General Information
The School of Public Affairs (SPA) at Penn State Harrisburg is a comprehensive unit, with programs ranging from bachelor's degrees in Criminal Justice (CJ), Political Science, and Public Policy (essentially, a political science program), to master's degrees in Public Administration, Health Administration, and Criminal Justice, to a Ph.D. in Public Administration.
The master's program in Public Administration was recently ranked 51st in US News & World Report's rating of over 269 graduate schools of public affairs throughout the country. This places the School's program in the top quintile of comparator institutions.
Penn State Harrisburg features five academic Schools: Behavioral Sciences and Education; Business Administration; Science, Engineering, and Technology; Humanities; and Public Affairs.
Penn State Harrisburg is an undergraduate college and graduate school of The Pennsylvania State University, one of the largest and most widely recognized institutions in the nation. The Harrisburg campus enrolls about 2,400 undergraduate and 1,500 graduate students and offers two associate, 31 baccalaureate, 22 master's, and two doctoral degrees as well as certificate and certification programs.
Mission Statement
To provide high quality undergraduate and graduate programs, to foster life-long learning, active citizenship and civic engagement, and an appreciation of cultural diversity;
To increase knowledge through research productivity and to share our learning in appropriate and professional outlets;
To provide our students with a comprehensive interdisciplinary education in public affairs by working cooperatively with other academic programs at Penn State;
To engage and provide outreach support to the larger community of which we are part.
Vision
To be a top tier School of Public Affairs, serving as the flagship Public Affairs school for the Pennsylvania State University.