American University School of Public Affairs
Encyclopedia
The American University
School of Public Affairs (SPA) houses three academic departments - Public Administration & Policy, Government, Justice, Law, & Society - as well as the Washington Institute for Public & International Affairs Research, a research unit jointly sponsored with the School of International Service
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SPA's institutional role shifted several times over the next twenty years. In 1957, it was renamed the School of Government and Public Administration, and in 1973, it was combined with the existing Schools of Justice and International Service to become the College of Public and International Affairs. In 1988, the School of International Service was recreated as a freestanding school, and the College of Public and International Affairs was once again the School of Public Affairs.
SPA is housed in the Ward Circle Building, which was constructed in 1969 and renovated in 1998. SPA's rapid growth over the past five years has led to increasingly tight quarters, and SPA now occupies much of the second floor of Hurst Hall as well.
DPAP is the only department in the United States to have three masters programs - the MPA, Key Executive MPA, and MPP - accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs & Administration. DPAP is an institutional member of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
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as being among the best in the country. In the most recent ranking of graduate schools of public affairs, the department's masters programs were ranked 14th. In specialty rankings, the department was ranked 6th in public management, 18th in public finance and budgeting, 21st in policy analysis, and 23rd in nonprofit management.
courses to its 900+ majors.
The Department of Government's three undergraduate academic advisers are Sarah Jones, who counsels students with names starting with H-M; Breana Weadock, who counsels students with last names starting with N-Z; and Nathan Williamson, who counsels students with last names starting with A-G, as well as athletes. Mr. James Helms is the administrative assistant.
ranks the Department of Government at #72 in the field of political science.. The National Research Council
ranks the department among the top 100 programs in the United States.
team, which has become a nationally competitive squad under the guidance of faculty coach Jessica Waters.
American University
American University is a private, Methodist, liberal arts, and research university in Washington, D.C. The university was chartered by an Act of Congress on December 5, 1892 as "The American University", which was approved by President Benjamin Harrison on February 24, 1893...
School of Public Affairs (SPA) houses three academic departments - Public Administration & Policy, Government, Justice, Law, & Society - as well as the Washington Institute for Public & International Affairs Research, a research unit jointly sponsored with the School of International Service
School of International Service
The School of International Service is American University's school of advanced international study in the areas of international politics, international communication, development, international economic relations, peace and conflict resolution, global environmental politics, and U.S...
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History
SPA was created on March 3, 1934, with a $4,000 grant from the Rockefeller Foundation to provide training to 80 promising young federal government employees in downtown D.C. By 1937, its enrollment had grown to over 1,000 students, and it quickly expanded its mission to include undergraduate and graduate degrees.SPA's institutional role shifted several times over the next twenty years. In 1957, it was renamed the School of Government and Public Administration, and in 1973, it was combined with the existing Schools of Justice and International Service to become the College of Public and International Affairs. In 1988, the School of International Service was recreated as a freestanding school, and the College of Public and International Affairs was once again the School of Public Affairs.
SPA is housed in the Ward Circle Building, which was constructed in 1969 and renovated in 1998. SPA's rapid growth over the past five years has led to increasingly tight quarters, and SPA now occupies much of the second floor of Hurst Hall as well.
Department of Public Administration & Policy
The Department of Public Administration & Policy (DPAP) is home to 28 full-time faculty members and enrolls about 85% of SPA's graduate students.Degree Programs
- Master of Public PolicyMaster of Public PolicyThe Master of Public Policy , one of several public policy degrees, is a master's level professional degree that provides training in policy analysis and program evaluation at public policy schools. The MPP program places a focus on the systematic analysis of issues related to public policy and the...
- Master of Public AdministrationMaster of Public AdministrationThe Master of Public Administration is a professional post-graduate degree in Public Administration. The MPA program prepares individuals to serve as managers in the executive arm of local, state/provincial, and federal/national government, and increasingly in nongovernmental organization and...
- Key Executive Master of Public Administration
- Master of Science in Organization DevelopmentOrganization developmentOrganization development is a new term which means a conceptual, organization-wide effort to increase an organization's effectiveness and viability...
- Ph.D. in Public Administration
DPAP is the only department in the United States to have three masters programs - the MPA, Key Executive MPA, and MPP - accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs & Administration. DPAP is an institutional member of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
The Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management is an American organization whose focus is improving public policy and management by fostering excellence in research, analysis, and education. APPAM founded the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management in 1981.- External links :* * * *...
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Research Centers
- Center for Democracy & Election Management
- Center for Environmental Policy
- Center for Public Finance Research
- Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation
Recognition
DPAP's programs are routinely recognized by U.S. News & World ReportU.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
as being among the best in the country. In the most recent ranking of graduate schools of public affairs, the department's masters programs were ranked 14th. In specialty rankings, the department was ranked 6th in public management, 18th in public finance and budgeting, 21st in policy analysis, and 23rd in nonprofit management.
Notable DPAP Faculty
- Cornelius Kerwin, president of American University
- Scott Bass, provost of American University
- Robert Durant, 2011 AU Scholar-Teacher of the Year, associate editor of Public Administration ReviewPublic Administration ReviewPublic Administration Review is a bi-monthly academic journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Society for Public Administration. The editor is Richard J. Stillman II....
, and fellow of the National Academy of Public AdministrationNational Academy of Public Administration (United States)The National Academy of Public Administration was founded by James E. Webb, then-administrator of NASA, and other leading public administration practitioners in 1967 and chartered under Title 36 of the United States Code in 1984 under Public Law 98-257. The Academy is a nonprofit, nonpartisan... - Daniel Fiorino, Director of the Center for Environmental Policy and fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration
- Laura Langbein, quantitative methodologist and author of Public Program Evaluation: A Statistical Guide
- Howard McCurdyHoward McCurdyHoward Douglas McCurdy is a retired Canadian politician and university professor.McCurdy studied at the University of Western Ontario, where he received a Bachelor of Arts, and later at Assumption University, where he received a Bachelor of Science. He was awarded a Master of Science and a Ph.D...
, space policy expert and author of Space and the American Imagination - David RosenbloomDavid RosenbloomDavid Rosenbloom is a film and television editor with more than 20 film credits, as well as many television editing and directing credits. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Film Editing and the American Cinema Editors "Eddie" for The Insider ....
, constitutional-administrative law scholar and fellow of the National Academy of Public AdministrationNational Academy of Public Administration (United States)The National Academy of Public Administration was founded by James E. Webb, then-administrator of NASA, and other leading public administration practitioners in 1967 and chartered under Title 36 of the United States Code in 1984 under Public Law 98-257. The Academy is a nonprofit, nonpartisan... - Jeremy Shiffman, noted global health policy scholar
Department of Government
The Department of Government is home to 31 full-time faculty members and focuses primarily on offering undergraduate political sciencePolitical science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
courses to its 900+ majors.
The Department of Government's three undergraduate academic advisers are Sarah Jones, who counsels students with names starting with H-M; Breana Weadock, who counsels students with last names starting with N-Z; and Nathan Williamson, who counsels students with last names starting with A-G, as well as athletes. Mr. James Helms is the administrative assistant.
Degree Programs
- Undergraduate major in Political Science
- Master of Arts in Political Science
- Ph.D. in Political Science
Research Centers
- Center for Congressional and Presidential StudiesCenter for Congressional and Presidential StudiesThe Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies is an integrated teaching, research, and study program of the School of Public Affairs at American University, focusing on the United States Congress and the presidency and the interactions between them.-Institutes:Campaign Management...
- Political Theory Institute
- Women & Politics InstituteWomen & Politics Institute- Overview :The Women & Politics Institute is a research institute located in the School of Public Affairs at American University, in Washington, D.C. The mission of the Women & Politics Institute is to close the gender gap in political leadership...
Recognition
U.S. News & World ReportU.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
ranks the Department of Government at #72 in the field of political science.. The National Research Council
United States National Research Council
The National Research Council of the USA is the working arm of the United States National Academies, carrying out most of the studies done in their names.The National Academies include:* National Academy of Sciences...
ranks the department among the top 100 programs in the United States.
Notable GOVT Faculty
- Eric Hershberg, director of the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies
- William M. LeoGrandeWilliam M. LeoGrandeWilliam M. LeoGrande is the current Dean of the American University School of Public Affairs and frequent publisher and expert on Latin America.-Biography:...
, dean of the School of Public Affairs - David Lublin, marriage equality advocate and town mayor of Chevy ChaseChevy ChaseCornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, writer, and television and film actor, born into a prominent entertainment industry family. Chase worked a plethora of odd jobs before moving into comedy acting with National Lampoon...
, MD - Jennifer Lawless, former candidate for office and current manager of Women and Politics Institute
- Anita McBride, former assistant to First Lady Laura BushLaura BushLaura Lane Welch Bush is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest...
- Karen O'ConnorKaren O'ConnorKaren Lende O'Connor is an American equestrian. She was born February 17, 1958. Her family includes Joanne and Phillip Lende and brothers Steven and Chip. She grew up in Bolton, Massachusetts....
, author of best-selling introductory American government text American Government: Roots and Reform - James ThurberJames ThurberJames Grover Thurber was an American author, cartoonist and celebrated wit. Thurber was best known for his cartoons and short stories published in The New Yorker magazine.-Life:...
, author of Obama in Office and campaign management specialist
Department of Justice, Law, & Society
The Department of Justice, Law, & Society is home to 19 full-time faculty, 200 undergraduate majors, and approximately 40 graduate students. JLS is home to AU's mock trialMock trial
A Mock Trial is an act or imitation trial. It is similar to a moot court, but mock trials simulate lower-court trials, while moot court simulates appellate court hearings. Attorneys preparing for a real trial might use a mock trial consisting of volunteers as role players to test theories or...
team, which has become a nationally competitive squad under the guidance of faculty coach Jessica Waters.
Degree Programs
- Undergraduate majors in Justice and Law & Society
- M.S. in Justice, Law, & Society
- Ph.D. in Justice, Law, & Society
Notable Faculty
- Jon Gould, noted law and society scholar and current director of the Washington Institute for Public Affairs Research
- Jeffrey Schaler, vocal opponent of classifying addictionAddictionHistorically, addiction has been defined as physical and psychological dependence on psychoactive substances which cross the blood-brain barrier once ingested, temporarily altering the chemical milieu of the brain.Addiction can also be viewed as a continued involvement with a substance or activity...
as a disease and author of Addiction is a Choice - Rita Simon, prolific author of research related to women and the law