Programs
Indianapolis Campus
Master of Public Affairs
Requirements
Degree Requirements
(48 credit hours) The core requirements of the M.P.A. degree consist of 21 credit hours of work in seven courses. Each student must also complete the requirements of (at least) one concentration.
The experiential requirement ensures that each graduate of the M.P.A. program has gained insight into the world of public service by way of an experience outside the classroom. This experience may or may not involve the accumulation of credit hours toward the degree. The remaining credit hours necessary for graduation, if any, are general electives that can be used to add breadth to a student’s program; to further explore a field of concentration; or to enhance skills in foreign languages, quantitative tools, or administrative techniques.
Core Requirements
(21 credit hours) The M.P.A. core is designed to provide students with necessary preparation for entering or continuing work in the public service—no matter what their concentration.
Required Courses (21 credit hours)
| SPEA-V 506 | Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making | (3 cr.) |
| SPEA-V 517 | Public Management Economics | (3 cr.) |
| SPEA-V 540 | Law and Public Affairs | (3 cr.) |
| SPEA-V 598 | Governing and Leading in a Global Society | (3 cr.) |
| SPEA-V 600 | Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs | (3 cr.) |
One of the following courses:
| SPEA-V 502 | Public Management | (3 cr.) |
| SPEA-V 525 | Management in the Nonprofit Sector | (3 cr.) |
One of the following courses:
| SPEA-V 560 | Public Finance and Budgeting | (3 cr.) |
| SPEA-V 526 | Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations | (3 cr.) |
Extremely well-prepared applicants may petition the program director to waive one or more of the core requirements on the basis of advanced course work done elsewhere. Students may be exempted on the basis of satisfactory equivalent course work or by examination. Credit hours waived from the core add to the electives a student may use. Students requesting course waivers should contact the appropriate graduate program director for requirements and guidelines.
Concentration Requirements
(18–21 credit hours) Concentrations provide students a specialized educational experience in a substantive area of interest.
Concentration requirements may be waived on the same basis as core requirements. Consult with an advisor about course prerequisites.
Experiential Requirements
Each M.P.A. student must obtain professionally relevant experience through one of the following options: an approved internship (0-6 credit hours); SPEA-V 585 Practicum in Public Affairs; SPEA-V 590 Research in Public Affairs; SPEA-V 601 Workshop in Public Affairs; applying for the Mid-Career Option Credit or Service Credit (AmeriCorps, VISTA, Peace Corps, etc.).