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
- Urban Sustainability
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 |
(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.
Urban Sustainability
(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 Urban Sustainability Concentration:
| SPEA-V 502 | Public Management | (3 cr.) |
| SPEA-V 560 | Public Finance and Budgeting | (3 cr.) |
Or
| SPEA-V 525 | Management in the Nonprofit Sector | (3 cr.) |
| SPEA-V 526 | Financial Managemetn for Nonprofit Organizations | (3 cr.) |
Required Courses
(18 credit hours)
Required courses
| SPEA-V 527 | Urban Sustainability | (3 cr.) |
| SPEA-V 565 | Environmental Conflict Resolution | (3 cr.) |
| SPEA-V 645 | Environmental Law | (3 cr.) |
Take two of the following
| SPEA-E 511 | Sustainability Assessment | (3 cr.) |
| SPEA-E 529 | Application of Geographic Information Systems | (3 cr.) |
| SPEA-E 560 | Environmental Risk Analysis | (3 cr.) |
| SPEA-V 541 | Benefit-Cost Analysis | (3 cr.) |
Take one of the following
| SPEA-E 535 | International Environmental Policy | (3 cr.) |
| SPEA-V 512 | Public Policy Process | (3 cr.) |
| SPEA-V 520 | Environmental Policy Analysis | (3 cr.) |
| SPEA-V 550 | Energy Policy | (3 cr.) |
| SPEA-V 643 | Natural Resource Management and Policy | (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.