Syracuse University - Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs

The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University is recognized as one of the world's best schools of public affairs. In fact, it has held the #1 spot in the US News rankings every year except one since they began. The Maxwell School is unique in its structure: our world-class programs in public administration and international affairs are delivered alongside highly regarded social science programs for undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students. This rich environment gives rise to 10 interdisciplinary research centers in which students and faculty across programs focus on topical issues in public affairs -- including the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion, the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs, and the new Autonomous Systems Policy Institute.

The Maxwell School’s DC-based headquarters at the #1-ranked Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is the launch pad for the Maxwell-in-Washington program, offering undergraduate students an opportunity to take classes and conduct internships in the nation’s capital as well as graduate professional programs in international relations. 

The Maxwell School is one of 13 schools and colleges of Syracuse University, a private, international research university located in the geographic heart of New York State. The University’s global footprint includes nearly 15,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. Syracuse, New York, is a comfortable mid-sized city with the amenities of a metropolitan center and an affordable cost of living.

Top-Ranked Programs in Public Administration and International Affairs

Maxwell’s Master of Public Administration degree is consistently top-ranked (#1 in Public Management and Leadership, #2 in Nonprofit Management, #4 in International Global Policy, etc..), and provides a skills-based education that is concentrated and broadly applicable — for leaders within not only the public sector, but anywhere leadership is essential.

In the same department, Maxwell offers a highly ranked and ambitiously interdisciplinary MA in International Relations that combines scholarly coursework with global internships and selected skills instruction.

A unique 43-credit degree in Public Diplomacy and Global Communications offered jointly with Syracuse University's S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications prepares graduates for careers focused on public communications for governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector.

Maxwell offers a range of flexible degree programs (Campus, Online, and Executive) that students can tailor based on their level of professional experience, career goals, preferred learning format, schedule and location.

Highly Regarded Programs in the Social Sciences

Maxwell is also home to the academic social science disciplines of Anthropology, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, and Sociology – all departments that offer the BA/MA/PhD leading to careers in academic teaching and research (among others). Maxwell also offers two interdisciplinary majors for undergraduates in Citizenship & Civic Engagement as well as Environment, Sustainability, & Policy.

Join a community for life

Networking reaches a new level at Maxwell, where deep relationships are fostered within the school between students, faculty, staff and 33,000+ alumni - all of whom are linked through a common bond and shared goals. Maxwell faculty are not only world class scholars and high level practitioners, but also are known for being very accessible and committed to student learning. Maxwell alumni are committed to our school and to assisting the next generation of graduates as they enter their professional careers

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Maxwell School is committed to improving the diversity - in all its forms - of our students, faculty, and staff. We are committed to making our school, our university, and our communities more inclusive and just for all.