The #2023APPAM Fall Research Conference will feature some fantastic sponsors from across the policy research spectrum. Today we're shining a spotlight on Florida State University, School of Public Administration and Policy.
What types of programs does your school offer?
The Reubin O’D. Askew School of Public Administration and Policy offers the world’s largest public administration program, including our Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree.
Students, faculty and staff benefit from our state-of-the art laboratories housed in the school’s affiliated centers, which are the Social Justice and Innovation Lab, the Sustainability and Governance Lab, Emergency Management and Homeland Security, and the Florida Center for Public Management.
The Rubin O’D Askew School of Public Administration and Policy offers graduate programs to prepare students for careers in public administration and policy, including Master of Public Administration, doctorate/doctoral degrees in Public Administration & Policy, and Joint Pathway programs to achieve dual degrees with our program and others at FSU.
FSU’s Askew School also offers graduate certificates in Emergency Management, General Public Administration, Florida City & County Management, Financial Management, and Nonprofit Leadership as well as runs the world’s largest Certified Public Manager® program, serving around 350 students annually. Undergraduate students at FSU can also earn educational certificates through the Askew School’s curriculum.
Our faculty and staff are granted opportunities to produce top-tier research in journals such as Public Administration Review, The American Review of Public Administration, Public Performance & Management Review, and Social Science Quarterly, in addition to securing private grants to advance scholarship within their field.
How has your school changed in the last ten years?
The largest point of growth that our school has facilitated over the past ten years has been our influx of invaluable faculty and staff members.
This year, we have succeeded in gaining Xue Gao, Ph.D.; Mauricio Astudillo-Rodas, Ph.D. in tenure-track positions, as well as Dr. Hongtao Yi, as a professor and incoming editor of Public Administration Review. Additionally, Linda Schrader, Ph.D. has joined the team in a teaching faculty position and William Jackson, Ph.D. will be joining the Askew School in a tenure-track position in Fall 2024.
This growth in our staffing capabilities has not only helped us in preparing students with the best opportunities for their future careers but has also given us the resources to focus on our faculty research productivity. Additionally, the creation of our online Master of Public Administration (MPA) program has allowed us to connect with students worldwide and continue to inspire new generations, despite barriers of travel and housing.
Why should students choose your school or program?
Florida State University’s campus, located in the heart of the capital city of Florida, gives our graduates a unique advantage by providing them with opportunities to work and learn within the local, state, and federal government levels. Thus, we are able to provide students with opportunities for legislative and governmental fellowship programs, as well as positions through our partnership with Leon County Service’s Bureau.
Beyond that, we provide our students with many opportunities for professional development, including internship programs, community-based research projects, and connections to prominent professionals in the field at a variety of events with guest lecturers.
If you are hiring, what makes your school a great place to work?
The Askew School of Public Administration and Policy places a great emphasis on the health and well-being of our faculty and staff, so we provide various employee benefits programs, such as premier Capital Health Plan health insurance plans and tuition payment programs. The school provides opportunities for faculty to receive research grants and bonuses to further their work. We heavily rely on the insight from our active faculty union to learn the areas in which we can improve.
What advice do you have for prospective students?
Apply early! Apply by our earliest deadlines for the best program and funding consideration, both from our unit and FSU’s Graduate School.
Enrolling with us provides an incredible opportunity for employment matching on the state, local, and federal levels, as well as in non-profits, consulting firms, and other universities. With close to a 100% placement rate, choosing Askew means putting your future career first.
What is your teaching/research divide?
The Askew School operates on a 2-by-2 teaching/research divide for tenure track faculty. They are assigned to teach two classes in the fall semester and spring semester to provide them with balance between the classroom and the lab as FSU is a Carnegie Classified Research 1 University with a strong emphasis on research and discovery.
What is your undergraduate/graduate divide?
The Askew School enrolls only graduate students in our programs but has implemented undergraduate minor and certificate programs. These programs offer certificates in Emergency Management & Homeland Security (EMHS), U.S. Intelligence Systems, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, and Public Administration. We are able to utilize these undergraduate courses to provide an opportunity for teaching experience for our doctoral students.
What is something unqiue about your institution or program?
Created in 1947, the Reubin O’D. Askew School of Public Administration and Policy is one of the oldest public administration programs in the country. The school is named after former Florida Governor and U.S. Trade Representative Reubin Askew, who was designated as one of the ten best governors of the 20th century, and then dedicated the rest of his life to preparing the next generations for public service. The Askew School works tirelessly to create leaders worthy of following his legacy of compassion and service as they enter their careers in the public sector.