The Virginia Tech School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) is comprised of three academic programs: Center for Public Administration and Policy (CPAP), Government and International Affairs (GIA), and Urban Affairs and Planning (UAP) in the College of Architecture & Urban Studies (CAUS).  The programs offer all of their degrees at the main Blacksburg campus. In addition, all graduate degrees are offered at Virginia Tech’s NCR (National Capital Region) campus in Alexandria, Virginia. CPAP’s MPA degree is also offered in Richmond, VA.

SPIA’s three programs provide the foundation for our interdisciplinary School and our multiple locations provide breadth and opportunity for contributing to the challenges of today. CPAP, GIA, and UAP offer degree programs that are nationally ranked. CPAP is currently ranked #17 in the country by U.S. News and World Report in public management/administration and the CPAP MPA program is fully accredited by NASPAA. Eduniversal ranked GIA’s MPIA degree 28th in North America for international management and UAP ranked 19th in the nation among planning programs according to Planetizen.

Each program consists of a robust cohort of faculty and researchers with degree offerings across our three Virginia locations, Blacksburg, Alexandria, and Richmond. Many SPIA courses take advantage of distance learning technologies in order to make classes available in multiple locations. A number of the graduate degree programs, especially in the National Capital Region, are designed to accommodate the busy schedule of the working professional.

It is the obligation of SPIA, in keeping with the public land-grant mission, to model the practice of collaborative governance that we expect of government more generally, to offer insight and support for the most pressing policy questions of our time, and to be a voice for public service and the importance of research and knowledge in the policy-making process.

DEGREES

SPIA offers an innovative range of programs that emphasizes both scholarship and professional instruction in policy and planning in public administration, urban affairs, environment, governance, and international relations.

• Two undergraduate majors and three minors
• Four masters degrees
• Two doctoral programs of study
• Ten certificate programs that serve the needs of working professionals
• Special programs include Two Masters/Two Capitals, Washington Semester, and a dual degree program

Several dual degree options are available between UAP and other disciplines. At Virginia Tech they are called “simultaneous” degrees because students earn them at the same time. Presently, simultaneous degrees are offered by the Master’s of Urban and Regional Planning, Master’s of Landscape Architecture, Master’s of Public Administration, and the Master’s of Natural Resources degree programs.