Indianapolis Campus Graduate Degree Programs

• Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.)
• Master of Planning (M.Pl.)
• Master of Health Administration–Doctor of Jurisprudence (M.H.A.–J.D.)
• Master of Health Administration–Master of Business Administration (M.H.A.–M.B.A.)
• Master of Health Administration–Master of Science in Nursing (M.H.A.–M.S.N.)
• Master of Public Affairs
• Master of Public Affairs–Doctor of Jurisprudence (M.P.A.–J.D.)
• Master of Public Affairs–Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies (M.P.A.–M.A.)
• Master of Public Affairs–Master of Science in Nursing (M.P.A.–M.S.N.)

Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.)

General Information

The graduate program in health administration is offered by the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, the country’s largest school of public affairs. Recognized for its outstanding faculty, professional integration, and strong business ethics, the Indianapolis program reflects the exciting frontiers of the contemporary health care industry.

This advanced program attracts professionals and students interested in a variety of leadership opportunities in hospitals, managed care, ambulatory care, and voluntary health agencies. Opportunities also exist in consulting firms, corporate health programs, insurance, government, and other regulatory agencies. The program is fully accredited by the Accrediting Commission on Education for Health Services Administration and is a member of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration.

Approximately one-third of the students in the program have professional backgrounds; the remaining two-thirds come directly from undergraduate programs. In the classroom, this mix creates a dynamic environment of fresh perspectives and practical experience. The versatile faculty teaches a rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum interwoven with current research and events. The MHA program is comprised of 51 graduate semester credit hours.

A summer internship between the first and second year of study is an excellent opportunity to learn from a health industry leader. The internship offers students valuable experience in the health care field and is an excellent opportunity to blend academic preparation with hands-on experience. Positions are available throughout the United States.

As an option, students may choose an Administrative Residency, a 10–12 month, paid residency that can assist in the transition from classroom to workplace through intensive exposure to a selected management career. It blends academic preparation with administrative practice. Students with little health administration experience may find the residencies beneficial. Residents are selected through competitive application processes.

A Mentorship Program utilizing local MHA alumni and friends of the school gives students the opportunity to meet a variety of practicing health care professionals. Mentors are available in all segments of the health care field, and range from recent graduates to corporate officers and senior public officials.

Some students become involved as research assistants at the Bowen Health Research Center and the Center for Urban Policy and the Environment. These are IU’s leaders in health policy and services research. The Bowen Center is a joint endeavor of the School of Medicine and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

Increasingly, our students are successfully competing for national administrative fellowships after graduation. Recent fellowships awarded to MHA program graduates include: Good Samaratin Health System in Nebraska, Winston Fellowship and Washington Hospital Group in Washington, D.C., and the American College of Healthcare Executives in Chicago. Most fellowships provide a two-year, paid administrative experience and lead to permanent employment.

Admission

In addition to the general requirements for admission to graduate study in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, the following requirements must be met for admission to the Graduate Program in Health Administration:

1. Applicants must possess an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution and have a minimum overall undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale. Applicants with a minimum GPA of 3.0 during the last half of their undergraduate education are shown preference.
2. Applicants must complete at least 3 credit hours each of undergraduate courses in introductory accounting, microeconomics, and statistics at an accredited institution with a minimum grade of C in each course. Students who have not completed these courses but who meet all other requirements may be accepted with deficiencies. These students are not usually permitted to enroll in the classes that require these courses as prerequisites until the deficiencies are removed.
3. Applicants must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and achieve a composite score of at least 1,500 total in all three sections. An applicant with a GRE score lower than 500 in any section may be required to receive special academic counseling and evaluation prior to any admission decision. Additional course work may be required, and admission as a provisional student may be stipulated. Applicants who have been awarded an advanced degree may petition the admissions committee for waiver of the GRE requirement.

Mid-Career Credit Option

Students in the Master of Health Administration program can receive mid-career credit for work experience obtained up through the semester in which they complete 24 credits toward the Master of Health Administration degree. The credits are to be awarded as follows:

3 credit hours—for a least one year of meaningful work experience in health administration.

6 credit hours—for two to four years of meaningful work experience in health administration.

9 credit hours—for four or more years of meaningful work experience in health administration.

Students may apply for the mid-career credit option upon application to the program or may seek the credits any time up to graduation. The admission committee will evaluate each student request and determine if the work experience meets the requirements for the credit hours requested.

Degree Requirements

(51 credit hours)

A minimum of 51 credit hours, divided between required and elective courses, is required in the Master of Health Administration degree program. The M.H.A. curriculum begins with a foundation of theory and skill-building courses and makes a transition to course work that requires practical application of those skills in a variety of health care settings.

Part-time students must complete at least 6 credit hours each semester to remain in good standing. All students must complete the program’s academic requirements within five calendar years of matriculation.

Required Courses (45 credit hours)
SPEA H501 U.S. Health Care: Systems, Policies, and Ethical Challenges (3 cr.)
SPEA H502 Developing Strategic Capability (3 cr.)
SPEA H507 Management of Individual and Group Behavior (3 cr.)
SPEA H508 Managing Health Care Accounting Information for Decision Making (3 cr.)
SPEA H509 Financial Management Principles of Health Care (3 cr.)
SPEA H510 Health Services Financial Management (3 cr.) (prerequisite: SPEA H509)
SPEA H514 Health Economics (3 cr.)
SPEA H516 Health Services Delivery and the Law (3 cr.)
SPEA H518 Statistical Methods for Health Services (3 cr.)
SPEA H521 Management Science for Health Services Administration (3 cr.)
SPEA H615 Health Care Outcomes and Decision Making (3 cr.)
SPEA H623 Health Care Applications of Strategic Management (3 cr.)
SPEA H628 Health Care Information Systems (3 cr.)
SPEA H650 Strategies for Career Preparation (1.5 cr.)
BUS M540 Service Marketing (1.5)

Either of the following courses:
SPEA H700 Residency (6 cr.) or
  SPEA H702 Internship in Health Services Management (3 cr.) or
  SPEA H735 Research in Health Administration (3-6 cr.)

Electives (6 credit hours)
Two of the following courses:
SPEA H515 Seminar in Health Policy: Special Topics (3 cr.)
SPEA H517 Managerial Epidemiology (3 cr.)
SPEA H626 Health Services Human Resources Management (3 cr.)
SPEA H627 Seminar in Advanced Health Finance (3 cr.)
SPEA H630 Readings in Health Services Administration (3 cr.)
SPEA V541 Benefit-Cost Analysis of Public and Environmental Policies (3 cr.)
BUS A508 Accounting for Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)

Course Waivers, Substitutions, and Challenge Examinations

Students may petition the program director to waive or substitute for required courses based on completion of satisfactory equivalent course work or by examination (if available). The following guidelines govern the consideration of these types of petitions.

Waivers of Required Courses
The requirement for a particular course may be waived if the student furnishes evidence of equivalent graduate course work completed within a reasonable period of time from an accredited institution. It should be noted that credit is not given with a waiver—only an exemption from a particular course; another course is always substituted.

Substitutions
As a general rule, the substitution of a course for one that is required in the M.H.A. curriculum is prohibited. On rare occasions, petitions for substitutions may be considered, and students who believe they would benefit from such a procedure should discuss the matter with their advisors.

Challenge Examination
Students who believe they possess mastery of the subject matter stipulated in a given required course may request a challenge examination. If, in the opinion of the faculty, the student has demonstrated the requisite knowledge, academic credit for the course is authorized. The university fee structure for the cost of such an examination applies.

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Master of Planning (M.Pl.)

The Master of Planning (M.Pl.) is a professional degree program that prepares students for professional careers in planning and related fields. The program emphasizes the development of professional skills to enable graduates to develop successful careers in planning. The emphasis is always on gaining the knowledge and tools to provide the foundation for professional practice. The program is hands-on, applied, and professional. Students in the planning workshop focus on real planning problems for outside clients, developing their ability to function as effective professionals.

Indianapolis is nationally recognized for its achievements in urban development. Students in the Master of Planning program have the opportunity to use this major metropolitan area as a laboratory to learn planning. The planning faculty bring their experience working in Indianapolis and central Indiana to the classrooms, integrating this practical knowledge into the learning experience.

The School of Public and Environmental Affairs and the faculty of the Master of Planning program are associated with the Center for Urban Policy and the Environment. The center consults with public, nonprofit, and private clients and is engaged in a major effort to understand the central Indiana region and enhance policy discussions in the region. The wide-ranging studies of the region include a focus on understanding and improving the planning process and the development of a large-scale computer simulation model of urban development in the region. Students in the Master of Planning program have the opportunity to participate in and learn from the innovative research under way at the Center for Urban Policy and the Environment.

The Master of Planning program is offered within the largest school of public affairs in the United States. Students in the program have the opportunity to draw upon the school’s strengths in public management and policy, environmental science and policy, and health administration.

Admission

In addition to the general requirements for admission to graduate study in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, students entering the Graduate Program in Planning are expected to have completed introductory undergraduate courses in statistics and microeconomics at an accredited institution with a minimum grade of B in each course. Students lacking this preparation may be admitted with deficiencies. These students are expected to remedy any deficiencies before taking courses in which this background is required.

Mid-Career Credit Option

Students in the Master of Planning program can receive mid-career credit for work experience obtained up through the end of the semester in which they complete 24 credits toward the Master of Planning degree. Decisions on the credits to be awarded for work experience are made by the Master of Planning Admissions Committee. The guidelines for eligibility for credit are as follows:

3 credit hours—for at least one year of work experience in planning or a related field such as policy analysis or public management.

6 credit hours—for two to four years of work experience in planning or a related field that includes primary responsibility for the preparation of plans, or similar levels of responsibility in related fields.

9 credit hours—for four or more years of work experience in planning or a related field that includes responsibility for the organization of the planning process and the supervision of other planners in the preparation of plans, or similar levels of responsibility in related fields.

12 credit hours—for eight or more years of work experience in planning or a related field that includes overall responsibility for the planning function in a major organization, or similar levels of responsibility in related fields.

Degree Requirements

(48 credit hours)

The Graduate Program in Planning requires a minimum of 48 graduate credit hours and the completion of (1) the core requirement, (2) the concentration requirement, and (3) the experiential requirement. The core requirement consists of 22 credit hours of work in nine courses and is required of all students pursuing the M.Pl. degree. Each student must complete the requirements of one concentration, which consists of 11-15 credit hours of course work, depending on the concentration and courses selected. The experiential requirement ensures that each graduate of the M.Pl. program has gained relevant professional planning practice outside the classroom. This experience may involve the accumulation of credit hours toward the degree. The remaining credit hours necessary for graduation 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 quantitative tools or other techniques.

Core Requirements

(22 credit hours)

The core requirement in the Graduate Program in Planning ensures that each student acquires an understanding of the field of planning and its practice, of the environment in which planning takes place, and of the analytical methods necessary for the practice of planning. The core requirement also provides for the integration of learning and professional practice in workshop and seminar settings.

SPEA P500 Foundations of Planning (3 cr.)
SPEA P510 Social and Economic Aspects of Human Settlement (2 cr.)
SPEA P515 Physical Systems Development and Infrastructure (3 cr.)
SPEA P520 Methods for Planning and Policy Analysis (2 cr.)
SPEA P525 Geographic Information Systems for Planning (2 cr.)
SPEA P600 Portfolio Assessment (1 cr.)
SPEA P610 Planning Workshop (3 cr.)
SPEA V506 Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making (3 cr.)

One of the following:
SPEA V517 Public Management Economics (3 cr.)
SPEA V541 Benefit-Cost Analysis of Public and Environmental Policies (3 cr.)

Students in the health planning concentration may elect to substitute SPEA H514 Health Economics (3 cr.) for the above requirement.

All students are required to assemble a portfolio of work completed in various courses taken as a part of the degree program. Students will evaluate this work and present their evaluations to the faculty in P600 Portfolio Assessment.

Especially well-prepared applicants may petition the director of the Graduate Program in Planning 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 course work or by examination. Credit hours waived from the core increase the number of electives a student may take. Students requesting course waivers should contact the program director for requirements and guidelines.

Concentration Requirements

(11-15 credit hours)

The concentrations are designed to give the student the opportunity to focus on study in a specialized area of planning. Concentration requirements may be waived on the same basis as core requirements. The concentrations available in the Graduate Program in Planning are as follows:

Environmental Planning Concentration

(11-12 credit hours)

The environmental planning concentration is intended for students interested in planning that deals with the problems of the natural environment. The requirements for the concentration are as follows:

The following course:
SPEA E549 Environmental Planning (3 cr.)

One of the following courses:
SPEA P530 Land Use Law (3 cr.)
SPEA V645 Environmental Law (3 cr.)

Two of the following courses:
SPEA E431 Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment (3 cr.)
SPEA E510 Hazardous Materials Regulation (3 cr.)
SPEA E515 Fundamentals of Air Pollution (3 cr.)
SPEA E520 Environmental Toxicology (3 cr.)
SPEA E542 Hazardous Materials Control (3 cr.)
SPEA E552 Environmental Engineering (3 cr.)
SPEA E554 Groundwater Flow Modeling (3 cr.)
SPEA E560 Environmental Risk Analysis (3 cr.)
SPEA E562 Solid and Hazardous Waste Management (3 cr.)
SPEA P527 Planning Applications of Geographic Information Systems (3 cr.)

Health Planning Concentration

(15 credit hours)

The health planning concentration is intended for students interested in planning that deals with the problems of the health care system and the provision of health services. The requirements for the concentration are as follows:

SPEA H501 U.S. Health Care: Systems, Policies, and Ethical Challenges (3 cr.)
SPEA H502 Developing Strategic Capability (3 cr.)
SPEA H514 Health Economics (3 cr.)
SPEA H516 Health Services Delivery and the Law (3 cr.)

One of the following courses:
SPEA H515 Seminar in Health Policy: Special Topics (3 cr.)
SPEA H615 Health Care Outcomes and Decision Making (3 cr.)

Students in the health planning concentration who elect to take SPEA H514 Health Economics to satisfy the requirement in the core shall be required to take one additional health planning–related course, to be selected in consultation with their advisor.

Urban Development Planning Concentration

(11-12 credit hours)

The urban development planning concentration is for students interested in planning that deals with the problems of urban areas, including general urban planning, neighborhood and community development, housing, and economic development. The requirements for the concentration are as follows:

The following three courses:
SPEA P530 Land Use Law (3 cr.)
SPEA V560 Public Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.)
SPEA V597 Land Use Planning (3 cr.)

One of the following courses:
SPEA P527 Planning Applications of Geographic Information Systems (2 cr.)
SPEA P532 Site Planning and Urban Design (3 cr.)
SPEA P540 Community and Neighborhood Development Planning (3 cr.)
SPEA P550 Topics in Planning (urban topics only) (3 cr.)
SPEA P630 Strategic Planning (3 cr.)
SPEA V564 Urban Management (3 cr.)
SPEA V622 Seminar in Urban Economic Development (3 cr.)

Specialized Concentration in Planning and Public Policy

(14-15 credit hours)

Students with professional interests and goals that are not met by the preceding concentrations may choose to develop a customized concentration with the approval of their faculty advisors.

Experiential Requirement

In addition to the course requirements listed above, students must demonstrate professionally relevant experience through approved internships, approved independent study projects, or other field experience (e.g., internships) approved by the director of the Graduate Program in Planning.

General Elective Courses

General elective courses are used to complete the overall degree requirement of 49 graduate credit hours.

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Master of Health Administration–Doctor of Jurisprudence (M.H.A.–J.D.)

The School of Public and Environmental Affairs and the School of Law—Indianapolis have established a four-year, full-time program for the combined study of law and health administration. This course of study addresses the need of health services for professionals who understand the legal and administrative frameworks necessary to function successfully as a health lawyer or a health services administrator.

The Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.) and the Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) are awarded when the student meets the degree requirements of each school. All courses are offered on the Indianapolis campus. Successful completion of this rigorous 125.5-credit-hour program provides the graduate sufficient depth and breadth in each discipline to be able to function much more effectively in the swiftly changing health field.

The delivery of health care and health services is the second largest industry in the United States, accounting for almost 14 percent of the gross national product. The importance of health care to our citizens has long been obvious.

What has become more apparent fairly recently, however, is the growing impact of case law, statutes, and regulations on access to and availability of care; on the delivery of health care services; and increasingly, on decisions relating to the appropriateness of individual treatment. For this reason, the Schools of Law and Public and Environmental Affairs have sought jointly to develop a strong academic curriculum to address the educational needs of health lawyers and health service administration executives as they seek to serve the public’s needs.

Application and Admission

Applicants must apply for admission to each school and must meet the admission criteria published in each school’s bulletin. Normally, applicants should apply to both the School of Law—Indianapolis and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at the same time. However, a person enrolled in the School of Law may apply for admission to the Graduate Program in Health Administration up to the end of the second year of law study (approximately 57 credit hours). A student formally enrolled in the study of health administration may seek admission to the School of Law—Indianapolis up to the end of the first year of full-time study leading to the award of the Master of Health Administration (approximately 30 hours of graduate credit).

Academic Standing
Grade point averages in the School of Law—Indianapolis and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs are computed separately. To continue in the program, the student must meet the academic standards in each school. A student failing in one school but meeting academic standards in the other may complete course work for the degree in the school in which the student is able to meet the academic standards. Such completion must be according to the same conditions (credit hours, residency, etc.) required of regular (noncombination) degree candidates. Students are eligible for honors in each school based on the criteria of each school.

Residency
The student customarily completes the first 34 credit hours in the School of Law—Indianapolis. Thereafter, the student divides the remaining course work between the two schools, taking health administration courses and law courses concurrently. Thus, the student has a continuing educational experience in both schools.

Program Requirements

(125.5 credit hours)

Master of Health Administration Requirements

(43.5 credit hours)

Students must complete 43.5 credit hours distributed among the M.H.A. required core, electives, and a joint research paper.

Required Courses (34.5 credit hours)
SPEA H501 U.S. Health Care: Systems, Policies, and Ethical Challenges (3 cr.)
SPEA H502 Developing Strategic Capability (3 cr.)
SPEA H507 Management of Individual and Group Behavior (3 cr.)
SPEA H508 Managing Health Care Accounting Information for Decision Making (3 cr.)
SPEA H509 Financial Management Principles of Health Care (3 cr.)
SPEA H510 Health Services Financial Management (3 cr.)
SPEA H514 Health Economics (3 cr.)
SPEA H521 Management Science for Health Services Administration (3 cr.)
SPEA H623 Health Care Applications of Strategic Management (3 cr.)
SPEA H628 Health Care Information Systems (3 cr.)
BUS M540 Service Marketing (1.5)

Elective Courses (6 credit hours)
Six credit hours of elective courses, chosen from the following:
SPEA H517 Managerial Epidemiology (3 cr.)
SPEA H518 Statistical Methods for Health Services (3 cr.)
SPEA H612 Marketing for Health Services Delivery (3 cr.)
SPEA H626 Health Services Human Resources Management (3 cr.)
SPEA H627 Seminar in Advanced Health Finance (3 cr.)
SPEA H630 Readings in Health Services Administration (1-3 cr.)
SPEA V541 Benefit-Cost Analysis of Public and Environmental Policies (3 cr.)

Joint Research Paper (6 credit hours)
SPEA H735 Research in Health Administration is to be completed in the last year of the combined program.

Doctor of Jurisprudence Requirements

(82 credit hours)

Students are required to complete 82 credit hours of law courses and to satisfy all requirements for the Doctor of Jurisprudence degree.

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Master of Health Administration–Master of Business Administration (M.H.A.–M.B.A.)

The combined M.H.A.–M.B.A. program enables the student to take a sequence of courses leading to the attainment of both degrees. Successful completion of this 73.5 credit hour program provides the graduate student with sufficient depth and breadth in each discipline to function more effectively in a health care delivery system that is driven by business principles.

Application and Admission

To participate in the joint program, students must apply and be accepted into both the School of Public and Environmental Affairs Master of Health Administration program and the Indianapolis Kelley School of Business Master of Business Administration program. To streamline the admission process, SPEA will accept the results of the GMAT exam in place of the GRE from applicants to the joint program.

Academic Standing
Grade point averages for the two schools are computed separately. To continue in the program, the student must meet the academic standards in each school. A student failing in one school but meeting academic standards in the other school may complete work for the degree in the school in which he or she is able to meet the standards. Such completion must be upon the same conditions as required of regular (noncombination) degree candidates. Students are eligible for honors in each school based on the criteria of each school.

Program Advisors
Once students have been accepted into this joint degree program, they should meet with the academic advisors to plan the course sequencing. All M.B.A. core courses must be taken as intact modules. Full-time students would typically take two M.H.A. and two M.B.A. courses each semester. Part-time students would take either two M.H.A. or two M.B.A. courses each semester. Since M.B.A. courses must be taken as a cohort, part-time students will need to sequence all the M.B.A. courses in a block.

Program Requirements

(78 credit hours)

The following degree requirements are required of all students admitted to the program.

Master of Health Administration Requirements

(39 credit hours)

Students are required to complete 34.5 credit hours of SPEA courses and to satisfy all requirements for the joint degree.

SPEA H501 U.S. Health Care: Systems, Policies, and Ethical Challenges (3 cr.)
SPEA H502 Developing Strategic Capability (3 cr.)
SPEA H507 Management of Individual and Group Behavior (3 cr.)
SPEA H508 Managing Health Care Accounting Information for Decision Making (3 cr.)
SPEA H509 Financial Management Principles of Health Care (3 cr.)
SPEA H510 Health Services Financial Management (3 cr.)
SPEA H514 Health Economics (3 cr.)
SPEA H516 Health Services Delivery and the Law (3 cr.)
SPEA H518 Statistical Methods for Health Services (3 cr.)
SPEA H615 Health Care Outcomes and Decision Making (3 cr.)
SPEA H623 Health Care Applications of Strategic Management (3 cr.)
SPEA H627 Seminar in Advanced Health Finance (3 cr.)
SPEA H650 Strategies for Career Preparation (1.5 cr.)
SPEA H702 Internship in Health Services Management (3 cr.) or
  SPEA H735 Research in Health Administration (3 cr.)

Master of Business Administration Requirements

(39 credit hours)

Students are required to complete 39 credit hours and to satisfy all requirements for the joint degree. For specific guidelines, see the Indianapolis Kelley School of Business Graduate Bulletin.

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Master of Health Administration–Master of Science in Nursing (M.H.A.–M.S.N.)

The combined M.H.A.–M.S.N. program enables the student to take a sequence of courses leading to the attainment of both degrees. Successful completion of this rigorous 70.5 credit hour program provides the graduate nurse sufficient depth and breadth in each discipline to be able to function more effectively in the rapidly changing health field.

Application and Admission

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a National League for Nursing-accredited school, meet the admission criteria of each school, and apply to both the School of Nursing (Indianapolis) and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. If applicants are admitted to only one of the schools, they are permitted to attend that school and are required to meet graduation requirements of that school.

Applicants must complete at least 3 credit hours each of undergraduate course work in accounting, microeconomics, and statistics with a grade of C or higher from an accredited institution.

It is preferred that the student apply to both schools simultaneously for the combined program. It is possible, however, for students already enrolled in the School of Nursing to apply for admission to the School of Public and Environmental Affairs up to the time they complete the second year of nursing study. It is also possible for a student enrolled in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs to seek admission to the School of Nursing up to the end of the first year of the M.H.A. course of study.

Academic Standing
Grade point averages for the two schools are computed separately. To continue in the program, the student must meet the academic standards in each school. A student failing in one school but meeting academic standards in the other school may complete work for the degree in the school in which the student is able to meet the standards. Such completion must be upon the same conditions as required of regular (noncombination) degree candidates (i.e., 42 credit hours for School of Nursing and 60 credit hours for SPEA). Students are eligible for honors in each school based on the criteria of each school.

Program Advisors
Students enrolled in the combined program are assigned co-advisors; one from each school. The co-advisors are responsible for reviewing each semester’s progress to assure attainment of educational objectives. The co-advisors also help students resolve scheduling problems that might develop as a result of the combined program.

Program Requirements

(70.5 credit hours)

The following degree requirements are required of all students admitted to the program.

Master of Health Administration Requirements

(34.5-37.5 credit hours)

Students are required to complete 34.5-37.5 credit hours of SPEA courses and to satisfy all requirements for the joint degree.

Required Courses (34.5-37.5 credit hours)
SPEA H501 U.S. Health Care: Systems, Policies, and Ethical Challenges (3 cr.)
SPEA H502 Developing Strategic Capability (3 cr.)
SPEA H508 Managing Health Care Accounting Information for Decision Making (3 cr.)
SPEA H510 Health Services Financial Management (3 cr.)
SPEA H514 Health Economics (3 cr.)
SPEA H516 Health Services Delivery and the Law (3 cr.)
SPEA H521 Management Science for Health Services Administration (3 cr.)
SPEA H615 Health Care Outcomes and Decision Making (3 cr.)
SPEA H621 Management Application Skills I (3 cr.)
SPEA H628 Health Care Information Systems (3 cr.)
BUS M540 Service Marketing (1.5 cr.)
SPEA H702 Internship in Health Services Management (3 cr.)

Elective (3 credit hours)
An additional course approved by the program advisor.

Master of Science in Nursing Requirements

(21-30 credit hours)

Students are required to complete 21-30 credit hours of nursing courses and to satisfy all requirements for the joint degree. For specific guidelines, see the School of Nursing Graduate Bulletin.

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Master of Public Affairs–Doctor of Jurisprudence (M.P.A.–J.D.)

The combined M.P.A.–J.D. program enables the student to take a sequence of courses leading to the attainment of both degrees.

Application and Admission

The student must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education and must apply to both the School of Law—Indianapolis and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. If the applicant is admitted to only one school, the applicant is permitted to attend that school and is required to meet the graduation requirements of that school. It is preferred that the student apply to both schools simultaneously for the combined M.P.A.–J.D. program. It is possible, however, for a person already enrolled in the School of Law to apply for admission to the School of Public and Environmental Affairs up to the time he or she completes the second year of law study. It is also possible for a student enrolled in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs to seek admission to the School of Law up to the end of the first year of the M.P.A. course of study.

Academic Standing
Grade point averages in the School of Law—Indianapolis and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs are computed separately. To continue in the program, the student must meet the academic standards in each school. A student failing in one school but meeting academic standards in the other may complete work for the degree in the school in which the student is able to meet the academic standards. Such completion must be according to the same conditions (credit hours, residency, etc.) required of regular (noncombination) degree candidates. Students are eligible for honors in each school based on the criteria of each school.

School Residency
Students in the joint M.P.A.–J.D. program should enroll in courses through the School of Law—Indianapolis in the first year of the program and through the School of Public and Environmental Affairs in the second year of the program. In the third and fourth years, or until the program is completed, students should enroll through the school in which the majority of their credit hours reside in each enrollment period.

Program Requirements

(118 credit hours)

Master of Public Affairs Requirements

(34 credit hours)

Students are required to complete 34 credit hours of SPEA courses distributed among the M.P.A. core and a specialization.

Required Courses (18 credit hours)
SPEA V501 Professional Development Practicum: Information Technology (1 cr.)
SPEA V502 Public Management (3 cr.)
SPEA V503 Professional Development Practicum: Writing and Presentation (1 cr.)
SPEA V505 Professional Development Practicum: Teamwork and Integrated Policy Project (1 cr.)
SPEA V506 Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making (3 cr.)
SPEA V517 Public Management Economics (3 cr.)
SPEA V560 Public Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.)
SPEA V600 Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)

Specialization (14 credit hours)
The student chooses a field of specialization and develops a program of specialization courses in consultation with the SPEA program advisor.

Research Paper (2 credit hours)
SPEA V590 Research in Public Affairs, a required research paper, is written during the final year of the program.

Doctor of Jurisprudence Requirements

(84 credit hours)

Students are required to complete 84 credit hours of law courses and satisfy all requirements for the degree Doctor of Jurisprudence.

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Master of Public Affairs–Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies (M.P.A.–M.A.)

The combined Master of Public Affairs with a concentration in nonprofit management and Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies enables a student to take a sequence of courses leading to the receipt of both degrees. This joint degree program focuses on the history, culture, and values of philanthropy as well as the managerial frameworks of public service and quasi-governmental institutions.

Application and Admission

To participate in the joint degree program, students must apply and be accepted into both the Master of Public Affairs program and the Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies program. Most students will apply for admission to both programs simultaneously. However, if admitted to one program first, the student should submit an application for admission to the other program before completing 24 credit hours toward the first program.

Academic Standing
Grade point averages for the programs are computed separately. To continue in the program, the student must meet the academic standards in each school. A student failing in one school but meeting academic standards in the other school may complete work for the degree in the school in which he or she is able to meet the standards. Such completion must be upon the same conditions as required of regular (noncombination) degree candidates. Students are eligible for honors in each school based on the criteria of each school.

Program Advisors
Students enrolled in the combined programs are assigned co-advisors; one from each school. The co-advisors are responsible for reviewing each semester’s progress to assure attainment of educational objectives. The co-advisors also help students resolve scheduling problems that might develop as a result of the combined program.

Program Requirements

(63 credit hours)

The following degree requirements are required of all students admitted to the program.

Master of Public Affairs Requirements

(39 credit hours)

Students are required to complete 39 credit hours of SPEA courses and to satisfy all requirements for the joint degree.

M.P.A. Core Requirements (21 credit hours)
SPEA V501 Professional Development Practicum: Information Technology (1 cr.)
SPEA V502 Public Management (3 cr.)
SPEA V503 Professional Development Practicum: Writing and Presentation (1 cr.)
SPEA V505 Professional Development Practicum: Teamwork and Integrated Policy Project (1 cr.)
SPEA V506 Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making (3 cr.)
SPEA V517 Public Management Economics (3 cr.)
SPEA V540 Law and Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA V560 Public Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.)
SPEA V600 Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)

Experiential Component (3 credit hours)
Each M.P.A. student must obtain relevant experience. This can be accomplished through an approved internship, through SPEA V590 Research in Public Affairs, the SPEA mid-career credit option, or through Philanthropic Studies PHST P590 Internship in Philanthropic Studies. Students wishing to complete the dual degree program in the minimum credit hours should take PHST P590.

Degree Electives (3 credit hours)
One of the courses from the M.A. in Philanthropic Studies will fulfill this requirement.

Nonprofit Concentration (18 credit hours)
Each of the following:
SPEA V521 The Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3 cr.)
SPEA V525 Management in the Nonprofit Sector (3 cr.)

Nonprofit Theoretical Courses
One of the following:
ECON E514 The Nonprofit Economy and Public Policy (3 cr.)
HIST H509 History of Philanthropy in the West (3 cr.)
PHIL P542 Ethics and Values of Philanthropy (3 cr.)

Nonprofit Application Courses
Two of the following:
SPEA V522 Human Resource Management in Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
SPEA V526 Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
SPEA V550 Topics in Public Affairs: Fund Development for Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
SPEA V550 Topics in Public Affairs: Proposal Development and Grant Administration (3 cr.)
SPEA V602 Strategic Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
EDUC C595 Legal Aspects of Philanthropy (3 cr.)

General Management Courses
One of the following:
SPEA H507 Management of Individual and Group Behavior (3 cr.)
SPEA V516 Public Management Information Systems (3 cr.)
SPEA V539 Management Science for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA V541 Benefit-Cost Analysis of Public and Environmental Policies (3 cr.)
SPEA V562 Public Program Evaluations (3 cr.)
SPEA V566 Executive Leadership (3 cr.)

Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies Requirements

(24 credit hours)

Students are required to complete 24 credit hours in philanthropic degree courses and satisfy all requirements for the Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies degree.

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Master of Public Affairs–Master of Science in Nursing (M.P.A.–M.S.N.)

The combined Master of Public Affairs–Master of Science in Nursing program enables a student to take a sequence of courses leading to the receipt of both degrees.

Application and Admission

The student must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education and must apply to both the School of Nursing (Indianapolis) and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. If the applicant is admitted to only one school, the applicant is permitted to attend that school and is required to meet the graduation requirements of that school. It is preferred that the student apply to both schools simultaneously for the combined M.P.A.– M.S.N. program. It is possible, however, for a person already enrolled in the School of Nursing to apply for admission to the School of Public and Environmental Affairs up to the time he or she completes the second year of nursing study. It is also possible for a student enrolled in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs to seek admission to the School of Nursing up to the end of the first year of the M.P.A. course of study.

Academic Standing
Grade point averages in the School of Nursing and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs are computed separately. To continue in the program, the student must meet the academic standards in each school. A student failing in one school but meeting academic standards in the other may complete work for the degree in the school in which the student is able to meet the academic standards. Such completion must be on the same conditions (credit hours, residency, etc.) as required of regular (noncombination) degree candidates (i.e., 36 credit hours for nursing and 48 credit hours for SPEA). Students are eligible for honors in each school based on the criteria of each school.

Program Advisors
Students enrolled in the combined program are assigned co-advisors—one each from the faculty of the School of Nursing and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. The co-advisors are responsible for reviewing the student’s progress each semester to assure attainment of educational objectives. The co-advisors also help students resolve scheduling problems that might occur as a result of the combined degree program.

Program Requirements

(64 credit hours)

The combined M.P.A.–M.S.N. program requires a minimum of 64 credit hours distributed between the Master of Public Affairs and the Master of Science in Nursing components, including a joint research paper.

Master of Public Affairs Requirements

(32 credit hours)

M.P.A. Core (21 credit hours)
SPEA V501 Professional Development Practicum: Information Technology (1 cr.)
SPEA V502 Public Management (3 cr.)
SPEA V503 Professional Development Practicum: Writing and Presentation (1 cr.)
SPEA V505 Professional Development Practicum: Teamwork and Integrated Policy Project (1 cr.)
SPEA V506 Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making (3 cr.)
SPEA V517 Public Management Economics (3 cr.)
SPEA V540 Law and Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA V560 Public Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.)
SPEA V600 Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)

Concentration (11 credit hours)
SPEA V504 Public Organizations (3 cr.)

The remaining 8 credit hours consist of courses in a concentration chosen by the student in consultation with a SPEA advisor.

Master of Science in Nursing Requirements

(27 credit hours)

Students are required to complete 27 credit hours of nursing courses and to satisfy all requirements for the Master of Science in Nursing degree. For specific guidelines, see the School of Nursing Graduate Programs Bulletin.

Joint Research Paper (5 credit hours)
Credit for this supervised research is arranged and counts toward degree requirements in both schools. A minimum of 5 credit hours must be taken with at least 3 credit hours of research counting toward the M.S.N. degree and 2 credit hours of SPEA V590 Research in Public Affairs counting toward the M.P.A. degree. The topic must be selected no later than the end of the third year of the combined program, include elements of both disciplines, and be approved by the student’s co-advisors. This paper must be completed in the last year of the combined program and jointly supervised by advisors from both schools.

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