Legislative Affairs | Graduate School of Political Management

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The Professional Degree for Legislatures

Our Legislative Affairs program will give you a clear understanding of how Congress operates, how procedure shapes outcomes, and how entities like constituents, the executive branch, and lobbyists impact the work of the legislature.

Our courses, held just steps from the Capitol, teach you the latest strategies and tactics. For more than 40 years, the Legislative Affairs master’s program has helped launch and enhance careers in legislatures in the United States and around the world.

Our graduates are chiefs of staff in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, members of the German Bundestag, and state legislators across the country.

Program Objectives

Program Objectives

Upon completion of the Master’s degree in Legislative Affairs, students will:

1. Gain both theoretical and practical knowledge related to the U.S. Congress, general issues in the legislative arena, and how to effectively advance legislation

2. Hone their oral and written communication skills in both theoretical and technical aspects of legislative affairs

3. Be able to conduct cutting-edge research and engage in effective problem solving by learning critical thinking skills

4. Learn how to work effectively with others, the value of collaborative work, and will understand ethical issues involved in the legislative arena.

Degree Requirements

Hands-on Education

Our prestigious program is the only master’s degree exclusively devoted to the study of applied politics in the legislative arena, offering you the perspective of both political scholars and working professionals.

Our distinguished faculty includes instructors who spend their days working on the Hill and their evenings teaching. In recent years, two current members of the U.S. House of Representatives have taught complete courses as GSPM professors.

The mix of academic rigor and applied skills provides an education that will set you up for successful careers in any legislative arena.

Meet our faculty.

Classes Held at Hall of the States

11 Courses

Class Schedule

Eddie Garcia

Legislative Affairs, Class of 2019

"As a military officer working on Capitol Hill, the Legislative Affairs graduate program at GWU was integral in preparing me for the legislative complexities involved in our system of government. The faculty brought extensive experience in both the science and the art of legislative work...that you won’t find anywhere else. I highly recommend the Legislative Affairs program for anyone interested in making a substantial impact in the legislative branch."

"My career has spanned over 40 years. I have worked in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the United States Senate. What makes GSPM unique, both when I was a student and now, is the fact that most classes are taught by adjuncts with real world experience."

Julius Hobson

GSPM Adjunct Professor
Legislative Affairs, Class of 1980