Marianne Wanamaker, Professor and Dean
John Scheb, Professor and Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Matthew Murray, Research Professor and Interim Associate Dean for Research
Brewton Brownlow Couch, Assistant Dean of Finance, Operations, and Administration
Katie Cahill, Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives
Xuhong Su, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies
Jonathan Ring, Lecturer and Director of Undergraduate Studies
Joshua Dunn, Professor and Executive Director, Institute of American Civics
Charles Sims, TVA Distinguished Professor of Energy and Environmental Policy and Director, Center for Energy Transportation, and Environmental Policy
Krista Wiegand, Professor and Director, Center for National Security and Foreign Affairs
Faculty
Professors
Busch, A., PhD – Virginia
Dunn, J., PhD – Virginia
Jones, M., PhD – Oklahoma
Scheb, John M., PhD – Florida
Wannamaker, M., PhD – Northwestern
Wiegand, Krista, PhD – Duke
Associate Professors
Bryan, T., PhD – Virginia Tech
Cooper, K., PhD – Texas
Manning, D., PhD – California-Davis
Mewhirter, J., PhD – Florida State
Sims, Charles, PhD – Wyoming
Su, Xuhong, PhD – Georgia
Assistant Professors
Barron, T., PhD – Princeton
Leard, Benjamin PhD – Cornell
Professor of Practice
Haslam, B., B.A. – Emory
Research Professor
Murray, M., PhD – Syracuse
Adjunct Professors
Hoagland, J., PhD – Washington State
Lyons, W., PhD – Oklahoma
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Cahill, K., PhD – Purdue
Lecturers
Ezzell, T., PhD – Tennessee
Ring, J., PhD – Iowa
Vllasi, E., PhD – Purdue
Welch, J., PhD – Tennessee
Visiting Associate Professor
Fitzgerald, T., PhD – Maryland
Baker School website
The Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs (Baker School) is the first and only school of its kind at any public university in Tennessee. The Baker School is committed to the art and science of public problem-solving through education, student engagement, public outreach, and research in public policy, public administration, and public affairs. Substantive focus areas include American Civics; Energy, Mobility, and the Environment; Global Security and Foreign Affairs; and Economic and Community Development.
Admissions
Students are admitted to the Graduate School. Admission to the university is highly competitive. Admission to Baker School academic programs requires a transcript showing a minimum 3.00 undergraduate GPA, a personal statement, a resume, and three letters of recommendation.
For individuals seeking admission to an online program, the Baker School requires evidence of two years professional experience on the submitted resume.
For individuals with an undergraduate degree from a non-US-accredited institution, a GRE score is required. A composite GRE score of 302 on the verbal and quantitative sections is desired.
Academic Standing
Graduate students admitted into the Baker School must maintain a minimum of 3.00 cumulative grade point average for all academic programs, including majors and certificates, and achieve a minimum grade of “B” in all core courses. Students who do not achieve a minimum grade of “B” in a core course must retake the course. If a student’s cumulative grade point average drops below 3.00, the student will be placed on probationary status.
Probation, Dismissal, and Readmission
Any graduate student in an academic program in the Baker School whose cumulative grade point average drops below 3.00 will be placed on probationary status. Students in probationary status are required to meet with a Baker School academic advisor and develop a plan to return to good academic standing. Students will have their probationary status removed upon achieving a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA. They will return to good academic standing by achieving at least a “B” in all core courses.
Students who do not meet this standard by the next academic year that immediately follows their probationary status may be dismissed from the Graduate School. Students may appeal this dismissal and request a review of their case from the Baker School’s Director of Graduate Studies.
Students may be readmitted if they achieve a minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA with at least a “B” in all core courses. Students seeking readmission must meet with a Baker School Academic Advisor to discuss the appropriate course of action.
Any student seeking readmission who remains in good academic standing will be readmitted after meeting with a Baker School academic advisor.
Internal and External Transfer Admissions
Students who are not admitted into academic programs in the Baker School, or those who are transferring from other educational institutions, can apply for admission at any point. Transfer students must meet the admission and academic requirements of the Baker School.
The maximum number of graduate credit hours that can be transferred from other institutions, where students have maintained a good academic standing in a graduate program, is 12 credit hours. Evaluations of transfer credits will be conducted by the Baker School’s Office of Academic Affairs.
Curriculum
The Baker School’s graduate programs consist of two professional degrees and certificates. Dual Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degrees with the University’s College of Law are also available, as well as accelerated bachelor’s degrees.
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
The MPA is a professional degree program designed to prepare students to assume positions in public service through a program of study that integrates the theory and practice of public administration.
The degree requires 36 graduate credit hours, including a 9 credit-hour concentration in an area of the student’s choosing, and 6 credit hours of professional development to be fulfilled as an internship and a required capstone for in-person students, or as an executive practicum for online students. Available concentrations include policy analytics, non-profit management, emergency management, and economic and community development. No thesis is required for completion of the degree. For more information please refer to the graduate catalog.
Master of Public Policy (MPP)
The MPA is a professional degree program designed to prepare students for policy-related careers in government, think tanks, interest groups, not-for-profit organizations, and the private sector.
The degree requires 36 graduate credit hours, including a 9 credit-hour concentration in an area of the student’s choosing, and 6 credit hours of professional development to be fulfilled as an internship and a required master class for in-person students, or as an executive practicum for online students. Available concentrations include public management, agricultural and environmental policy, economic and community development, energy policy, health policy, international agricultural trade and development, national security, and nuclear security. For more information please refer to the graduate catalog.
Five-Year Accelerated Program
The Baker School offers a five-year bachelor’s and master’s degree for qualified students. Students may apply for admission to the Master of Public Administration (MPA) or Master of Public Policy (MPP) degrees as part of the accelerated program. The primary component of the program is that qualified students may take up to 9 credit hours of approved graduate core courses for their senior undergraduate electives and have them count toward both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Tennessee. Students are typically considered for conditional admission to the program, during, or immediately after, their third year of undergraduate study at UTK.
To be considered for conditional admission to the 5-year Accelerated Program a student must have a minimum GPA of 3.40 or above and completed 90 credit hours. Conditional admission of a student into the graduate accelerated program must be obtained before taking a graduate course that is to be used to satisfy the requirements of both the bachelor’s degree and the graduate degree. Students will be informed of the outcome of their application for conditional admission prior to the beginning of their fourth year of undergraduate study. For more information please refer to the graduate catalog.
Joint MPA/JD or MPP/JD
Students may enroll in a joint degree program with the Baker School and the College of Law. A dual-degree candidate must satisfy the requirements for both the J.D. and the MPP/ MPA degrees and the dual degree requirements. For more information please refer to the graduate catalog.
Where to Begin: Graduate Student Programs
The Baker School’s Office of Graduate Student Programs maintains a full-time staff of academic advisors to answer students’ questions concerning majors, curriculum, and elective options. Student advising is achieved through these professional advisors and through faculty mentors when students are admitted to a major. University policy requires students to have one mandatory academic planning session per year. All students at the University should review carefully the prescribed curricula of the respective degree-granting units and should choose courses by their college preference. The student, not the advisor, is responsible for educational planning, selecting courses, meeting course prerequisites, and adhering to policies and procedures.
In addition to advising, the Office of Graduate Student Programs provides individual and group educational program planning, management of student data and enrollment information, recruitment and retention, administration of the graduate scholarship program, coordination of progression procedures to business majors, and career counseling.
Enrichment Opportunities
Scholarships and Assistantships
A limited number of scholarships and assistantships are available for highly qualified students. General selection criteria for scholarships and assistantships include academic merit, financial need, and public service activity. To be considered for a scholarship or assistantship, students must be in good academic standing. Particular scholarships may have additional requirements to be eligible and competitive.
International Programs and Study Abroad
Several opportunities for study abroad are available to Baker School students, such as group programs arranged and supervised by the School, as well as other university and non-university programs that operate on a full semester or summer term; direct enrollment, exchange, summer study, international internships; and individualized programs. Students planning foreign study should meet with an advisor to discuss curricular issues.
Off-Campus Study
Recognizing that learning is not restricted to formal classroom situations, students may earn credit towards graduation for approved off-campus study. It may include certain types of work experiences or community involvement. Such study may be undertaken only with prior approval of the Baker School.
Institute of American Civics
The School also houses the Institute of American Civics, funded by the Tennessee General Assembly, which is dedicated to delivering educational programming on the rights, roles, and responsibilities of citizenship; building foundational knowledge on the history of democratic thought and public service leadership; and empowering effective public problem-solving through instruction in thinking analytically, communicating clearly, and negotiating effectively. The Institute currently offers a minor and certificate in American Civics.
Research Centers
- The Center for National Security and Foreign Affairs (NSFA) is a research center that provides critical insights on national and international security challenges and foreign policy solutions through policy-relevant research, education, and engagement with a global perspective.
- The Center for Energy, Transportation, and Environmental Policy (CETEP) is an interdisciplinary network of scholars and partners that extends across the University of Tennessee, to every level of government, the nonprofit sector, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and industry representatives.
Student Engagement
The Baker School provides students with educational and service opportunities outside of the classroom. Every week, Baker students receive an electronic newsletter that outlines all the upcoming events and activities to help get them engaged to make the most of their college experience. For more information about student engagement programming, please visit: Baker School Student Engagement.
