Bachelor of Science in Business - Strategic Management and Public Policy Concentration
GW's Strategic Management and Public Policy (SMPP) program is the only one of its kind in the Washington, D.C. area. As an SMPP student, you will be investigating the nexus of business, government, and global institutions, while living at the center of it.
The nation’s capital and the surrounding region offer unmatched access to internships and careers across corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. SMPP’s focus on strategy in policy-relevant environments positions you to take advantage of these opportunities and stand out in competitive fields.
The 15-credit concentration in strategic management and public policy allows GW School of Business (GWSB) students to deepen their expertise in corporate governance and the societal impact of business. This program is designed for those who wish to lead organizations that are as strategically sound as they are socially responsible.
Career Options in SMPP
Graduates work at organizations such as McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, Bain & Company, Deloitte, PwC, Accenture, KPMG and in strategy roles at firms like Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Unilever.
In Washington, D.C., students also access opportunities with organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Departments of Commerce, State, and Treasury, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the United Nations, Brookings Institution, the Center for American Progress, and the World Resources Institute.
SMPP’s graduates commonly pursue internships, jobs or further education in the following areas:
Strategy & Consulting
- Management Consultant
- Strategy/Business Analyst
Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility
- Environmental or Sustainability Analyst
- Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist
Business, Government & Policy
- Government Relations and Public Affairs
- Public Policy Consulting
- Regulatory and Policy Design and Strategy
Graduate School
- Master's in Business Administration (MBA)
- Master's in Public Policy (MPP)
- Law School (JD)
Degree Requirements
This Bulletin covers the degree requirements for students matriculating in the current academic year. Students who matriculated before the current year can find their requirements in the relevant archived Bulletin.
The following requirements must be fulfilled: 15 credits in required and selected courses; at least 9 of these credits must be taken in residence. All concentration courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C-.
Concentrations are only available to GWSB students. See Concentrations under GW School of Business Undergraduate Regulations in this Bulletin for additional information.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| SMPP 2004 | Strategy, Careers, and Impact | |
| Four courses (12 credits), at least three of which (9 credits) must be in SMPP, selected from the following: | ||
| School of Business | ||
| SMPP 2006 | Ethics of AI in Business | |
| SMPP 3301 | Corporate Sustainability Strategy | |
| SMPP 4210 | Strategic Environmental Management | |
| SMPP 4215 | Corporate Governance and Ethics | |
| SMPP 4219 | Strategic Networking | |
| SMPP 4802 | Advanced Strategic Management | |
| SMPP 4900 | Special Topics | |
| or SMPP 4900W | Special Topics | |
| SMPP 6202 | Business-Government Relations | |
| SMPP 6214 | Consultative Processes | |
| SMPP 6216 | Globalization and Global Governance | |
| SMPP 6220 | Impact Investing | |
| IBUS 4401 | Managing the Multinational Enterprise | |
| IBUS 4403 | Oil: Industry, Economy, and Society | |
| IBUS 4404 | Global Energy | |
| MGT 3300 | Entrepreneurship | |
| MGT 3305 | Human Capital Sustainability | |
| MGT 4085 | Social Entrepreneurship | |
| Columbian College of Arts and Sciences | ||
| PSC 1002 | Introduction to American Politics and Government | |
| PSC 2211 | State and Urban Politics | |
| PSC 2219 | Political Parties and Interest Groups | |
| Interdisciplinary and Special Programs | ||
| SUST 1001 | Introduction to Sustainability | |
| SUST 2004 | Introduction to Sustainability Communication | |
| SUST 2005 | Responsible Fashion | |
| SUST 3002 | Climate Change and Policy | |
| SUST 3093 | Topics in Sustainability | |
| GFI 3004 | Stakeholder Perspectives on Federal Food Policymaking in the United States | |
| Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration | ||
| PPPA 2000 | Justice and the Legal System I | |
| PPPA 2001 | Justice and the Legal System II | |
| Elliott School of International Affairs | ||
| IAFF 3183 | Special Topics in Development Policy | |
| IAFF 3501 | International Development Theory, Policy, and Practice | |
| IAFF 3513 | Human Rights and Ethics | |
| IAFF 2190 | Special Topics * | |
| or IAFF 3190 | Special Topics in International Affairs | |
*Topics taken in IAFF 2190 and IAFF 3190 should be related to the environment, sustainability, law, and/or diplomacy. For example, climate change and social change; impacts/social dimensions of climate change; law and diplomacy; international environmental policy; and global progress.