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IU Indianapolis Bulletin » Schools » O'Neill School Of Public and Environmental Affairs » Undergraduate » Degree Programs » Sustainability Practice and Policy (BSPA)


Sustainability Practice and Policy (BSPA)

The Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs requires 120 credit hours. The program includes five main areas: I. IU Indianapolis Common Core, II. O'Neill Core General Education/baccalaureate requirements, III. Public Affairs Core, IV. Program/Major requirements, and V. Open electives.

Public Affairs focuses on how we provide for our citizens, making our communities better places to live, work and raise a family. Public Affairs students study and analyze government policies, and learn how to manage government and nonprofit organizations.

A Sustainability Practice and Policy major focuses on the development and implementation of policies that help communities meet the needs of the present without compromising the future. O'Neill prepares people to lead and manage sustainability efforts in government, nonprofits and businesses.

I. IU Indianapolis Common Core (30 Credits)

Students at IU Indianapolis will complete 30 hours of general education coursework prior to graduation with a baccalaureate degree. The coursework is aligned with the Indiana Common Core (formerly known as INSTGEC). For more information, please click here.

  1. Core Communication (2 courses; 6 credits) From approved list, students must take at least one writing course (ENG-W 131 - Reading, Writing and Inquiry I or ENG-W 140 Honors Composition I) and one speaking and listening course (COMM-R 110 - Fundamentals of Speech Communication) for a total of two courses and six credits.
  2. Analytical Reasoning (2 courses, 6 credits) From approved list, at least one college level math course. It is recommended that O'Neill students take Math-M 118 (finite) and SPEA-K 300 (Statistical Techniques).
  3. Life and Physical Sciences (2 courses, 6 credits) From approved list, at least two courses and six credits toward the life and physical sciences. Recommended: GEOG-G 107; GEOG-G 108; GEOG-G 114; GEOL-G 107; GEOL-G 117; GEOL-G 115; GEOL-G 130; GEOL-G 132 
  4. Cultural Understanding (1 course; 3 credits) From approved list, at least one course. O'Neill students are encouraged to complete first year competency in a foreign language.
  5. Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences (3 courses; 9 credits) From approved list, students must take at least three credits from the Arts & Humanities list and at least three credits from the Social Sciences list for a total of nine credits. It is recommended that O'Neill students take SPEA-V 222 (Principles of Sustainability), and SPEA-V 170 (Introduction to Public Affairs).
II. Baccalaureate Requirements: O'Neill Core General Education Requirements (15 credits)

Classes in this area must be a minimum of three credits each.

Choose one of the following courses:

  • BUS-X 204 Business Communication (3 cr.)
  • ENG-W 231 Professional Writing (3 cr.)
  • ENG-W 270 Argumentative Writing (3 cr.)

Choose one of the following courses:

  • SPEA-V 379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
  • ECON-E 201 Introduction to Microeconomics (3 cr.)

Choose one of the following courses:

  • POLS-Y 103 Introduction to American Politics (3 cr.)
  • POLS-Y 217 Comparative Politics (3 cr.)

Choose one of the following courses:

  • ECON-E 202 Introduction to Macroeconomics (3 cr.)
  • OLS 23000 Introduction to Sustainable Principles and Practices (3 cr.)
  • PBHL-H 101 Influencing the Public's Health (3 cr.)
  • PSY-B 110 Introduction to Psychology (3 cr.)

O'Neill Core Requirements 

  • Select from any IU Indianapolis Common Core (from the life and physical science domain) (3 cr.)
If ECON-E 201, ECON-E 202, and/or POLS-Y 103 are used to meet a core requirement, the student must take additional credits from any of the core curriculum general areas (Core Communication, Mathematics/Analytical Reasoning, Life and Physical Sciences, Cultural Understanding, Arts & Humanities, Social Sciences) to achieve the additional O'Neill general education requirement credits. Though, students are not limited to only the core course listings and are encouraged to take higher level courses in those areas, depending on interests, minors, or certificates. Course selection and approval should be done in consultation with an O'Neill Academic Advisor.

All O'Neill students are encouraged to complete First Year Competency in a foreign language.

Students cannot double count courses in this area with their major requirements.

III. Public Affairs Core (8 courses; 21-26 credits)
  • SPEA-V 170 Intro to Public Affairs (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 252 Career Development and Planning (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 261 Using IT in Public Affairs (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 264 Community Structures & Policy (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 370 Research Methods (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 376 Law and Public Policy (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 380 Internship in Public Affairs (0-6 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 473 Management, Leadership, and Policy Capstone (3 cr.)

IV. Sustainability Practices and Policy Major (33 cr.) 

Required courses (24 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 222 Principles of Sustainability (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 265 Challenges in Social Policy (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 311 Natural Resources and Environmental Policy (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 322 Sustainable Management (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 367 Project Planning and Management (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 419 Community Development (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 426 GIS Mapping and Analysis (3 cr.)

Choose three  sustainability electives from the list below (9 cr.)

  • SPEA-V 366 Managing Behavior in Public Organizations (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 372 Government Finance and Budgets (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 382 Political Action and Civic Engagement (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 443 Managing Workforce Diversity (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-E 476 Environmental Law and Regulation (3 cr.)
  • TECH 30100 Renewable Energy Systems (3 cr.)
  • LSTU-L 331 Global Problems, Local Solutions 
  • GEOG-G 114 The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming (3 cr.)
  • GEOG-G 310 Human Impact on the Environment (3 cr.)
  • HIST-H 410 American Environmental History (3 cr.)
  • PBHL-A 316 Environmental Health Science (3 cr.)

To enhance your degree, we recommend considering adding courses that would count toward any of the following minors: 1. Geology, 2. Environmental Health Science, 3. Geochemistry, 4. Environmental Science, 5. Geography, 6. Sustainable Technology Certificate 

For the complete list of minors and certificates, click here 

V. Open Electives (credits vary)

Additional courses beyond the IU Indianapolis Common Core, O'Neill General Education requirements, and Major requirements to total 120 credit hours (these are not required to be O'Neill courses but could be).

Only college level course work will count toward open electives. Remedial courses in areas such as math and English do not count.

Important notes:

Students may transfer to the O'Neill School of Public & Environmental Affairs once they acquire 12 credit hours, an overall cumulative GPA of 2.0, and a previous semester GPA of 2.0.

O'Neill Good Standing requires: a previous semester 2.0 GPA and a cumulative 2.0 GPA.

Please see your O'Neill Academic Advisor with any questions. To make an appointment with your advisor, call O'Neill Student Services at 317-274-4656.