About the Askew School

One of America's Oldest and Most Prestigious Government Programs

Welcome to the website of the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy!! We hope that you can find the information that you want and need to consider joining us for your graduate education. We have an exciting variety of specializations, a talented and nationally-known faculty, and a tremendous group of students that you will join for your studies.

The Askew School grants one of the oldest master’s degrees in the country dating back to 1947. Currently, former Governor Reubin Askew holds the Askew Eminent Scholar Chair and is an active faculty member. With fifteen full-time faculty members, the Askew School has the Jerry Collins Eminent Scholar Chair, held by Dr. Mary Ellen Guy, and two named professorships, held by Dr. Rick Feiock and Dr. Fran Berry. The April 2004 U.S. News and World report Best Graduate Schools guidebook ranked the Askew School’s MPA program 26th overall, while the public management specialty ranked 15th nationally and the public finance and budgeting specialty ranked 26th.

A January article published in the Journal of Public Affairs Education (drawing from articles published in the 19 PA journals associated with sections of the American Society for Public Administration from 1993-2003) ranked the Askew School fourth in the country for faculty research productivity. We are also the only PA School in the country that has housed two of the top PA journals; both of the editors are top notch in their fields. Eminent Scholar Mary Ellen Guy was the editor of the Review of Public Personnel Administration from 2001 to 2006, and Professor Jim Bowman edits Public Integrity covering issues of ethics in public service.

This same January article also ranked the publishing prowess of graduate students in programs across the country, and our students ranked third in the country for the ten year period. This academic year over 15 Askew School graduate students have presented their research papers at regional and national public affairs conferences, getting substantial funding from the Askew School to participate in these professional meetings. We are also funding nearly 30 master’s and doctoral students as research and teaching assistants to enable them to focus on their graduate studies. But the large majority of our graduate students not funded through the School are working in professional-level jobs in state and local government offices, where they gain valuable work experience and also take advantage of the six hours of free tuition waiver credits offered by state agencies and many local governments to fund their graduate education. Out of state students can apply for in-state residency after living for one year in Florida which also lowers the cost of graduate education.

In the last seven years we have developed two widely regarded specializations that have also been highly popular with program students and community-professionals: our certificates (and MPA specializations) in nonprofit and public management, and in emergency management. The following specializations are sponsored by the School:

• Local Government Administration,
• Human Resource Management,
• Public Budgeting and Financial Management,
• Information Resource Management,
• Leadership and Strategic Management,
• Policy Analysis and Evaluation,
• Nonprofit Management
• Emergency and Environmental Management, and
• Health Services Policy and Administration.

Tallahassee, Florida is an exciting place to study and has all the policy and association action one would expect in the capital city of the fourth most populous state in the nation. Florida has a long-established reputation for policy innovation and professionalism, at both the state and local levels, and this trend-setting environment continues today. The Askew School has strong ties with people and agencies in both state and local governments, and can assist with short-term work assignments for students who have not yet gained much work experience so that upon graduation, you are well-prepared for your interviews and job hunt.

Florida State University is one of two research universities in Florida and now has a combined enrollment of over 39,000 students, but the Askew School maintains a close-knit community feel both in the classroom and outside of it. Over 80% of our graduate classes have fewer than 20 students in them, and you can specialize in the areas you want to pursue work in. We offer regular informal seminars on workplace issues, research conducted by professors and students, and opportunities to meet and talk with our graduates who are leaders in Florida city and state government.

We hope you are able to get your questions answered by reading through our program and community materials on this website. If not, please feel free to contact our faculty or staff. Dr. James Bowman is our MPA director and Dr. Mary Ellen Guy is our PhD. Director and their contact information can be found under the faculty listings. You are also welcome to call or email me with questions or just to talk about your career aspirations and whether our program can help you reach those. Good luck to you in making your graduate education plans.

Fran Berry, Director

The Askew School nationally ranks fourth in faculty and third in student research publications