Virginia Tech School of Public and International Affairs

The School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) at Virginia Tech fosters interdisciplinary initiatives, by building cooperative arrangements among units within the School and University, and by partnering with organizations external to the university.

The School's goal is to focus Virginia Tech’s expertise in government, public administration, international affairs, planning, public policy, and urban affairs to help individuals and communities across the world understand their most critical problems and most promising solutions.

History

The School of Public and International Affairs was approved by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors in 1996 as a collaboration of five departments and programs in two colleges to develop interdisciplinary instruction, research and outreach initiatives related to public policy, planning, and administration and globalization and international development.

Departments

Departments in the [http://www.caus.vt.edu College of Architecture and Urban Studies (CAUS)] :
* [http://www.uap.vt.edu Urban Affairs and Planning (UAP)] ,
* [http://www.cpap.vt.edu Public Administration and Policy (CPAP)]

Departments in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS):

* Political Science,
* Geography,
* International Studies,
* Science and Technology Studies (joined in 2000)
* Agricultural and Applied Economics (joined in 2000).

Academic Programs

Instructional Programs

The following instructional programs are offered at SPIA:

* undergraduate specializations shared by several majors,
* the Washington Semester program,
* the London Semester program,
* SPIA-designated undergraduate and graduate courses, and cross-listed courses.

Degree Programs

*"Master of Public and International Affairs", developed along with faculty from Geography, Political Science and UAP.
*"Environmental Design and Planning Ph.D.", Public and International Affairs (PIA) stream.

Research

In research and outreach, SPIA members developed a number of interdisciplinary centers and institutes, such as the Institute for Community Health, the Institute for Social Assessment of Information Technology, and the Institute for Innovative Governance.

Administration

SPIA is administered by a Director who is advised by an SPIA Executive Committee made up of the three program chairs along with one other faculty member from each program.

References

* [http://www.spia.vt.edu School of Public and International Affairs at Virginia Tech]
* Recent Publications [http://www.spia.vt.edu/Reports.htm]
* [http://www.spia.vt.edu/FacultyAndStaff.htm Faculty and Staff]
* Current PhD Students

External links

* http://www.spia.vt.edu/