Arlington (Washington D.C. Metro Area)

The campus is located in the heart of Arlington in the Washington D.C. Metro area  and is metro accessible on the Orange and Blue metro lines. Many graduate students at the Arlington campus take classes on a part-time basis, while working full-time in federal, regional, and local government positions, as well as in consulting and the non-profit sector. Most classes at this campus begin at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., with occasional weekend conference-style meetings.

Washington Experience

The Schopol of Public and International Affairs at Virginia Tech offers a variety of different experiential learning opportunities in the Washington, DC area. These are practice-based experiences that expose students to policy-making through courses, field visits, and career-bridging internships.

Our students are part of a community that includes more than 35,000 Virginia Tech alumni in the national capital region. We have the benefits of community that come from a close-knit program dedicated to thoughtful public service alongside the benefits of a large university. Students are also able to reach faculty in Blacksburg and Richmond through video conference technology for advising, service on committees, and online courses.

Many of our faculty come from long careers in government, or are primarily reflective practitioners who hold a full time job in government as well as scholarly credentials. They bring current policy and management experience as well as their personal networks to the classroom for the benefit of students. From lunchtime research in progress talks to evening guest workshops for doctoral students, aspiring public administrators, and alumni, our students have ample opportunity to interact with public officials and policy experts.