The Bush School of Government & Public Service

Public Service is a noble calling.


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Welcome to The Bush School offering public affairs master's programs | Aerial Photo of Campus

About The Bush School
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The Bush School of Government and Public Service was founded in 1997 under President George H. W. Bush’s philosophy that “public service is a noble calling.” Since then, the Bush School has continued to reflect that notion in curriculum, research, and student experience and has become a leading international affairs, political science, and public affairs institution.

Academic Programs

The Bush School offers four graduate programs for students aspiring to careers in public service. Master’s degrees inPublic Service and Administration,International Affairs, andInternational Policy, as well as an onlineExecutive Master in Public Service and Administration, develop principled leaders for professional careers in public service. The Bush School also offersgraduate certificatesinAdvanced International Affairs,Homeland Security,Nonprofit Management,Public Management,Geospatial Intelligence,National Security Affairs, andCybersecurity Policy. The Bush School has joined with several Texas A&M departments to offer sevenBachelor’s/Master’s 5-Year (3+2) Programsthat allow students to enter the Bush School at the beginning of their fourth year and receive both their undergraduate and master’s degrees in five years.

As one of the most impactful and nationally influential academic units at Texas A&M, the Bush School significantly expanded in the fall of 2022, with the addition of both theDepartment of Political Scienceand theInternational Studies program. The major initiative includes the additions of both undergraduate and PhD programs to the Bush School, providing an excellent opportunity to broaden the academic reach of the school.

At the undergraduate level, theDepartment of Political Scienceoffers aBachelor’s in Political Science(B.A./B.S.) with courses in all facets of the discipline: American Politics, International Relations, Comparative Politics, Political Theory, Political Methodology, Public Administration and Policy, and Race and Ethnic Politics. TheBachelor’s in International Studies degree(B.A.) is an exciting new addition to theInternational Affairs Department, offering undergraduate students a fundamental understanding of foreign relations with the International Politics and Diplomacy track option.

At the doctoral level, thePhD in Political Scienceprogram emphasizes theoretical and methodological rigor and is designed to train applied social-scientists for careers in research. Major fields of study mirror the disciplinary norm: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, and Public Administration/Public Policy. In 2022, the Political Science PhD program was rankedNo. 14 in the world in Shanghai Rankingsand was rankedNo. 21 overall and No. 9 among public universities in American Politics in U.S. News & World Report in 2023.

A rigorous curriculum and internationally acclaimed faculty have propelled the Bush School to rank in thetop 10% of graduate schools for public affairs for 2023in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report. Among public universities, the Bush School ranks 15th. In 2020, the Bush School was named the no. 1 ranked “best value” in bothresidential MPA programsandexecutive online MPA programsby Value College.

Locations

Located in College Station, Texas, Bush School programs are housed in the newly renovatedRobert H. and Judy Ley Allen Building, part of the George Bush Presidential Library Center on the campus of Texas A&M University,a top-tier research institution. This location affords students a wealth of resources to access throughout their education, including research opportunities at any of the three research institutions housed within the Allen building, access to the archival holdings of theGeorge Bush Presidential Library and Museum, and invitation to numerous events and prestigious speaking engagements hosted by theGeorge & Barbara Bush Foundation.

The Bush School’s vision to inspire excellence in the noble calling of public service was greatly expanded with the opening of the Washington, DC, Teaching Site in 2021.Located in the heart of the nation’s capital, just two blocks from the White House, Black Lives Matter Plaza, and Freedom Plaza, theBush School DCoffers graduate students from diverse backgrounds a path to a successful career in national security, diplomacy, and foreign policy. Presently, the Bush School DC offersMaster of International Policy(MIP) andMaster of National Security & Intelligence(NSI) programs. The site also offers aCertificate in Advanced International Affairs (CAIA).

The Bush School prepares students to become principled leaders and to reflect the value of public service throughout their careers.

Learn more about degrees for master's programs | A group of Bush students and faculty are smiling and giving a gig em to the camera
Learn more about our public affairs programs faculty | Dr. Robertson talking to students
Learn more about our research institutes | A photo of President Bush talking to students at a long desk

Rankings & Recognitions

Accreditations

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