At the convergence of the fields of social work, urban planning and policymaking, the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs identifies and develops emerging areas of research and teaching, cultivating leaders and change agents who advance solutions to society’s most pressing problems.
Founded in 1994, UCLA Luskin incorporates the best practices in scholarship, research and teaching in the fields of social work, urban and regional planning, and policymaking. The unique intersection of these disciplines within one school allows for academic cross-collaboration and a rich education that values diverse perspectives at the macro- and micro- organizational levels. Graduates of the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs are well prepared to take leadership roles and effect change as practitioners, researchers and policymakers in the public, private and non-governmental sectors.
Faculty of the Luskin School of Public Affairs are actively engaged in research that addresses pressing national and regional issues including immigration, drug policy, prison reform, health care financing, transportation and the environment, national security, economic development, and an aging U.S. and world population. The School is named after Meyer and Renee Luskin—UCLA alumni, Angelenos and philanthropists—who generously gave a $100 million gift to UCLA, half of which funded endowments in the School of Public Affairs. On March 18, 2011, the School was officially named the UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin School of Public Affairs.
Master’s degrees in Global Public Affairs (starting Fall 2027), Public Policy, Real Estate Development, Social Welfare, and Urban and Regional Planning.
Doctoral programs in Social Welfare and Urban Planning.
Bachelor of Arts in Public Affairs.
Undergraduate minors in Public Affairs, Gerontology, and Urban and Regional Studies.
| Student Body (1,204 Students) | Living Alumni (10,356) |
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| Numbers accurate as of Fall 2025 | Includes doctoral degrees and Public Affairs majors; excludes minors. Accurate as of Fall 2025 |
In 2012, the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs used the opportunity presented by the generous $50-million naming gift from Meyer and Renee Luskin to rethink and plan how to meet the challenges of our time. This Strategic Planning effort redefined the future of the School, the future of the field of public affairs, and the future of how public universities respond to society’s greatest problems.
In 2020, a committee of staff and faculty revisited the Strategic Plan to assess the progress that had been made and identify remaining challenges to be addressed. The updated plan also discusses issues that have emerged during the intervening years and sets forth additional priorities as appropriate. In 2024, the Luskin School’s Strategic Plan was updated again as part of a university-wide effort.
These comprehensive planning projects focused on identifying the world’s most pressing problems, developing new opportunities for UCLA Luskin to address them, and creating the knowledge base, tools and initiatives that are required for the School to continue playing a leadership role today and in the future.
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