P U B L I C A D M I N I S T R AT I O N
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P O L I C Y G R A D U AT E P R O G R A M S
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CONTENTS 1
MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
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AMERICAN UNIVERSITY’S SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
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THE AU ADVANTAGE
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MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
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MASTER OF PUBLIC POLICY
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DOCTORAL STUDIES IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
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FAQS ABOUT THE PHD
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AU—LEADER IN NATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS
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CAREER DEVELOPMENT
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SPA ALUMNI
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PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY FACULTY
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GRADUATE ADMISSION
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DIRECTIONS TO CAMPUS
AT
WORK
A MESSAGE FROM
T
THE
DEAN
he public sector has never been more dynamic; opportunities to lead change in our world have never been greater. Increasingly, leaders from
the public and private sectors work side by side to mount initiatives around the country—and the world. Executives in today’s public service must have the skills to manage across sectors. Our professional degrees—the MPA and the MPP—provide you with the expert knowledge and skills necessary to tackle the complex challenges of today: social issues, immigration, health care, and more. These degrees are also the marks of principled leadership. Whether in nonprofit management, public financial management, or another field, our curriculum is based in ethics and built on leadership values. The School of Public Affairs is strongly connected with the leaders of our capital city. Living in Washington will reward you with unique opportunities to observe and interact with policy and decision makers. You will become an active participant in the political landscape and experience the energy of being connected to the work of the country. Internships and cooperative educational opportunities with major government agencies and national and international organizations will allow you to work with those leaders, develop personal networks, and hone your critical skills. Finally, we are an engaged community of leading scholars and top practitioners. Our faculty—renowned for both teaching and research—play an active and integral role in the intellectual, professional, and personal development of every student. The quality of instruction you receive as an SPA student is unparalleled. If you share our commitment to engaged learning, and ultimately to becoming a part of a world of change and action, we at American University’s School of Public Affairs look forward to working with you.
William M. LeoGrande Dean School of Public Affairs American University
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY’S SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
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he School of Public Affairs at American University ranks 10th in the nation (U.S. News & World Report). Our location in Washington,
D.C., our national programs, and our professors provide a distinct advantage in preparing future leaders for careers in today’s public service—the fastest growing and most dynamic segment of the economy, where government, consulting, and nonprofit and private enterprise converge. As a graduate student here, you will benefit from a renowned and wellconnected faculty, small classes, a strong curriculum—and, of course, from access to leaders in your field of interest, to preeminent institutions, and to Washington’s vast and unique resources.
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You will be in excellent company at the School of Public Affairs. Each year we enroll an academically outstanding and diverse group of master’s and doctoral candidates from across the United States and around the world. Many have substantial experience as full-time professionals or through internships. All are committed to today’s public service, which is effectively integrating the public, for-profit, and nonprofit spheres. The School of Public Affairs at American University provides you with the necessary skills and contacts to excel in this exciting and expanding field. In recognition of graduate candidates’ ongoing careers, the school offers an evening-based master’s curriculum, which allows students to continue working while completing their degree and to benefit from internship experience.
ACADEMICS AT THE SCHOOL PUBLIC AFFAIRS
OF
AU’s School of Public Affairs demands of its faculty solid and engaged teaching, as well as excellent research and scholarship. Our faculty are nationally recognized scholarpractitioners in the fields of policy, politics, and administration—the foundation of today’s public service. The school consists of three main departments: public administration and policy; government; and justice, law and society. As a student, you have the opportunity to take courses in each. Our rigorous graduate curriculum draws from an array of academic disciplines, which enables you to explore career options. By design, the curriculum translates leading research and theory into practical knowledge for solving real problems. The master’s degrees prepare practitioners in government, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector, as well as those who wish to pursue additional graduate study. The school’s doctoral program produces scholars who have achieved intellectual mastery of their field and contribute to the advancement of knowledge through original research and teaching. All courses of study share these fundamental goals: to develop the individual’s capacity for critical thought, scholarship, professionalism, lifelong learning, and leadership.
School of Public Affairs GRADUATE PROGRAMS Department of Public Administration and Policy • Master of Public Administration • Master of Public Policy
THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PROVIDES YOU WITH THE NECESSARY SKILLS AND CONTACTS TO EXCEL IN TODAY’S PUBLIC SERVICE.
• PhD in Public Administration • Key Executive Leadership Master of Public Administration • MS in Organization Development Department of Government • MA in Political Science • PhD in Political Science Department of Justice, Law and Society • MS in Justice, Law and Society • JD-MS in Law and Justice • PhD in Justice, Law and Society
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THE WASHINGTON EXPERIENCE Washington, D.C., serves as a unique and vital laboratory for students and faculty in policy and administration. A locus of all levels of government—local, regional, state, national, and international—the region also boasts hundreds of private- and public-sector and international organizations. As a graduate student in AU’s School of Public Affairs, you interact regularly with national experts on campus and guest lecturers in your classes, and you participate in professional and scholarly conferences, panels, and special events across the city. You have access to outstanding resources for your research, including the Organization of American States, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Archives, advocacy groups, and national associations. In addition, the university’s own Bender Library contains more than a million volumes and is a member of the Washington Research Library Consortium (WRLC), a shared digital library established by eight area universities. Washington also affords the opportunity for significant field experience. Through internships and cooperative education, you test theory in practical applications, explore how public policy and administration affect public life, and make long-lasting contacts.
IT ALL HAPPENS IN D.C. Washington boasts more governmental entities, private corporations, and nonprofit organizations than any other city in the world: • 85 federal agencies and departments • 332,000 federal employees • 535 congressional offices • 788 international associations, businesses, and institutions, including the World Bank, the IMF, and U.N. offices • 16,000 national and international nonprofits
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Bishop Desmond Tutu
Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.)
President Jimmy Carter
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.)
Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.)
Tom Ridge, former homeland security secretary
Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the House; John Breaux, former senator (D-La.); and Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.)
John Edwards former senator (D-N.C.)
Madeleine Albright, former secretary of state Madeleine Albright, former secretary of state
WASHINGTON, D.C., SERVES AS A UNIQUE AND VITAL LABORATORY FOR STUDENTS AND FACULTY IN POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION. YOU INTERACT REGULARLY WITH EXPERTS AND GUEST LECTURERS ON CAMPUS AND IN YOUR CLASSES.
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THE AU ADVANTAGE • SPA faculty members are leaders in their fields—as authors of major publications, cutting-edge researchers, and experts in public policy and administration, nonprofit management, government finance, and social policy. With their range of experience in both scholarship and practice, faculty members bring important issues into the classroom and encourage student collaboration through research on public administration problems, policy dilemmas, and ethical issues. • Washington, D.C., is the center of today’s public service—the intersection of public and private collaboration. SPA faculty and alumni are involved at every level of government, in private organizations, and as consultants. Interaction with them offers students exceptional learning opportunities. Students regularly engage in analysis of government performance and policy implementation, conduct interviews with organization leaders, and track legislation and its impact. • The unique network of AU faculty and alumni provides SPA graduate students with distinct professional advantages—and the most challenging opportunities in the capital and across the country.
SPA distinguished professor James Thurber, left, with Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.). Obama was the keynote speaker at a 2006 lobbying reform summit cosponsored by SPA’s Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies.
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EXECUTIVE PROGRAMS Increasing Leadership Capacity The School of Public Affairs is the preeminent national center for executive education. SPA’s executive degrees in public administration and organization development attract professionals from across the nation. Courses are offered on select weekends on an accelerated schedule. The Key Executive Leadership MPA is the nation’s only accredited executive master’s program in public administration. Founded in 1975, the pioneering Key MPA is designed for government executives (GS-13 or equivalent and above) and other public sector and nonprofit executives. The AU/NTL master of science in organization development (MSOD) is the leading advanced degree for professionals in organization change. Built on a partnership between Gwen Sykes, former AU’s School of Public Affairs and NASA CFO, Key ’01 the National Training Laboratories, the program provides students with a solid theoretical and experiential foundation for OD scholarship and practice. Both the Key and AU/NTL programs, taught by renowned School of Public Affairs faculty, accommodate working professionals through: • cohort education • weekend schedules • accelerated studies For more information, contact spagrad@american.edu.
TODAY’S PUBLIC SERVICE IS THE FASTEST GROWING AND MOST DYNAMIC SEGMENT OF THE ECONOMY, WHERE GOVERNMENT, CONSULTING, AND NONPROFIT AND PRIVATE ENTERPRISE CONVERGE. AU's School of Public Affairs is the only school in the nation to offer a NASPAA-accredited Executive MPA.
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M ASTER
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P UBLIC A DMINISTRATION
anked eighth in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, AU’s master of public administration (MPA) prepares students for leader-
ship responsibilities and executive roles in public agencies, national and international nonprofit organizations, and private firms. With the help of faculty, you develop critical multidisciplinary management and analytical skills for addressing public policy issues and setting organizational goals. Students learn the values of public administration as a profession, study the constitutional and political forces that shape today’s public service, and cultivate the specialized knowledge required for work in that field.
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The MPA is built on four components that set the leadership education standard for today’s public service: • core courses covering basic management processes and conceptual skills • advanced-level courses in management, including financial issues, human resource management, team building, public-private partnerships, project and general management • specialized areas of concentration • practical fieldwork (internships, cooperative education placement)
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS You earn an MPA by completing 42 credit hours of approved graduate work, with a GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or better, and by earning a satisfactory grade on a comprehensive exam that includes an exercise in management analysis and a reflective essay. Course Requirements • Problem Solving for Managers or Methods of Problem Solving I • Management Analysis • Public Administration in the Policy Process • Legal Basis of Public Administration or Comparative Administrative Systems (for international students returning to countries supporting legal systems other than AngloAmerican or European, with permission of their academic advisor) • Public Managerial Economics • The Individual and the Organization
Two of the following: • Topics in Public Management • Government and Nonprofit Informatics • Public-Private Partnerships • Project Management • Leadership in a Changing Workplace • Facilitation and Team Development • Human Resource Management Strategies One of the following: • Financing Government Services • Budget and Cost Analysis • Financial Aspects of Public Management NOTE: Course requirements are subject to change; visit www.spa.american.edu for current listings. Areas of Concentration Students take 9 to 12 credit hours in an area of concentration. With approval, you may design your own concentration.
“AU prepared me for a life of public service. Excellent professors
• public financial management
and a dedicated community of
• state and local administration
students combine to make AU
• international management
a world-class institution.”
• policy analysis • human resource management • arts management
Congressman Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), SPA/MPA ’84
• nonprofit management • information systems management • management consulting • public management
• Internship (3 credits for precareer students; optional for students with professional experience)
MPA Background: liberal arts, social sciences, political science, economics, public administration, business, prelaw Course of study: leadership-based curriculum complemented by analytical applications and problem solving using quantitative approaches Selected career options: program manager, research director, public affairs specialist, community development organizer, public health advocate, city manager
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MASTER OF PUBLIC POLICY
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he challenge for policy makers in today’s most dynamic sector is to make farsighted choices in the context of competing social, political,
legal, economic, and security needs. Clarifying agency objectives, identifying the public interest, and pursuing what is just, efficient, and legal—all of these are part of the policy process. Whether you desire to advise policy makers or to make policy yourself, and if you wish to understand the politics and economics of public policy design, AU’s MPP is for you.
The School of Public Affairs is dedicated to finding better ways to design, manage, implement, and evaluate government programs, which touch our lives in countless ways. Our MPP emphasizes the development of cuttingedge methodological and analytical skills, as they apply to specific public policy problems. The Master of Public Policy offers four primary areas of competency: decisionmaking or analysis, economics, managerial and administrative issues, and a contextual understanding of the political, social, organizational, legal, and ethical aspects of public policy. In addition to the core course work, you can choose an area of concentration from among a variety of fields.
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The MPP is built on components that set the policy education standard for today’s public service: • core courses covering problem solving, policy and organizational analysis, economics, and finance • advanced-level courses on policy in the governmental context and applied policy analysis • specialized areas of concentration • practical fieldwork (internships, cooperative education placement) and policy practicum
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS You earn an MPP by completing 39 credit hours of approved graduate work, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale). Course Requirements • Methods of Problem Solving I • Methods of Problem Solving II • Policy Process • Foundations of Policy Analysis • Public Managerial Economics • Financing Government Services • Organizational Analysis • Policy Practicum
One of the following: • Legal Basis of Public Administration • Project Management • Ethical Issues in Public Policy • Leadership in a Changing Workplace
GRADUATE CERTIFICATES
The capstone course, Economics and Politics of Public Policy, covers economics, politics, quantitative methods, and program evaluation. Students are encouraged to apply these to a specific policy area.
If you have already earned a graduate degree or you do not wish to pursue a degree at present, a certificate will enhance your skills and academic credentials for career advancement. Certificates are offered in the following areas:
NOTE: Course requirements are subject to change; see www.spa.american.edu for most current listings.
• public financial management Areas of Concentration
• public management
Students take 9 credit hours in an area of concentration, which may include a 3-credit internship (for precareer students; optional for students with professional experience). With approval, you may design your own concentration. • social policy
• public policy analysis • organizational change • executive leadership • nonprofit management • women, policy, and political leadership
• international development • science, technology, and environmental policy • crime, public law, and policy • public financial management • public management • nonprofit policy, management, and leadership
One of the following:
• applied politics, including campaign management and women and politics
• Public Program Evaluation
• comparative public policy
• Economics and Politics of Public Policy
• advanced policy analysis
Certificate enrollment requirements: • 15–18 credit hours of approved graduate study to be completed within four years of admission • minimum of 6 credit hours for each 12-month period until the program is completed • bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Topics in Policy Analysis and Management: Cost Benefit Analysis
MPP Background: economics, political science, urban planning, statistics, international relations Course of study: analytical and quantitative-based curriculum complemented by selected topics or focus areas Selected career options: policy director, budget analyst, project manager, research associate, grant specialist, educational services consultant
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DOCTORAL STUDIES IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
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he PhD program in public administration at American University’s School of Public Affairs offers the advantages of faculty, curriculum,
location, and flexibility. Our emphasis is to prepare top doctoral candidates for careers as scholars. Over the last five years, more than half of our graduates have entered academia and most of our current PhD candidates plan to pursue university careers. Others become policy analysts, senior researchers for think tanks, or work on Capitol Hill or elsewhere in government. Every faculty member in the PhD program is a recognized scholar well connected in Washington and across the country. By reputation and through their active involvement in the field, they consistently open doors for our students after graduation. To ensure that our candidates are qualified, we require a solid foundation in empirical theory and research methods. Most of our seminars are designed exclusively for PhD students so they can focus on mastering the literature and producing significant research. You will find these seminars both intellectually challenging and creatively stimulating. Our PhD graduates cite their training in qualitative and quantitative methods as among the greatest benefits of the program. It is our goal to provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary for conducting original and effective research in your major field of study.
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During the first year, we offer two invaluable tools to help you succeed in the program and in your research or teaching career: one is working knowledge of the ideas and issues relevant to each field, taught in three required proseminars; the other is methodology, a two-part course. Secondand third-year students take a combination of advanced research and methods seminars. Drawing on these basic tools, our PhD students regularly present papers at professional conferences and many of them publish in major journals. Our location in Washington, D.C., offers unique resources, among them the U.S. Congress, executive agencies, and hundreds of interest groups and associations. Our faculty and graduate candidates avail themselves of unequaled primary sources, from elected and appointed officials to such major research institutions as the Library of Congress and the National Archives. Finally, the program is interdisciplinary, which enables PhD candidates to take doctoral courses in other fields within the School of Public Affairs: American politics, comparative politics, policy analysis, research methods, and justice, law and society. Students may also choose a concentration in a doctoral field outside SPA, including economics, international affairs, or history.
First Year Fall • Proseminar 1 (American politics; comparative politics; public administration; justice, law and society) • Proseminar 2 (American politics; comparative politics; public administration; justice, law and society) • Conduct of Inquiry I Spring • seminar or policy proseminar • seminar • Conduct of Inquiry II • qualifying paper (American politics, comparative politics, or policy) or exam (public administration or justice, law and society)
“Earning my MPA with a concen-
Second Year
American University was essential to
Fall
my career path as a nonprofit
• field seminars • complete research methods requirement (minimum of 9 credits) • complete proseminar requirement, if needed Third Year
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
• written comprehensive exams
• 72 credit hours (48 credits required for those with an approved master’s degree)
• oral comprehensive exam (preparation and defense of dissertation proposal)
• qualifying paper or exam at end of first year • completed courses in three fields • four comprehensive exams: research methods (satisfied by minimum of 9 methods credits), written exams in two fields, oral defense of dissertation proposal • final dissertation defense
• apply for competitive dissertation funding at end of year • students without a master’s degree complete course work Fourth Year (or until degree is completed)
tration in nonprofit management at
leader. As someone who truly supports and believes in the nonprofit sector, I couldn’t have chosen a better place than the School of Public Affairs, which combines strong academics with connections to the meaningful and relevant work experience D.C. uniquely offers.” Quinci Moody, SPA/MPA ’05 Director of Programs and Evaluation Facilitating Leadership in Youth (FLY)
• Doctoral Dissertation Seminar (for students who are researching and writing their dissertation) • research and write dissertation • maintain matriculation (for students who have completed course work but not dissertation or comprehensive exams: at least 1 credit for administrative registration each fall and spring until graduation)
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“As a faculty member, I try to engage the students in an active, exciting learning process, where they can test theories with their day-to-day experience. I love the diversity of the classroom—it adds a tremendous amount to the learning experience.” Patrick Malone, PhD/SPA ’00 Faculty
The Public Purpose is a faculty-refereed, interdisciplinary journal produced by SPA graduate students. Since 2002, it has featured research papers on public administration and policy, government, and justice. The journal affords graduate students an opportunity to publish scholarly articles for a national academic audience.
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FAQ’S ABOUT THE PhD How much time will I have to devote to the program each week? Our courses are rigorous and many PhD students are surprised by the amount of time required to successfully complete the course work. This is especially true of full-time first-year students, who are required to attain working knowledge of the literature in three fields of study and become proficient in methodology. I don’t have a master’s degree. Can I still enroll in the PhD program? Yes, but keep in mind that if you do not have a master’s degree, you must take additional courses in order to complete the program. Are PhD research projects supported by the School of Public Affairs? SPA has assisted doctoral students to present papers at national professional conferences and has reimbursed some research expenses. The faculty encourages students to apply for both institutional and outside funding for dissertation projects. It is up to the individual student, however, to initiate and follow through with the funding process, whether internal or external. Faculty members often enlist PhD students for assistance with externally funded research projects, which can be a source of support for dissertation or other student research. Will I have the opportunity to teach? All PhD students interested in an academic career may participate in a university-wide program designed to improve graduate assistants’ teaching techniques. Each participant begins by assistant teaching an undergraduate course, and then coteaching a course with a faculty mentor. Eventually, students may elect to teach their own undergraduate course or set of courses. Where can I live? The SPA graduate admissions office offers new graduate and doctoral students many resources for finding suitable housing. These include a Web site featuring a housing bulletin board and links for apartment rentals. Will SPA help me find a job? Yes. We invest in you and are proactive in our commitment to help you. Our professors network for SPA graduate students, write letters of recommendation, advise students about the interviewing process, and work with you to help you find a job. The result is a high employment rate, with more than half of our graduates securing tenure-track academic positions, and most others substantial nonacademic jobs. Of course, the best way to obtain an academic appointment is to complete your dissertation, publish a refereed article, and have taught a course by the time you enter the market.
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AU—LEADER IN NATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS
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n recent years, AU has produced more Presidential Management fellows than any other school in the country. The prestigious PMF—
a paid, two-year graduate program established to attract outstanding individuals to federal service—puts fellows on the fast track to high-level management positions. SPA graduate students are also awarded other prestigious fellowships. These include the GAO Professional Development, EPA Career Intern, HHS Emerging Leaders, HUD Career Intern, ICMA Local Government Management Fellowship, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Public Policy Fellowship, Capital City Fellows, and New York City Urban Fellows programs. The school’s successful record of placing students in these top fellowships is a testament to the excellence of SPA graduate candidates and the quality of faculty support and guidance.
SPA—A Tradition of Service Students frequently enroll in SPA graduate programs after serving as domestic or international volunteers. Graduate candidates bring to the classroom their diverse experiences from service in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Teach For America, and other volunteer programs. During their studies, SPA graduate students frequently apply their expertise and commitment to service through fundraising and community development projects.
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AU Presidential Management fellows attend a reception on campus.
“We are proud of our tradition of being a top producer of Presidential Management fellows.” Meg Weekes Associate Dean
Frances Fragos Townsend (SPA/BA ’82), the president's top advisor on homeland security and counterterrorism, delivers the keynote address at the 28th annual Roger W. Jones Award for Executive Leadership ceremony. Sponsored by SPA, the award honors outstanding senior executives in the federal government.
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CAREER DEVELOPMENT Student–Faculty Collaborative Research As a graduate student, you may collaborate with a faculty member on his or her research project toward preparation of a publishable article. Publishing attributed articles in professional journals significantly enhances your potential for future research and academic positions.
“The MPP program provided me with a strong foundation for a career in public service. The course work in statistics and research design gave me critical skills for working in the federal government, especially with the increased need for establishing performance
Field Experience: Internships and Co-ops SPA students prepare for leadership careers through cooperative education and internships, which combine academic study with practical work experience. Students can earn credit by working with a faculty member on academic assignments related to on-the-job experiences and current public administration and policy issues. Internships are available in a variety of public, private, and nonprofit organizations, as well as research and political organizations.
Alumni and Faculty Networks American University’s alumni community counts among its 150,000 members many leaders in today’s public service, both on the national and international levels. Among those SPA alumni who are actively involved with the school and students are Representative James McGovern (D-Mass.), Representative Donald Manzullo (R-Ill.), and former representative Ken Bentsen (D-Tex.). Others include Homeland Security Advisor Frances Fragos Townsend, General Barry McCaffrey, and numerous CEOs, CFOs, and executive directors of nonprofit organizations. You can network and consult with alumni in a variety of professional fields through the Alumni Online Community, an excellent Web-based resource.
measures. It is both exciting and rewarding to be using my degree in the field of public health.” Jeanette Contreras, MPP ’04 Congressional Liaison Office of Policy and Analysis National Cancer Institute
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A co-op—a credit-based internship offered by the federal government—gives students the opportunity to work in paid positions. Co-ops may be converted to term, career, or careerconditional appointments following completion of your academic and work requirements.
Another resource available to you is the SPA faculty. Practitioners as well as scholars, our professors provide excellent contacts and serve as invaluable mentors throughout your career.
The Technological Advantage Named by Business Week as among the nation’s top wireless campuses, American University has become established as a leader in providing advanced resources for student research and learning. AU’s high-speed network, EagleNet, directly connects each classroom and department to campus computing resources and the Internet. Every graduate student receives an EagleNet account, allowing access to e-mail and the Web. SPA students and professors benefit from our fully-staffed computer lab, which is equipped with state-of-the-art hardware loaded with software packages designed to facilitate your studies and research. AU’s Web portal (my.american.edu) offers real-time academic and student account data, putting critical information at your fingertips.
State-of-the-Art Student Information Resources The university’s Bender Library houses more than a million volumes, 3,000 print periodicals, and more than a million microforms. Students also have access to resources at Pence Law Library at AU’s Washington College of Law. You are encouraged to take advantage of free workshops on LexisNexis and other major research tools. (Visit the library’s Web site at www.library.american.edu.) ALADIN, the library’s online catalog system, contains a wealth of current material, including databases of periodicals, newspapers, journals, statistics, and other specialized resources. This system is available to users holding a student ID through any computer with Internet access. ALADIN also accesses holdings at any of the seven other member universities of the Washington Research Library Consortium. AU’s wireless network enables you to connect to ALADIN and the Internet anywhere on campus.
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SPA ALUMNI AT WORK Nonprofit Adventist Development and Relief Agency International American Cancer Society American Petroleum Institute Anti-Defamation League Association of University Centers on Disabilities Center for Individual Rights Central American Resource Center Chemonics International D.C. College Access Program D.C. Voice Empower Program Families USA Health Insurance Association of America Henry M. Jackson Foundation Institute for Higher Education Policy Inter-American Development Bank International Republican Institute Lupus Foundation of America National Association for College Admission Counseling National Coalition on Health Care National Council of State Housing Agencies National Environmental Trust National Low Income Housing Coalition Sierra Club Spina Bifida Association of America Urban Institute Wilderness Society World Bank
Public 37%
Private 33%
Nonprofit 30%
School of Public Affairs Graduate Alumni
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Public Sector Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Central Intelligence Agency City of Clayton, Ohio Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency Defense Intelligence Agency Environmental Protection Agency Federal Aviation Administration Federal Emergency Management Agency General Services Administration Government of Japan Government of the District of Columbia International Monetary Fund Missile Defense Agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Naval Sea Systems Command Office of Compliance U.S. Air Force U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations U.S. Army U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis U.S. Coast Guard U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Department of Defense U.S. Department of Education U.S. Department of Energy U.S. Department of Health and Human Services U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Department of Justice U.S. Department of Labor U.S. Department of State U.S. Department of the Treasury U.S. Federal Trade Commission U.S. Government Accountability Office
U.S. Food and Drug Administration U.S. General Services Administration U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement U.S. Internal Revenue Service U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service U.S. Navy U.S. Office of Management and Budget U.S. Postal Service U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission U.S. Senate Private Sector Altria Group BAE Systems BearingPoint Inc. Booz Allen Hamilton Borger Management Inc. Computer Sciences Corporation Congressional Quarterly Coray Gurnitz Consulting Democracy Data and Communications Fannie Mae Gap International Inc. H. F. Huber and Son Inc. Inside Out Learning International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services IQ Solutions Inc. Kaiser Permanente Kleinmann Communication Group LRP Publications National Capital Revitalization Corp. National Strategies Inc. Pfizer Inc. Segal Company SENTECH Inc. SRA International Inc. Strategic Policy Research Inc. Tempus Consulting
profile
“I credit American University’s MPA program for equipping me with the skills necessary to excel in the private, nonprofit, and public sectors of employment. The rigorous academic program, coupled with the experience of classmates and professors, made my education more enjoyable and increased my breadth of knowledge well beyond textbooks and homework assignments.” Cheo Hurley, MPA/SPA ’01 Real Estate Development Manager Forest City-New East Baltimore Partnership LLC
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PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY FACULTY
T
he School of Public Affairs is the nation’s only school of its kind fully accredited in three degrees by the National Association of Schools of
Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA). Our MPA, MPP, and Key Executive Leadership MPA programs set national standards for advanced education in public affairs and administration.
ANNA A. AMIRKHANYAN PhD, Syracuse University, Public Administration Anna Amirkhanyan’s research focuses on public and nonprofit management, research methodology, determinants and consequences of local government reforms, comparison of organizational performance across sectors, social policy, and aging. Her teaching concentrations are quantitative methods in public management and public policy, and nonprofit management and marketing. She received the Maxwell School’s Dissertation Prize and the AU Faculty Research Award in the area of privatization of care for the elderly. Amirkhanyan has published articles in the International Journal of Public Administration, the Gerontologist, the Journals of Gerontology, and other leading journals. She is a frequent presenter at the National Public Management Research Conference, the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management Conference, and other national conferences.
“The U.S. faces a great challenge: how best to harness for public purposes the energy and expertise of career civil servants, the passion and commitment of nonprofit organizations, and the dynamism and creativity of markets, while ensuring the democratic and constitutional values that make us who we are as a nation?” Robert F. Durant Professor, Public Administration and Policy
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KATHERINE FARQUHAR
ROBERT F. DURANT PhD, University of Tennessee, Political Science Robert Durant’s teaching and research interests include executive branch politics, public management, policy implementation, environmental policy, and administrative reform. The associate editor for administrative research for the Public Administration Review, he has published extensively in major refereed journals in public administration, political science, and public policy. His new book,The Greening of the U.S. Military: Environmental Policy, National Security, and Organizational Change, was published in 2007. Durant coedited Environmental Governance Reconsidered: Challenges, Choices, and Opportunities (MIT, 2004). For his coauthored book, Managing for the Environment: Understanding the Legal, Organizational, and Policy Challenges (Jossey-Bass, 1999), he received the 2000 Best Book Award from the Public and Nonprofit Division of the Academy of Management, and the Outstanding Book Award in Environmental and Natural Resource Policy from the American Society for Public Administration. In 1993, Durant received the Gladys M. Kammerer Award from the American Political Science Association for The Administrative Presidency Revisited: Public Lands, the BLM, and the Reagan Revolution (SUNY, 1992). In 2003, he received the prestigious Charles H. Levine Memorial Award, given jointly by the American Society for Public Administration and the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration for excellence in research, teaching, and service to the wider community. In addition, he has won four teaching awards and two bestjournal article awards, sits on the editorial boards of seven disciplinary journals, was a Fulbright Scholar in Thailand (2002), and is a founding member and chair of the Paul A. Volcker Endowment for Public Service Research and Education. Recently, Durant was elected as a fellow to the National Academy of Public Administration. He also was honored with the 2007 Leslie A. Whittington Award for Excellence in Teaching by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration.
PhD, Boston University, Social Psychology, Organization Development Director of the AU/NTL Organization Development program, Katherine Farquhar has taught at AU since 1989. A tenured member of the AU faculty and a member of the NTL Institute, she teaches courses on leadership, facilitation, conflict management, interventions in organization systems, and organization development, diagnosis, and change. Her research and conference presentations focus on executive transitions, leadership development, and organization development. Farquhar’s articles have appeared in Human Resource Management, Public Administration Review, Human Relations, Business Horizons, and the International Journal of Public Administration. She consults for nonprofits and other clients on such issues as executive development, governance, and strategic planning. She has served on boards in the corporate and education sectors and on committees for the Academy of Management and Organization Development Network.
ALISON JACKNOWITZ PhD, RAND Graduate School, Policy Analysis Alison Jacknowitz is an assistant professor of public administration and policy. Her teaching interests include social policy, program evaluation, empirical analysis, and policy analysis. She received the 2005–06 School of Public Affairs Award for Outstanding Teaching in a Full-Time Appointment. Jacknowitz conducts research on issues related to poverty, income and food assistance programs, health outcomes, the elderly, and children and families. She is currently working on a series of projects investigating why eligible women do not participate in the Special Supplement Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). This research is funded by the University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research and the United States Department of Agriculture. Jacknowitz’s previous research has appeared in Demography, the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, and the Journal of Human Resources. She has presented papers at the National Academy of Sciences and at annual meetings of the American Public Health Association, the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, the Population Association of America, and the Western Economic Association.
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Active in a number of professional associations and societies, he was elected a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration in 1996 and chaired the Fellow Nominating Committee in 2000. A member of the National Council of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration, Kerwin served as president in 1998. He was also on the Leonard D. White Award Committee of the American Political Science Association.
JOCELYN M. JOHNSTON PhD, Syracuse University, Public Administration Jocelyn Johnston’s teaching and research interests include intergovernmental programs and policy, intergovernmental fiscal relations, public management, and government contracting. Her publications can be seen in such scholarly journals as Public Administration Review, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Publius, State and Local Government Review, and Health Affairs. She is active in the Association for Budgeting and Financial Management (former chair), the American Political Science Association’s sections for Public Administration and Federalism/Intergovernmental Relations, and the Public Management Research Association. She is on the executive committees of the latter two organizations. Johnston received the Kaufman Award for the Best Paper in Public Administration, presented at the 2001 American Political Science Association conference.
CORNELIUS M. KERWIN, UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT PhD, Johns Hopkins University, Political Science Neil Kerwin was appointed to the AU faculty in 1975 and has held various leadership positions within the School of Public Affairs, including dean from 1988 to 1997. He served as provost from 1997 to 2005, when he became interim president. As of September 1, 2007, he began his term as American University’s 14th president. In addition to his administrative responsibilities, Kerwin is actively engaged in teaching and research. A specialist in public policy with an emphasis on the regulatory process, he teaches courses in administrative process, policy implementation, and American government. Kerwin is the author of Rulemaking: How Government Agencies Write Law and Make Policy, 3d ed. (CQ, 2000) and coauthor of How Washington Works, 3d ed. (Thomas Horton, 1996). His scholarly articles have appeared in Public Administration Review, Journal of Politics, Policy Studies Review, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Judicature, Justice System Journal, and the Harvard Journal on Legislation.
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ROBERT KRAMER PhD, George Washington University, Management Robert Kramer’s scholarly publications, which include A Psychology of Difference (Princeton, 1996), explore the intellectual history of emotional intelligence. They have been published in the U.S. and the U.K. and translated for publication in Austria, France, Germany, Spain, Hungary, and the Netherlands. In 2004, he received ASPA’s Curriculum Innovation Award for instituting action learning as the leadership development model for the Key Executive Leadership MPA program, which he directed from 2002 to 2005. From 2002 to 2004, he served on the board of directors of the Organizational Behavior Teaching Society, an international group of professors of management education. In 2002, he received the Outstanding Teacher Award from SPA. Before joining AU, Kramer served in government for 25 years, including service on Vice President Al Gore’s task force to reinvent government. In 1999, he was a Fulbright professor in Budapest, Hungary. Since then, he has conducted leadership development programs in central and eastern Europe to promote democracy in post-Communist societies. He speaks regularly on leadership topics at the American Society for Public Administration, the American Psychological Association, and other groups. He also teaches action learning at the Thierry Graduate School of Leadership in Brussels, Belgium.
SAMUEL KRISLOV, SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE PhD, Princeton University, Politics Samuel Krislov has held positions with APSA and the California Judicial Council, the National Research Council, the Law and Society Association, and the Midwest Political Science Association. His scholarly articles have appeared in such publications as Oxford Companion to American Law, Publius, Jurimetrics, Comparative Governance, and a variety of law journals, including Harvard, Yale, and Cornell. Among his books are Representative Bureaucracy (Prentice Hall, 1974), How Nations Choose Product Standards (University of Pittsburgh, 1997), and Constitutional Law, 2d ed., coedited with Malcolm Feeley (Scott Foresman/Little, Brown; 1990). Krislov was the 2000–01 John Marshall Distinguished Fulbright Scholar at the Budapest University of Economic Sciences and received the Lifetime Achievement Award, Law and Courts Section, of APSA. Among his numerous other awards are Guggenheim, Russell Sage, Ford, and Rockefeller fellowships.
LAURA I. LANGBEIN
HOWARD E. MCCURDY
PhD, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, Political Science Laura Langbein teaches quantitative methods, program evaluation, policy analysis, and public choice. Her research fields include theories of bureaucratic discretion, productivity, principal agent models, social capital, and cooperation in the workplace. Additional areas are theories of influence among interest groups in Congress and government bureaucracy, and empirical applications in such policy areas as environment, education, defense, housing, criminal justice, and corruption. Her work has appeared in Political Research Quarterly, Journal of Politics, Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Social Science Quarterly, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Evaluation Review, Public Choice, Public Administration Review, and other scholarly journals. She also has coauthored articles with SPA graduate students and AU president Neil Kerwin. Currently, Langbein is studying the consequences of varying levels of discretion in federal agencies. She is also studying the stability of both the presence and the relative absence of corruption in many countries. She recently published Public Program Evaluation: A Statistical Guide (M. E. Sharpe, 2006), a textbook cowritten with Claire Felbinger. In 2002, she was the Hooker Distinguished Visiting Professor at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. She gave the keynote address at the 2006 meeting of the Southern Evaluation Association.
PhD, Cornell University; Public Administration, Public Finance, American Politics Howard McCurdy is an expert in public administration, finance, policy, and management; American politics; and organization theory. With fellow faculty member David Rosenbloom, he published Revisiting Waldo’s Adminstrative State: Constancy and Change in Public Administration (Georgetown, 2006), a book on the political theory of American public administration. One of the country’s leading experts on space policy, he authored Faster, Better, Cheaper (Hopkins, 2001), a critical analysis of cost-cutting initiatives in the U.S. space program. An earlier study of NASA’s organizational culture, Inside NASA (Hopkins, 1993), won the 1994 Henry Adams prize for best history of the federal government. He also wrote Space and the American Imagination (Smithsonian, 1997) and coedited Spaceflight and the Myth of Presidential Leadership (University of Illinois, 1997). McCurdy’s work appears in such scholarly journals as Public Administration Review and Space Policy. He is often consulted by the media on public policy issues and has appeared on national news outlets, including PBS’s News Hour, National Public Radio, and NBC Nightly News.
HARVEY LIEBER PhD, Columbia University, Political Science An interest in the environment—its conservation and management—is the foundation for Harvey Lieber’s teaching and research. He is the author of Federalism and Clean Waters: The 1972 Water Pollution Control Act (Lexington, 1975) and has received a grant to study water pollution and water resources management. Lieber has testified before the Senate Committee on Public Works regarding air and water pollution and has served as executive secretary of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator’s Toxic Substances Control Advisory Committee. Currently, as internship director of the public administration department, he advises students on career opportunities, including the prestigious Presidential Management Fellows Program.
DANIEL R. MULLINS PhD, Syracuse University, Public Administration Daniel Mullins’s research focuses on intergovernmental fiscal systems and budgetary reform, the effects of tax and expenditure limitations on state and local fiscal structure, the implications of demographic changes for state and local revenues and expenditures, municipal budgeting practices, economic development strategies, and the spatial and economic structure of metropolitan areas. His work has appeared in a variety of academic and professional publications, including Public Administration Review, Policy Sciences, Urban Affairs Quarterly, and publications of the Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, the World Bank, and the International City Management Association. Mullins has served extensively, both domestically and abroad, in consulting and advisory capacities on issues of public sector budgeting and intergovernmental fiscal relations. He has worked on numerous structural reform projects with the World Bank and USAID and is managing editor of the journal Public Budgeting and Finance.
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BERYL RADIN, SCHOLAR IN RESIDENCE PhD, University of California–Berkeley, City and Regional Planning One of the leading scholars in public management and policy, Beryl Radin’s expertise includes intergovernmental relations and federalism, administrative reform, performance management, and public policy. Her book Challenging the Performance Movement: Accountability, Complexity, and Democratic Values (Georgetown, 2006) explores the unanticipated consequences of the performance movement. Other books includeThe Accountable Juggler: The Art of Leadership in a Federal Agency (CQ, 2002) and Beyond Machiavelli: Policy Analysis Comes of Age (Georgetown, 2000). She has also written on issues related to implementing the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) and the Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART), as well as on policy analysis and intergovernmental relations. Radin, an elected member of the National Academy of Public Administration, was managing editor of the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory (2000–05) and president of the Association of Public Policy Analysis and Management. She also served on the board of the Public Management Research Association. She was special advisor to the assistant secretary for management and budget at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Among her many accolades, she received the ASPA 2002 Donald Stone Award for Outstanding Academic and Research Contributions to Intergovernmental Management. She served as a senior Fulbright lecturer in India, a fellow at the American Society for Public Administration’s Center for Accountability and Performance, and an evaluator for Innovations in American Government. Radin is the only American involved in planning an international conference on federalism in Delhi, India, in November 2007. In her honor, a national award given by the Public Management Research Association bears her name. DAVID H. ROSENBLOOM, DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR PhD, University of Chicago, Political Science; Honorary Doctor of Laws, Marietta College A major contributor to the field of public administration, David Rosenbloom is a member of the National Academy of Public Administration. Among his accolades, he holds the APSA 2001 John Gaus Award for Exemplary Scholarship in the Joint Tradition of Political Science and Public Administration, the ASPA 1999 Dwight Waldo Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Literature and Leadership of Public
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Administration, the 1993 Charles H. Levine Award for Excellence in Public Administration, the 1992 ASPA/NASPAA Distinguished Research Award. He has also received AU’s School of Public Affairs Outstanding Scholarship and Service Awards, and PhD Students’ Excellence in Teaching Award. Rosenbloom’s Building a Legislative-Centered Public Administration: Congress and the Administrative State, 1946–1999 (University of Alabama, 2000) received the National Academy of Public Administration’s 2001 Louis Brownlow Book Award. His most recent books are Personnel Management in Government, 6th ed., coauthored with Norma Riccucci, Katherine Naff, and Jay Shafritz (Taylor and Francis, 2007); Revisiting Waldo’s Administrative State: Constancy and Change in Public Administration, coedited with Howard McCurdy (Georgetown, 2006); A Reasonable Public Servant, coauthored with Yong Lee (M. E. Sharpe, 2005); Public Administration: Understanding Management, Politics, and Law in the Public Sector, 6th ed., coauthored with Robert Kravchuk (McGraw-Hill, 2005); and Administrative Law for Public Managers (Westview, 2003). His research focuses on public administration and democratic constitutionalism. Rosenbloom was editor in chief of Public Administration Review (1991–96), coeditor in chief of Policy Studies Journal (1985–90), and currently serves on the editorial boards of more than a dozen public administration journals. Two of Rosenbloom’s students received the NASPAA Annual Best Doctoral Dissertation Award and several have become major contributors to the field of public administration. A frequent lecturer at universities and public service organizations in the United States and abroad, he was guest professor in China at Renmin (People’s) University’s School of Public Administration, Beijing (2005). Rosenbloom’s public service includes an appointment in 1992 to the Clinton-Gore presidential transition team at the Office of Personnel Management.
BERNARD H. ROSS, PROFESSOR EMERITUS PhD, New York University, Government Bernard Ross’s teaching and research interests include public policy and management. With experience in both the public and private sectors, he often consults for government and industry. His most recent published works include Urban Politics: Power in Metropolitan America, 7th ed. (Wadsworth, 2006), coauthored with Myron Levine; and How Washington Works: The Executive’s Guide to Government, 3d ed. (Thomas Horton, 1996), coauthored with Neil Kerwin and Lee Fritschler. He also publishes in such journals as Public Risk, Management Review, and the Urban Interest. Ross is a member of the American Society for Public Administration and the National Academy of Public Administration. He received the 1977 School of Public Affairs Award for Outstanding Teaching. BRADLEY R. SCHILLER PhD, Harvard University, Economics In addition to teaching economic theory to students and practitioners in public policy, Bradley Schiller also applies economics in practice. As a consultant to governments and major corporations, he has designed, evaluated, and operated numerous employment, training, and welfare programs. He continues his activities in these areas, as well as in forensic economics. Schiller also lectures extensively on the costs of terrorism, Social Security reform, and the ever-changing federal budget outlook. His many editorials have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, theWashington Post, the New York Times, and other papers, and he has published numerous articles in professional journals. Schiller’s Economics of Poverty and Discrimination, 9th ed. (Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004) has remained the standard text for more than 20 years. His Economy Today, 10th ed. (McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2006) is one of the world’s most widely used economics texts. ROBERT TOBIAS JD, George Washington University; Director, Public Sector Executive Education; Director, Institute for Study of Public Policy Implementation As director of public sector executive education, Robert Tobias heads the Key Executive Leadership master’s program and teaches courses in leadership, facilitation and team development, conflict management, and labor relations management. President Bill Clinton nominated and the Senate confirmed Tobias for a five-year term as a member of the IRS Oversight Board. He was selected by Thomas Ridge (former secretary of the DHS) and Kay Coles James (former director of OPM) to serve on the Human Resource Management System Senior Review Advisory Committee. In addition, Comptroller General David Walker appointed Tobias to the Commercial Activities Panel, which submitted its recommendations to Congress in May 2002.
In conjunction with the Partnership for Public Service, he presents the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government awards. Tobias writes frequently about current federal-sector public policy implementation issues for Federal Times, Government Employees Relations Report, and Government Executive magazine. He is a member of the National Academy of Public Administration. Tobias holds a BA and an MBA from the University of Michigan. DONALD G. ZAUDERER, PROFESSOR EMERITUS PhD, Indiana University; Management, Public Policy, Economics Donald Zauderer is president of Zauderer and Associates, a firm that provides training and consulting services to public, private, and not-for-profit organizations. He formerly served as a senior advisor at the Brookings Institution and as director of the Key Executive Leadership program. Zauderer’s areas of specialization include leadership development, executive coaching, ethics awareness, team building, organization diagnosis and change, and strategic planning. He has worked with such diverse organizations as the National Gallery of Art, the GAO, the General Services Administration, the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, the Smith Farm Center for the Healing Arts, and the departments of transportation, defense, and health and human services. He also serves as a features editor for the Public Manager and is a member of the D.C. Bar Ethics Committee. Some of his publications—“Mastering the Art of Public Leadership” (1993), “The Benefit of Dialogue” (2001), “Winning with Integrity” (1994), and “Incivility and the Management of Human Capital” (2003)—have focused on the importance of value-based leadership.
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GRADUATE ADMISSION Admission decisions are made by the School of Public Affairs. To be considered, you should: • possess an accredited bachelor’s degree, with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in the last 60 hours of course work or the last 90 quarter hours • submit two letters of recommendation (three for a PhD application) from instructors or employers about your suitability for graduate study in public affairs • write an essay (personal statement) describing your career interests • submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS), if your first language is not English (unless you hold a degree from an accredited American or British university or college) • submit results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) to institution code 5773. (Applicants to the executive degree programs—the Key Executive Leadership MPA and the MS in organization development—do not need to submit GRE scores. Applicants with eight years of work experience who apply to the traditional MPP and the MPA programs may request a waiver.) To receive full consideration for merit-based aid, the deadline for submitting applications for fall admission is February 1.
Applications for fall admission to the traditional master’s programs are accepted through June 1. The application deadline for spring admission is November 1. PhD applications are accepted for fall admission only. You should plan to take the GRE, TOEFL, or IELTS no later than December to ensure that a complete application is on file prior to the deadline. To Apply
“The practical approach to
The preferred way to apply for admission is via the Web—it’s easy, fast, and secure: Go to www.spa.american.edu. Pull down the Admissions toolbar and proceed from there.
course work at SPA laid a strong
The $55 application fee may be submitted online or by mail (make checks payable to American University) to the address below. Recommendations may also be submitted electronically or on hard copy to the same address.
outstanding—and now, as an
For complete instructions on the application process, please visit our Web site or review the enclosed application. If you have questions regarding admission, please contact SPA’s Graduate Admissions Office.
Gregory Truex, SPA/MPP ’04 Senior Manager of Business Development and Client Services, Emerging Industries Practice J. D. Power and Associates
foundation for my career. The networking opportunities were alum, I see how those connections can really make a difference.”
Contact information: Graduate Admissions Office School of Public Affairs American University 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20016-8022 Phone: 202-885-6230 Fax: 202-885-1435 E-mail: spagrad@american.edu Web: www.spa.american.edu
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Merit-Based Financial Assistance
ROGER W. JONES Award for Executive Leadership
Merit-based fellowships, assistantships, and graduate study grants are available for select full-time master’s and doctoral students. These awards include: • fellowships—stipend plus tuition remission
Since 1978, American University and its School of Public Affairs have granted this prestigious award to more than 50 federal career executives in recognition of their exceptional public service and dedication to the work and goals of government. Each year a distinguished panel selects two individuals for their demonstrated capabilities in the areas of leadership and commitment to effective continuity of government. The annual award ceremony takes place in the fall on the campus of American University.
• assistantships—stipend plus tuition remission and learning component • graduate study grants—tuition remission • master’s fellowships—fellowship plus an additional stipend for outstanding new master’s degree students • doctoral dissertation fellowships—stipend plus tuition remission for doctoral candidates working full-time on their dissertations • special opportunity awards—assistantships and graduate study awards for American-born minority students • Hall of Nations scholarships—tuition remission for international students who do not have permanent resident status or U.S. citizenship • Massey Foundation awards—scholarship assistance for Canadian citizens • United Methodist graduate scholarships— assistance for members of the church Eligibility checklist for merit awards • full-time master’s or doctoral student (9 credit hours or more per semester) • GRE scores submitted • cumulative GPA of 3.0 Need-Based Financial Assistance
From left: William M. LeoGrande, dean, School of Public Affairs; William Gimson III, COO, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Julie Gerberding, director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States
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Need-based assistance is available in the form of commercially or federally sponsored loans and cooperative education programs. Both part-time and full-time students may apply.
Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for federal need-based aid. To apply, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submit it to the processing center by March 1 or as soon as possible thereafter. This application form is available through the financial aid office at AU and most other universities. You can also download the form and file it online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Our financial aid office also maintains a comprehensive list of private loans and scholarships. For additional information on graduate financial aid, please visit www.american.edu/finaid. Employment Graduate students interested in employment should contact American University’s Career Center at 202-885-1800 or visit www.american. edu/careercenter. International students on an F-1 or J-1 visa may work up to 20 hours a week on campus while classes are in session, with permission of the international student advisor. Students on all other types of visas should contact International Student Services at 202-885-3350. This office also provides information on employment options. Tuition and Fees for 2008–2010 Tuition (per credit hour) Admissions (application fee)
$1111 $ 55
Other fees may apply. For a schedule, contact Student Accounts at 202-885-3541. Note: Tuition and fees are subject to change without prior notice.
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DIRECTIONS
By train or subway
R iv er R d .
W is c o n s in A v e .
Exit 39
MARYLAND
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n te r es
Access Road
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I-495
PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY
WASHINGTON D.C.
UNION M a ss a c h u s STATION e tts A ve .
I-6 6 ARLINGTON COUNTY FAIRFAX COUNTY
NATIONAL AIRPORT
5 I-3 9
CITY OF ALEXANDRIA
I-495 I-95 I-95
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to BWI Airport
e. A v
e . t A v t ic u n e c C o n
Dulles Airport
By car
Metered parking is free to visitors with physical disabilities who display state-issued tags or permits allowing them parking priority. Handicappedaccessible parking is also available in every lot on campus.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
VIRGINIA
From northeast of Washington (New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore) Follow I-95 south to I-495 (Capital Beltway). Take I-495 west toward Silver Spring. (See From I-495)
Parking is by guest permit, meters (in some locations), or purchased parking pass (required 8 a.m.– 5 p.m., Monday through Friday). After 5 p.m. and on weekends, parking is free in the Sports Center garage, in the Nebraska Avenue lot, and at all metered and nonmetered parking spaces on campus.
From I-495 (Capital Beltway) Take exit 39 and follow signs for River Road (Maryland Route 190) east toward Washington. Continue east on River Road to the fifth traffic light. Turn right on Goldsboro Road (Maryland Route 614). At the first traffic light, turn left on Massachusetts Avenue (Maryland Route 396). Continue on
G o ld s b o r o R d .
The closest Metro stop to American University is Tenleytown–AU on the red line. AU provides free shuttle service from the Tenleytown– AU Metro stop to campus. For schedule information, contact AU’s Shuttle Transit Service office at 202-885-3302.
Parking From south or west of Washington (northern Virginia, Norfolk, Richmond, Charlottesville) Follow I-95 north or I-66 east to I-495 (Capital Beltway). Take I-495 north toward Silver Spring. (See From I-495)
0 I-2 7
Amtrak offers regular service to Washington’s Union Station. Metro (subway) trains run from 5 a.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. weekends, until midnight Sunday through Thursday and 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Massachusetts Avenue through the first traffic circle (Westmoreland Circle). Drive one more mile to the next traffic circle (Ward Circle). Take the first right off Ward Circle onto Nebraska Avenue. The campus is on your right.
5
All three airports offer shuttle service to major hotels and meeting points in downtown Washington. Shuttle service costs between $20 and $35 one way, depending on point of origin.
From northwest of Washington (western Pennsylvania, western Maryland) Follow I-270 south. Where I-270 divides, bear right toward northern Virginia and Washington. Merge with I-495 (Capital Beltway). (See From I-495)
I-9
Washington’s Reagan National Airport, the airport most convenient to AU, is approximately 25 minutes from campus during rush hour by cab. Metrorail (subway) trains (yellow and blue lines) run daily from Reagan National Airport into downtown Washington. Dulles International Airport is about 45 minutes from campus, and Baltimore/Washington International Airport about one hour.
AU CAMPUS
N e b ra ska A ve .
By air
TO
I-95
“Sound public administration and policy are indisputably prerequisites for human progress.� David H. Rosenbloom Distinguished Professor of Public Administration School of Public Affairs
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An equal opportunity, affirmative action university. UP08-118
The only school in the nation offering three NASPAA accredited degrees– MPA, MPP, and the Key Executive Leadership MPA.
School of Public Affairs Ward Circle Building, Suite 310 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20016-8022 Phone: 202-885-6230 Fax: 202-885-2353 E-mail: spagrad@american.edu Web: www.spa.american.edu