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Schar School of Policy and Government

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George Mason University Schar School of Policy and Government
TypeUniversity Graduate School
Established2000
DeanMark Rozell
Location, ,
USA
CampusUrban
Websitehttp://schar.gmu.edu/

The Schar School of Policy and Government is a school of George Mason University. Its main office and graduate programs are located in the Washington, D.C. area. Its main office and graduate programs are located in Arlington, Virginia. Undergraduate programs are located at the university's Fairfax campus. U.S. News and World Report ranked the school 33rd in its 2016 rankings of American graduate public policy analysis programs. U.S. News and World Report ranked the school 33rd in its 2016 rankings of American graduate public policy analysis programs.[1]

History

The school was founded as an institute in 1990 and developed into the graduate-level School of Public Policy (SPP) in 2000. In 2004, SPP was ranked by the National Science Foundation as the number four program in its field for federal and total research expenditures.[2] As of 2013, it remained in the top forty for political science R&D expenditures.[3]

In August 2014, SPP merged with the university's Department of Public and International Affairs to form the School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs.[4] The next year, the new SPGIA was recognized as the tenth most innovative public service school in the USA by bestvalueschools.com.[5]

In 2016, thanks to a gift by businessman and philanthropist Dwight Schar, the school was renamed the Schar School of Policy and Government. The Schar School by the Numbers 14: Degree programs 80: Full-time faculty 200: PhD students 700: Undergraduate students 1,100: Master’s students 2,000: Total number of enrolled students 13,000: Total number of alumni

Campus

While the George Mason University main campus is located in Fairfax, Virginia, the Schar School graduate programs and associated centers and institutes are in Arlington, Virginia. The 5.2-acre campus is in the Virginia Square neighborhood and was established in 1979 by the Virginia General Assembly for the School of Law. In 2011, the school began offering classes in the newly built Founders Hall. Additional redevelopment of the campus is planned.[6]

Degree offerings

The Schar School offers 14 doctoral, master's, bachelor's and certificate programs.[7] These include PhDs in Biodefense, Political Science, and Public Policy; master’s degrees in Biodefense, International Commerce and Policy, Organization Development and Knowledge Management (ODKM), Peace Operations, Political Science, Public Administration, Public Policy, and Transportation Policy, Operations, and Logistics (TPOL), as well as a JD/MPP Joint Degree and two undergraduate majors in Government and International Politics, and Public Administration.

Study abroad

SPGIA encourages students pursuing various degrees to study abroad to enhance their experience. The courses are open to all SPGIA bachelor's and master's degree students, as well as non-degree/non-George Mason students. Programs are offered in a variety of locations, including South Africa, Great Britain, India, and Mexico.[8]

Fellowships

SPGIA is an institutional host of the Muskie Fellowship program, chosen by the International Research and Exchanges Board. In 1992, the U.S. Congress established the Muskie program to foster economic and democratic growth in Eurasia. The program supports promising students from Eurasian countries to study at the graduate level in various fields.[9]

References