Programs

Indianapolis Campus

Master of Public Affairs

Fields of Concentration

Concentrations give students a focused educational experience in a substantive area of interest. The concentration is selected in conjunction with a faculty advisor and the appropriate SPEA administrator.

Concentrations offered on the Indianapolis campus include:

  • criminal justice
  • nonprofit management
  • policy analysis
  • public management
Criminal Justice

(18 credit hours) The criminal justice concentration is for those interested in the issues, methods, and skills involved in the management of criminal justice or related agencies. Students are required to take a minimum of 9 “J” credit hours for this concentration.

Required Courses (12 credit hours)

Electives (6 credit hours)

Two courses from one of the following groups:

  • Group A
SPEA-J 550 Topics in Criminal Justice (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 582 Criminal Justice Systems (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 587 Criminal Violation: Problems and Characteristics (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 588 Law and Control in Society (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 550 Topics in Public Affairs
(criminal justice topics only)
(3 cr.)
SPEA-V 580 Readings in Public Affairs
(criminal justice topics only)
(3 cr.)
SPEA-V 585 Practicum in Public Affairs
(criminal justice topics only)
(3 cr.)
SPEA-V 685 Research Seminar in Public Affairs
(criminal justice only)
(3 cr.)
  • Group B

Management, Organizations, and Policy

SPEA-J 550 Topics in Criminal Justice (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 504 Public Organizations (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 512 Public Policy Process (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 539 Management Science for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 547 Negotiation and Dispute Resolution for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 561 Public Human Resources Management (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 562 Public Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 564 Urban Management (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 566 Executive Leadership (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 569 Managing Interpersonal Relations (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 570 Public Sector Labor Relations (3 cr.)

Nonprofit Management

SPEA-V 522 Human Resource Management in Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 525 Management in the Nonprofit Sector (3 cr.)

Finance

SPEA-V 541 Benefit-Cost Analysis of Public and Environmental Policies (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 542 Governmental Financial Accounting and Reporting (3 cr.)

Information Systems

SPEA-V 516 Public Management Information Systems (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 518 Intergovernmental Systems Management (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 519 Database Management Systems (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 550 Topics in Public Affairs
(non-criminal justice topics)
(3 cr.)

Other appropriate courses approved by a faculty advisor; plus a sufficient number of additional courses to meet the minimum degree requirement of 48 credit hours with a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

Nonprofit Management

(18 credit hours) The nonprofit management concentration prepares persons for leadership positions in nonprofit and philanthropic organizations. Students receive a professional degree structured around theories, concepts, and practices essential to the policy and management of nonprofit organizations. Students who choose careers in the third sector will be more enlightened practitioners through a clear understanding of the philanthropic tradition in the broadest sense (that is, voluntary action for the public good) and of modern management techniques.

Note: A student must include the following M.P.A. core courses to fulfill requirements for the Nonprofit Management Concentration: SPEA-V 525 Management in the Nonprofit Sector (3 cr.) SPEA-V 526 Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)

Required Courses (6 credit hours)

SPEA-V 521 The Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 522 Human Resource Management in Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)

Electives (1 credit hours)

  • Group A

One of the following nonprofit theoretical courses:

SPEA-V 523 Civil Society and Public Policy (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 524 Civil Society in Comparative Perspective (3 cr.)
ECON-E 514 The Nonprofit Economy and Public Policy (3 cr.)
HIST-H 509 History of Philanthropy in the West (3 cr.)
HIST-H 516 History of Philanthropy in the United States (3 cr.)
PHIL-P 542 Ethics and Values of Philanthropy (3 cr.)

Other courses approved by the faculty advisor.

  • Group B

Three of the following nonprofit application courses:

SPEA-V 544 Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 550 Topics in Public Affairs: Leadership and Board Development (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 557 Proposal Development and Grant Administration (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 558 Fund Development for Nonprofit (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 559 Principles and Practices of Social Entrepreneurship (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 602 Strategic Planning of Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
PHST-P 535 Law of Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)

Other courses approved by a faculty advisor.

  • Group C

Recommended Electives:

SPEA-V 504 Public Organizations (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 509 Administrative Ethics in the Public Sector (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 516 Public Management Information Systems (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 539 Management Science of Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 541 Benefit-Cost Analysis of Public and Environmental Policies (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 547 Negotiation and Dispute Resolution for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 562 Public Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 566 Executive Leadership (3 cr.)

Other courses approved by a faculty advisor; plus a sufficient number of additional courses to meet the minimum degree requirement of 48 credit hours with a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

Policy Analysis

(18 credit hours) The policy analysis concentration prepares students for professional work in policy analysis in the public, nonprofit, or private sectors. The concentration focuses on techniques for the rigorous evaluation of public policies and programs and on the application of those techniques to the analysis of policies. Students in the concentration are required to select required policy field courses in addition to policy skills courses.

Required Policy Process Course (3credit hours)

SPEA-V 512 Public Policy Process (3 cr.)

Required Policy Skills Courses (9 credit hours)

Three of the following courses:

SPEA-V 507 Data Analysis and Modeling for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 539 Management Science for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 541 Benefit-Cost Analysis of Public and
Environmental Policies
(3 cr.)
SPEA-V 562

Public Program Evaluation
or
SPEA-J 502 Research Methods in
Criminal Justice and Public Affairs (3 cr.)

(3 cr.)
SPEA-V 654 Public Program Management and Contracting (3 cr.)

Required Policy Field Courses (6 credit hours)

Select two courses with the permission of a faculty advisor. Courses include, but are not limited to, the following:

PBHL-H 501 U.S. Health Care: Systems, Policies, and Ethical Challenges (3 cr.)
PBHL-H 515 Seminar in Health Policy Process Special Topics (3 cr.)
PBHL-H 640 Topics in Health Services Administration:
Health Care Policy Planning
(3 cr.)
SPEA-J 501 Evolution of Criminological Thought and Policy (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 550 Topics in Criminal Justice
(policy topics approved by an advisor)
(3 cr.)
SPEA-J 582 Criminal Justice Systems (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 587 Criminal Violation: Problems and Characteristics (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 588 Law and Control in Society (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 666 Criminal Justice Policy and Evaluation (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 520 Environmental Policy Analysis (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 523 Civil Society and Public Policy (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 550 Topics in Public Affairs
(public policy topics approved by an advisor)
(3 cr.)
SPEA-V 580 Readings in Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 590 Research in Public Affairs (3 cr.)

Other appropriate courses approved by a faculty advisor; plus a sufficient number of additional courses to meet the minimum degree requirement of 48 credit hours with a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

Public Management

(18 credit hours) The public management concentration is intended to prepare students for professional work as managers in government or other public sector agencies. The concentration is structured around theories, concepts, and practices essential to the policy and management of public organizations.

A student must include the following M.P.A. core courses to fulfill requirements for the Public Management Concentration:

SPEA-V 502 Public Management (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 560 Public Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.)

Required Courses (18 credit hours)

In consultation with their advisors, students must select two courses from each of the following areas:

Managing People

SPEA-V 504 Public Organizations (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 561 Public Human Resources Management (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 566 Executive Leadership (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 569 Managing Interpersonal Relations (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 652 Managing Workforce Diversity in Public Organizations (3 cr.)

Managing Processes and Programs

SPEA-V 509 Administrative Ethics in the Public Sector (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 539 Management Science for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 547 Negotiation and Dispute Resolution for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 602 Strategic Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 639 Managing Government Operations (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 654 Public Program Management & Contracting (3 cr.)

Managing Information and Evaluating Effectiveness

SPEA-V 516 Public Management Information Systems (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 526 Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 541 Benefit-Cost Analysis of Public and Environmental Policies (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 542 Governmental Financial Accounting and Reporting (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 562 Public Program Evaluation (3 cr.)

Other appropriate courses approved by a faculty advisor; plus a sufficient number of additional courses to meet the minimum degree requirement of 48 credit hours with a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

Specialized

(18 credit hours) This specialized concentration in public financial management equips students with skills in and understanding of budgeting, revenue administration, debt financing and financial management, and analysis in public organizations. Courses are taught on both Indianapolis and Bloomington campuses. Students in this concentration may apply for and receive a certificate in public financial management from SPEA-Bloomington.

Each of the following courses:

SPEA-V 526 Financial Management for Nonprofit
Organizations (IUPUI or Bloomington)*
(3 cr.)
SPEA-V 542 Public Accounting and Financial Reporting
(IUPUI or Bloomington)*
(3 cr.)
SPEA-V 609 Seminar in Revenue Theory and Administration
(Bloomington)*
(3 cr.)
SPEA-V 610 Seminar in Government Budgeting and
Program Analysis (Bloomington)*
(3 cr.)
SPEA-V 667 Seminar in Public Capital and Debt Theory
(Bloomington)*
(3 cr.)

Two of the following:

SPEA-V 507 Advanced Statistics (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 539 Management Science (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 562 Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 541 Benefit-Cost Analysis (3 cr.)

Or other courses approved by your faculty advisor.

*Required or elective courses of the financial management certificate.

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