School of Public Affairs
For the common good.
At the School of Public Affairs, we are driven to create a more prosperous and just society for all. Our community consists of award-winning faculty and staff, passionate students, and a network of accomplished public service alumni and allied stakeholders. We offer three professional graduate degrees aimed at fostering ethical, purpose-driven leaders for the public, nonprofit, and private sectors.
Want to work for the common good? Join one of the SPA three graduate programs:
Master in Public Administration Master in Public Policy Master of Science in International Affairs and Global Enterprise
The School of Public Affairs (SPA) will be hosting a virtual information session
September 15th, from 6 pm to 8 pm
Click to Register and Receive the Zoom Link
The session will explore our degree options, career pathways, as well as admission
requirements, deadline and tips!
Connect with us.
Master of Public Policy
Our Master of Public Policy (MPP) combines public policy and economic theory with quantitative research methods to foster the analytical skills needed to address our most pressing problems. We offer the only MPP degree in the Utah System of Higher Education system, with multiple dual degree options including J.D., Public Health, Population Health Sciences, and City and Metropolitan Science. We also offer an online 15-credit Graduate Certificate in Public Policy.
Master of Public Administration
Our Master of Public Administration (MPA) empowers aspiring and continuing professionals to serve and lead for the public good. We are proudly accredited by the NASPAA, the global standard in public service education. We offer two program modalities: an evening MPA and an executive MPA, through which students with at five years of relevant experience (or similar) can graduate in 19 months through weekend and condensed class scheduling.
M.S. in International Affairs & Global Enterprise
Our Master of Science in International Affairs and Global Enterprise (MIAGE) is an interdisciplinary degree that builds the knowledge and skills needed to solve global issues. Our graduates fill competitive roles in international businesses, government agencies, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). We also offer a 15-credit online Graduate Certificate in International Affairs and Global Enterprise.
Learn More About M.S. in International Affairs & Global Enterprise
Public affairs scholarship
for the common good.
Public affairs research and education cover a wide range of theories, methods, and skills. Our faculty's expertise includes everything from environmental policy to nonprofit services to human resources, and our student and alumni network spans federal, state, county, and municipal government offices, nonprofits, and private sector organizations. Throughout all runs a genuine desire to improve the opportunities and conditions facing us all.
News
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Professor Chris Simon Examines Bias, Fairness, and Police Promotion Systems
Research summarized on Police Research Hub highlights that facial traits strongly influence who gets promoted in policing, raising concerns about the meritocracy of promotion systems. A two‑phase experiment using archival police academy photos found that respondents consistently judged perceived leadership ability based on facial characteristics, and those perceptions accurately predicted real‑world promotional outcomes at rates well above chance (AUC ≈ .70). The study shows that attributes such as perceived trustworthiness and dominance shape who is seen as leadership material, despite having no relationship to actual job performance, suggesting that extra‑legal, appearance‑based biases may meaningfully shape career advancement in law enforcement agencies. The study was co-authored by University of Utah Public Affairs and Political Science alumni Professors Ian Adams and Scott Mourtgos (University of South Carolina); SPA Professor Chris Simon, and Regents Professor Emeritus Nicholas Lovrich, Washington State University.
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MPA Student Take First at the 2026 Utah City/County Management Association MPA Case Competition
Congratulations to Tanner Anderson, Anna Ontiveros, Rachel Paulsen, and Samy Estrada (all cc'd) for taking first place at the 2026 Utah City/County Management Association MPA Case Competition.
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University of Utah MPA Co-Sponsors Inaugural Ethics Conference at BYU
The University of Utah MPA program is excited to co-sponsor an upcoming scholarly conference with the Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics at Brigham Young University (BYU) and the BYU MPA program. This inaugural event will explore critical ethical issues in public and nonprofit organizations—a timely topic as both sectors undergo significant changes.
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Welcome to Our New Faculty Members: Dr. Tabitha Benney & Dr. Hakan Yavuz
The School of Public Affairs is excited to officially welcome two distinguished faculty members, Dr. Tabitha Benney and Dr. Hakan Yavuz, who joined our division in January and will begin teaching their first courses with us this fall.
