In the public policy analysis specialty area, Watson's MPA program jumped nearly a dozen spots, ranking 23 in the nation, based on a peer assessment survey of deans, directors, and department chairs of 276 master's programs in public affairs and administration. Watson's MPA also cracked the top 50 in the overall public affairs category, tying for 49.
Date
March 17, 2020
MPA program climbs in U.S. News graduate school rankings
Five years ago, the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs launched a new, one-year Master of Public Affairs (MPA) degree to respond to the growing demand for an accelerated graduate degree that prepares students for public service careers in government, consulting firms, and the nonprofit sector. With the 2021 U.S. News Graduate School rankings Watson's MPA program has continued its steady climb.
With top-notch faculty, stellar administrators, and a curriculum anchored in the most important public policy challenges of our time, the Watson MPA program today attracts extraordinarily bright students who are determined to change the world.
Director, Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs
"Watson's MPA program has made remarkable progress since its launch five years ago," said Eric M. Patashnik, MPA program director. "We are recruiting talented students from diverse backgrounds, and our courses are taught by leading Watson scholars as well as distinguished practitioners. Distinctive features of the Watson MPA include our data-driven policy track, an emphasis on analytical, managerial, and communication skills, and the opportunity for students to work on a real-world policy project for a client organization. The program's small cohort size greatly enhances the student experience."
"With top-notch faculty, stellar administrators, and a curriculum anchored in the most important public policy challenges of our time, the Watson MPA program today attracts extraordinarily bright students who are determined to change the world. Our mission is to provide these students — the next generation of leaders in public policy and international affairs — with the key tools they’ll need to succeed: rigorous analytical skills, sensitivity to the importance of place and culture, and extensive connections to seasoned practitioners and thought leaders. We enable students to realize their dreams for achieving positive change in a world that, as underscored by the present global public health crisis, desperately needs it," said Ed Steinfeld, Watson Institute director.