Schar School of Policy and Government

The School of Public Policy (SPP) is a school at George Mason University.

George Mason University School of Public Policy

Type	University Graduate School
Established	2000
Location	Arlington , Virginia , USA
Campus	Urban
Website	http://policy.gmu.edu/

Overview

The School of Public Policy (SPP) is the leading university-based public policy institution in the Washington, D.C., metro area. Situated in a geographic setting that is thriving with policymaking on an international scale, the school offers extensive areas of study that feature small classes, hands-on experience, and internship and study-abroad opportunities.

Attracting esteemed faculty members from national and international arenas, the school focuses on a transitive learning process, in which students are led in practical application studies by faculty members whose roles more closely resemble comprehensive mentorship.

Academically, SPP pursues six principal themes: governance, regional and economic development, international commerce and policy, science and technology policy, entrepreneurship, and culture and values. Programs include the discipline's largest doctoral program and array of focused master's programs, and a variety of certificate and executive education studies.

SPP's intensive combination of faculty experience, hands-on educational approach and availability of critical resources, prepares students for successful leadership roles in their fields.

The faculty, among the best in the public policy field, is widely published and respected for its expertise. Faculty members are deeply engaged in regional, national, and global communities, acting as consultants to government, business, and nonprofit clients. They have received grants from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and have been Fulbright Scholars and Mellon Fellowship recipients.

History

Founded as an institute in 1990 and developing into a school in 2000, the School of Public Policy is now recognized as one of the largest, most diverse, and respected public policy schools in the country. Under the guidance of Dean Kingsley Haynes, the School of Public Policy was ranked by the National Science Foundation as the number one program in its field for federal and total research expenditures. These grants support research, establishing the school as an indispensable resource for policymakers in private and public organizations.

Admissions and Degrees

Many students obtain their degrees part-time while pursuing full-time professional careers. Most classes are conveniently offered on the Arlington Campus, a few metro stops from D.C., and are offered in the evening and on some weekends.

Employers of graduates include Systems Planning and Analysis, Booz Allen Hamilton, Citibank, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Foreign Agricultural Service, Government Accountability Office, Naval Postgraduate School, RAND, Rochester Institute of Technology, Science Applications International Corporation, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. House of Representatives, World Bank, and World Resources Institute.

The School of Public Policy at George Mason University welcomes applications for its doctoral and master's programs in public policy. To learn more, visit the SPP Admissions web site.

Master's Programs

• Master of Public Policy (MPP)
• Master of Arts in International Commerce and Policy (ICP)
• Master of Arts in Transportation Policy, Operations, and Logistics (TPOL)
• Master of Science in Organization Development and Knowledge Management (ODKM)
• Master of Science in New Professional Studies: Peace Operations (PSPO)

Doctoral Program

The PhD program at George Mason University's School of Public Policy is one of the nation's largest, and takes advantage of the school's status as the leading university-based public policy institution in the Washington, D.C., metro area, to attract candidates who want the best education from experienced, national and international faculty.

Students and faculty advisors work together to design a personalized curriculum appropriate to each student's academic and professional background and goals. This allows candidates to tie their doctoral studies directly to their current and future careers, while taking advantage of the extensive resources available in the nation's capital.

Certificates

• Collaboration & Learning in Policy Organizations
• Culture and Values in Social Policy
• Global Trade Management
• Governance Systems & Policy Management
• International Business Planning
• International Governance & Institutions
• International Market Analysis
• Managing International Commerce
• Global Medical Policy
• National Security & Public Policy
• Regional Economic Development & Technology Policy
• Regional Trade Policy & Planning
• Science & Technology Policy
• Science, Technology & the Global Economy
• Transportation and Logistics Policy

Research Centers

The School of Public Policy research centers focus on issues ranging from international and regional commerce to transportation logistics. Each center is headed by a distinguished SPP faculty member, who harnesses the vast resources of the school and millions of dollars in grants to direct a wide range of projects. From training of start-up entrepreneurs provided by the Mason Enterprise Center to e-commerce development in more than 30 countries by the International Center for Applied Studies in Information Technology, The School tackles a plethora of real-world challenges. Many doctoral students, and a select few master's students, are given the opportunity to collaborate with faculty and contribute to centers' research by participating in grant-funded projects and presentations at outside colloquia and conferences.

• Center for Aerospace Policy and Management
• Center for Entrepreneurship and Public Policy
• Center for Global Policy
• Center for Regional Analysis
• Center for Science and Technology Policy
• Center for the Study of International Medical Policies and Practices
• Center for Transportation Policy, Operations, and Logistics
• International Center for Applied Studies in Information Technology
• Mason Enterprise Center
• State Economic Development Center
• Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC)
• Transportation and Economic Development Research Center

External links

• George Mason University School of Public Policy website
• SPP Currents, School of Public Policy Newsletter