Director's Message

Welcome to the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration. We offer graduate programs that prepare students for careers in public service as analysts, leaders, managers, and researchers. Our programs consistently rank among the nation's top programs in public policy, public administration, and public affairs.

The world of public service increasingly involves partnerships between government, the nonprofit sector, and private business, creating a demand for professionals who can bring multiple skills and perspectives to bear to advance the public interest.

The Trachtenberg School welcomes students with wide-ranging backgrounds and interests. We offer graduate programs that embrace multiple perspectives and practical knowledge to prepare students for active and reflective engagement in local, national, and global governance. Our master's programs in public administration (MPA) and public policy (MPP) integrate theory and practice in scholarship, teaching, and service and embrace multiple perspectives for advancing critical analysis and practical knowledge of public policy and public administration. The Certificate in Nonprofit Management provides professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to lead and manage nonprofit organizations successfully. Our PhD in Public Policy and Administration offers a rigorous multi-disciplinary curriculum that prepares students for careers in academe, research institutions, federal, state, and local governments, and international organizations.

The Trachtenberg School fosters effective teaching and active scholarship among its faculty to serve the public interest and enhance the quality of democratic governance. Faculty contribute to the debates surrounding important national and international policy issues by supporting and promoting student and faculty research.

Our location in the nation's capital provides unparalleled opportunities for students to see how theory is "put into action" through participation in a wide range of internships and employment opportunities. But pursuing a graduate degree at George Washington University is not simply about being in Washington, D.C. It is also about maximizing the benefits of the Washington location through the distinctive strengths of the Trachtenberg School.

• Faculty and students regularly provide valuable research and evaluation assistance to the District of Columbia and federal government agencies, nonprofits, international organizations, and other public organizations throughout the metropolitan Washington, DC area to improve the community and public services offered to citizens.


• Students work closely with nationally and internationally recognized faculty on research both in the classroom and in research institutes affiliated with the Trachtenberg School, such as The George Washington Institute of Public Policy (GWIPP) and the Center for Washington Areas Studies (CWAS).


• Fostering leadership in public service is a fundamental objective of the Trachtenberg School. Opportunities for leadership are available through the student associations, MPAA and PPSA, and the student journal, Policy Perspectives. In addition, faculty advising and mentoring fosters growth in students and serves to strengthen our community.


• Service is an integral part of the Trachtenberg School community, with students and faculty participating in a wide variety of outreach efforts. For example, Trachtenberg School students have tutored students at the Anacostia Senior High School for over two decades.


• An extensive array of career development activities offered by the Trachtenberg School are designed to help students take maximum advantage of the numerous internship and development opportunities available to them.


• Students have the opportunity to specialize in a diverse set of public administration and policy fields. Many of these fields rank in the top 15 by US News and World Report, including public administration and management, public policy analysis, public finance and budgeting, and health policy and management.

I am proud to be part of a community of scholars who maintain the highest standards in research, teaching, and service. Our website provides more detailed information about life in and outside the classroom at the Trachtenberg School and I encourage you to learn more about us.

Kathryn E. Newcomer
Director, Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration
Professor of Public Policy and Public Administration