Undergraduate Programs

Programs and Information
Requirements for Admission
Policies Governing the Undergraduate Program
Honors and Accelerated Master's Programs
International Programs
Washington Leadership Program
Indiana Leadership Seminar
Indiana Law Enforcement and Indianapolis Fire Department Academy Credits

Programs and Information

The School of Public and Environmental Affairs offers a wide range of undergraduate programs at all of the Indiana University campuses—Bloomington, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Kokomo, Northwest (Gary), South Bend, East (Richmond), and Southeast (New Albany). The undergraduate degrees are the Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs (B.S.P.A.), the Bachelor of Science in Public Health (B.S.P.H.), the Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management (B.S.H.S.M.), the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (B.S.C.J.), and, through a joint program with the College of Arts and Sciences, a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science (B.S.E.S.). The School of Public and Environmental Affairs offers the following associate degrees: Associate of Science in Criminal Justice (A.S.C.J.) and the Associate of Science in Public Affairs (A.S.P.A.). In addition, the undergraduate program includes minors and certificate programs. Not all degrees, minors, and certificates are offered at all campuses.

Information concerning these programs can be obtained by visiting our Web site at www.indiana.edu/~speaweb or from the following SPEA campus offices:

Bloomington
Director, Undergraduate Programs
School of Public and Environmental Affairs
SPEA Building 260
Indiana University
1315 E. Tenth Street
Bloomington, IN 47405-2100
(812) 855-9485
Toll free: (800) 765-7755
speainfo@indiana.edu
www.spea.indiana.edu

Indianapolis
Student Services Office
School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Business/SPEA Building 3027
Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis
801 W. Michigan Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5152
(317) 274-4656
Toll free: (877) 292-9321
infospea@iupui.edu
www.spea.iupui.edu

Fort Wayne
Director
Division of Public and Environmental Affairs
Neff Hall 260
Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne
2101 Coliseum Boulevard
Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499
(260) 481-6351
www.ipfw.edu/spea

Kokomo
Director
Division of Public and Environmental Affairs
Indiana University Kokomo
2300 S. Washington Street
Kokomo, IN 46904-9003
(765) 455-9417
jwebb@iuk.edu

Northwest (Gary)
Director
Division of Public and Environmental Affairs
Indiana University Northwest
3400 Broadway
Gary, IN 46408-1197
(219) 980-6695
kevans@iun.edu

South Bend
Director
Division of Public and Environmental Affairs
Indiana University South Bend
2210 Weikamp Hall
P.O. Box 7111
South Bend, IN 46634-7111
(574) 237-4131

East (Richmond)
Director of Admissions
Indiana University East
2325 Chester Boulevard
Richmond, IN 47374-1289
(765) 973-8208

Southeast (New Albany)
Director
Criminal Justice
Indiana University Southeast
4201 Grant Line Road
New Albany, IN 47150-6405
(812) 941-2164

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Requirements for Admission

Admission to the School of Public and Environmental Affairs on all campuses, except Bloomington, Indianapolis, and Fort Wayne, requires sophomore standing and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00.

SPEA Bloomington requires application to its undergraduate programs before a student reaches 75 credit hours. It is a competitive admission process. Students are required to complete one of the courses listed below with a minimum grade of C.
SPEA-E 162 Environment and People (3 cr.)
SPEA-E 272 Introduction to Environmental Sciences (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 160 National and International Policy (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 161 Urban Problems and Solutions (3 cr.)

Students should apply for admission when they are enrolled in the preadmission course. Admission decisions are based on the grade in the above required course, the GPA, the cumulative GPA, and grade trends. A minimum cumulative GPA requirement for admission is established each semester.

Applications for the Bloomington programs are available in the SPEA Undergraduate Advising Office (SPEA 240) and on the Web at www.indiana.edu/~speaweb/undergradapp.html. Application deadlines are May 1 for fall admission and December 1 for spring admission.

Direct Admission to SPEA Bloomington Students directly admitted into SPEA out of high school have the advantages of not having to apply for admission to SPEA in their sophomore year (a competitive process); they work directly with SPEA advisors, faculty, and upperclassmen during their freshman year; and they get a jumpstart on planning their academic and post-baccalaureate careers. Directly admitted students may also receive priority attention if they apply for SPEA’s prestigious Washington Leadership Program and they receive peer mentoring from a SPEA Student Ambassador. To be eligible for direct admission to SPEA, a student must indicate on their IU admission application that they are interested in being admitted directly to SPEA. They must also be accepted to Indiana University. Direct admit students must rank within the top 15% of their high school class and score a minimum of 1250 on the SAT or score a minimum of 28 on the ACT.

SPEA Indianapolis has a special program to admit freshman students simultaneously to SPEA and to the University College. To be eligible for this dual admission, applicants must meet the general university and campus requirements for admission; have a minimum combined SAT (or equivalent) test score of 990 and be in the top quartile in their high school ranking.

Students who do not qualify for dual admission at Indianapolis or choose not to apply for freshman-level entry may be admitted to the School of Public and Environmental Affairs after they have completed 12 credit hours with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00.

Indianapolis undergraduate students who are admitted to SPEA are required to attend the Undergraduate Induction, which is scheduled during the fall and spring semesters. The induction provides students with an opportunity to become acquainted with SPEA faculty and staff, and orients students to SPEA’s policies and procedures to ensure a successful transition to SPEA.

SPEA Fort Wayne admits university-accepted students directly into the pre-SPEA program. To be eligible for admission to SPEA degree programs, a student must have earned a 2.30 cumulative GPA and completed 30 credit hours, including the math and computer science requirement, and C or higher in ENG-W 131, and in the core course for their major. Transfer students and those who wish to change their major to a SPEA degree program are accepted into the pre-SPEA program until these prerequisites are met.

Intercampus Transfer

Students admitted to the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at any campus of Indiana University may transfer permanently to SPEA on another campus, provided they meet the requirements for admission and good academic standing at the desired campus. Students wanting a temporary intercampus transfer need only meet the good academic standing requirements.

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Policies Governing the Undergraduate Program

The following academic policies of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs are applicable to all SPEA undergraduate programs regardless of the campus where they are offered. Additional policies at individual campuses may also apply to SPEA students.

Grading Policies

SPEA follows the official grading system of Indiana University, which is as follows:

A+, A	=	4.00		C	=	2.00
A–	=	3.70		C–	=	1.70
B+	=	3.30		D+	=	1.30
B	=	3.00		D	=	1.00
B–	=	2.70		D–	=	0.70
C+	=	2.30		F	=	0.00

The following grades carry no points: I (Incomplete—an Incomplete will change to an F if the work is not completed within the time period specified by the instructor [an instructor can specify any period of time up to one year]), NR (No Grade Reported), P (Pass), R (Deferred), S (Satisfactory), W (Withdrawal —check the current Enrollment and Student Academic Information Handbook for deadlines).

On the Bloomington campus, any SPEA undergraduate student may retake a course for which he/she received a grade below an A during the first 45 hours of course work. Students may exercise this option for no more than three courses, totaling no more than 10 credits and may use this option only once for a given course.

The Indianapolis campus has an expanded policy for grade replacement. A student may replace any grade in a course by retaking it a second time. Both courses must have been taken since fall of 1996 at IUPUI and must be processed prior to graduation. Students may replace 5 grades for a total of 15 credit hours.

The Fort Wayne campus has an expanded policy in regards to computing the cumulative GPA. A student may replace any grade in a course by retaking it a second time.

The student’s transcript shall record both grades. For the course retaken, only the second grade shall be counted in the determination of the student’s grade point average (GPA).

Good Academic Standing
Students are in good academic standing when their semester and their cumulative grade point averages are 2.00 or above and their SPEA grade point average is at least 2.30. Students must be in good academic standing to graduate.

Probation
A student will be placed on academic probation if his/her cumulative or semester grade point average is below 2.00 or his/her SPEA GPA falls below 2.30. In order for the SPEA GPA to be considered, a student must have completed 12 or more credit hours in the major. If a student is not making satisfactory progress toward a degree at the conclusion of the probation semester, the student may be dismissed from the school.

Critical Probation
Under special circumstances, SPEA students may be placed on critical probation. If the student is given the opportunity to enroll under critical probation, SPEA will establish strict conditions that must be met before that student will be allowed to register for future classes.

Students who fail to return to good standing at the conclusion of critical probation may be dismissed from the school.

Dismissal
If, in the opinion of the appropriate program director, a student is not making satisfactory progress toward his/her degree, he/she may be dismissed. Dismissed students will have their upcoming semester courses cancelled.

Readmission
Dismissed students must petition their campus program director for readmission. Dismissed students whose petitions are denied will not be allowed to register.

The Indianapolis Forgiveness Policy applies to former IU students pursuing a first undergraduate degree who have been away from the IU system and have not attended any other college or university, including any campus of IU, for the last five years. Students may apply for forgiveness upon application for admission to a degree-granting unit. If the student has not yet been admitted to a degree-granting unit, the student should submit a notification of intent to petition for academic forgiveness as part of the academic advising process. If the petition is approved, the student starts with a fresh cumulative grade point index, after which all the rules of academic probation and dismissal (for SPEA) will apply. The school will evaluate the student’s transcript, and all courses taken previously will remain on the permanent record. Only credit hours for courses with grades C or above, P, or S may be counted toward degree completion. After approval, the student must complete a minimum of 32 credit hours on the IUPUI campus in order to meet the graduation residency requirement.

Grade Appeals
Students have one year to appeal a grade given by a SPEA faculty member. Students in Indianapolis have 90 days after the conclusion of a course to appeal a grade. Resolution of the issue with the class instructor must be attempted before submitting a written appeal to the appropriate program director. In the event the instructor for the Indianapolis campus cannot be contacted, the student must give a notice of intent to appeal at 90 days.

Student Rights and Responsibilities
Each student is responsible for knowing their rights and responsibilities as a member of the academic community as outlined in the Indiana University Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct. In accordance with federal law, student records are confidential and are available to other persons only under specific conditions, as outlined in university regulations. Among the student’s obligations is that each student is responsible for knowing and meeting the requirements for their academic programs. Faculty and staff are available to guide and assist students, but the responsibility rests with the student. SPEA students who engage in academic or personal misconduct are subject to SPEA’s judicial process and disciplinary actions.

SPEA Indianapolis
fully supports the rights and responsibilities of students as defined in the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct. The code spells out expectations for faculty and students, and provides the framework for SPEA’s judicial process. SPEA students are expected to meet their responsibilities for academic and personal conduct. Failure to meet these responsibilities will subject the student to the school’s judicial process and disciplinary actions.

Academic Integrity
This is a basic principle requiring that students take credit only for ideas and efforts that are their own. Academic dishonesty violates that principle and undermines the bonds of trust and cooperation among members of the university community. Penalties and procedures that are applicable when academic misconduct or dishonesty occurs are provided in the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct. The policy on academic dishonesty is also published each semester in the Bloomington Enrollment and Student Academic Information Handbook. Indianapolis publishes its policies in the Undergraduate Student Handbook, which is distributed annually to incoming students, and in the Syllabus Addendum, which is distributed to all students each semester.

Indianapolis Statement on Civility
SPEA, which is a professional school, expects students to conduct themselves in a courteous and civil manner in interactions with professors and fellow students. Examples of discourteous behavior during class include reading the newspaper, working crossword puzzles, listening to headphones, using computers to surf the Web or for other non-class activities, talking or laughing with others, arriving late, and so forth. These behaviors are distracting to the instructor and to classmates, and SPEA faculty will address these problems as they arise either in class or on an individual basis. Disorderly conduct that interferes with teaching, research, administration, or other university or university-authorized activity will not be tolerated, and it may result in disciplinary action, including possible suspension and/or expulsion from the university.

Sex Offenders Screening Policy for Students/Applicants
Indianapolis applicants should be aware that criminal convictions may result in ineligibility for participation in certain courses/activities within the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Questions regarding school policy on such matters should be addressed to the appropriate program director or the director of student services.

Other Policies Concerning Degree Requirements

Bulletin Policy
Students are expected to complete the requirements for their undergraduate degree within 10 years of admission to the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Students are allowed to continue beyond this time period only at the discretion of the undergraduate program director or campus director. If a student has not taken classes for three years or more, that student must satisfy the program requirements of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs in effect at the time of reactivation. Requests for deviation from requirements listed in the bulletin must be approved in writing by the program director, whose decision is final.

Hours Requirements
Students must successfully complete a minimum of 120 credit hours for most of the Bachelor of Science degrees and a minimum of 60 credit hours for the Associate of Science degree. However, the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science requires 122 credit hours. The campus at which a student completes the plurality of course work will award the degree, provided that campus is authorized to grant the degree/major/concentration and that the student has been admitted to that campus. Students may transfer no more than 90 credit hours (60 credits from a junior college) toward a Bachelor of Science degree or 30 credit hours toward an Associate of Science degree. Class standing, based on total credit hours that count toward minimum degree requirements, is as follows: senior, 86 or more; junior, 56-85; sophomore, 26-55; freshman, fewer than 26.

Grade Point Average Requirement
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 is required for the B.S. and A.S. degrees. In addition, a SPEA core and major/concentration GPA of 2.30 must be maintained in order to graduate.

As a joint degree from the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Public Affairs, the B.S. in Environmental Science requires a cumulative GPA of 2.0 (C) to graduate. All courses taken to satisfy major requirements must be completed with a C– or higher and with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 (C) for all courses taken in the major.

For students seeking certificates or minors from SPEA, the minimum GPA requirement is 2.00 in all applicable course work.

Double-Counting
Generally, courses taken to meet a specific degree requirement cannot be double-counted (used to satisfy any other degree requirement). One exception to this rule is SPEA students earning a SPEA minor or certificate may double-count two minor courses.

Application for Degree
All students must fill out an application for degree at the SPEA Records office on their campus. This application must be filed six months before the expected graduation date.

Degrees Awarded with Distinction
SPEA recognizes outstanding performance by awarding bachelor’s and associate degrees with three levels of distinction to students. The levels of distinction are as follows: highest: 3.90 and above, high: 3.70 through 3.89, distinction: 3.50 through 3.69.

Requirements for a Second Bachelor’s Degree
Students must petition for approval to work toward a second bachelor’s degree. If permission is granted, students are required to take 30 credit hours beyond the credits used for the first bachelor’s degree and satisfy all the requirements for the second degree. Generally, SPEA encourages students to work toward a graduate degree rather than a second bachelor’s degree.

Available Options
A student in good academic standing may choose to take a maximum of eight elective courses (two per academic year) pass/fail for the B.S. degree or two courses for the A.S. degree. Deadlines for exercising this option are published in the Enrollment and Student Academic Information Handbook and are strictly enforced.

With prior approval, a student may take three courses, totaling no more than 10 credit hours, by independent study through the School of Continuing Studies. Under no circumstances may a student satisfy a core or major/concentration requirement by independent study.

With SPEA faculty approval, a student in good standing may earn a maximum of 9 credit hours through the SPEA internship program. Fort Wayne limits the internship to 12 credit hours: 6 credit hours within the concentration/ major electives and an additional 6 credit hours that can count for general electives.

SPEA students may choose to pursue a minor from another school, department, or within SPEA in an area other than their degree or major/concentration. Students interested in a minor should contact that department for additional information.

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Honors and Accelerated Master's Programs

SPEA’s Honors Program indulges the talents and creativity of SPEA undergraduates who have excelled in the classroom and who are destined for leadership roles in public health and environmental affairs. The SPEA Honors Program requires students to complete a minimum of 26 credit hours of honors or non-honors course work with at least a 3.5 (B+) cumulative grade point average by the end of the freshman year. Students should complete at least one introductory SPEA course by the end of the freshman year and have received a grade of B+ or higher. Eligible introductory courses include SPEA-V 160 (SPEA-V 170 from a regional campus), SPEA-V 161 (SPEA-V 264 from a regional campus), SPEA-E 162 or SPEA­E 272. In all cases, the student must be currently enrolled as a SPEA major or applying (or preparing to apply) for SPEA admission. To maintain eligibility in the program, all students must maintain a cumulative SPEA GPA of at least 3.5. All SPEA majors with at least a minimum GPA of 3.5 at the end of their freshman year will be invited to apply for admission to the Honors Program.

On the Bloomington campus, benefits of the SPEA Honors Program include: confirmation of a diploma “With Public and Environmental Affairs Honors” notation; advanced course work and opportunities for in-depth research projects with SPEA faculty; interaction with like-minded students in the SPEA Honors Program and the Hutton Honors College; competitively awarded funding opportunities to support academic related travel, research projects, and internships through the Hutton Honors College; automatic admission to SPEA’s prestigious Washington Leadership Program and IU at Oxford Summer Program; provisional admission to SPEA’s accelerated Master of Public Affairs or Environmental Science or Health Administration degree programs; and counsel from an Honors Program advisor.

On the Indianapolis campus, qualified SPEA students are encouraged to apply to the campuswide IUPUI Honors Program. Benefits of this program include advanced coursework, opportunities for community service, interaction with like-minded students, participation in honors events and the IUPUI Honors Club, eligibility for residence in the IUPUI Honors House, opportunities for research with faculty, and funding to support academic-related research and travel.

The Accelerated Master’s Program (A.M.P.) is a competitive program for outstanding SPEA students. Students may apply to the Master of Public Affairs (M.P.A.), the Master of Health Administration (M.H.A.), or the Master of Science in Environmental Science (M.S.E.S.) programs early in their junior year. On the Fort Wayne campus, students may also apply to the Master of Public Management (M.P.M.) program.

Participation in this program allows the student to fulfill some graduate program requirements during the senior year. Graduate courses count for both graduate and undergraduate degree requirements. Before starting the graduate program, students must have satisfied all general education requirements with a minimum of 96 credit hours completed toward their bachelor’s degree (90 credit hours for students seeking the M.H.A. degree). For additional information, students should contact the appropriate program director.

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International Programs

SPEA offers several opportunities to study abroad for credit:

• IU at Oxford Program (summer)
• The Parliamentary Internship Program in Canberra, Australia (year-round)

An unforgettable new summer program for undergraduates hosted by SPEA is the IU at Oxford Program. Students will attend the University of Oxford for a summer program of rigorous study, and sightseeing in historic Oxford, England. Students will earn 6 SPEA credit hours by examining critical public policy issues with acclaimed Oxford scholars and IU faculty.

The Parliamentary internship is available with or without course work and is offered each semester and during the summer (the Australian winter). In addition, IU offers many other officially approved study abroad programs that can, with the authorization of your advisor, count for SPEA credit.

These programs are taught in English, and the IU credit obtained costs the same as it would if you remained on campus. Financial aid that you have obtained for your studies is normally applied to these overseas experiences.

Our purpose in creating these study abroad opportunities is to provide you with a unique chance to broaden your horizons, help you prepare yourself for a world that is becoming much more international and global, and allow you to challenge yourself by facing something new. Of course, there are opportunities to travel and socialize as well as study—and that is all part of the educational experience. More than 200 SPEA students have benefited from this opportunity. Experience has taught us that studying abroad does not adversely affect your GPA, increase your cost of study, or delay your graduation. There are many programs from which to choose, and students are advised to make use of the overseas study resource center on the third floor of Franklin Hall or at BS 3027, SPEA Student Services, on the Indianapolis campus.

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Washington Leadership Program

IU’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs proudly offers the Washington Leadership Program each fall and spring semester in Washington, D.C. The Washington Leadership Program is a unique opportunity for talented undergraduate students to receive in-depth exposure to key policy makers and government officials in our nation’s capital. Students from all majors at all campuses are eligible to apply. This program consists of two senior-level seminars (each worth 3 credit hours) and an internship (worth 5 or 6 credit hours). Students complete internships by working four days per week in an assigned congressional or senate office, trade association, or federal agency, or in a health, environmental, or nonprofit organization.

Housing is arranged in nearby Falls Church, Virginia. Tuition is based on the regular fees for Indiana University. Students in the program remain eligible for any scholarships or financial aid they would normally receive as Indiana University students. Interested regional campus students should contact the SPEA program director or undergraduate advisor. In Bloomington, students should contact the SPEA Career Services & Alumni Affairs office. Further information can be obtained by visiting the Washington Leadership Program Web site: www.iu.edu/~speaweb/careers/wlp.php.

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Indiana Leadership Seminar

The Indiana Leadership Seminar offers senior honor students a chance to participate in research projects with a state agency. The focus is to develop professional skills and provide networking opportunities for future career connections as students apply classroom theory to real-world problems. The Indiana Leadership Seminar will complete the requirement of the major capstone course for students enrolled for the full year, both fall and spring semesters. Interested students should contact their academic advisor or program director.

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Indiana Law Enforcement and Indianapolis Fire Department Academy Credits

Graduates of Indiana Law Enforcement Academies (for full-time sworn officers) are eligible for 12 undergraduate credit hours from SPEA. After admission to IUPUI, academy graduates should contact SPEA Student Services ([317] 274-4656) or their faculty advisor for credit for SPEA-J 320, SPEA-J 301, and 6 credit hours of SPEA-J 380. Once graduation from the academy with a 77 percent score or better has been confirmed by SPEA, there is no charge for this credit as long as students take one additional SPEA class after application for the credit. (Students who have previously attended IUPUI need not take an additional course.) These 12 credit hours all count toward the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in SPEA. Firefighters who graduated from any of the following fire department academies are eligible for 9 undergraduate credit hours from SPEA. Indianapolis, Pike Township, Washington Township, Lawrence Township, City of Lawrence, Perry Township, Warren Township, Franklin Township, City of Franklin, Decatur Township, Wayne Township, Brownsburg, Avon, Carmel, Fishers, Greenwood, Noblesville, Speedway, and Beech Grove.

After admission to IUPUI, IFD academy graduates should contact SPEA student services or their faculty advisor for credit for SPEA-J 376, SPEA-V 375, and SPEA-V 380. Once graduation from the academy with a 77 percent score or better has been confirmed by SPEA, there is no charge for this credit as long as students take at least one additional regular course from IUPUI after application for this credit. (Students who have previously attended IUPUI need not take an additional course.) These 9 credit hours all count toward the SPEA Public Safety Management major. If these credits are combined with other special credits available to students of fire science, firefighters are well on their way toward a SPEA degree.

For further information, contact the SPEA-­IUPUI Recorder at (317) 274-4656.

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