Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs


The Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs is a graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin that was founded in 1970 to offer professional training in public policy analysis and administration for students interested in pursuing careers in government and public affairs-related areas of the private and nonprofit sectors. Degree programs include a Master of Public Affairs, a mid-career MPAff sequence, 16 MPAff dual degree programs, a Master of Global Policy Studies, eight MGPS dual degree programs, an Executive Master of Public Leadership, and a Ph.D. in public policy.

Overview

The LBJ School offers a Master of Public Affairs program in public policy analysis and administration that prepares graduates to assume leadership positions in government, business, and non-profit organizations. In addition, 16 master's-level dual degree programs blend public affairs study with specialized professions or area studies and are structured so that students can earn the Master of Public Affairs degree and a second degree in less time than it would take to earn them separately." Program offerings include a traditional Master of Public Affairs program, a mid-career master's program, seventeen master's-level programs leading to dual degrees including: Advertising; Asian Studies; Business Administration; Communication Studies; Energy and Earth Resources; Engineering; Information Studies; Journalism; Latin American Studies; Law; Middle Eastern Studies; Public Health; Radio, Television, Film; Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies; Social Work; and Women's and Gender Studies. The school also offers a Ph.D. in public policy. Master's students have the option to specialize in one of seven areas: international affairs; natural resources and the environment; nonprofit and philanthropic studies; public leadership and management; social and economic policy; technology, innovation, and information policy; or urban and state affairs. As of 2011-2012, the LBJ School has graduated 3,508 master's degree students since its first inaugural class of 1972, as well as 56 Ph.D. students from 1992 to August 2013.
In 2008, the LBJ School also introduced a Master of Global Policy Studies that offers a multidisciplinary approach to the complex economic, political, technological, and social issues of the 21st century. Program offerings include specializations in the areas of security, law and diplomacy; international trade and finance; development; global governance and international law; energy, environment, and technology; regional international policy, and customized specializations. Program offerings include ten dual degree programs with the following programs: Asian Studies; Business; Energy and Earth Resources; Information Studies; Journalism; Latin American Studies; Law; Middle Eastern Studies; Public Health; and Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies.
The school also offers a Portfolio Program in Arts and Cultural Management and Entrepreneurship and a Portfolio Program in Nonprofit Studies.
The school also sponsors a variety of non-degree programs for public affairs professionals.
In 2013, the LBJ School launched a new Executive Master in Public Leadership for mid-career professionals. The first of its kind in Texas.

Mission

The school's goals are stated as to: Prepare students and professionals, from a variety of backgrounds, for leadership positions in public service by providing educational opportunities grounded in theory, ethics, analytical skills, and practice; Produce interdisciplinary research to advance our understanding of complex problems facing society and to seek creative solutions for addressing them; Promote effective public policy and management practice by maintaining a presence in scholarly and policy communities and in the popular media; and Foster civic engagement by providing a forum for reasoned discussion and debate on issues of public concern.

Centers

The LBJ School of Public Affairs also features five research centers. Many of the School's centers also sponsor a range of other activities, including conferences, workshops, and publications.

Center for Politics and Governance

The Center for Politics and Governance is dedicated to producing leaders and ideas to improve the political process and governance through innovative teaching, research and programming combining academics and the real world.

Ray Marshall Center for the Study of Human Resources

The Ray Marshall Center is a university-based research center. The Center's activities and services include: Program evaluation, including process and implementation, impact and benefit/cost analysis; Survey research;Labor market analysis; Program design and development; Training and technical assistance.

Center for Health and Social Policy (CHASP)

CHASP studies how health and social policy can be improved and designs and conducts research in policymaking and health, economic and social program outcomes.

[RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service]

The Center's research addresses pressing issues in philanthropy, nonprofit management, social entrepreneurship, and global civil society. The Center trains students through a university-wide graduate program in nonprofit studies.

The Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law

Student initiatives

The Baines Report is the officially-sponsored student publication of the LBJ School of Public Affairs. Led by students, the Baines Report publishes student opinion pieces and event coverage for the LBJ School.

Commencement speakers 1972-2014

The LBJ School is currently ranked 9th among public policy schools in 2017 by U.S. News & World Report, up from 11th in 2016.

List of deans

  1. John A. Gronouski
  2. William B. Cannon
  3. Alan K. Campbell
  4. Elspeth Rostow
  5. Max Sherman
  6. Edwin Dorn
  7. Bobby Ray Inman
  8. James B. Steinberg
  9. Bobby Ray Inman
  10. Robert Hutchings
  11. Angela Evans

    Notable alumni