Programs

Bloomington Campus

Certificate Programs

 The following certificates are available on the BL campus.

Applied Research and Inquiry
Arts Administration
Healthcare Management and Policy
Nonprofit Management and Leadership
Public and Environmental Affairs
Public Management and Leadership
Urban Studies

General Requirements

  1. Students in good academic standing and enrolled in bachelor’s programs at Indiana University are eligible to apply for a certificate at the SPEA Undergraduate Program and Academic Advising Office (SPEA 240). Interested students must apply for a certificate before completing 15 credit hours of applicable course work.
  2. Admitted SPEA students earning a SPEA certificate may double count up to six (6) credit hours of certificate requirements with any other SPEA academic program. The remaining SPEA certificate credit hours cannot be applied toward any other SPEA academic program. Non-SPEA majors cannot double count courses with any SPEA academic program.
  3. SPEA students cannot earn a certificate in the same area as their major.
  4. A grade point average of 2.000 or higher is required in all course work credited toward the certificate.

Certificate in Applied Research and Inquiry

The Certificate in Applied Research and Inquiry introduces students to traditions of social inquiry. Students will explore the relationship between knowledge and action, between critical thinking and social engagement. They will examine the concepts, connections and tensions between competing policy choices and gain an understanding of the contradictions inherent in notions of justice, citizenship and equality.

Students applying for the Certificate in Applied Research and Inquiry must have completed 26 undergraduate credit hours and have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above. To receive the certificate, students must earn a GPA of 3.500 in courses that count toward the Certificate.

Certificate Requirements

(18 credit hours: at least 9 credits must be SPEA courses)

Traditions of Inquiry Requirement - choose two of the following courses:

  • POLS-Y 379 Ethics and Public Policy (3 cr.)
  • POLS-Y 382 Modern Political Thought (3 cr.)
  • SOC-S 210 The Economy, Organization, and Work (3 cr.)
  • SOC-S 312 Education and Society (3 cr.)
  • SOC-S 326 Law and Society (3 cr.)
  • SOC-S 335 Race and Ethnic Relations (3 cr.)
  • SOC-S 338 Gender Roles (3 cr.)
  • SOC-S 340 Social Theory (3 cr.)
  • SOC-S 346 Topics in Cross-Cultural Sociology (3 cr.)
  • SOC-S 360 Topics in Social Policy (3 cr.)
  • SOC-S 365 Social Foundations of Behavior: Applications for Health Settings (3 cr.)
  • SOC-S 410 Topics in Social Organization (3 cr.)
  • SOC-S 431 Topics in Social Psychology (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 450 Traditions of Inquiry: International Relations Theory and Policy Choices (3 cr.)

Note: When appropriate, additional sections of SPEA V450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs may count toward the Traditions of Inquiry requirement. (3 cr.)

Research and Design Requirements - choose one of the following courses:
  • SOC-S 370 Research Methods in Sociology (3 cr.) and SOC-S 371 Social Statistics (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 491 Honors Research in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)

Research Methods Requirements - Choose one of the following courses:

  • POLS-Y 395 Quantitative Political Analysis (3 cr.)
  • POLS-Y 405 Models and Theories of Political Decision Making (3 cr.) (P: POLS-Y 200 or higher level)
  • SOC-S 371 Social Statistics (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 370 Research Methods and Statistical Modeling (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 386 Case Studies for Policy Analysis (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 450 Research Methods for Applied Research (3 cr.)

Thesis Requirement - Choose one of the following courses:

  • POLS-Y 499 Senior Thesis (3 cr.) (available only to Political Science majors)
  • SOC-S 498 Honors Thesis Seminar I (3 cr.) and SOC-S 499 Honors Thesis Seminar II (3 cr.) (P: SOC-S 370 and SOC-S 498)  
  • SPEA-V 499 Honors Thesis (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 491)

Internship and Study Abroad Requirement - Choose three credits of the following courses:

  • SPEA-V 380 Internship in Public and Environmental Affairs (0-6 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 381 Professional Experience (1-6 cr.)
  • SPEA-V, E, or A 482 Overseas Topics in Public Affairs (0-15 cr.) (repeatable with different topics)
  • Any overseas study course approved by IU

Certificate in Arts Administration

Certificate Requirements
(21 credit hours)

The following two courses:

  • SPEA-A 163 Introduction to Arts Management (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-A 354 Arts Marketing Fundamentals (3 cr.)
One of the following management courses:
  • SPEA-A 450 Performing Arts Organizations (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-A 400 Museum Administration (3 cr.)
Four of the following courses:
  • Any SPEA-A course not taken above
  • BUS-L 250 Law and the Arts (3 cr.) or SPEA-A 450 Law and the Arts (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 481 Grant Writing (3 cr.)

Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership

Are you interested in helping charitable organizations provide needed services? Or helping professional groups run effectively? The Certificate in Nonprofit Management provides coursework specifically geared toward preparing you for working in or with nonprofit organizations. The certificate coursework also will prepare students to take the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance exam and become a certified nonprofit professional (see an O’Neill Advisor for information about the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance).

Certificate Requirements (21 credits)

Six courses plus a 3 credit internship

One of the following courses:

  • SPEA-E 183 Environment and People (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-H 124 Overview of the U.S. Healthcare System (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 161 Urban Problems and Solutions (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 181 U.S. Policy & Administration (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 182 Policy-making around the World: Comparative and International Approaches (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 185 Management of Public Problems and Solutions (3 cr.)
The following two courses:
  • SPEA-V 221 Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 362 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3 cr.)

Two of the following courses:

  • SPEA-V 236 Managing and Leading Organizations (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 246 Elements of Governmental and Nonprofit Financial Accounting Cycle (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 186)
  • SPEA-V 336 Managing External Collaboration and Networks (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 185)
  • SPEA-V 356 Introduction to Nonprofit Accounting and Reporting (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 246)
  • SPEA-V 434 NGO Management for International Development (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 450 Nonprofit Resource Management(3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 454 Human Resource Management in Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.) (R: SPEA-V 221 or SPEA-V 362)
  • SPEA-V 458 Fund Development for Nonprofits (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 481 Grant Writing for Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)

One of the following courses from a nonprofit field, service area, or industry:

  • SPEA-A 459 Public Policy and the Arts (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-A 464 The Economics and Administration of Arts Organizations (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-E 363 Environmental Management (3 cr.) (R: SPEA-E 183)
  • SPEA-H 324 Health Policy (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-H 124)
  • SPEA-V 413 Food Systems and Community Resilience (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 424 Environmental Law, Justice, and Politics (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 425 Homeland Security: Policy and Practice (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs (1-3 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)
  • SPEA-V 462 Community Development (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 482 Overseas Topics in Public Affairs (0-15 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)

3 credit hours of Internship in a nonprofit organization:

  • SPEA-V 380 Internship in Public and Environmental Affairs for non-O’Neill students or SPEA-V 381 Professional Experience for O’Neill students. Please contact the O’Neill Career Hub regarding internship requirements.

Certificate in Public and Environmental Affairs
This certificate is for non-O’Neill students only.

Certificate Requirements
(Eight courses)

The following course:

  • SPEA-E 183 Environment and People (3 cr.)

One of the following policy courses:

  • SPEA-V 181 US Policy & Administration (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 182 Policy-making around the World: Comparative and International Approaches (3 cr.)

One of the following management courses:

  • SPEA-V 236 Managing and Leading Organizations (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 373 Human Resource Management in the Public Sector (3 cr.)

One of the following law courses:

• SPEA-V 184 Law and Public Affairs (3 cr.)
• BUS-L 201 Legal Environment of Business (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 211 Introduction to Law (3 cr.)
• SOC-S 326 Law and Society (3 cr.) (P: three credit hours of sociology or consent of instructor)

Any four SPEA courses at the 3-400 level. Students may refer to O’Neill majors or minors to look for courses grouped by field of study.

Certificate in Healthcare Management and Policy

Certificate Requirements
(Seven courses)

The following three courses:

  • SPEA-H 124 Overview of the U.S. Healthcare System (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-H 324 Health Policy (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-H 124)
  • SPEA-H 350 Fundamentals of Healthcare Financial Management (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-H 124 or permission of instructor)

Three of the following courses:

  • SPEA-H 322 Principles of Epidemiology (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-H 124)
  • SPEA-H 341 Legal Aspects of Health Care Administration (3 cr.) (SPEA-H 124 or permission of instructor)
  • SPEA-H 401 Strategic Planning in Health Organizations (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-H 353 or SPEA-H 350)
  • SPEA-H 402 Hospital Administration (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-H 124 or permission of instructor)
  • SPEA-H 411 Chronic and Long-Term Care Administration (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-H 124 or permission of instructor)
  • SPEA-H 432 Healthcare Marketing (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-H 455 Topics in Public Health (1-3 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)
  • SPEA-H 456 Health Care Reimbursement (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-H 353 or SPEA-H 350)
  • SPEA-V 450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs (1-3 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)

One of the following courses:

  • Any course not selected from the list above (3 cr.)
  • BIOT-T 312 Societal Issues in Biotechnology (3 cr.)
  • BUS-J 375 Strategic Management (3 cr.)
  • BUS-P 300 (or P304 Honors) Operations Management (3 cr.)
  • ECON-E 321 Intermediate Microeconomics (3 cr.)
  • SOC-S 358 Social Issues in Health and Medicine (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-H 342 Community Health Education (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 373 Human Resource Management in the Public Sector (3 cr.)
  • SPH-B 403 Public Health Program Planning (3 cr.)
  • STAT-S 303 Applied Statistical Methods for the Life Sciences (3 cr.)

Certificate in Public Management and Leadership

Certificate Requirements
(Seven courses)

The following courses:

  • SPEA-V 181 US Policy & Administration (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 185 Management of Public Problems and Solutions (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 236 Managing and Leading Organizations (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 336 Managing External Collaboration and Networks (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 185)
  • SPEA-V 379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 404 Advanced Public Management (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 185)

One of the following courses:

  • SPEA-V 184 Law and Public Affairs (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 361 Financial Management (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 246 or BUS-A 201)
  • SPEA-V 369 Managing Information Technology (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 373 Human Resource Management in the Public Sector (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 374 Intermediate Public Budgeting and Finance (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 186)
  • SPEA-V 432 Labor Relations in the Public Sector (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 373)
  • SPEA-V 435 Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 443 Managing Workforce Diversity (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs (1-3 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)
  • SPEA-V 475 Database Management Systems (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 261, SPEA-V 369, or equivalent)
  • SPEA-V 481 Grant Writing for Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)

Certificate in Urban Studies

Certificate Requirements
(Eight courses)

The following five courses:

  • SPEA-V 161 Urban Problems and Solutions (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 186 Intro to Public Budgeting and Finance in Public Affairs (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 365 Urban Development and Planning (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 161)
  • SPEA-V 340 Urban Government Administration (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 462 Community Development (3 cr.)

Three of the following courses:

  • GEOG-G 314 Urban Geography (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-E 418 VECTOR-BASED GIS (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 275 Introduction to Emergency Management (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 374 Intermediate Public Budgeting & Finance (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 186)
  • SPEA-V 412 Leadership and Ethics (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 421 Metropolitan Development (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 424 Environmental Law, Justice, and Politics (3 cr)
  • SPEA-V 437 Public Transportation (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs (1-3 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)
  • SPEA-V 470 Community Development Workshop (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 482 Overseas Topics in Public Affairs (0-15 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)

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