American University School of Public Affairs
 |
|
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Established | 1934 |
| Dean | Barbara S. Romzek |
|
Academic staff
|
85 full-time faculty |
| Students | 1,139 (undergraduate), 525 (graduate) |
| Location | Washington, District of Columbia, United States |
| Campus | Urban |
| Nickname | SPA |
| Website | american.edu/spa |
The American University School of Public Affairs (SPA) is an institution of higher education and research located in Washington, D.C. that grants academic degrees in political science, public administration, public policy, and justice, law and criminology. Established in 1934 as part of American University, the school houses three academic departments - Public Administration & Policy, Government, and Justice, Law & Criminology - as well as ten centers and institutes.
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.
The dean's office, department offices, and most faculty are located in the Ward Circle Building. The executive education programs occupy the Watkins building, and some faculty and staff have offices in Hurst Hall.
The Department of Public Administration & Policy (DPAP) is home to 32 full-time faculty members and enrolls about 70% of SPA's graduate students.
The MPA, Key Executive MPA, and MPP are accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration. The school is also an institutional member of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
...
Wikipedia