Digital Brochure

Digital Brochure

The School of Public Affairs is highly ranked across multiple specialties: 

  • #9 overall
  • #1 local government management
  • #2 emergency management and homeland security
  • #2 IT management

     

  • #3 nonprofit management
  • #5 public management and leadership
  • #6 urban policy 
  • #6 environmental policy 

     

– U.S. News & World Report 

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What makes us unique

What makes us unique

ASU’s School of Public Affairs is nationally acclaimed for preparing a new generation of leaders. We draw inspiration from our place in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions — a community of change agents passionate about making a difference in the world. Our unique strengths in local government, information technology, science and technology policy, environmental policy, urban innovation, civic engagement and new forms of governance have led U.S. News & World Report to rank us — and our specializations — consistently among the top public affairs schools in the nation. 

We live the ASU Charter by preparing students and professionals for ethical, inclusive and effective public service; conducting cutting-edge research of value; and engaging locally, nationally and internationally with the communities we serve. Our world-class faculty have spent the majority of their careers challenging the most critical issues of public policy and democracy. At both the graduate and undergraduate levels, we provide hands-on, problem-solving experience in the classroom, internships and capstones.

  • Public Service and Public Policy, BS (Downtown Phoenix and Online)
    • Concentrations in: American Indian Studies, Business, Criminology, Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Health Policy, Law and Policy, Nonprofit Leadership and Management, Parks and Recreation Management, Social Services Delivery and Sustainability
    • Emergency Management and Homeland Security, BS, BAS & MA and AS (Downtown Phoenix and Online)
    • BS/MPA, MPPP and EMHS MS Accelerated Programs
    • Program Evaluation and Data Analytics, MS (Online)
    • Public Administration, MPA (Downtown Phoenix, Online and HAIC in Hainan, China)
    • Public Policy, MPP (Downtown Phoenix)
    • Public Administration and Policy, PhD (Downtown Phoenix)

Undergraduate 

  • Cross-Sector Leadership (certificate)
  • Emergency Management Essentials (certificate)
  • Leadership and Ethics (certificate)
  • Public Administration and Public Management (certificate)
  • Public Service and Public Policy (minor) 

Graduate certificates 

  • Emergency Management
  • Participatory Governance
  • Policy Informatics
  • Program Evaluation
  • Public Administration
  • Public Policy

Center for Emergency Management and Homeland Security

This university-wide, interdisciplinary hub creates innovative solutions for managing significant incidents or disasters — whether natural or man-made. 

Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy

The Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy at Arizona State University aims to foster and support thoughtful, innovative research, policy briefs and forums around the state of American democracy. The two-fold focus is on exploring nonpartisan reforms and redesigns of federal, state and local governance of electoral structures, and a deep-dive examination of the independent voter. 

Center for Local Government Education and Innovation
The Center for Local Government Education and Innovation seeks to bring together the top minds and talent in the country to advance innovation and creativity in local governance, leadership and veterans affairs.

Center for Organization Research and Design

The Center for Organization Research and Design features a multinational roster of participants and affiliates who promote, support and conduct fundamental research on public, nonprofit and hybrid organizations and their design. 

Center for Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Studies

The Center for Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Studies conducts research, evaluates policy and develops solutions for some of the world’s most pressing challenges at the nexus of scientific, societal, technological and environmental change. 

Center on Technology, Data and Society

Helping individuals, governments and nonprofits navigate digital technologies for the public good is the aim of the Center on Technology, Data and Society. 

Global Center for Technology Transfer

The Global Center for Technology Transfer unites ASU’s Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, W.P. Carey School of Business and Thunderbird School of Management with a singular goal to bridge the gap between technology transfer research, managerial practice and public policy. 

Mechanics of Democracy Laboratory

The Mechanics of Democracy Laboratory trains students and election professionals in key areas of election administration to increase election integrity, transparency and public trust.

Highlights

  • ASU President Michael Crow and Professors Barry Bozeman (Emeritus), Stuart Bretschneider (Emeritus), Mary Feeney, Karen Mossberger (Emeritus), Shannon Portillo and Thom Reilly are fellows of the National Academy of Public Administration.
  • Professor Donald Siegel is a fellow of the Academy of Management. He joins President Crow and Professor Emeritus Bozeman as fellows of the American Association of the Advancement of Science. Maryann Feldman is a research associate with the National Bureau of Economic Research.
  • Maryann Feldman is a research associate with the National Bureau of Economic Research.
  • Kimberly Yee, who earned a Master of Public Administration from SPA, serves as Arizona’s state treasurer. SPA alumna Jennifer Jermaine is a Maricopa County Justice.
 

Snapshot

 

650+

undergraduate students

600+

graduate students

50+


faculty members

3,400+

alumni worldwide

 

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