Overview
A senior college of the City University of New York (the nation's largest urban public university), Baruch College is a nationally recognized center of excellence with a particular focus on the administrative sciences. Baruch enrolls approximately 13,000 undergraduates and 2,500 graduate students.

The School of Public Affairs, established in 1994 as the only school of public affairs or public policy in CUNY, is among the largest such schools in the nation. The School utilizes its own faculty, faculty members from other Baruch and CUNY programs, visiting scholars, and practitioners in a broad range of offerings focused on the study of critical policy issues. The School is actively engaged in the development and analysis of public policy through a variety of venues. Through the Baruch Survey Unit, the School has conducted major public opinion surveys. Research by the School of Public Affairs faculty members is supported by the Smith, Richardson, Ford, Rockefeller, Sloan, Robert Wood Johnson, and other foundations, as well as by the NIH.

The School of Public Affairs enrolls approximately 700 graduate students, of whom about 65 percent are women and 60 percent are members of minority groups. About 75 percent of the School of Public Affairs' graduate students are enrolled on a part-time basis, with most working full-time.

The Location and Community
Baruch College, located in the Gramercy Park section of midtown Manhattan, is easily accessible by mass transit from all New York City communities; Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, and Rockland counties; and the New Jersey and Connecticut suburbs.

Programs of Study and Degree Requirements
The School of Public Affairs at Baruch College of the City University of New York provides scholars, students, and practitioners with opportunities to come together to study ways to improve the efficiency, regulation, delivery, and financing of public services, particularly in urban areas. In this way, the School fulfills its primary goals: to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to become public and community leaders, and to contribute to the development of programs and policies that benefit and serve the New York community. The School offers both graduate and undergraduate degree programs. Programs in public administration are fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).

The Master of Public Administration program requires 42-45 credits. Specializations for the M.P.A. program include tracks in nonprofit management, health-care policy, policy analysis and evaluation, and public management. Students may choose a track or design their own program in consultation with a faculty adviser. U.S. News & World Report ranked the School in the top 50 nationally, for graduate programs in public administration for 2002.

The Master of Public Administration program is offered part-time, full-time, or as an executive program. Students attending part-time typically complete the program in three years. Those attending full-time generally complete the program in less than two years.

The Master of Science in Education degree requires 33 credits. The program's emphasis is on developing leaders in urban education. Students concentrate in educational administration and supervision (pre-K through grade 12) or higher education administration. The cohort program in educational administration and supervision prepares students for New York State certification as school administrator and supervisor (SAS), reciprocally honored in many states. The higher education program prepares students to be successful administrators in colleges and universities.

Under contract with National Urban/Rural Fellows, Inc., the School of Public Affairs conducts the National Urban/Rural Fellows Program (NURF), an intensive graduate degree program that serves women and minority administrators from all parts of the United States. The NURF curriculum combines a yearlong internship with senior administrative officials and two summers of graduate course work.

Facilities & Resources
Baruch provides its students with a modern and technologically advanced learning environment. The Newman Library provides the Baruch community with access to numerous information resources, including several hundred online databases through the Dow Jones News/Retrieval, LexisNexis, and DIALOG services. The building also houses the Baruch Computing and Technology Center, which provides more than 500 multimedia computer workstations that have access to the Internet.

An enduring dedication to New York City is the continuing legacy of Baruch College and the hallmark of the School of Public Affairs. As the only public affairs school in New York based in a public institution-the City University of New York-Baruch's School of Public Affairs is uniquely positioned for involvement with administrative and policy matters that affect the future of the city. Much of this activity is conducted through the School's centers, which support its mission to build excellence and innovation in public policy education and research. The School's centers include the Center on Equality, Pluralism, and Policy; Non-Profit Group; Coexistence Center; Baruch Survey Research Unit; the Center for the Study of Business and Government; the Center for Educational Leadership; and the Center for Innovation in Leadership and Government.

Expenses and Aid
For standard graduate programs, tuition for New York State residents was $3220 per semester for full-time students (12 or more credits) and $290 per credit for part-time students. For nonresidents and international students, tuition was $475 per credit. Executive M.P.A. Program tuition of $18,000 per year for New York State residents and $23,135 per year nonresidents covered all costs, including books, staff support, and meals. Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Financial Aid:
In addition to federal and state financial assistance programs, students may be eligible for graduate assistantships and, depending on the program, endowed fellowships.

Housing/Living Expenses:
Baruch does not offer student housing. New York City housing costs are relatively expensive. Estimated housing costs for independent students are $14,000 per year, with an additional $900 required for local transportation.

How to Apply / Application
Applications are processed on a continuing basis, but students interested in attending in the fall are urged to apply by May 1. There is a $50 application fee. Applicants must take the GRE and be scheduled to have a baccalaureate degree prior to the beginning of graduate study. Admission decisions are made on the basis of an examination of the candidate's undergraduate transcript, application essay, GRE scores, and two or more letters of recommendation; applicants may request a personal interview. In addition, Executive M.P.A. program admission decisions place particular emphasis on career credentials, and GRE requirements are waived.

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