Current Students

students in School of Media and Public Affairs classroom

As a student in the School of Media and Public Affairs (SMPA), you are a member of a small community with an extensive network. SMPA brings Washington into our classrooms and our 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 SMPA experience a genuine sense of community and connection fostered through small classes, exclusive events and a sense of common purpose.

Future graduates come to Washington with ambitious goals, curious minds and diverse backgrounds. Students are challenged to think deeply, creatively and globally to develop an understanding of the media's complex role in the way people connect, stay informed and govern. Graduates are prepared to be leaders in government, politics, journalism and business.

Spring 2019 Course Descriptions

Student Opportunities

Student Organizations

Student organizations are a great way to get involved with SMPA and GW classmates outside of the classroom. The media organizations listed below are just a small selection of the more than 450 student organizations at GW.

The GW Hatchet is the independent student newspaper of record at the George Washington University. First published in 1904, The Hatchet is the second-oldest newspaper in Washington, D.C. in continuous publication.

The student-run television station provides opportunities to produce, write, report, shoot and edit outside the classroom. The station produces shows in news, entertainment, sports and politics.

The student-run radio station streams live from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week when school is in session. WRGW was founded in 1929 and features opportunities for students interested in music, sports, news and talk radio.

The GW Association of Black Journalists promotes diversity in the media to create a greater sense of community among student and professional journalists with events, mentorship and networking opportunities.

An independent online news publication devoted to the evolution of journalism, MediaFile is a go-to source for media news and criticism. The student-run publication reports on news coverage, industry trends and media ethics.

Formed to advocate on behalf of SMPA students, the association connects students with faculty and builds a stronger community with town halls and exclusive events for students in the school.

Devan Cole

Class of 2018
Journalism and Mass Communication

"GW ABJ allows black journalists on campus to connect with one another and share their experiences with people who not only understand those experiences but also share similar aspirations and look at the world and the media through a black lens."