DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The SPEA curriculum is divided into three categories: General Education, Electives, and Major.

General Education

Communications
(Three courses for a minimum of 9 credit hours)

Two of the following writing courses:

• ENG-W 131 Elementary Composition (3 cr.) (C or higher)
• ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills (3 cr.) or
• BUS-X 204 Business Communications (3 cr.)

The following communications course:

• COMM-R 110 Fundamentals of Speech Communication (3 cr.)

Quantitative Methods
(Five courses for a minimum of 15 credit hours.)

One of the following computer courses:

• SPEA-V 261 Computers in Public Affairs (3 cr.)
• BUS-K 201 The Computer in Business (3 cr.)

One of the following mathematics courses:

• MATH-M 118 Finite Mathematics (3 cr.)
• MATH-M 119 Brief Survey of Calculus I (3 cr.)
• MATH 15300 College Algebra and Trigonometry (3 cr.)
• MATH 15400 College Algebra and Trigonometry II (3 cr.)

The following statistics courses:

• SPEA-K 300 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.)
• SPEA-K 301 Statistics Laboratory (1 cr.) Optional, not required, but must be taken with SPEA-K 300

One of the following accounting courses:

• BUS-A 200 Foundations of Accounting (3 cr.)
• BUS-A 201 Introduction to Financial Accounting (3 cr.)

One of the following research methods courses:

• SPEA-J 202 Criminal Justice Data, Methods, and Resources (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 370 Research Methods and Statistical Research (3 cr.)

Social Sciences and Natural Sciences

Option One: Foreign Language (Recommended Option)
    (23-24 credit hours)

Complete first-year foreign language requirements – only required for Option One:
This requirement may be satisfied in one of the following ways:

• By completing first-year (10 credit hours) courses in a single language with passing grades;
• By completing a second- or third- year course with a grade of C or better;
• By taking a placement test and placing into the 200-level or higher; this waives the 100-level requirement but does not carry with it credit toward graduation.

    This requirement may be met with first-year proficiency in American Sign Language.

Placement Test—Students with previous experience in French, German, or Spanish should take the Foreign Language Placement test at the Testing Center to assess their level of language preparation.
Students who achieve elementary or intermediate proficiency in any other foreign language should confer with the Foreign Languages and Cultures department for placement in the correct level of that foreign language.

Students who complete the course into which they were placed with a grade of C or better are eligible for special credit at a reduced fee for the appropriate lower division course(s) that precede the course take. Foreign language special credit counts toward graduation and toward the foreign language requirements.

The following three courses:

• ECON-E 201 Introduction to Microeconomics (3 cr.)
• ECON-E 202 Introduction to Macroeconomics (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 103 Introduction to American Politics (3 cr.)

One of the following Natural Science courses:

• ANTH-A 103 Human Origins and Prehistory (3 cr.)
• AST-A 100 The Solar System (3 cr.)
• AST-A 105 Stars and Galaxies (3 cr.)
• BIOL-K 101 Concepts of Biology I—Plants (5 cr.)
• BIOL-K 103 Concepts of Biology II—Animals (5 cr.)
• BIOL-N 100 Contemporary Biology (3 cr.)
• BIOL-N 107 Introduction to Zoology (4 cr.)
• BIOL-N 200 The Biology of Women (3 cr.)
• BIOL-N 212 Human Biology (2 cr.)
• BIOL-N 213 Human Biology Laboratory (1 cr.)
• BIOL-N 214 Human Biology (2 cr.)
• BIOL-N 215 Human Biology Laboratory (1 cr.)
• BIOL-N 217 Human Physiology (5 cr.)
• BIOL-N 251 Introduction to Microbiology (3 cr.)
• BIOL-N 322 Introductory Principles of Genetics (3 cr.)
• CHEM-C 100 World of Chemistry (3 cr.)
• CHEM-C 101 Elementary Chemistry I (3 cr.)
• CHEM-C 105 Principles of Chemistry I (3 cr.)
• CHEM-C 106 Principles of Chemistry II (3 cr.)
• CHEM-C 110 The Chemistry of Life (3 cr.)
• CHEM-C 115 Lab for the Chemistry of Life (2 cr.)*
• CHEM-C 121 Elementary Chemistry Lab (2 cr.)*
• CHEM-C 125 Experimental Chemistry (2 cr.)*
• CHEM-C 126 Experimental Chemistry II (2 cr.)*
• GEOG-G 107 Physical Systems of the Environment (3 cr.)
• GEOG-G 108 Physical Geography Laboratory (2 cr.)
• GEOG/GEOL-G 185 Global Environmental Change (3 cr.)
• GEOG-G 303 Weather and Climate (3 cr.)/Topical Seminar in Urban and Regional Systems
• GEOL-G 107 Environmental Geology (3 cr.)
• GEOL-G 109 Fundamentals of Earth History (3 cr.)
• GEOL-G 110 Physical Geology (3 cr.)
• GEOL-G 115 Introduction to Oceanography (3 cr.)
• GEOL-G 117 Environmental Geology Laboratory (1 cr.)
• GEOL-G 119 Fundamentals of Earth History Laboratory (1 cr.)
• GEOL-G 120 Physical Geology Laboratory (1 cr.) or GEOL-G 206 Advanced Physical Geology Laboratory (2 cr.)
• GEOL-G 132 Environmental Problems (3 cr.)
• GEOL-G 180 Dinosaurs (3 cr.)
• PHYS 100 Physics in the Modern World (5 cr.)
• PHYS 152 Mechanics (4 cr.)
• PHYS 200 Our Physical Environment (3 cr.)
• PHYS 218 General Physics I (4 cr.)
• PHYS 219 General Physics II (4 cr.)
• PHYS 251 Heat, Electricity, and Optics (5 cr.)
• PHYS-P 201 General Physics I (5 cr.)
• PHYS-P 202 General Physics II (5 cr.)
• PSY-B 105 Psychology as a Biological Science (3 cr.)

* Lab course must be taken with corresponding lecture.

• ECON-E 201 Introduction to Microeconomics (3 cr.)
• ECON-E 202 Introduction to Macroeconimics (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 103 Introduction to American Politics (3 cr.)

One of the following courses:

• ANTH-A 104 Culture and Society (3 cr.)
• CLAS-C 205 Classical Mythology (3 cr.)
• FLAC-F 200 World Cultures through Literature (3 cr.)
• GEOG-G 110 Introduction to Human Geography (3 cr.)
• HIST-H 105 American History I (3 cr.)
• HIST-H 106 American History II (3 cr.)
• HIST-H 108 Perspectives on the World to 1800 (3 cr.)
• HIST-H 114 History of Western Civilization II (3 cr.)
• REL-R 133 Introduction to Religion (3 cr.)
• REL-R 212 Comparative Religion (3 cr.)

Two courses from the following Social Sciences and Humanities lists:

Social Sciences

• AFRO-A 150 Survey of the Culture of Black Americans (3 cr.)
• ANTH-A 104 Culture and Society (3 cr.)
• COMM-C 180 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication (3 cr.)
• ENG-G 104 Language Awareness (3 cr.)
• FOLK-F 101 Introduction to Folklore (3 cr.)
• GEOG-G 110 Introduction to Human Geography (3 cr.)
• GEOG-G 130 World Geography (3 cr.)
• HIST-H 117 Introduction to Historical Studies (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 101 Principles of Political Science (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 219 Introduction to International Relations (3 cr.)
• PSY-B 104 Introduction to Psychology as a Social Science (3 cr.)
• PSY-B 310 Life Span Development (P) (3 cr.)
• PSY-B 380 Abnormal Psychology (3 cr.)
• SOC-R 100 Introduction to Sociology (3 cr.)
• SOC-R 121 Social Problems (3 cr.)
• SOC-R 461 Race and Ethnic Relations (3 cr.)
• SPEA-J 101 The American Criminal Justice System (3 cr.)
• WOST-W 105 Introduction to Women’s Studies (3 cr.)

Humanities

• CLAS-C 205 Classical Mythology (3 cr.)
• FILM-C 190 An Introduction to Film (3 cr.)
• ENG-L 105 Appreciation of Literature (3 cr.)
• FLAC-F 200 World Cultures through Literature (3 cr.)
• FOLK-F 101 Introduction to Folklore (3 cr.)
• HER-H 100 Art Appreciation (3 cr.)
• HER-H 101 History of Art I (3 cr.)
• HER-H 102 History of Art II (3 cr.)
• HIST-H 105 American History I (3 cr.)
• HIST-H 106 American History II (3 cr.)
• HIST-H 108 Perspectives on the World to 1800 (3 cr.)
• HIST-H 113 History of Western Civilization I (3 cr.)

Natural Sciences

Two of the following courses and one of these courses must be with an accompanying laboratory course.

• ANTH-A 103 Human Origins and Prehistory (3 cr.)
• AST-A 100 The Solar System (3 cr.)
• AST-A 105 Stars and Galaxies (3 cr.)
• BIOL-K 101 Concepts of Biology I—Plants (5 cr.)
• BIOL-K 103 Concepts of Biology II—Animals (5 cr.)
• BIOL-N 100 Contemporary Biology (3 cr.)
• BIOL-N 107 Introduction to Zoology (4 cr.)
• BIOL-N 200 The Biology of Women (3 cr.)
• BIOL-N 212 Human Biology (3 cr.)
• BIOL-N 213 Human Biology Laboratory (1 cr.)
• BIOL-N 214 Human Biology (3 cr.)
• BIOL-N 215 Human Biology Laboratory (1 cr.)
• BIOL-N 217 Human Physiology (5 cr.)
• BIOL-N 251 Introduction to Microbiology (3 cr.)
• CHEM-C 100 World of Chemistry (3 cr.)
• CHEM-C 101 Elementary Chemistry I (3 cr.)
• CHEM-C 105 Principles of Chemistry I (3 cr.)
• CHEM-C 106 Principles of Chemistry II (3 cr.)
• GEOG-G 107 Physical Systems of the Environment (3 cr.)
• GEOG-G 108 Physical Geography Laboratory (2 cr.)
• GEOG/GEOL-G 185 Global Environmental Change (3 cr.)
• GEOG-G 303 Weather and Climate/Topical Seminar in Urban and Regional Systems (3 cr.)
• GEOL-G 107 Environmental Geology (3 cr.)
• GEOL-G 109 Fundamentals of Earth History (3 cr.)
• GEOL-G 110 Physical Geology (3 cr.)
• GEOL-G 115 Introduction to Oceanography (3 cr.)
• GEOL-G 117 Environmental Geology Laboratory (1 cr.)
• GEOL-G 119 Fundamentals of Earth History Laboratory (1 cr.)
• GEOL-G 120 Physical Geology Laboratory (1 cr.) or GEOL-G 206 Advanced Physical Geology Laboratory (2 cr.)
• GEOL-G 132 Environmental Problems (3 cr.)
• GEOL-G 180 Dinosaurs (3 cr.)
• PHYS 100 Physics in the Modern World (5 cr.)
• PHYS 152 Mechanics (4 cr.)
• PHYS 200 Our Physical Environment (3 cr.)
• PHYS 218 General Physics I (4 cr.)
• PHYS 219 General Physics II (4 cr.)
• PHYS 251 Heat, Electricity, and Optics (5 cr.)
• PHYS-P 201 General Physics I (5 cr.)
• PHYS-P 202 General Physics II (5 cr.)
• PSY-B 105 Psychology as a Biological Science (3 cr.)

Majors

There are four majors offered on the Indianapolis campus: Civic Leadership, Management, Media and Public Affairs and Policy Studies.

Civic Leadership Major
(Fifteen courses)

Five of the following courses:

• SPEA-V 170 Introduction to Public Affairs (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 221 Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 264 Urban Structure and Policy (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 376 Law and Public Policy (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 382 Political Action and Civic Engagement (3 cr.)

One of the following courses:

• SPEA-V 362 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 263 Public Management (3 cr.)

One of the following courses:

• SPEA-V 378 Policy Processes in the United States (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 408 Individual Rights, Common Goods, and Public Policies (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 438 Mass Media and Public Affairs (3 cr.)

Two of the following courses:

• SPEA-V 412 Leadership and Ethics (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 435 Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 443 Managing Workforce Diversity (3 cr.)

Emphasis Areas
(Four courses for a minimum of 12 credit hours)

The four courses must be chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor. At least two of the courses must be 300-level or above. The emphasis area will allow the student to study a sector, policy or skill in depth. Examples include:

Nonprofit and Community Leadership Emphasis Area

• SPEA-V 362 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs: Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.) Or other approved topics.
• SPEA-V 458 Fund Development for Nonprofits (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 301 Political Parties and Interest Groups (3 cr.)

Political Process and Civic Leadership Emphasis Area

• SPEA-V 378 Policy Processes in the United States (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 408 Individual Rights, Common Goods, and Public Policies (3 cr.) Note: If not taken from above listing.
• POLS-Y 317 Voting, Elections, and Public Opinion (3 cr.)

International Affairs Emphasis Area

• SPEA-V 272 Terrorism and Public Policy (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 219 Introduction to International Relations (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 375 War and International Conflict (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 377 Globalization (3 cr.)

Legal Studies Emphasis Area

• SPEA-J 301 Substantive Criminal Law (3 cr.)
• SPEA-J 302 Procedural Criminal Law (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 211 Introduction to Law (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 221 Legal Research and Writing for Paralegal Studies (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 304 Constitutional Law (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 305 Constitutional Rights and Liberties (3 cr.)

One of the following capstone courses:

• SPEA-V 473 Management, Leadership, and Policy (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs: Indiana Leadership Seminar (3 cr.) Note: Application required.

The following internship courses:

• SPEA-V 252 Career Development and Planning (2 cr.)
• SPEA-V 380 Internship in Public and Environmental Affairs Policy (0-6 cr.)

Degree Electives
A sufficient number of additional courses to meet the minimum degree requirement of 120 credit hours with at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA.

Management Major
(Fifteen courses)

The following course:

• SPEA-V 170 Introduction to Public Affairs (3 cr.)

Two of the following courses:

• PBHL-A 316 Environmental Science and Health (3 cr.)
• PBHL-A 124 Health Care Management and Policy (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 221 Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 264 Urban Structure and Policy (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 375 Emergency Services Administration (3 cr.)

One of the following courses:

• SPEA-V 263 Public Management (3 cr.) 
• SPEA-V 362 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3 cr.)

One of the following courses:

• SPEA-V 346 Introduction to Government Accounting and Financial Reporting (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 356 Introduction to Nonprofit Accounting and Reporting (3 cr.)

The following four courses:

• SPEA-V 348 Management Science (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 361 Financial Management (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 366 Managing Behavior in Public Organizations (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 376 Law and Public Policy (3 cr.)

Five of the following courses with at least one course and no more than two from each section:

Section 1:

• SPEA-V 372 Government Finance and Budgets (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 458 Fund Development for Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)

Section 2:

• SPEA-V 369 Managing Information Technology (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)

Section 3:

• SPEA-V 373 Human Resources Management in the Public Sector (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 412 Leadership and Ethics (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 435 Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 443 Managing Workforce Diversity (3 cr.)

One of the following capstone courses:

• SPEA-V 473 Management, Leadership, and Policy (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs: Indiana Leadership Seminar (3 cr.) Note: Application required.

The following internship courses:

• SPEA-V 252 Career Development and Planning (2 cr.)
• SPEA-V 380 Internship in Public and Environmental Affairs (0-6 cr.)

Degree Electives
A sufficient number of additional courses to meet the minimum degree requirement of 120 credit hours with at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA.

Policy Studies Major
(Fifteen Courses)

The following course:

• SPEA-V 170 Introduction to Public Affairs (3 cr.)

One of the following courses:

• SPEA-V 221 Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 362 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3 cr.)

One of the following courses:

• SPEA-V 263 Public Management (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 372 Government Finance and Budgets (3 cr.)

One of the following courses:

• SPEA-V 382 Political Action and Civic Engagement (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 408 Individual Rights, Common Goods, and Public Policies (3 cr.)

Four of the following courses:

• SPEA-V 348 Management Science (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 369 Managing Information Technology (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 376 Law and Public Policy (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 378 Policy Processes in the United States (3 cr.)

Policy Emphasis Area
(Four courses for a minimum of 12 credit hours)

From a Policy Emphasis Area select four courses chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor. Possible emphasis areas are listed below.

Criminal Justice

• SPEA-J 101 The American Criminal Justice System (3 cr.)
• SPEA-J 150 Public Safety in America (3 cr.)
• SPEA-J 222 Murder in America: Causes and Consequences (3 cr.)
• SPEA-J 272 Terrorism and Public Policy (3 cr.)
• SPEA-J 305 Juvenile Justice (3 cr.)
• SPEA-J 426 Mapping and Analysis for Public Safety (3 cr.)

Environment

• PBHL-A 162 Environment and People (3 cr.)
• PBHL-A 316 Environmental Science and Health (3 cr.)
• PBHL-A 416 Environmental Health Policy (3 cr.)
• BIOL-K 341 Principles of Ecology (3 cr.)

Health

• PBHL-A 316 Environmental Science and Health (3 cr.)
• PBHL-A 320 Health Systems Administration (3 cr.)
• PBHL-A 354 Health Economics (3 cr.)
• PBHL-H 401 Strategic Planning in Health Care Organizations (3 cr.)
• PBHL-A 416 Environmental Health Policy (3 cr.)
• PBHL-H 420 Health Policy (3 cr.)
• PBHL-H 474 Health Administration Seminar (3 cr.)

Urban

• SPEA-J 387 Foundations in Homeland Security (3 cr.)
• SPEA-J 426 Mapping and Analysis for Public Safety (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 264 Urban Structure and Policy (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs: Do the Homeless Count? (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 308 Urban Politics (3 cr.)

Nonprofit

• SPEA-V 221 Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 260 Topics in Public Affairs (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 362 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 458 Fund Development for Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)

International Policy

• SPEA-V 272 Terrorism and Public Policy (3 cr.)
• ECON-E 303 Survey of International Economics (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 217 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 219 Introduction to International Relations (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 360 U.S. Foreign Policy (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 377 Globalization (3 cr.)

One of the following capstone courses:

• SPEA-V 473 Management, Leadership, and Policy (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs: Indiana Leadership Seminar (3 cr.) Note: Application required.

The following internship courses:

• SPEA-V 252 Career Development and Planning (2 cr.)
• SPEA-V 380 Internship in Public and Environmental Affairs Policy (0-6 cr.)

Degree Electives
A sufficient number of additional courses to meet the minimum degree requirement of 120 credit hours with at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA.

Media and Public Affairs Major

(18 courses)

Required:

• SPEA-V 170 Introduction to Public Affairs (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 372 Government Finance and Budgets (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 376 Law and Public Policy (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 378 Policy Processes in the United States (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 382 Political Action and Civic Engagement (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 438 Mass Media and Public Affairs (3 cr.)
• INFO-N 311 Digital Paradigm Shift: effects on International Culture and Society (3 cr.)
• JOUR-C 300 The Citizen and the News (3 cr.)
• JOUR-J 375 Race, Gender, and Media (3 cr.)
• JOUR-J 410 Media as Social Institutions (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 317 Voting, Elections, and Public Opinions (3 cr.)

Select four courses from below (12 credits):

• SPEA-V 221 Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector
• SPEA-V 263 Public Management
• SPEA-V 412 Leadership and Ethics
• JOUR-J 110 Foundations of Journalism and Mass Media
• JOUR-J 210 Visual Communications
• JOUR-J 321 Prinicples of Public Relations
• JOUR-J 423 Public Opinion
• JOUR-J 450 History of Journalism
• POLS-Y 215 Introduction to Political Theory
• POLS-Y 321 Media and Politics
• POLS-Y 377 Globalization
• POLS-Y 382 Modern Political Thought
• SOC-R 355 Social Theory
• SOC-R 356 - Foundations of Social Theory

One of the following capstone courses:

• SPEA-V 473 Management, Leadership, and Policy (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs: Indiana Leadership Seminar (3 cr.) Note: Application required.

The following internship courses:

• SPEA-V 252 Career Development and Planning (2 cr.)
• SPEA-V 380 Internship in Public and Environmental Affairs Policy (0-6 cr.)

Degree Electives

General Electives

Additional courses beyond the general education and major requirements are needed to complete the minimum of 120 credit hours required for the degree.