The School of Public Affairs is highly ranked across multiple specialties:
#9 overall
#1 local government management
#2 emergency management and homeland security
#2 IT management
#3 nonprofit management
#5 public management and leadership
#6 environmental policy
#6 urban policy
#9 public finance and budgeting
– U.S. News & World Report 2026
ASU’s School of Public Affairs is nationally acclaimed for preparing a new generation of leaders. We draw inspiration from our place in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions — a community of change agents passionate about making a difference in the world. Our unique strengths in local government, information technology, science and technology policy, environmental policy, urban innovation, civic engagement and new forms of governance have led U.S. News & World Report to rank us — and our specializations — consistently among the top public affairs schools in the nation.
We live the ASU Charter by preparing students and professionals for ethical, inclusive and effective public service; conducting cutting-edge research of value; and engaging locally, nationally and internationally with the communities we serve. Our world-class faculty have spent the majority of their careers challenging the most critical issues of public policy and democracy. At both the graduate and undergraduate levels, we provide hands-on, problemsolving experience in the classroom, internships and capstones.
Public Service and Public Policy, BS (Downtown Phoenix and Online)
• Concentrations in: American Indian Studies, Business, Criminology, Emergency Management and Homeland Security, Health Policy, Law and Policy, Nonprofit Leadership and Management, Parks and Recreation Management, Social Services Delivery and Sustainability
Emergency Management and Homeland Security, BS, BAS & MA and AS (Downtown Phoenix and Online)
BS/MPA, MPPP and EMHS MS Accelerated Programs
Program Evaluation and Data Analytics, MS
Public Administration, MPA (Downtown Phoenix, Online and HAIC in Hainan, China)
Public Policy, MPP (Downtown Phoenix)
Public Administration and Policy, PhD (Downtown Phoenix)
Undergraduate
• Cross-Sector Leadership (certificate)
• Emergency Management Essentials (certificate)
• Leadership and Ethics (certificate)
• Public Administration and Public Management (certificate)
• Public Service and Public Policy (minor)
Graduate certificates
• Emergency Management
• Participatory Governance
• Policy Informatics
• Program Evaluation
• Public Administration
• Public Policy
Bob Ramsey Executive Education
Improving the effectiveness of the people and organizations that serve communities is at the heart of Bob Ramsey Executive Education. Through the center’s programs and seminars, public service professionals can enhance their management and leadership competencies and can earn the Certified Public Manager®, Certified Municipal Clerk or Master Municipal Clerk credential. The center also assists state, local and tribal governments with implementing their staff-development initiatives.
Center for Emergency Management and Homeland Security
This university-wide, interdisciplinary hub creates innovative solutions for managing significant incidents or disasters — whether natural or man-made.
Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy
The Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy at Arizona State University aims to foster and support thoughtful, innovative research, policy briefs and forums around the state of American democracy. The two-fold focus is on exploring nonpartisan reforms and redesigns of federal, state and local governance of electoral structures, and a deep-dive examination of the independent voter.
Center for Organization Research and Design
The Center for Organization Research and Design features a multinational roster of participants and affiliates who promote, support and conduct fundamental research on public, nonprofit and hybrid organizations and their design.
Center for Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Studies
The Center for Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Studies conducts research, evaluates policy and develops solutions for some of the world’s most pressing challenges at the nexus of scientific, societal, technological and environmental change.
Center for Urban Innovation
The Center for Urban Innovation works to improve the quality of life in neighborhoods and cities by engaging in and promoting research advancements in governance, policy and management.
Center on Technology, Data and Society
Helping individuals, governments and nonprofits navigate digital technologies for the public good is the aim of the Center on Technology, Data and Society.
Global Center for Technology Transfer
The Global Center for Technology Transfer unites ASU’s Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, W.P. Carey School of Business and Thunderbird School of Management with a singular goal to bridge the gap between technology transfer research, managerial practice and public policy.
Mechanics of Democracy Laboratory
The Mechanics of Democracy Laboratory trains students and election professionals in key areas of election administration to increase election integrity, transparency and public trust.
ASU President Michael Crow and Professors Barry Bozeman (Emeritus), Stuart Bretschneider (Emeritus), Mary Feeney, Karen Mossberger (Emeritus), Shannon Portillo and Thom Reilly are fellows of the National Academy of Public Administration.
Professor Donald Siegel is a fellow of the Academy of Management. He joins President Crow and Professor Emeritus Bozeman as fellows of the American Association of the Advancement of Science.
Maryann Feldman is a research associate with the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Kimberly Yee, who earned a Master of Public Administration from SPA, serves as Arizona’s state treasurer. SPA alumna Jennifer Jermaine is a Maricopa County Justice.
The Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions is one of the largest comprehensive public service colleges in the nation. Comprised of four schools – Social Work, Criminology and Criminal Justice, Public Affairs and Community Resources and Development – and more than 30 research units, we are advancing relevant educational programs and evidence-based solutions to some of the world’s most challenging social issues. Our population represents one of the university’s highest percentages of underrepresented, transfer and working students, and is among the largest concentrations of first-generation and military-connected college students at Arizona State University. Together, we bring creativity, systems-level thinking and an entrepreneurial spirit to our mission of building more vibrant, healthy, equitable and sustainable communities.
