Undergraduate Programs

The School of Media and Public Affairs offers two undergraduate degrees: Journalism & Mass Communication and Political Communication. Both provide an excellent analytical and practical background in the ever-changing fields of news, public affairs and political communication. Studying these influential disciplines in Washington, DC takes your education right to the source. Literally!

Whether you choose to join us as a JMC or PCM Major, you'll study with recognized media scholars, career journalists, communication professionals, political practitioners, diplomats and government officials. You'll attend once-in-a-lifetime events that are impossible to replicate anywhere else — a discussion between Hillary Clinton and Robert Gates, a conversation about global affairs with five former Secretaries of State, or a panel discussion featuring some of the nation's top journalists sharing their insights about the transformation of journalism.

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Graduate Programs

The Master of Arts degree in Media and Public Affairs offers students the opportunity to study strategic political communication applied to domestic and international issues. This program is designed for students interested in working in the field of media, communication, and politics. Students will develop analytical and practical skills related to the role of political persuasion, public opinion, political networks, and social movements in contemporary media politics.

Offered jointly by GW's Elliott School of International Affairs and Columbian College of Arts and Sciences' School of Media and Public Affairs (SMPA), the Master of Arts in Global Communication combines the Elliott School's globally recognized academic excellence in international affairs with SMPA's strengths as a leading school of communication and journalism. The new graduate program, launched in Fall 2008, helps students understand the complex global information environment; its implications for governance, security, and business; and how to communicate effectively to global audiences.

The Documentary Center at SMPA offers a Certificate in Documentary Filmmaking, a six month intensive exploration in the theory and practice of documentary filmmaking.

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Combined Degree Programs

A combined degree program is available for undergraduate students in Political Communication or Journalism and Mass Communication interested in pursuing an MA in Media and Public Affairs. The program allows students to complete the MA degree in less time at a considerable tuition savings.

SMPA has also joined with the Graduate School of Political Management to offer our undergraduates the opportunity to pursue a Master of Professional Studies in Political Management along with their BA.

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