SMPA master’s curriculum builds on five essential core courses that provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the way mediated communication affects the operation of virtually every business, government, international, and non-government organization.

Beyond the core courses, students work closely with faculty advisors to develop focused expertise in a specialization field, choosing from a recommended set of related courses, or designing their own coherent course sequence. The options are unusually broad and deep; students can take classes in GW’s many renowned departments and schools including such top-ranked programs as American Studies, International Business, International Affairs, Law, Political Science, and Public Policy and Administration. Depending on their interests students can supplement their specializations by writing a master’s thesis, taking additional elective courses that complement their focus field, or doing internships. Click here for graduate curriculum details.

The Graduate Curriculum
The Graduate Faculty
The University and its Location
Internship and Employment Opportunities
Application Process
The Joint Master’s with the Elliott School of International Affairs