Director's Message

Welcome to the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration. We offer graduate programs that prepare students for careers in public service as analysts, leaders, managers, and researchers, and are ranked 10th nationwide by US News as one of the nation's leading schools of public policy, public administration, and public affairs.

The world of public service increasingly involves partnerships between government, the nonprofit sector, and private business, creating a demand for professionals who can bring multiple skills and perspectives to bear to advance the public interest. Our master's programs in public administration (MPA) and public policy (MPP) integrate theory and practice in scholarship, teaching, and service and embrace multiple perspectives for advancing critical analysis and practical knowledge of public policy and public administration. Our Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration offers a rigorous multi-disciplinary curriculum that prepares students for careers in university teaching and research, research institutions, federal, state, and local governments, and international organizations.

Our location in the nation's capital provides unparalleled opportunities for students to see how theory is "put into action" through participation in a wide range of internships and employment opportunities. But pursuing a graduate degree at George Washington University is not simply about being in Washington, D.C. It is also about maximizing the benefits of the Washington location through the distinctive strengths of TSPPPA.

• Students in TSPPPA interact regularly inside and outside the classroom with nationally and internationally recognized scholars who actively work with local think-tanks, government agencies, and nonprofit and international organizations.

• Students work closely with faculty on research both in the classroom and in research institutes affiliated with TSPPPA, such as The George Washington Institute of Public Policy (GWIPP) and the Center for Washington Areas Studies (CWAS).

• TSPPPA consistently ranks among the nation's top graduate programs overall in public affairs, as well as in the public affairs specialty areas of public administration and management, public policy analysis, public finance and budgeting, and health policy and management.

• In cooperation with our student associations TSPPPA provides numerous opportunities, in addition to internships and employment, for public and community service.

• TSPPPA offers an extensive array of career development activities designed to help students take maximum advantage of the numerous internship and development opportunities available to them.

Our website provides more detailed information about teaching, research, and student life in the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration. I hope that you will take the time to learn more about the Trachtenberg School and decide to apply to the TSPPPA graduate program that best meets your needs.

Joseph J. Cordes
Professor of Economics, Public Policy and Public Administration, and International Affairs
Director, Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration