American University, School of Public Affairs

Build your skills in the epicenter of the public affairs and policy world

For 85 years, SPA has cultivated a culture of excellence. Students come to SPA for the rigorous academics and for the chance to experience their field of study firsthand—in the heart of the policy and politics world. These experiences—political, personal, and cultural—help shape and drive a passion for public service. At SPA, we search for the students who exemplify the spirit of our storied school—the future leaders, political advocates, public servants, and policy trailblazers with a desire to roll up their sleeves and face some the world’s most pressing challenges. At SPA, students both build a theoretical foundation and develop practical skills that can be applied in the workplace. 

SPA is recognized as one of the nation’s top public affairs schools, with an overall ranking of 13th among 285 of its kind, by U.S. News & World Report's 2022 Public Affairs Graduate Schools Rankings. 

Our degree programs offer students incredible flexibility—with most classes beginning at 5:30 pm and a range of options to help you customize your degree to meet your unique goals.

You will learn firsthand from a faculty that is composed of scholar-teachers and seasoned practitioners. Faculty serve as mentors—working closely with you—in and out of the classroom.

SPA delivers for our graduates: 95% earn professional placement within six months of graduation.

SPA offers varying levels of tuition remission, graduate assistantships, and endowed scholarships. On average, close to 80% of our incoming class are offered some type of merit-based funding.

SPA is top-ranked in specialty area rankings by U.S. News & World Report: 

#4 Public Management and Leadership

#7 International Global Policy & Administration

#9 Nonprofit Management

#7 Homeland Security & Emergency Management

#17 Urban Planning and Policy

#14 Public Financing and Budgeting 

#15 Public Policy Analysis

Only three other schools in the country have more specialty area rankings than SPA.

The School of Public of Affairs at American University was established in 1934 as part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s "New Deal" legislation. From FDR’s vision for “practical contacts between the collegiate and the educational world, and the operations of government,” SPA has been committed to training, educating, informing, and elevating public servants. FDR’s vision remains at the heart of SPA—building a bridge between academic thought and policy planning, while inspiring change at every level.

GRADUATE Degrees

Public Administration (MPA)

Public Policy (MPP)

Justice, Law & Criminology (MS)

Terrorism & Homeland Security Policy (MS)

Political Communication (MA)

Political Science (MA)

Data Science (MS)

EXECUTIVE Programs

Public Administration: Key Executive Leadership (MPA)

ONLINE Programs 

Online Master of Pubic Administration & Policy (MPAP)

Online Master of Science in Counterterrorism and Homeland Security

DOCTORAL Degrees

Public Administration & Policy (PhD)

Justice, Law & Criminology (PhD)

Political Science (PhD)

SPA Research Centers

Center for Congressional & Presidential Studies

Center for Data Science

Center for Environmental Policy

Women & Politics Institute

Political Theory Institute

First Ladies Initiative

Peace & Violence Lab

Justice Programs Office

Metropolitan Policy Center

Washington Institute for Public Affairs Research