George Washington University Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration
Encyclopedia
The Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration (also known as TSPPPA) is a graduate school in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
at The George Washington University. The Trachtenberg School offers Master of Public Policy
, Master of Public Administration
, and PhD
degrees in Public Policy
and Public Administration
. The school is located in Foggy Bottom
in the District of Columbia, close to federal government agencies, nonprofits, international organizations, and other public organizations throughout the Washington D.C. area. The master’s programs in public administration and public policy intend to integrate theory and practice in scholarship, teaching, and service and embrace multiple perspectives for advancing critical analysis and practical knowledge in the fields of public policy and public administration. The PhD program offers a rigorous multi-disciplinary curriculum that prepares students for careers in university teaching and research, research institutions, government, and international organizations. For Public Affairs schools, it is ranked 14th nationwide by US News & World Report.
.
. The MPA and MPP each consist of a core curriculum and a field of study chosen by students. Many of these fields of study are offered in partnership with other schools within the university, including the Elliott School of International Affairs
, School of Public Health and Health Services
, and Graduate School of Education & Human Development
. For doctoral level work, the school offers a PhD in Public Policy and Public Administration. The school offers a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management, which can be completed as a stand-alone program or jointly with the Master of Public Administration degree.
In addition to degrees offered solely by the Trachtenberg School, the school offers joint JD/MPA and JD/MPP degree programs with The George Washington University Law School
and a joint MPP/PhD with the Department of Political Science. The school is also affiliated with three Master of Arts
in Public Policy offered by the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, with concentrations in Environmental and Resource Policy, Philosophy and Social Policy, and Women's Studies.
Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, or CCAS, is The George Washington University's liberal arts and sciences college. The Columbian College bears the original name of The George Washington University when it was chartered by Congress in 1821...
at The George Washington University. The Trachtenberg School offers Master of Public Policy
Master of Public Policy
The 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 Administration
Master of Public Administration
The 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...
, and PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
degrees in Public Policy
Public policy
Public policy as government action is generally the principled guide to action taken by the administrative or executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs. In general, the foundation is the pertinent national and...
and Public Administration
Public administration
Public Administration houses the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and that prepares civil servants for this work. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope" its "fundamental goal.....
. The school is located in Foggy Bottom
Foggy Bottom
Foggy Bottom is one of the oldest late 18th and 19th-century neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. The area is thought to have received the name because its riverside location made it susceptible to concentrations of fog and industrial smoke, an atmospheric trait that did not prevent the neighborhood...
in the District of Columbia, close to federal government agencies, nonprofits, international organizations, and other public organizations throughout the Washington D.C. area. The master’s programs in public administration and public policy intend to integrate theory and practice in scholarship, teaching, and service and embrace multiple perspectives for advancing critical analysis and practical knowledge in the fields of public policy and public administration. The PhD program offers a rigorous multi-disciplinary curriculum that prepares students for careers in university teaching and research, research institutions, government, and international organizations. For Public Affairs schools, it is ranked 14th nationwide by US News & World Report.
History
Education in public service and government began at The George Washington University with the construction of the Hall of Government in 1927. The university gradually expanded its offerings in the field, and by 1950, public administration courses were offered in the School of Government, Department of Business, and the Department of Political Science. In 1953, the Department of Political Science organized these offerings into a Master of Arts in Public Administration degree. To address the call for professional training in public administration, in 1956, graduate level public administration courses were consolidated into the newly formed Department of Business and Public Administration in the School of Government. The school was subsequently reorganized in 1963 into the School of Government and Business Administration, including a Department of Public Administration. That same year, the department began offering a Master of Public Administration degree. The program consisted of 36 credit hours of coursework following the early guidelines of the National Association of Public Administration and Public Affairs. Further changes to the program expanded the course of study to a 40 credit hour program. The Columbian College of Arts and Sciences also established Masters of Public Policy and PhD in Public Policy programs. In 2003, all three programs were merged into the School of Public Policy and Public Administration within the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. The School was recognized as one of the seven academic units designated as signature programs of selective excellence within the University. Most recently, in 2007, the university Board of Trustees renamed the School of Public Policy and Public Administration the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration in recognition of President-emeritus Stephen Joel TrachtenbergStephen Joel Trachtenberg
Stephen Joel Trachtenberg was the 15th President of George Washington University, serving from 1988 to 2007. On August 1, 2007, he retired from the presidency and became President Emeritus and University Professor of Public Service.- Background :...
.
Academic programs
The Trachtenberg School offers master's, doctoral, and certificate programs in the field of public policy and public administration. The school offers Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Master of Public Policy (MPP) degrees, both of which are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and AdministrationNational Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration
The National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization. It is an association of schools of public policy schools at universities mostly in the United States and several abroad...
. The MPA and MPP each consist of a core curriculum and a field of study chosen by students. Many of these fields of study are offered in partnership with other schools within the university, including the Elliott School of International Affairs
Elliott School of International Affairs
The Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University is a professional school in international relations. It is located in the heart of Washington, D.C...
, School of Public Health and Health Services
George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services
Established in July 1997, the School of Public Health and Health Services brought together three longstanding university programs in the schools of medicine, business, and education that we have since expanded substantially. Today, more than 900 students from nearly every U.S. state and more than...
, and Graduate School of Education & Human Development
The George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development
The George Washington University School of Education and Human Development, is a part of George Washington University offering specializations is higher education, educational policy, counseling, teaching, and other educational programs. It is consistently ranked one of the top schools of education...
. For doctoral level work, the school offers a PhD in Public Policy and Public Administration. The school offers a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management, which can be completed as a stand-alone program or jointly with the Master of Public Administration degree.
In addition to degrees offered solely by the Trachtenberg School, the school offers joint JD/MPA and JD/MPP degree programs with The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School, commonly referred to as GW Law, is the law school of The George Washington University. It was founded in 1825 and is the oldest law school in Washington, D.C. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a charter member of the...
and a joint MPP/PhD with the Department of Political Science. The school is also affiliated with three Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Public Policy offered by the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, with concentrations in Environmental and Resource Policy, Philosophy and Social Policy, and Women's Studies.
Research Centers
The Trachtenberg School is affiliated with several research centers at The George Washington University. Many faculty and students perform research in partnership with these centers.- The George Washington Institute for Public Policy
- Regulatory Studies Center
- The Center for Washington Area Studies
- The State and Local Fiscal Policy Program
- The Midge Smith Center for Evaluation Effectiveness
Notable faculty
- Kathryn Newcomer
- Joseph Cordes
- Burt Barnow
- Edward BerkowitzEdward BerkowitzProfessor Edward D. Berkowitz is a Professor of History at George Washington University.A graduate of Princeton University, Berkowitz received his Master's and Doctoral degrees in American History from Northwestern University. His area of special expertise is the history of Social Security and...
- Marcus RaskinMarcus RaskinMarcus Raskin is a prominent American social critic, political activist, author, and philosopher, working for progressive social change in the United States....
- Christopher H. SterlingChristopher H. SterlingChristopher H. Sterling is an American media historian. Sterling is professor of media and public affairs at The George Washington University where he has taught since 1982...
- Stephen Joel TrachtenbergStephen Joel TrachtenbergStephen Joel Trachtenberg was the 15th President of George Washington University, serving from 1988 to 2007. On August 1, 2007, he retired from the presidency and became President Emeritus and University Professor of Public Service.- Background :...
Notable alumni
- Thad Allen - CommandantCommandant of the Coast GuardThe Commandant of the United States Coast Guard is the highest ranking member of the United States Coast Guard. The Commandant is normally the only four-star Admiral in the Coast Guard and is appointed for a four-year term by the President of the United States upon confirmation by the United...
of the United States Coast GuardUnited States Coast GuardThe United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency... - Heather HigginbottomHeather HigginbottomHeather A. Higginbottom has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to serve as Deputy Director of the federal Office of Management and Budget. On October 20, 2011, the United States Senate voted 64-36 to confirm her nomination to the post...
- Deputy Assistant for Domestic Policy to Barack ObamaBarack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in... - Mike McConnell - Former DirectorDirector of the National Security AgencyThe Director of the National Security Agency is the highest-ranking official in the National Security Agency, which is a Defense Agency within the U.S. Department of Defense. The Director of the NSA also concurrently serves as Chief of the Central Security Service and as Commander of U.S. Cyber...
of the National Security AgencyNational Security AgencyThe National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
and United States Director of National IntelligenceUnited States Director of National IntelligenceThe Director of National Intelligence , is the United States government official subject to the authority, direction and control of the President, who is responsible under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 for:... - Susan SchwabSusan SchwabSusan C. Schwab is an American politician, who served as United States Trade Representative from June, 2006 to January, 2009....
- Former United States Trade Representative - Henry CisnerosHenry CisnerosHenry Gabriel Cisneros is a politician and businessman. A Democrat, Cisneros served as the 10th Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the administration of President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1997...
- Secretary of Housing and Urban Development - Nancy Potok - Deputy Undersecretary for Economic Affairs, US Department of Commerce
- Nancy Tate - Executive Director, League of Women VotersLeague of Women VotersThe League of Women Voters is an American political organization founded in 1920 by Carrie Chapman Catt during the last meeting of the National American Woman Suffrage Association approximately six months before the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution gave women the right to vote...
- Elizabeth Craig - Deputy Assistant Administrator, Air and Radiation, US Environmental Protection Agency
- Timothy Klein - US Department of Transportation