Master of Arts: Media and Public Affairs

An internationally recognized center for research and teaching in political and international communication, the Media and Public Affairs (SMPA) program at George Washington University offers a M.A. for students seeking a rigorous grounding in theoretical, research and practical issues related to strategic political communication.

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Master of Arts: Global Communication

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 M.A. 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.

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Graduate Certificate: Documentary Filmmaking

The Documentary Center at The George Washington University was inaugurated in 1990 as the Center for History in the Media. After ten years of focusing exclusively on the historical genre, the Documentary Center expanded to encompass all forms of documentary filmmaking: history, natural history, cultural, public affairs, social issue, and experimental.

The six-month Institute for Documentary Filmmaking is the central educational offering of the Center and is both a theoretical and hands-on exploration of the documentary form.

All participants – both faculty and students – in the Institute are remarkable. The faculty and guest speakers associated with the Institute are at the top of the documentary field. We have guest speakers and instructors who represent the wide array of talent inherent in the creation of non-fiction films: from writers to producers, directors, cinematographers, and editors. Many of our instructors have participated in the conduct of the Institute for well over a decade.

Participants in the Institute come from around the world, and admission is competitive and by application only. Individuals in the Institute come from such diverse backgrounds as broadcasting, law, psychology, literature, science, anthropology, museum studies, and education. Many participants have no background at all that would necessarily lead to careers in filmmaking. Some participants have extensive experience in the filmmaking or media-related fields. What all participants share, however, is a commitment to create non-fiction stories and their expression in a visual form. Moreover, each member of the Institute must have a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as this course – as well as all filmmaking – is a highly interactive, interpersonal experience.

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For Students Interested in Ph.D. Studies

If you are interested in pursuing a Ph.D. with a focus on political communication, we recommend you apply to the doctoral program in the Department of Political Science at GW. Ph.D. candidates in the Department of Political Science have the opportunity to work with faculty in the School of Media and Public Affairs. They can take advantage of the option to pursue a specialized minor in Political Communication. SMPA faculty whose work focuses on political communication and who are available to work with doctoral students include the following professors: Sean Aday, Catherine Bailard, Robert Entman, Kimberly Gross, Matthew Hindman, and Steven Livingston.

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