The University of Iowa Master of Public Affairs program, established in 2020 by the School of Planning and Public Affairs (SPPA) in the Graduate College, has joined an international network of schools dedicated to public service education by earning accreditation from NASPAA, the global standard for public service education. The Iowa Public Affairs program achieved this status by demonstrating its commitment to public service values, measuring and improving upon programmatic outcomes, and contributing to the knowledge and practice of public service. As a newly accredited member, the Iowa Public Affairs program is joining a community of over 200 programs that spans across the globe.

“Having welcomed the first-cohort public affairs students only five years ago, we have earned the NASPAA accreditation with the earliest possible opportunity,” School Director Haifeng Qian said. “This is a testament to the exceptional quality of our young program in teaching, research, community engagement, and public service. I am incredibly proud of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni.”

Accreditation from NASPAA is an indication that the Iowa Public Affairs program takes the quality of its educational standards seriously. The multi-year accreditation process requires the program to demonstrate the integration of a set of universal competencies into its curriculum. These competencies help guarantee that our graduates are prepared to enter the complex and rapidly diversifying field of public service. Data suggests that the skills earned by a public service degree have important applications across a wide spectrum of careers.

The mission of the Master of Public Affairs program at SPPA is to train the next generation of public service leaders, provide thought leadership in public affairs, and serve the public and nonprofit sector agencies in the State of Iowa and beyond. This accreditation paves the way for the next stage of growth in fulfilling the program’s mission.