Undergraduate Admissions

The School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) considers dual admission of beginning students with University College (UCOL) and direct admission of transfer students. Students can be considered for any term.

Beginners (Direct Admission to SPEA)

Beginner students will receive Direct (Dual) Admission to SPEA and University College (UCOL), if they meet the following criteria:

1. Have completed Core 40 or Academic Honors diploma.
2. Have 1000+ SAT combined total of critical reasoning and math score or ACT composite of 21.
3. Have 3.00 GPA.

Transfer Admission

Students transferring from other institutions will receive Direct Admission to SPEA, if they meet the following criteria:

1. Cumulative GPA of 2.0 and above.
2. Last completed semester with a GPA of 2.0 and above.
3. Completed 12 or more transferable credit hours.

• SPEA reserves the right to review and withhold admission in those cases where students have been granted forgiveness, exclusion, or similar exemptions that remove from the cumulative GPA calculation grades that would typically be included in the GPA. SPEA does recognize grade replacements for courses that have been retaken at an institution where the higher of the course grades has been used to compute the cumulative GPA.
• SPEA reserves the right to review and withhold admission in those cases where students are seeking to transfer to SPEA from another institution, but they also have a previous record at IUPUI which does not meet good standing requirements.

Intercampus Transfer, Temporary or Permanent

SPEA students at any campus of Indiana University may transfer permanently to SPEA on another campus, provided they meet the requirements for admission, good academic standing, and plurality of courses on that campus. SPEA students seeking a temporary transfer to SPEA Indianapolis must meet the good academic standing requirement.

Good academic standing requires the following:

1. Cumulative GPA – 2.0 and above.
2. Semester GPA – 2.0 and above.
3. SPEA major GPA – 2.3 minimum, providing the student has completed 12 transferable credit hours or more in the major.

Intercampus transfer students must meet the plurality requirement. The campus at which a student completes the plurality (more than half) of course work will award the degree, provided that campus is authorized to grant the degree.

Permanent intercampus transfer students, who do not meet the regular admission requirements, may be considered for admission to University College.

Transfering to SPEA from University College or another IUPUI academic unit

Students who start out in University College or another academic school at IUPUI are eligible to certify or transfer into SPEA after they have declared a major in SPEA and completed a 2.0 cumulative and prior term GPA. In addition, if the student has completed 12 or more hours in the SPEA major, he or she also needs a 2.3 SPEA GPA.

Returning Students

Students who were previously in SPEA or another academic unit and were in good academic standing (semester and cumulative GPA's above 2.0, and SPEA major GPA above 2.3) when they stopped out and currently do not have a service indicator (probation with impact or academic dismissal) will be regularly admitted.

Students who were previously in SPEA and were not in good academic standing when they stopped out may be considered for admission on probation.

Students dismissed from SPEA or another IU school will need to submit a readmission petition to be considered for admission on probation.

Second Undergraduate Degree Applicants

Students who are seeking a second undergraduate degree are encouraged to explore SPEA graduate programs or graduate certificate programs.

Students must petition to SPEA for approval to pursue a second bachelor’s degree.

SPEA Credit Posted for Police and Firefighting Training

SPEA grants credit for graduates of the Indianapolis Fire Department Training academies and graduates of five certified Indiana police training academy.  Qualified firefighters receive 9 hours for designated SPEA courses and qualified law enforcement academy graduates receive 12 hours for designated courses.  This credit is awarded by written notification from SPEA to Admissions. The individual must either (1) be currently enrolled or (2) applied and accepted for admission.  The credit is treated as transfer credit and becomes “official” once the student completes one additional IUPUI course. Individuals who believe they qualify should be directed to the Student Services office in SPEA. Recipients of this firefighter and law enforcement credit should be directly admitted to SPEA when they apply for the credit.

Sex Offenders Screening Policy for Students/Applicants
Indianapolis applicants should be aware that criminal convictions may result in ineligibility for participation in certain courses/activities within the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Questions regarding school policy on such matters should be addressed to the appropriate program director or the Director of Student Services.