Virginia Tech, School of Public and International Affairs

Flexible, Personalized, Engaged Learning in the Nation’s Capital

With campuses in both Blacksburg and Arlington, Virginia — right in the heart of the Washington, DC, metro area — the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) at Virginia Tech stands out for its small class sizes, personalized mentorship, and dynamic student body.

Giselle Datz, chair of the Government and International Affairs program, says, “From day one, students can count on the mentorship of a dedicated faculty member who will serve as their academic adviser throughout the process — guiding them through individual trajectories shaped by their research interests all the way to the finish line.”

Flexible at its core, the Master’s of Public and International Affairs and the PhD program offer evening and online classes tailored to diverse student profiles. SPIA attracts recent graduates seeking deeper scholarly engagement and hands-on experience, as well as mid- and senior-level professionals looking to transition careers or transform practical experience into original scholarship.

The combination of intentionally small seminar courses and a diverse student body fosters a rich classroom dynamic where, as Datz explains, “traditional students and working professionals — from the federal government, NGOs, or the private sector” — take part in lively discussions grounded in the evolving realities of policymaking rather than purely abstract theoretical debates. Given the interesting mix of students with different backgrounds, professional networking happens not only outside, but also within the classroom.

The multidisciplinary curriculum, combined with a faculty whose expertise and practical experience span critical geopolitics, global political economy, global conflict, US foreign policy, and cybersecurity, ensures that students engage with diverse perspectives and are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of today’s policymaking landscape. “Multidisciplinary for us means that students search for answers to key policy questions wherever the data and analysis may lead them,” Datz explains. “That is where the most compelling contributions happen. Original research comes from pursuing answers without strict disciplinary constraints.”

Virginia Tech’s Center for European Transatlantic Studies, Tech4Humanity Lab, Center for Public Administration and Policy, and Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Program provide additional research opportunities in areas like transatlantic relations, cybersecurity, environmental policy, and public health. Each adds to the resources available to students, facilitating data-driven explorations that aim at yielding meaningful policy insights.

Virginia Tech’s alumni network — known as the Hokie Nation — is another formidable asset. “This network is hands-on, vibrant, and very eager to engage with current students, answer questions, provide mentorship, and offer a sense of community that goes far beyond graduation,” Datz adds.

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Graduate Certificates to Broaden Expertise and Opportunity

SPIA’s professional graduate certificates are designed to strengthen expertise and credentials in high-demand areas, such as:

• Homeland Security Policy
• Nuclear Science, Technology, and Policy
• Urban and Regional Economic Development
• Global Planning and International Development
• Security Studies
• European and Transatlantic Studies

Open to degree and non-degree students, certificates can be completed in a year or less and may be applied toward a graduate degree, providing a strategic track to enhance a résumé or pivot to new career opportunities.

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Virginia Tech, School of Public and International Affairs
spia.vt.edu
[email protected]