On-line Bulletins

Graduate Studies 2008-2010

Division of Public and Environmental Affairs and Political Science

Web site: www.iun.edu/~speanw
Telephone: (219) 980-6695

Administrative Officers

George 0. Assibey-Mensah, Ph.D., Interim Director of the Division of Public and Environmental Affairs and Political Science

General Information

The Trustees of Indiana University established the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) as a statewide program of the university in January of 1972.

The university has identified at least four groups that SPEA can serve: Indiana University students, both graduate and undergraduate, from all the university's campuses; professionals and paraprofessionals presently working in public or environmental affairs careers; government agencies, local, state, and federal; and citizen groups and professional organizations. In addition to regular graduate and undergraduate degree programs, the school offers special and innovative degree and nondegree programs for people already employed, including contract education projects for various public agencies and interest groups and professional organizations.

The Division of Public and Environmental Affairs and Political Science at IUN offers academic programs at the associate, baccalaureate, and master's degree levels for both regular IUN students and for individuals presently working in public affairs, criminal justice, health services, human services, or environmental affairs settings. The division also operates a unit designed to address a variety of public issues and problems, in particular those of northwest Indiana. The Great Lakes Center for Public Affairs and Administration conducts research on public problems, provides services to public agencies, and engages in educational programs designed to aid public officials and to inform the public on a variety of public issues.

Academic Regulations and Policies

The general regulations and policies detailed in this bulletin apply to all students in the division.

General Scholarship Rule

Any student who does not possess the necessary preliminary training or who lacks other qualifications may be required by the division to enroll in such courses as the division may designate or to take such other corrective action as is necessary or desirable. The division may review a student's record at any time and take whatever actions seem necessary for the best interest of that student or of the division.

Any student whose work is unsatisfactory or whose conduct is unethical may be dismissed from the division

Public Service Internship Program

The Public Service Internship Program involves participation by both graduate and undergraduate students. Graduate students enroll in SPEA V585 Practicum in Public Affairs. Graduate students in the Master of Public Affairs program without professionally relevant experience must meet an experiential requirement, which can be met by enrolling in an approved internship—a minimum of 300 contact hours of internship work is required. In the graduate program, a maximum of 6 credit hours is allowed for participation in off-campus experiences.

Internship possibilities are developed by the division and involve specific job descriptions from public and private agencies willing to involve students in significant professional activities in public and environmental affairs. In all cases, specific job details and descriptions of supervisory capacity of the agencies must be filed before credit may be arranged. No off-campus experiences are approved for credit unless the necessary information is filed and approved before the assignment begins. Information can be obtained from the Division of Public and Environmental Affairs at IUN.

While the internship program is intended for students enrolled in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, students in related disciplines who have an interest in the public sector and meet eligibility requirements may be considered for admission on a provisional basis.

Graduate Program

The graduate program of the Division of Public and Environmental Affairs and Political Science consists of the degree Master of Public Affairs (M.P.A.) and courses for credit toward the degree Master of Science in Environmental Science, which is offered on the Bloomington campus.

Admission to the Graduate Program

Application

The prospective student should complete and return an application for admission form available from the IUN Division of Public and Environmental Affairs to the following address:

Division of Public and Environmental Affairs and Political Science
3400 Broadway
Indiana University Northwest
Gary, IN 46408

Complete transcripts of previous college and university work must accompany all applications. Indiana University graduates should ask the Office of the Registrar to send unofficial copies of their transcripts to this department. The student must request that all colleges and universities attended mail certified copies of transcripts to the director of the degree program selected.

Application Fee

A nonrefundable application fee of $25 is required of all applicants who have not previously attended Indiana University.

Baccalaureate Certificate

Certification of a baccalaureate degree is required for entrance. Although the student may not have completed the undergraduate work at the time of application, a decision will be made on the strength of the student's work at the time of application. However, a final transcript, showing graduation, must become a part of the permanent record before the student can be formally enrolled.

Application References

Students should ask three individuals who are familiar with their activities and potential to fill out an Application Reference Form. These forms will be provided with the application form.

Validity

Following notice of admission, an applicant has one calendar year in which to enroll. Supplementary transcripts of any academic work undertaken during that period are required, and the division may request additional letters of recommendation. Should the updated material prove unsatisfactory, the admission may be cancelled. If the applicant fails to enroll within one year, a complete new application is required.

Examinations for Admission

For admission to the graduate program, either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) is required.

Admission Committee

Each application, with accompanying transcripts and other documents, is considered carefully by the admission committee for the appropriate degree. Personal interviews are encouraged where possible. While the applicant's undergraduate scholastic performance is the most significant index of ability to do graduate work, the test scores, recommendations, and the student's statement can weigh heavily in the final decision of the admission committee. The aim is to select those applicants who can successfully complete graduate study and be effective in public affairs.

Certificate Programs

The School of Public and Environmental Affairs offers three graduate certificates: Environmental Affairs, Public Management, and Nonprofit Management. Certificate programs are flexible and adaptable to the needs of either precareer or in-service students.

Admission Requirements

Requires minimum of a bachelor's degree. Application must be made to the division recorder.
Note: See SPEA Graduate Programs Bulletin for program restrictions.

Certificate in Environmental Affairs

The Certificate in Environmental Affairs program is a 15 credit hour program of study in environmental affairs. The program is flexible enough to adapt to the needs of precareer or in-service persons and to individuals with varying degrees of experience. Individuals currently employed in industry, nonprofit organizations, and the public sector in environmentally related positions who have technical backgrounds but who see greater insight and formal education on economic, policy, and legal issues related to the critical environmental issues will find the program particularly beneficial.

Required Courses

SPEA V517 Public Management Economics...................... 3
SPEA V520 Environmental Policy......................................... 3
SPEA V645 Environmental Law............................................ 3
Two additional SPEA graduate public affairs courses that require class attendance, and been have approved by a faculty advisor  6

Certificate in Public Management

The Certificate in Public Management is a focused 15 credit hour program of study in public management for those students interested in a less extensive course of study at the graduate level. The certificate program is flexible enough to be adapted to the needs of precareer and in-service individuals and can accommodate people interested in a wide variety of public careers ranging from social work to criminal justice to health administration.

The certificate is ideal for those persons in public and community organizations or agencies who wish to
supplement their primary fields of professional or technical competence, persons who are changing from professional or technical roles to managerial roles in the public service, career employees of public and community agencies who are interested in studying a sequence of core courses in public management, or students who wish to explore the field of public management before committing themselves to an extended degree program.
Candidates with a bachelor's degree are admitted to the program from a variety of educational backgrounds. Credits earned for the certificate may later be applied toward the M.P.A. degree.

Required Courses Core (9 cr.)
SPEA V502 Public Management........................................... 3
SPEA V560 Public Finance and Budgeting........................ 3
SPEA V561 Public Personnel Management........................ 3
Two additional SPEA graduate public affairs
courses that require class attendance, and
have been approved by a faculty advisor........................ 6

Certificate in Nonprofit Management

The Nonprofit Management Certificate is a 15 credit hour program of study, designed to serve the needs of individuals who would like exposure to the nonprofit sector and nonprofit management issues but who do not wish or need to pursue a degree in nonprofit management. The certificate complements other courses of study or career experience in such areas as social work, library science, and parks and recreation. Students pursuing a nonprofit manage­ment certificate gain an understanding of how to work in and with nonprofit organizations. This certificate program is designed to be parallel to the existing certificate program in public management offered by the School of Public and Environmental Affairs

Required Courses
SPEA V522 Human Resource Management
in Nonprofits.................................................... 3
SPEA V525 Nonprofit Management..................................... 3
SPEA V526 Financial Management for Nonprofits........... 3
Two additional SPEA graduate public affairs
courses that require class attendance, and
have been approved by a faculty advisor........................ 6

Previous Graduate Work Outside the Division of Public and Environmental Affairs

Previous graduate credit from other schools at Indiana University or other universities may be accepted toward a degree in the Master of Public Affairs program up to a total of 9 credit hours. The particular courses to be awarded credit will be arranged with the director of the division. A Transfer­of-Credit Form must be completed, and approval must be granted for each course for which transfer credit is desired. This is true both for previous work at Indiana University, outside the Division of Public and Environmental Affairs and Political Science, and for graduate work at other institutions. Courses outside the division planned in conjunction with the chairperson of the graduate program for the student's course of study need not be petitioned.

Undergraduate course work that, in the judgment of the Graduate Committee, substantially duplicates degree requirements may be accepted in lieu of particular required courses, but the total number of credits required will not be reduced

Special Students

Nondegree candidates may be admitted to the Division of Public and Environmental Affairs and Political Science to take classes. This status is granted for one semester only.

Grading

The official grading system of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs is as follows: A— highest passing grade; B; C—lowest passing grade; D; F—failed; I—Incomplete; W—withdrawn; NR—no report; (+) or (-) may be attached to any of the grades A-D.

An Incomplete indicates that the work is satisfactory as of the end of the semester but has not yet been completed. This grade may be awarded only when the student's work is of passing quality and upon evidence that personal hardship would render it unjust to hold that student to the time limits previously fixed for the completion of the work. Normally, faculty members are reluctant to give the grade of Incomplete. One calendar year is allowed for the removal of an Incomplete unless the chairperson of the graduate program authorizes an adjustment of this period due to exceptional circumstances. If those procedures are not followed, the I is changed to F.

Students cannot be certified for graduation until their records are clear of all Incompletes.

Grade Average, Provisional, and Probationary Status

Students may be admitted on a provisional basis for particular reasons, such as deficiencies in certain areas. The provisional status will be removed upon fulfillment of the stipulated conditions. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (A=4.0) or higher for all work taken for graduate credit must be earned as a prerequisite for continuation in good standing and for graduation. Students whose cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0 will be placed on probation. To be removed from probation, students either placed on probation or admitted on a provisional basis are required to attain an average of at least 3.0 for all graduate work completed by the end of the next semester of full- time enrollment or its equivalent (12 credit hours). Failure to do so will be cause for dismissal.

Petitioning Procedures

A student may find it necessary to petition the Graduate Committee relative to such matters as dismissal, requirements, transfers, class load, etc. Such requests must be presented in writing to the Graduate Committee

Midcareer Option

The purpose of the midcareer option of the Master of Public Affairs graduate program is to enhance the professional capabilities of those with previous training or experience in public service. It is a program capable of being specially designed to meet the educational and professional needs of the individual.

Some administrators are engaged in professional capacities requiring deeper understanding of certain specialties. Others with considerable experience in a specialization may wish to broaden their knowledge and perspectives. The midcareer option can accommodate those needs.

Credit waiver may be granted to midcareer option students for significant administrative or policy-level work experience. This work experience may be of a managerial nature or may be in program or policy development (which may or may not include experience in management, e.g., as a planner). The work experience need not necessarily be with a governmental agency. Many private and quasi-public organizations have significant governmental contacts. Furthermore, much management-level experience in the private sector is applicable to the public sector.

Students wishing to take full advantage of the midcareer option should apply as soon as regular admission to the program has been granted. The Graduate Committee makes a determination of eligibility for the midcareer option for each applicant. Students granted the midcareer option for more than 6 credit hours may not take SPEA V585 Practicum in Public Affairs for credit. Decisions about the midcareer option are made separately from decisions about transfer of credit. Under no circumstances will the midcareer option and the transfer of credit total more than 21 credit hours of the 48 credit hour degree requirement. Students receiving the midcareer option should carefully plan their programs in consultation with an advisor as early as possible. Certification of the plan of study by the advisor is necessary.

Master of Public Affairs

The Master of Public Affairs (M.P.A.) program, which is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), is an integrated course of study that requires a minimum of 48 credit hours and is offered at the Bloomington, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Northwest, and South Bend campuses of Indiana University. The program provides knowledge and experience that can be used by the professional in various roles within a changing public sector. It is also an interdisciplinary, professional program drawing on diverse faculty talents and resources. The goal of the program is to equip the individual with the necessary skills and knowledge to enter local, state, or federal government or quasi-governmental service and to broaden comprehension of the economic, environmental, political, and social context in which the public servant works.

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, therefore, interdisciplinary, 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 conditions.

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 both expertise in a specific concentration area and in the core requirements, and a general working knowledge of public affairs.

Transfer of Credit

Up to 9 credit hours of appropriate graduate course work can be transferred from schools other than Indiana University and applied toward the Master of Public Affairs degree when approved by the program director. Credit transfers reduce the hours of Indiana University credits that must be earned. Requirement waivers, on the other hand, do not reduce credit hours to be earned but do increase the elective choices available in a student's program.

Graduation Requirements

It is the responsibility of students to be certain that their graduation or other academic requirements are met. The graduate office will keep a record of the student's progress and will aid in program planning.

Degree Requirements

The general and core requirements of the M.P.A. degree are common to the five campuses where it is offered. However, concentration requirements may vary among campuses; therefore, the student should refer to the concentration requirements under the campus listings in this bulletin for concentration availability and/ or requirements.

The Master of Public Affairs program requires a minimum of 48 graduate credit hours and completion of (1) the foundation requirement, (2) the core requirement, (3) the experiential requirement, and (4) the concentration requirement. The foundation requirement ensures that each student has the requisite background in the areas of computing, economics, government, and mathematics to facilitate the mastery of core course material. No graduate credit is given for work done to satisfy this requirement.

The core requirement consists of 21 credit hours of work in six to seven courses, six of which are required of all students pursuing an M.P.A. degree. 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 involving contact with prospective peers. This experience may or may not involve the accumulation of credit hours toward the degree. Each student must also complete the requirements of one concentration, which consists of 18-21 credit hours of work. 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 quantitative tools or administrative techniques.

Core Requirement

The M.P.A. core ensures 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.

The following seven courses are required:
SPEA V500 Quantitative Tools for Public Affairs 31
SPEA V502 Public Management  3
SPEA V506 Statistical Analysis for Policy and Management..................................................................... 3
SPEA V517 Public Management Economics...................... 3
SPEA V540 Law and Public Affairs....................................... 3
SPEA V560 Public Finance and Budgeting........................ 3
SPEA V600 Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs   3

Unusually well-prepared applicants may petition the program director to waive one or more of the core requirements on the basis of advanced work done elsewhere. Students may be exempted based on satisfactory equivalent course work or by an examination. Credit hours waived from the core will add to the electives a student may use. Students requesting course waivers should contact the appropriate program director for requirements and guidelines.

Concentration Requirement

The concentrations following are designed to give the student an educational experience in a substantive area of the student's interest. The student chooses a concentration in consultation with the director of the M.P.A. program, and the course of study in the concentration area is determined in conjunction with a concentration advisor. All concentrations require at least 18-21 credit hours of course work. Up to 3 credit hours of the concentration may be taken in SPEA V585 Practicum in Public Affairs, if the concentration advisor approves the field experience in advance. Concentration requirements may be waived on the same basis as core requirements.

Concentrations

Concentrations give the student a focused educational experience in a substantive area of interest. The concentration is selected in conjunction with the faculty advisor and appropriate SPEA administrator. Concentrations offered include criminal justice, health services administration, human services administration, and management of public affairs

Criminal Justice Concentration

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

Requirements
SPEA 1501 Evolution of Criminological
Thought and Policy.............................................................. 3
SPEA V509 Administrative Ethics in the
Public Sector......................................................................... 3

One of the following courses:................................. 3
SPEA J502 Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA V562 Public Program Evaluation (3 cr.)

One of the following courses:................................. 3
SPEA J682 Criminal Justice Planning and
Management (3 cr.)
SPEA J666 Criminal Justice Policy and Evaluation (3 cr.)

Two from one of the following groups..................... 6
Group A:
SPEA J550 Topics in Criminal Justice (3 cr.)
SPEA J582 Criminal Justice System (3 cr.)
SPEA J587 Criminal Violation: Problems and Prospects (3 cr.)
SPEA J588 Law and Control in Society (3 cr.)
SPEA V550 Topics in Public Affairs: Criminal Justice Topic (3 cr.)
SPEA V580 Readings in Public Affairs: Criminal Justice Topic (3 cr.)
SPEA V585 Practicum in Public Affairs: Criminal Justice (3 cr.)

Group B:
SPEA J550 Topics in Criminal Justice (3 cr.) SPEA V504 Public Organizations (3 cr.) SPEA V512 Public Policy Process (3 cr.)
SPEA V539 Management Science for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA V561 Public Personnel Management (3 cr.) SPEA V566 Executive Leadership (3 cr.)

Health Services Administration Concentration

The health services administration concentration is for public administration students who plan to assume a managerial position in the health services field. This concentration affords the student the opportunity to study policy, issues, and programs related to the health services field.

Requirements2
The following four courses:
SPEA V504 Public Organizations.......................................... 3
SPEA V543 Health Services Management.......................... 3
SPEA V545 The U.S. Health Care System.......................... 3
SPEA V546 Health Services Utilization................................ 3

Three of the following courses or another course approved by a concentration advisor:    9
SPEA H514 Health Economics (3 cr.)
SPEA H515 Health Policy Process (3 cr.)
SPEA H601 Hospital Organization and Management (3 cr.)
SPEA H604 Ambulatory Care and Managed Care Programs (3 cr.)
SPEA V507 Data Analysis and Modeling for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA V550 Topics in Public Affairs: Ethics in Health Administration (3 cr.)
SPEA V550 Topics in Public Affairs: Marketing Health and Human Services (3 cr.)
SPEA V550 Topics in Public Affairs: Long-Term Care Organization and Management (3 cr.)

Human Services Administration Concentration

This concentration prepares persons for management positions in federal, state, and local human resource agencies. Emphases include application of public management processes to human service
organization; skills requisite to working with elected officials, administrative officials, and consumer groups; and practices of comprehensive departments of human resources, interagency administrative units, and multiservice centers.

Requirements
SPEA V504 Public Organizations.......................................... 3
SPEA V545 The U.S. Health Care System.......................... 3
SPEA V554 Human Services Administration..................... 3
SPEA V562 Public Program Evaluation............................... 3

Three of the following courses or other courses approved by a concentration advisor................. 9
SPEA V507 Data Analysis and Modeling for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA V509 Administrative Ethics in the Public Sector (3 cr.)
SPEA V546 Health Services Utilization (3 cr.)
SPEA V550 Topics in Public Affairs: Social Welfare Programs (3 cr.)
SPEA V550 Topics in Public Affairs: Long-Term Care Management (3 cr.)
SPEA V550 Topics in Public Affairs: Marketing Health and Human Services (3 cr.)
SPEA V556 Topics in Human Services Administration (3 cr.)
SPEA V561 Public Personnel Management (3 cr.) SPEA V563 The Planning Process (3 cr.)

Public Management Concentration

The Public Management Concentration consists of a structured program that facilitates the development of a managerial perspective. The intent of the
curriculum is to ensure breadth of coverage across those areas essential to a managerial career.

Requirements
The following courses:
SPEA V504 Public Organizations.......................................... 3
SPEA V539 Management Science for Public Affairs ........ 3
SPEA V561 Public Personnel Management....................... 3
SPEA V566 Executive Leadership........................................ 3

Three of the following courses or other courses approved by a concentration advisor................ 9
SPEA V507 Data Analysis and Modeling for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
SPEA V509 Administrative Ethics in the Public Sector (3 cr.)
SPEA V512 Public Policy Process (3 cr.)
SPEA V562 Public Program Evaluation (3 cr.) SPEA V563 The Planning Process (3 cr.)
SPEA V595 Managerial Decision Making (3 cr.)
SPEA V639 Managing Government Operations (3 cr.)