The School of Media and Public Affairs (SMPA) is dedicated to the study of media, journalism, and political communication with a focus on the connections between ideas and information and how the media inform and influence policy and politics in a democracy. As the only school of its kind in the capital of politics and media, we bring Washington into the classroom. Students engage with the world around them through internships and access to decision-makers, community leaders, and power brokers.

Despite the bustle of GW's urban campus, students in the School of Media and Public Affairs experience a genuine sense of community and connection fostered through small classes, frequent SMPA-exclusive events, and a sense of common purpose.

We offer two undergraduate programs, Journalism & Mass Communication and Political Communication, two Master's programs, a 36-credit strategic communications degree titled Media and Public Affairs and a degree in Global Communication, and a 6-month graduate certificate in Documentary Filmmaking. Undergraduates can accelerate earning a Master's degree by applying to the Combined Degree Program during their junior year.

Our future graduates come to Washington with ambitious goals, curious minds, and diverse backgrounds. They are challenged to think deeply, creatively, and globally. At SMPA, students learn to be compelling communicators and journalists. They develop a deep understanding of the media's complex role in the way people connect with one another and are informed and governed. In an era of dramatic change and information overload, we provide the skills, theory, techniques, ethics, and experience necessary to communicate effectively and inspire change. SMPA alumni become the next generation of leaders in advocacy, politics, business, and journalism.

The faculty members at the School of Media and Public Affairs inspire an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit to reflect the demands of the media and the marketplace. Our professors represent the top academics and professionals in their respective fields, from global health to documentary filmmaking and beyond.

SMPA also contains a wide array of state-of-the-art production and broadcast facilities. With a top-notch broadcast studio, dozens of video editing and computing stations, a flash student for radio and television production, and 24/7 access to professional equipment, our students gain a full understanding of what it takes to create and distribute the finest audio/ visual productions.

SMPA's activities extend into the community and around the world. We are home to a number of influential centers and programs, including the sustainable media project Planet Forward the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication; and the Center for Innovative Media.