The Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs At A Glance

New York City is home to the United Nations; global businesses and foundations; prestigious institutions of higher learning; thousands of nonprofits; and more non-governmental and international non-governmental organizations than any other American city. 8000+ alumni can attest that there is no better place to study public affairs and administration, international affairs, or higher education administration; and no better place to experience an educational experience built on principles of rigor, access, and value than Baruch College‘s nationally recognized Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs.

In 2016, the School received a historic $30M gift from entrepreneur and Baruch alumnus, Austin W. Marxe and changed its name from the School of Public and International Affairs to the Austin W. Marxe School of Public and International Affairs. The gift has enabled an increase in scholarships and study abroad programs; the establishment of faculty chairs; and the development of public policy programming (Marxe Talks, Global Insights, Marxe Issues) that convene with thought leaders for critical discussions on vital issues.

The Marxe School offers faculty ample resources and support for research which has produced groundbreaking reports in the areas of climate, race, public health, nonprofits, and more. The School also retains and runs five renowned research centers and institutions that produce critical reports, survey results, and data on a variety of topics relevant to public policy.

The Marxe School’s faculty is among the largest and most globally diverse in the country. Accomplished and widely recognized in their fields, each member brings a wealth of experience in advising or leading cabinet-level agencies, political leaders, and major health, nonprofit or government organizations around the world.

Marxe faculty members are policy experts in numerous critical areas including:

Above all else, Marxe professors are here to help you grow both personally and professionally, and provide guidance on coursework, development opportunities, and careers while addressing today’s most pressing public policy challenges.

Learn more about individual faculty members

“I love working with Public Affairs students. They’re passionate and engaged and bring lots of ideas and energy into the classroom. Marxe faculty are accomplished scholars, active in their fields, and truly care about student learning. BSPA classes are small and students build relationships with their professors and one another. When you major in Public Affairs you become part of a small, intimate community of students and faculty who want to make the world a better place.”

-Judith Kafka, Professor and Faculty Director of the BSPA

After a 36-year break from my first college experience, my time at Baruch was both interesting and rewarding. My professors made my return a great learning experience. — Mark Tria, BSPA ‘20

My experience at Marxe was truly rewarding. I’ve gotten the chance to work with and meet like-minded individuals who are passionate about social change. — Aissata Mousa, BSPA ‘20

At BSPA I felt a sense of community and if I saw an opportunity that I was interested in, all I had to do was to ask and I knew it would happen with the support of administrators. — Hermanoschy Bernard, BSPA ‘19

Absolutely fantastic professors and advisors in the department. I feel like I am learning meaningful things about policy and government institutions that I can put to work in a variety of careers. — Erika Smithson (BSPA ’17), Legislative Aide, New York State Senate

When I was accepted into Baruch, I attended the Student Welcome Reception and was immediately sold by the BSPA program’s pitch. The BSPA program offered me a degree that was broad enough to allow me to explore my interests, yet specialized enough to be applicable to real-world challenges and scenarios. The BSPA program has helped me unearth my passion for sustainability and green infrastructure. — Miguelina Portorreal (BSPA ’17), Group Sales Representative, New York Botanical Garden

My favorite class was Professor Rob Walsh’s in economic development. It was in this class that I learned about business improvement districts and how anchor institutions can impact a community. For one of our classes, Rob took us to Union Square, where he explained about the transformation of the neighborhood and his role in its development. I am also thankful that he encouraged me to apply for the Coro Fellowship! — Martin Schmid (BSPA ’16) Fellow in Public Affairs, Coro New York Leadership Center

Professors are always willing to be a resource and to guide students/alumni through the nonprofit and government industries which will undoubtedly continue to help the School inspire future change agents. — Farhana Hassan (BSPA ’14), Community Liaison, Office of New York State Senator Jose M. Serrano

I deeply value the education that I got in the Marxe School’s BSPA program. The program provided me with a solid grounding in economics, statistics, policy tradeoffs, research practices, and political communication and message framing. — Rasheed Malik, BSPA ‘13

Public Affairs courses examine how the public sector, along with the nonprofit and private sectors, use the policy process to effect change. Course offerings are flexible with in-person, hybrid, and online options. The majority of classes are small (20-25 students) and all are taught by accomplished scholars with doctorate degrees from major universities, as well as practitioners with current and previous leadership roles in the field.

The Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs degree requires 120 credits: a minimum of 30 public affairs credits and another 90 credits from the CUNY Pathways general education curriculum. In the Pathways curriculum, the recommended college option for Public Affairs students is a liberal arts minor. Public Affairs students are not eligible to double major.

Click here to explore details of our curriculum.

Students should select public affairs as their intended major when applying to Baruch College and officially declare after arriving on campus by submitting the Public Affairs Major Declaration Form.

Becoming a student at Baruch College requires an application to the City University of New York (CUNY). There are separate applications for freshman and transfers from community colleges. For details, please visit the webpage of Undergraduate Admissions.

For students applying from CUNY Hostos Or BMCC, please visit this webpage for the articulations and lists of course equivalencies.

There is a wide array of financial aid options and programs; including scholarships, grants, and loans to help Baruch College students pay for college.