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General Information

The Master of Public Affairs program is an interdisciplinary, professional program that prepares students for positions in local, state, or federal government, quasi-governmental service, or the nonprofit (including philanthropic) arena. It broadens students’ comprehension of the economic, environmental, political, and social context in which the public servant works. The course of study requires completion of (1) the M.P.A. core, (2) the concentration requirement, (3) the experiential requirement, and (4) sufficient electives and/or mid-career option credit to total 48 credit hours.

The curriculum of this program as contained in the core requirements encompasses preparation in a broad range of skills relevant to the operation of public agencies. It is based on the academic disciplines but not limited to any one. It is also problem-oriented, bringing the disciplines to bear on critical social, environmental, economic, and administrative issues.

Although the environment of public service is diverse and changing, effectiveness in that environment requires the development of special skills attained through detailed study in a chosen field of concentration. The fields of concentration span the variety of professional specialties found in public service. Thus, the program provides expertise in the core requirements and a specific concentration area, as well as a general working knowledge of public affairs.

The M.P.A. program is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).

Degree Requirements

(48 credit hours)

The core requirements of the M.P.A. degree consist of 18 credit hours of work in six 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

(18 credit hours)

The M.P.A. core is designed to ensure that each student acquires both the prerequisite analytical skills and an understanding of policy issues and governmental processes that compose the environment within which graduates will pursue their careers.

Required Courses
SPEA-V 502 Public Management (3 cr.)
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 560 Public Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 600 Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs (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 credit hours)

Concentrations give students educational experiences in a substantive area of interest. The course of study in each concentration area is determined in conjunction with an advisor. Up to 3 credit hours of the concentration may be taken in V 585 Practicum in Public Affairs, if approved in advance by an advisor.

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 590 Research in Public Affairs; SPEA-V 601 Workshop in Public Affairs; the Environmental Fellowship Program; or the Mid-Career Credit Option.

Mid-Career Credit Option

The Graduate Admissions Committee of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs may grant up to 12 credit hours toward the M.P.A. degree for students who have had significant policy-level work experience in their backgrounds. Credit will be granted for work experience gained until the end of the semester in which the student completes 24 credit hours according to the following guidelines:

To receive 3 credit hours, a student must have a minimum of one year’s technical, administrative, or policy-level work experience with a government or private agency.
6 credit hours will be awarded for two to four years of managerial experience in directing programs, preparing budgets, and making decisions on organizational or staff development, or for two to four years of professional experience in policy analysis or planning.
Those with four or more years of executive assignment may be awarded 9 to 12 credit hours. Applicants must have had responsibility for supervision of high-level staff, budget preparation, and organizational control of public agencies, or executive responsibility for policy analysis or planning.

Application Process and Policies
Students are eligible to apply for mid-career credit during the first semester of M.P.A. graduate study in order to take full advantage of available credit. Applicants may appeal the initial mid-career credit decision by submitting a request, in writing, for reconsideration and providing additional information to the campus director.

Determination of mid-career credit is made separately from decisions about transfer of credit. Under no circumstances will the mid-career credit and transfer credit total more than 21 credit hours of the 48 required for the M.P.A. degree. Students receiving mid-career credit should carefully plan the balance of their program with an advisor.

General Elective Courses

Graduate courses, or undergraduate courses approved for graduate credit, may be used to complete the overall degree requirement of 48 credit hours.

Fields of Concentration

Concentrations accommodate the needs of both the preservice graduate student and the practitioner seeking additional education for career enhancement and advancement. Students select a concentration after consultation with a faculty advisor. Concentrations on the Fort Wayne campus are:

criminal justice
health systems administration
public management

Criminal Justice Concentration

(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.

Note: Students with little or no criminal justice experience may be required to take one or both of the following courses at the undergraduate level before taking courses in the graduate criminal justice concentration.

SPEA-J 101 American Criminal Justice System (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 439 Crime and Public Policy (3 cr.)

Required Courses (12 credit hours)
SPEA-J 501 Evolution of Criminological Thought and Policy (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 509 Administrative Ethics in the Public Sector (3 cr.)

One of the following:
SPEA-J 502 Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Public Affairs (3 cr.) SPEA-V 562 Public Program Evaluation (3 cr.)

One of the following:
SPEA-J 666 Criminal Justice Policy and Evaluation (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 682 Criminal Justice Planning and Management (3 cr.)

Electives (6 credit hours)
Two courses from one of the following groups (6 credit hours)

Group A
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.)

Group B
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 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.)

Other courses approved by a faculty advisor. Three courses must be criminal justice courses.

Health Systems Administration Concentration

(18 credit hours)

The health systems administration concentration examines policies and programs in the health field. Emphasis is placed on organizational and
economic analysis.

Required Courses (12 credit hours)
SPEA-H 517 Managerial Epidemiology (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 543 Health Services Management (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 545 The U.S. Health Care System (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 546 Health Services Utilization (3 cr.)

Two of the following courses:

SPEA-V 631 Health Planning (3 cr.) or
SPEA-V 550 Topics in Public Affairs (health topics only) (3 cr.)

SPEA-V 561 Public Human Resources Management (3 cr.) or
SPEA-V 570 Public Sector Labor Relations (3 cr.) or
SPEA-V 504 Public Organizations (3 cr.)

SPEA-V 539 Management Science for Public Affairs (3 cr.) or
SPEA-V 562 Public Program Evaluation (3 cr.) or
SPEA-V 567 Public Financial Administration (3 cr.)

SPEA-V 580 Readings in Public Affairs (3 cr.) or
SPEA-V 590 Research in Public Affairs (3 cr.)

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Public Management Concentration

(18 credit hours)

The public management concentration develops the quantitative and qualitative skills necessary for public and not-for-profit management.
Emphasis is placed on organizational, political, and economic analysis.

Required Courses (6 credit hours)
SPEA-V 504 Public Organizations (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 539 Management Science for Public Affairs (3 cr.)

One of the following courses:
SPEA-V 550 Topics in Public Affairs: GIS Mapping (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 562 Public Program Evaluation (3 cr.)

One of the following courses:
SPEA-V 512 Public Policy Process (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 518 Intergovernmental Systems Management (3 cr.)

One of the following courses:
SPEA-V 561 Public Human Resources Management (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 569 Managing Interpersonal Relations (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 570 Public Sector Labor Relations (3 cr.)

Elective (3 credit hours)
One additional SPEA graduate course with approval of the program director.

Master of Public Management (M.P.M.)

General Information
Degree Requirements
Core Requirements
Concentration Requirements
Experiential Requirements
Internships and Field Experiences
General Elective Courses
Fields of Concentration

General Information

The Master of Public Management is an interdisciplinary professional program structured around concepts and skills essential to management, policy, and planning activities within governmental, quasi-governmental, and nonprofit organizations. The course of study requires completion of (1) the M.P.M. core,
(2) the concentration requirement, (3) the experiential requirement, and (4) sufficient elective credits to total 36 credit hours.

The curriculum of this program, as contained in the core requirements, encompasses a range of skills relevant to managing public agencies. It is based on the academic disciplines but not limited to any one. It is also problem-oriented, bringing multidisciplinary approaches to bear on social, economic, and management issues.

Because public service and management are diverse and changing, effective managers should develop a special set of skills attained through detailed study in a chosen area of concentration. These concentrations span a variety of public management areas. Thus the program provides students with knowledge and skills in the core requirement areas and the concentration areas, as well as a general working knowledge of management.

Degree Requirements

(36 credit hours)

The core requirements of the M.P.M. degree consist of 18 credit hours of work in six courses. Each student must also complete the requirements of (at least) one concentration. Students must also complete a 3 credit hour practicum in public affairs. Students with at least one year of full-time management and/or policy experience can apply for an award of 3 credit hours of experiential credit to take the place of this practicum.

Core Requirements

(18 credit hours)

The M.P.M. core is designed to provide foundation-level knowledge that is applicable to general public management and provide the groundwork for the concentrations.

Required Courses (18 credit hours)
SPEA-V 502 Public Management (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 506 Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 509 Administrative Ethics in the Public Sector (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 560 Public Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 562 Public Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 566 Executive Leadership (3 cr.)

Concentration Requirements

(12 credit hours)

The M.P.M. concentrations give students educational experiences in a substantive area of interest.

Experiential Requirements

The Experiential Component of the Master of Public Management program recognizes the professional capabilities of those with experience in the public or private sector. The student’s experience does not necessarily have to be with a public agency, as management-level experience in the private sector is generally applicable to the public sector. Experiential credit is granted based on experience gained until the end of the semester in which the student completes 18 credit hours. A maximum of 3 credit hours toward the M.P.M. may be granted to students under this option. To receive 3 credit hours, a student must have a minimum of one year’s technical, administrative, or policy work experience with government or private agencies.

Internships and Field Experiences

You must complete an approved internship (SPEA-V 585) or be awarded experiential credit to earn the M.P.M. If you are granted experiential credits, you will not be permitted to enroll for credit in SPEA-V 585 Practicum in Public Affairs without the permission of the director of graduate studies.

Application Process and Policies
Students are eligible to apply for experiential credit only after they have been admitted to the M.P.M. program. Once accepted into the program, they can apply for experiential credit at any point in their degree program, up to the semester in which they complete 18 credit hours.

Determination of the experiential credit is made separately from decisions about transfer of credit. Under no circumstances will the experiential credit and transfer credit total more than 12 of the 36 credit hours required for the M.P.M.

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General Elective Courses

Graduate courses, or undergraduate courses approved for graduate credit, may be used to complete the overall degree requirements of 36 credit hours.

Fields of Concentration

The M.P.M. concentrations accommodate the needs of both the preservice graduate student and the practitioner seeking additional education for career enhancement and advancement. Students select a concentration after consultation with a faculty advisor. Concentrations on the Fort Wayne campus are:

criminal justice administration and policy
health systems administration and policy
public administration and policy

Criminal Justice Administration and Policy Concentration

(12 credit hours)

The criminal justice administration and policy concentration is for those interested in the issues, methods, and skills involved in the management of criminal justice or related agencies.

SPEA-J 101 American Criminal Justice System (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 439 Crime and Public Policy (3 cr.)

Required Courses (12 credit hours)
SPEA-J 501 Evolution of Criminological Thought and Policy (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 502 Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Public Affairs (3 cr.) SPEA-J 582 Criminal Justice Systems (3 cr.)
SPEA-J 682 Criminal Justice Planning and Management (3 cr.)

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Health Systems Administration and Policy Concentration

(12 credit hours)

The health systems administration and policy concentration examines policies and programs in the health field. Emphasis is placed on organizational and economic analysis.

Required Courses (12 credit hours)
SPEA-H 517 Managerial Epidemiology (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 543 Health Services Management (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 545 The U.S. Health Care System (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 546 Health Services Utilization (3 cr.)

Public Administration and Policy Concentration

(12 credit hours)

The public administration and policy concentration develops the quantitative and qualitative skills necessary for public and not-for-profit management. Emphasis is placed on organizational, political, and economic analysis.

Required Courses (12 credit hours)
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 540 Law and Public Affairs (3 cr.)

General Information
Admission
Program Restrictions
Certificate in Public Management
Certificate Requirements

Certificate Program

General Information

The Certificate in Public Management is offered on the Fort Wayne campus. It is flexible and adaptable to the needs of either precareer or in-service students.

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Admission

Admission Eligibility
The student must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university to apply.

Application
Application forms and literature may be obtained from the same SPEA offices that offer material for the graduate degree programs.

Students should apply to the SPEA admissions office on the IPFW campus.

Application Fee
Students must pay a nonrefundable application fee.

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Program Restrictions

Students enrolled in a certificate program must complete it within 15 credit hours of approved SPEA course work with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B). Failure to do so results in automatic dismissal from the certificate program.
Students who have completed more than three SPEA courses are not eligible for admission to a certificate program.
Transfer credit, course substitutions, or course waivers are not accepted for meeting the Public Management certificate requirements.
Students admitted to a SPEA graduate degree program are not eligible for admission to the certificate program or eligible for the awarding of a certificate.
Admission to or successful completion of a certificate program does not guarantee subsequent admission to a SPEA graduate degree program.
Students enrolled in the certificate program who apply to SPEA’s graduate degree programs must meet all existing admission requirements.
Students planning to request admission to a SPEA graduate degree program after successfully completing a certificate program should refer to the application procedure presented earlier in this bulletin.

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Certificate in Public Management

The Certificate in Public Management program is a 15 credit hour program of study in public management. The certificate program is flexible enough to be adapted to the needs of precareer and inservice individuals. Career employees of public and private sector agencies seeking courses in public management, and especially those changing from professional or technical roles to managerial roles, find the certificate program beneficial.

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Certificate Requirements

(15 credit hours)

Required Courses (9 credit hours)
SPEA-V 502 Public Management (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 560 Public Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 561 Public Human Resources Management (3 cr.)

Electives (6 credit hours)
Two additional SPEA graduate public affairs courses approved by the program director.

Note: Students interested in continuing on for the Master of Public Affairs or the Master of Public Management degrees should consider selecting the two elective courses from the M.P.A. core or M.P.M. core; one of the courses recommended is V 506 Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making.

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