Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs

The Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs requires 120 credit hours. The Bloomington campus offers eight majors: Environmental Management, Human Resource Management, Law and Public Policy, Management, Nonprofit Management and Leadership, Policy Analysis, Public Financial Management and Public Management and Leadership.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
 
Common Ground

See https://gened.indiana.edu/approved-courses/index.html for updated requirements and a complete list of course options.

Career Core

1. Oral Communication (One of the following courses)

• SPEA-V 326 Communication for Government and Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
• BUS-C 104 Business Presentations (3 cr.)
• BUS-C 300 Business and Professional Communication (3 cr.)

2. Computer Course (One of the following courses)

• SPEA-V 261 Using IT in Public Affairs (3 cr.)
• BUS-K 201 The Computer in Business (2-3 cr.)
• CSCI-A 110 Introduction to Computers and Computing (3 cr.) (P: One year high school algebra or MATH-M 014)
• CSCI-A 201 Introduction to Programming I (4 cr.) (P: Two years high school math or MATH-M 014)
• INFO-I 101 Introduction to Informatics (4 cr.)

3. SPEA-K 300 Statistical Techniques or equivalent (3 cr.) (P: MATH M 014 or equivalent; R: MATH-M 118)

4. ECON-E 251 Fundamentals of Economics I  (3 cr.) or ECON-B 251 Fundamentals of Economics for Business I (3 cr.)

5.  Experiential Learning Requirements (The following two courses)

• SPEA-V 252 Career Development and Planning (2 cr.) or exemption
• SPEA-V 381 Professional Experience (1 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 252) or exemption 

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

Public Affairs Core
(Six courses)

• SPEA-E 183 Environment and People (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 181 US Policy and Administration (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 182 Policy-making around the World: Comparative and International Approaches (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 184 Law and Public Affairs (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 185 Management of Public Problems and Solutions (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 186 Introduction to Public Budgeting and Finance for Public Affairs (3 cr.)

Environmental Management Major

Requirements (Thirteen courses)

Note: Courses may be listed in more than one area below. However, significant restrictions apply, see your academic advising report (AAR).

Students may not “double count” courses within this major.

The following six courses:

• SPEA-E 272 Introduction to Environmental Sciences (3 cr.) (R: SPEA-E 183)
• SPEA-E 332 Introduction to Applied Ecology (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 340 Environmental Economics and Finance (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 363 Environmental Management (3 cr.) (R: SPEA-E 183)*
• SPEA-E 476 Environmental Law and Regulation (3 cr.) or SPEA-V 424 Environmental Law, Justice, and Politics (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 236 Managing and Leading Organizations (3 cr.)

*Iterative Writing Assignment Course

• SPEA-E 311 Introduction to Risk Assessment and Risk Communication (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 410 Introduction to Environmental Toxicology (3 cr.) (R: any organismal biology course)
• SPEA-H 316 Environmental Health Science (3 cr.)

Six of the following courses in Environment Management:

Note: These courses are grouped by topic to assist students, but students are free to take any six of them. Courses may appear in more than one list. Courses cannot count both to satisfy the courses above and the six below.

• SPEA-E 311 Introduction to Risk Assessment and Risk Communication (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 324 Controversies in Environmental Health (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 410 Introduction to Environmental Toxicology (3 cr.) (R: any organismal biology course)
• SPEA-E 412 Risk Communication (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 451 Air Pollution and Control (3 cr.)
• SPEA-H 316 Environmental Health Science (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 275 Introduction to Emergency Management (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 365 Urban Development and Planning (3cr.) (P: SPEA-V 161)
• SPEA-V 413 Food Systems and Community Resilience (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 425 Homeland Security: Policy and Practice (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 437 Public Transportation
• SPEA-V 462 Community Development (3 cr.)

• SPEA-E 375 Techniques of Environmental Science (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-E 272 or H 316)
• SPEA-E 440 Wetlands Ecology and Management (4 cr.) (P: SPEA-E 272)
• SPEA-E 442 Habitat Analysis—Terrestrial (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 443 Habitat Analysis—Aquatic (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 461 Wildlife Techniques (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-E 272 or H 316, any biology course)

• SPEA-E 417 Fundamentals of Sustainable Agriculture (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 422 Urban Forest Management (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 442 Habitat Analysis—Terrestrial (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 444 Hazardous Materials (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 450 Soil Science and Management (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 452 Solid and Hazardous Waste Management (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 457 Introduction to Conservation Biology (3cr.) (R: 300-level ecology course
• SPEA-V 413 Food Systems and Community Resilience (3 cr.)

Law, Ethics, and Decision-making:

• SPEA-E 401 Human Behavior and Energy Consumption (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 476 Environmental Law and Regulation (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 203 The Call of Public Service: History, Philosophy, Values and Outcomes (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 412 Leadership and Ethics (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 424 Environmental Law, Justice, and Politics (3 cr.)

• SPEA-E 418 Vector-Based GIS (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 429 Application of GIS (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-E 418 or permission of instructor)
• SPEA-V 379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 401 Financial and Cost-Benefit Analysis (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 202)
• SPEA-V 415 Data Science in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 435 Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 461 Cloud Computing Applications in Public Affairs (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 261 or SPEA-V 369 or BUS-K 201 or CSCI-A 110 or INFO-I 101)
• SPEA-V 475 Database Management Systems (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 261 or SPEA-V 369 or BUS-K 201 or CSCI-A 110 or INFO-I 101)
• SPEA-V 481 Grant Writing for Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)

• SPEA-E 260 Introduction to Water Resources (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 355 Introduction to Limnology (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 411 Introduction to Groundwater Hydrology (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 416 Fisheries Management (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-E 332 or SPEA-E 355 or SPEA-E 455 or BIOL-L 473)
• SPEA-E 431 Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-E 272)
• SPEA-E 440 Wetlands Ecology and Management (4 cr.) (P: SPEA-E 272)
• SPEA-E 443 Habitat Analysis—Aquatic (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 455 Limnology (4 cr.) (P: BIOL-L 111 (or equivalent) and CHEM-C 117 (or equivalent), or permission of the instructor)
• SPEA-E 456 Lake and Watershed Management (3 cr.) (R: any college level biology or chemistry course)
• SPEA-E 457 Introduction to Conservation Biology (3 cr.) (R: 300-level ecology course)
• SPEA-E 460 Wildlife Management (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 461 Wildlife Techniques (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-E 272 or H 316 or any biology course)

• SPEA-E 400 Topics in Environmental Studies (1-3 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)
• SPEA-E 482 Overseas Topics in Environmental Science (0-15 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)
• SPEA-V 378 Federal Government Processes (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 409 Federal Policymaking and the Hearing Process (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 482 Overseas Topics in Public Affairs (0-15 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)
• SPEA-V 499 Honors Thesis (3 cr.)

Requirements (Fourteen courses)

Note: Courses may be listed in more than one area below. However, significant restrictions apply, see your academic advising report (AAR).

Students may not “double count” courses within this major.

The following four courses:

• SPEA-V 202 Contemporary Economic Issues in Public Affairs (3 cr.)  (P: ECON-E 251 or ECON-B 251)
• 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 373 Human Resource Management in the Public Sector (3 cr.)*

*Iterative Writing Assignment Course

The following six courses:

• SPEA-V 361 Financial Management (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 246 or BUS-A 201)
• SPEA-V 443 Managing Workforce Diversity (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 476 Compensation Strategy and Systems (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 373)
• SPEA-V 477 Strategic Human Resource Management (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 373)
• SPEA-V 478 Employment Law for Human Resource Management (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 184)
• SPEA-V 479 Employee Recruitment and Selection (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 373)

Four of the following courses (at least three courses must be offered by SPEA):

• SPEA-V 203 The Call of Public Service: History, Philosophy, Values and Outcomes (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 326 Communication for Government and Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 336 Managing External Collaboration and Networks (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 185)
• SPEA-V 348 Management Science (3 cr.) (P: SPEA- K 300, MATH-M 025 or MATH-M 118)
• SPEA-V 370 Research Methods and Statistical Modeling (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-K 300 or equivalent)
• SPEA-V 374 Intermediate Public Budgeting and Finance (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 186)
• SPEA-V 378 Federal Government Processes (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 404 Advanced Public Management (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 185)
• SPEA-V 409 Federal Policymaking and the Hearing Process (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 412 Leadership and Ethics (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 415 Data Science in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)
• 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 450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs (1-3 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)
• SPEA-V 457 Human Resources Training and Development (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 373)
• SPEA-V 482 Overseas Topics in Public Affairs (0-15 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)
• SPEA-V 499 Honors Thesis (3 cr.)
• SPH-S 201 Introduction to Industrial Hygiene (3 cr.)
• SPH-S 210 General Industry Standards (3 cr.)
• SPH-S 214 OSHA Construction Standards (3 cr.)
• SPH-S 251 Incident Investigation and Analysis (3 cr.)
• SPH-S 332 Ergonomics and Human Factors (3 cr.)
• SPH-S 345 Safety Program Management (3 cr.)
• SPH-S 415 Safety Education and Training (3 cr.)

Law and Public Policy Major

Requirements (Fourteen courses)

Note: Courses may be listed in more than one area below. However, significant restrictions apply, see your academic advising report (AAR). It is strongly recommended that students take SPEA-V 184 as the first course for this major.

Students may not “double count” courses within this major.                                                                                              

The following six courses:

• SPEA-V 202 Contemporary Economic Issues in Public Affairs (3 cr.) (P: ECON-E 251 or ECON-B 251)
• SPEA-V 339 Legal History and Public Policy (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 184)*
• SPEA-V 370 Research Methods and Statistical Modeling (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-K 300 or equivalent) or SPEA V 491 Honors Research in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 405 Public Law and the Legislative Process (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 435 Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (3 cr.)

*Iterative writing assignment course

Two SPEA-V 456 topics courses offered by Maurer Law School Faculty:

• SPEA-V 456 Topics in Public Law (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 184) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)

Six of the following courses (at least five courses must be offered by SPEA):

• SPEA-E 324 Controversies in Environmental Health (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 476 Environmental Law and Regulation (3 cr.)
• SPEA-H 341 Legal Aspects of Health Care Administration (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-H 124)
• SPEA-V 161 Urban Problems and Solutions (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 272 Terrorism and Public Policy (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 275 Introduction to Emergency Management (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 340 Urban Government Administration (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 378 Federal Government Processes (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 404 Advanced Public Management (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 185)
• SPEA-V 406 Public Law and the Electoral Process (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 407 Advocacy, Policy Change, and Government Relations (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 184 or SPEA-V 203)
• SPEA-V 409 Federal Policymaking and the Hearing Process (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 414 National Security Bureaucracy and Policy (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 415 Data Science in Public and Environmental Affairs (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 454 Human Resource Management in Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.) (R: SPEA-V 221 or SPEA-V 362)
• SPEA-V 462 Community Development (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 477 Strategic Human Resource Management (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 373)
• SPEA-V 478 Employment Law for Human Resource Management (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 184)
• SPEA-V 481 Grant Writing for Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 482 Overseas Topics in Public Affairs (0-15 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)
• SPEA-V 499 Honors Thesis (3 cr.)
• AAAD-A 481 Racism and the Law (3 cr.)
• BUS-L 201 Legal Environment of Business (3 cr.) or BUS-L 203 Commercial Law I (3 cr.)
• CJUS-P 370 Criminal Law (3 cr.)
• CJUS-P 371 Criminal Procedure (3 cr.)
• CJUS-P 375 American Juvenile Justice System (3 cr.)
• CJUS-P 414 Adolescents and the Law (3 cr.)
• CLAS-C 308 Roman Law (3 cr.) (P: CLAS-C 102)
• INTL-I 340 Ethics and Decision making in International Politics (3 cr.)
• INTL-L 351 Law and Authoritarianism (3 cr.)
• SOC-S 326 Law and Society (3 cr.) (P: three credit hours of sociology or consent of instructor)
• SPH-R 414 Legal Aspects of Recreation (3 cr.)

Management Major

Requirements (Fourteen courses)

Note: Courses may be listed in more than one area below. However, significant restrictions apply, see your academic advising report (AAR).

Students may not “double count” courses within this major.

The following five Management Foundation courses:

• SPEA-V 202 Contemporary Economic Issues in Public Affairs (3 cr.) (P: ECON-E 251 or ECON-B 251)
• 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 361 Financial Management (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 246 or BUS-A 201)
• SPEA-V 369 Managing Information Technology (3 cr.) (R: SPEA-V 261 or BUS-K 201)

*Iterative writing assignment course

Two of the following Analytical courses:

• SPEA-V 348 Management Science (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-K 300, MATH-M 025 or MATH-M 118)
• SPEA-V 370 Research Methods and Statistical Modeling (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-K 300 or Equivalent)
• SPEA-V 379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 401 Financial and Cost-Benefit Analysis (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 202)
• SPEA-V 491 Honors Research in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)

Two of the following Human Resource Management courses:

• SPEA-V 373 Human Resource Management in the Public Sector (3 cr.)
• 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 457 Human Resources Training and Development (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 373)
• SPEA-V 476 Compensation Strategy and Systems (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 373)
• SPEA-V 477 Strategic Human Resource Management (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 373)
• SPEA-V 478 Employment Law for Human Resource Management (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 184)
• SPEA-V 479 Employee Recruitment and Selection in the Public Sector (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 373)

Five of the following Major courses:

Note: These courses are grouped by topic to assist students, but students are free to take any combination of them. Courses may appear in more than one list. Courses cannot double count between Analytical, Human Resource Management, and Major courses.

Financial Management:

• SPEA-V 346 Introduction to Government Accounting and Financial Reporting (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 246)
• SPEA-V 356 Introduction to Nonprofit Accounting and Reporting (3 cr.) (SPEA-V 246)
• SPEA-V 374 Intermediate Public Budgeting and Finance (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 186)
• SPEA-V 401 Financial and Cost-Benefit Analysis (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 202)
• SPEA-V 427 International Development Finance (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 441 Topics in Financial Management and Policy (3 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)
• SPEA-V 442 Topics in Budgeting or Cost Benefit (3 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)

• SPEA-E 324 Controversies in Environmental Health (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 340 Environmental Economics and Finance (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 363 Environmental Management (3 cr.) (R: SPEA-E 183)
• SPEA-E 476 Environmental Law and Regulation (3 cr.)
• SPEA-H 124 Overview of the U.S. Healthcare System (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 272 Terrorism and Public Policy (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 275 Introduction to Emergency Management (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 340 Urban Government Administration (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 365 Urban Development and Planning (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 404 Advanced Public Management (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 185)
• SPEA-V 407 Advocacy, Policy Change, and Government Relations (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 184 or SPEA-V 203)
• SPEA-V 414 National Security Bureaucracy and Policy (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 424 Environmental Law, Justice, and Politics (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 425 Homeland Security: Policy and Practice (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 437 Public Transportation (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 462 Community Development (3 cr.)

Management Skills:

• SPEA-V 203 The Call of Public Service: History, Philosophy, Values and Outcomes (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 326 Communication for Government and Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 336 Managing External Collaboration and Networks (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 185)
• SPEA-V 348 Management Science (3 cr.) (P: SPEA- K 300, MATH-M 025 or MATH-M 118)
• SPEA-V 370 Research Methods and Statistical Modeling (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-K 300 or Equivalent)
• SPEA-V 379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 389 Risk and Hazard Mitigation (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 412 Leadership Ethics (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 415 Data Science in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 458 Fund Development for Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 461 Cloud Computing Applications in Public Affairs (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 261 or SPEA-V 369 or BUS-K 201 or CSCI-A 110 or INFO-I 101)
• SPEA-V 475 Database Management Systems (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 261 or SPEA-V 369 or BUS-K 201 or CSCI-A 110 or INFO-I 101)
• SPEA-V 481 Grant Writing for Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)

Topics Courses and O’Neill Programs:

• SPEA-V 378 Federal Government Processes (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 409 Federal Policymaking and the Hearing Process (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 482 Overseas Topics in Public Affairs (0-15 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)
• SPEA-V 499 Honors Thesis (3 cr.)

Nonprofit Management and Leadership Major

Requirements (Fourteen courses)

Note: Courses may be listed in more than one area below. However, significant restrictions apply, see your academic advising report (AAR).

Students may not “double count” courses within this major.

The following six courses:

• SPEA-V 221 Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3 cr.)
• 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 & Reporting (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 246)
• SPEA-V 362 Nonprofit Management & Leadership (3 cr.)       

*Iterative writing assignment course

Three of the following SPEA Nonprofit Issues and Practices courses:

• 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 Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)                    
• SPEA-V 481 Grant Writing for Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)

Five of the following courses (no more than one non- SPEA course). Students must take at least one course from each of the three categories: (1) Equity, Equality, & Justice, (2) Organizational Contexts & Policy Areas, (3) Management & Analysis Skills. Courses may appear on more than one list and cannot double count between categories.

Equity, Equality, & Justice:

• SPEA-V 424 Environmental Law, Justice, and Politics (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 482 Overseas Topics in Public Affairs (0-15 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)
• AAAD-A 408 Race, Gender, and Class (3 cr.)
• AAAD-A 420 Transforming Divided Communities and Societies (3 cr.)
• AAAD-A 481 Racism & the Law (3 cr.)
• CEUS-R 321 Gender and Women in Central Asia (3 cr.)
• GEOG-G 306 Current Issues in Globalization, Development, and Justice (3 cr.)
• GEOG-G 352 Food and Poverty in America (3 cr.)
• INTL-I 304 Bodies Under Fire: Gender/Violence/Human Rights (3 cr.)
• PACE-C 350 Leadership, Social Movements, and Modern American Politics (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 324 Gender and Politics (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 329 Racial and Ethnic Politics in the United States (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 353 The Politics of Gender and Sexuality (3 cr.)
• SOC-S 335 Race and Ethnic Relations (3 cr.)
• SOC-S 358 Social Inequalities in Health and Health Care (3 cr.)

Organizational Contexts & Policy Areas:

• 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 378 Federal Government Processes (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 409 Federal Policymaking and the Hearing Process (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 411 Food Policy in a Changing World (3 cr.)
• 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 482 Overseas Topics in Public Affairs (0-15 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)

Management & Analysis Skills:

• SPEA-A 354 Arts Marketing Fundamentals (3 cr.)
• SPEA-A 483 Arts Entrepreneurship (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 203 The Call of Public Service: History, Philosophy, Values and Outcomes (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 326 Communication for Government and Nonprofit Organizations (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 370 Research Methods and Statistical Modeling (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-K300 or equivalent)
• SPEA-V 379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 401 Financial and Cost-Benefit Analysis (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 202)
• SPEA-V 412 Leadership and Ethics (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 415 Data Science in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)
• 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 462 Community Development (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 475 Database Management Systems (3 cr.) (SPEA-V 261 or SPEA-V 369 or BUS-K 201 or CSCI-A 110 or INFO-I 101)
• SPEA-V 482 Overseas Topics in Public Affairs (0-15 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)
• SPEA-V 491 Honors Research in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 499 Honors Thesis (3 cr.)

Requirements (Fourteen courses)

Note: Courses may be listed in more than one area below. However, significant restrictions apply, see your academic advising report (AAR).

Students may not “double count” courses within this major.

 The following seven courses:

• SPEA-V 202 Contemporary Economic Issues in Public Affairs (3 cr.) (P: ECON-E 251 or ECON-B 251)
• SPEA-V 348 Management Science (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 370 Research Methods and Statistical Modeling (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-K 300)
• SPEA-V 379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 386 Case Studies for Policy Analysis (3 cr.)*
• SPEA-V 401 Financial and Cost-Benefit Analysis (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 202)
• SPEA-V 449 Senior Policy Seminar (3 cr.)

*Iterative writing assignment course

Seven courses from the following: Note: These courses are grouped by topic to assist students, but students are free to take any seven of them. Courses may appear in more than one list.

Environmental Policy:

• SPEA-E 324 Controversies in Environmental Health (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 340 Environmental Economics and Finance (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 401 Human Behavior and Energy Consumption (3 cr.)
• SPEA-E 476 Environmental Law and Regulation (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 411 Food Policy in a Changing World (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 424 Environmental Law, Justice, and Politics (3 cr.)

• SPEA-H 324 Health Policy (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-H 124)
• SPEA-H 354 Health Economics (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-H 124 and ECON-E 251 or ECON-B 251)
• SPEA-H 403 Pharmaceutical Industry and Public Policy (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-H 124)
• SPEA-V 411 Food Policy in a Changing World (3 cr.)

Law and Ethics:

• SPEA-E 476 Environmental Law and Regulation (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 203 The Call of Public Service: History, Philosophy, Values and Outcomes (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 405 Public Law and the Legislative Process (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 406 Public Law and the Electoral Process (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 407 Advocacy, Policy Change, and Government Relations (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 184 or SPEA-V 203)
• SPEA-V 412 Leadership and Ethics (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 424 Environmental Law, Justice, and Politics (3 cr.)

Security Policy:

• SPEA-V 272 Terrorism and Public Policy (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 275 Introduction to Emergency Management (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 414 National Security Bureaucracy and Policy (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 425 Homeland Security: Policy and Practice (3 cr.)

• SPEA-V 161 Urban Problems and Solutions (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 365 Urban Development and Planning (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 161)
• SPEA-V 411 Food Policy in a Changing World (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 421 Metropolitan Development (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 437 Public Transportation (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 462 Community Development (3 cr.)

Topics Courses and O'Neill Programs:

• SPEA-V 378 Policy Process in the United States (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 409 Federal Policymaking and the Hearing Process (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 482 Overseas Topics in Public Affairs (0-15 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)
• SPEA-V 491 Honors Research in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 499 Honors Thesis (3 cr.)

Requirements (Thirteen courses)

Note: Courses may be listed in more than one area below. However, significant restrictions apply, see your academic advising report (AAR).

Students may not “double count” courses within this major.

List 1: The following five courses:

• SPEA-V 202 Contemporary Economic Issues in Public Affairs (3 cr.) (P: ECON-E 251 or ECON-B 251)
• SPEA-V 246 Elements of Governmental and Nonprofit Financial Accounting Cycle (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 186)
• SPEA-V 361 Financial Management (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 246 or BUS-A 201)
• SPEA-V 374 Intermediate Public Budgeting and Finance (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 186)*
• SPEA-V 401 Financial and Cost-Benefit Analysis (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 202)

*Iterative writing assignment course

• SPEA-V 346 Introduction to Government Accounting and Financial Reporting (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 246)
• SPEA-V 371 Financing Public Affairs (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 202)
• SPEA-V 439 Debates in Public Finance (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 202)

List 3: Six of the following courses.

These courses are grouped by topic to assist students, but students are free to take any of them. Courses may appear in more than one list.

Public Financial Management:

• SPEA-V 346 Introduction to Government Accounting and Financial Reporting (3cr) (P: SPEA-V 246)
• SPEA-V 371 Financing Public Affairs (3cr) (P: SPEA-V 202)
• SPEA-V 439 Debates in Public Finance (3cr) (P: SPEA-V 202)

Application of Financial Management:

• SPEA-E 340 Environmental Economics and Finance (3 cr.)
• SPEA-H 350 Fundamentals of Healthcare Financial Management (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 427 International Development Finance (3 cr.)

• SPEA-H 354 Health Economics (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-H 124 or permission of instructor and ECON-E 251 or ECON-B 251)
• SPEA-V 386 Case Studies for Policies Analysis (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 421 Metropolitan Development (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 437 Public Transportation (3 cr.)

Skills and Decision making:

• SPEA-V 348 Management Science (3 cr.) (P: SPEA- K 300, MATH-M 025 or MATH-M 118)
• SPEA-V 356 Introduction to Nonprofit Accounting and Reporting (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 246)
• SPEA-V 379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 412 Leadership and Ethics (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 415 Data Science for Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)

• SPEA-V 378 Federal Government Processes (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 409 Federal Policymaking
• SPEA-V 441 Topics in Financial Management and Policy (3 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)
• SPEA-V 442 Topics in Budgeting or Cost-Benefit (3 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)
• SPEA-V 450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs (1-3 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)
• SPEA-V 482 Overseas Topics in Public Affairs (0-15 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)
• SPEA-V 491 Honors Research in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 499 Honors Thesis (3 cr.)

Requirements (Thirteen courses)

Note: Courses may be listed in more than one area below. However, significant restrictions apply, see your academic advising report (AAR).

Students may not “double count” courses within this major.

The following eight Foundation courses:

• SPEA-V 202 Contemporary Economic Issues in Public Affairs (3 cr.) (P: ECON-E 251 or ECON-B 251)
• SPEA-V 236 Managing and Leading Organizations (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 246 Elements of Government 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 361 Financial Management (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 246 or BUS-A 201)
• SPEA-V 373 Human Resource Management in the Public Sector (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 404 Advanced Public Management (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 185)

*Iterative writing assignment course

Five of the following courses, at least two of which must be from Context and two of which must be from Skills. 

Context Courses:

• SPEA-V 161 Urban Problems and Solutions (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 203 The Call of Public Service: History, Philosophy, Values and Outcomes (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 221 Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 275 Introduction to Emergency Management (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 340 Urban Government Administration (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 365 Urban Development and Planning (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 161)
• SPEA-V 378 Federal Government Processes (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 409 Federal Policymaking and the Hearing Process (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 414 National Security Bureaucracy and Policy (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 421 Metropolitan Development (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 424 Environmental Law, Justice, and Politics (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 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)
• SPEA-V 499 Honors Thesis (3 cr.)

Two of the following Skills courses:

• SPEA-V 326 Communication for Government and Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 348 Management Science (3 cr.) (P: SPEA- K 300, MATH-M 025 or MATH-M 118)
• SPEA-V 369 Managing Information Technology (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 370 Research Methods and Statistical Modeling (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-K 300 or equivalent)
• SPEA-V 374 Intermediate Public Budgeting and Finance (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 186)
• SPEA-V 401 Financial and Cost-Benefit Analysis (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 202)
• SPEA-V 412 Leadership and Ethics (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 415 Data Science in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)
• 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 457 Human Resources Training and Development (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 373)
• SPEA-V 477 Strategic Human Resource Management (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 373)
• SPEA-V 481 Grant Wring for Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
• SPEA-V 482 Overseas Topics in Public Affairs (0-15 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)
• SPEA-V 491 Honors Research in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)