Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs has three academic departments Administration of Justice, Political Science, and Urban Planning & Environmental Policy. Through the latter departments are conferred undergraduate, masters, executive masters, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. In addition to course and degree offerings, students with majors in other departments may declare minors in the four disciplines offered through this unit; Administration of Justice, Political Science, Public Affairs, and Military Science.

The Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs has a reputation as a comprehensive center for sound academic research. Scholars focus on a broad range of topics, including voting behavior, American foreign policy and international relations, political communication, criminal justice attitudes and behavior, police violence, environmental justice, race and crime, race and governance, policy studies, leadership, E-government, homeland security, urban transportation, housing and community development, Diaspora studies, environmental planning, economic development and the fiscal responsibility of urban governments.