Graduate Programs
Degree Programs
Master of Public Affairs
Professional managers in the public and nonprofit sectors constantly face challenges evolving from complex people, politics, and settings. Often difficult to resolve with the standard methods learned from a traditional academic focus, these challenges require the type of creative problem solving for which the School of Public and Environmental Affairs has earned national respect. We meld social and physical sciences from various disciplines into a graduate education that requires and prepares students to be in tune with the diverse landscape of changing ideas, culture, policies, and problems our society faces today and will continue to face in the future.
The M.P.A. is designed to develop leaders for public agencies and nonprofit organizations and allows for expertise in one of these concentrations: criminal justice, nonprofit management, policy analysis, and public management. Each course of study requires completion of the core requirement, the concentration requirement, the experiential requirement, and sufficient electives and/or mid-career option credit to total 48 credit hours.
The core requirements of the M.P.A. degree consist of 21 credit hours of work in seven courses. The experiential requirement ensures that each graduate of the M.P.A. program gains insight into the world of public service through an experience outside the classroom. Additionally, the completion of at least one concentration is required, along with general electives that can be used to add breadth to a student's program, to further explore the field of concentration, or to enhance quantitative and analytical skills or administrative techniques.
Degree Requirements (48 credit hours)
The core requirements of the M.P.A. degree consist of 21 credit hours of work in seven courses. Each student must 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 (21 credit hours)
The M.P.A. core is designed to provide students with necessary preparation for entering or continuing work in the public service-no matter what their concentration.
Required Courses
- 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 V598 Governing and Leading in a Global Society (3 cr.)
- SPEA V600 Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)
Select one of the following:
- SPEA V502 Public Management (3 cr.)
- SPEA V525 Public Management (3 cr.)
Select one of the following:
- SPEA V560 Public Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.)
- SPEA V526 Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations (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 provide students a specialized educational experience in a substantive area of interest. Concentration requirements may be waived on the same basis as core requirements. Consult 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 for 0-6 credit hours (V 585); SPEA V590 Research in Public Affairs for 1-3 credits; the Mid-Career Option Credit; Workshop in Public Affairs for 1-6 credits (V601); or through Service Credit (e.g., Americorps, VISTA, Peace Corps, etc.) to fulfill the experiential component portion of the degree requirements.
Mid-Career Credit Option
The Graduate Admissions Committee of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs may grant up to a maximum of 12 credit hours toward the MPA degree for students who have had significant professional level work experience in management and policy development. "Professional" level work is that requiring extensive education or specialized training (e.g., at least an undergraduate degree) and gives substantial control over the manner in which it is done to the person performing it.
Credit will be granted for work experience gained before the student completes 36 credit hours of course work in the MPA program.
The following guidelines will be used by the Admissions Committee to award these credits:
1. To receive THREE (3) credit hours, a student must have had one to three year's professional experience in policy development or management with a public, private, or nonprofit organization in any of the following areas:
a. Directing programs
b. Preparing budgets
c. Making decisions on organizational or staff development
d. Analyzing, developing and evaluating policies
e. Conducting public or legislative relations programs
f. Program planning.
2. To receive SIX (6) credit hours, a student must have had three to five years of professional experience in policy development or management in a public, private, or nonprofit organization that includes significant responsibility for at least two of the following:
a. Directing programs
b. Preparing budgets
c. Making decisions on organizational or staff development
d. Analyzing, developing, and evaluating policies
e. Conducting public or legislative relations programs
f. Program planning.
3. To receive NINE (9) credit hours, a student must have had at least five years of executive responsibility in a public, private, or nonprofit organization for at least four of the following:
a. Directing programs
b. Preparing budgets
c. Making decisions on organizational or staff development
d. Analyzing, developing, and evaluating policies
e. Conducting public or legislative relations programs
f. Program planning.
This experience must include supervising a significant number of staff, including other supervisors, managers, or contract employees.
4. TWELVE (12) credit hours may be awarded by the Admissions Committee in exceptional circumstances to students who have had at least ten years of executive responsibility for all areas of policy development or management in a major public, private, or nonprofit organization.
Note: Students may receive more mid-career option credit than they are eligible to use.
Graduate Service Credit
THREE (3) credit hours will be awarded by the Admissions Committee to students in the MPA program who have completed at least one year of full-time service in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, or similar national service program. Students receiving credit for such service may also apply for additional credits, based on other career experience, which will be awarded in accordance with these guidelines.
Note: Students may receive more service credit than they are eligible to use.
If a student plans to apply for mid-career credit and the graduate service credit, both applications must be submitted at the same time to SPEA Student Services.
Send completed forms to:
Graduate Programs-Office of Student Services
School of Public and Environmental Affairs
801 W. Michigan Street, BS 3027
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5152
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 give students a focused educational experience in a substantive area of interest. The concentration is selected in conjunction with a faculty advisor and the appropriate SPEA administrator. Concentrations include criminal justice, environmental management, nonprofit management, policy analysis, and 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. Students are required to take a minimum of 9 "J" credit hours for this concentration.
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-V 509 Administrative Ethics in the Public Sector (3 cr.)
- 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:
Group A:
- SPEA-J 550 Topics in Criminal Justice (3 cr.)
- 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 580 Readings in Public Affairs (criminal justice topics only) (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 585 Practicum in Public Affairs (criminal justice topics only) (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 685 Research Seminar in Public Affairs (criminal justice topics only) (3 cr.)
Group B:
- SPEA-J 550 Topics in Criminal Justice (3 cr.)
Management, Organizations, and Policy Courses
- 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 547 Negotiation and Dispute Resolution 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 Courses
- SPEA-V 522 Human Resource Management in Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 525 Management in the Nonprofit Sector (3 cr.)
Finance Courses
- SPEA-V 541 Benefit-Cost Analysis of Public and Environmental Policies (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 542 Governmental Financial Accounting and Reporting (3 cr.)
Information Systems Courses
- SPEA-V 516 Public Management Information Systems (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 518 Intergovernmental Systems Management (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 519 Database Management Systems (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 550 Topics in Public Affairs (non-criminal justice topics) (3 cr.)
Other courses must approved by a faculty advisor.
Nonprofit Management Concentration (18 credit hours)
The nonprofit management concentration prepares persons for leadership positions in nonprofit and philanthropic organizations. Students receive a professional degree structured around theories, concepts, and practices essential to the policy and management of nonprofit organizations. Students who choose careers in the third sector will be more enlightened practitioners with a clear understanding of philanthropic tradition in the broadest sense (that is, voluntary action for the public good) and of modern management techniques.
A student must include the following M.P.A. core courses to fulfill requirements for the Nonprofit Management Concentration:
- SPEA-V 525 Management in the Nonprofit Sector (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 526 Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
Required of all students:
SPEA-V 521 The Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 522 Human Resource Management in Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
One of the following nonprofit theoretical courses:
- SPEA-V 523 Civil Society and Public Policy (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 524 Civil Society in Comparative Perspective (3 cr.)
- ECON-E 514 The Nonprofit Economy and Public Policy (3 cr.)
- HIST-H 509 History of Philanthropy in the West (3 cr.)
- HIST-H 511 History of American Philanthropy (3 cr.)
- PHIL-P 542 Ethics and Values of Philanthropy (3 cr.)
Other courses must be approved by the faculty advisor.
Three of the following nonprofit application courses:
- SPEA-V 550 Topics in Public Affairs: Leadership and Board Development (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 544 Marketing for Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 557 Development and Grant Administration (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 558 Fund Development for Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 559 Principles of Social Entrepreneurship (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 602 Strategic Planning of Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
- PHST-P 535 Law of Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
Other courses must be approved by the faculty advisor.
Recommended electives:
- SPEA-V 504 Public Organizations (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 509 Administrative Ethics in the Public Sector (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 516 Public Management Information Systems (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 539 Management Science of Public Affairs (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 541 Benefit-Cost Analysis of Public and Environmental Policies (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 547 Negotiation and Dispute Resolution for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 562 Public Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 566 Executive Leadership (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 547 Negotiation and Dispute Resolution for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
Other courses approved by a faculty advisor; plus a sufficient number of additional courses to meet the minimum degree requirement of 48 credit hours with a 3.0 cumultive grade point average.
Policy Analysis Concentration (18 credit hours)
The policy analysis concentration prepares students for professional work in policy analysis in the public, nonprofit, or private sectors. The concentration focuses on techniques for the rigorous evaluation of public policies and programs and on the application of those techniques to the analysis of policies. Students in the concentration are required to select required policy field courses in addition to policy skills courses.
Required Policy Process Course
- SPEA-V 512 Public Policy Process (3 cr.)
Required Policy Skills Courses (9 credit hours)
Choose three of the following:
- SPEA-V 507 Data Analysis and Modeling for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 539 Management Science for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 541 Benefit-Cost Analysis of Public and Environmental Policies (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 562 Public Program Evaluation (3 cr.) or
SPEA-J 502 Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Public Affairs (3 cr.) - SPEA-V 654 Public Program Management and Contracting (3 cr.)
Required Policy Field Courses (6 credit hours)
Choose two of the following with the permission of a faculty advisor. Courses include, but are not limited to, the following:
- SPHA-H 501 U.S. Health Care: Systems, Policies, and Ethical Challenges (3 cr.)
- SPHA-H 515 Seminar in Health Policy Process Special Topics (3 cr.)
- SPHA-H 640 Topics in Health Services Administration: Health Care Policy Planning (3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 501 Evolution of Criminological Thought and Policy (3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 550 Topics in Criminal Justice (topics approved by faculty advisor) (3 cr.)
- 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-J 666 Criminal Justice Policy and Evaluation (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 520 Environmental Policy Analysis (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 523 Civil Society and Public Policy (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 550 Topics in Public Affairs (3 cr.) (public policy topics approved by advisor)
- SPEA-V 580 Readings in Public Affairs (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 590 Research in Public Affairs (3 cr.)
Public Management Concentration (18 credit hours)
The public management concentration is intended to prepare students for professional work as managers in government or other public sector agencies. The concentration is structured around theories, concepts, and practices essential to the policy and management of public organizations.
A student must include the following M.P.A. core courses to fulfill requirements for the Public Management Concentration:
- SPEA-V 502 Public Management (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 560 Public Finance and Budgeting (3 cr.)
Required Courses (18 credit hours)
In consultation with their advisors, students must select two courses from each of the following areas:
Managing People
- SPEA-V 504 Public Organizations (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 561 Public Human Resource Management in the Public Sector (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 566 Executive Leadership (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 569 Managing Interpersonal Relations (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 652 Manging Workforce Diversity in Public Organizations (3 cr.)
Managing Processes and Programs
- SPEA-V 509 Administrative Ethics in the Public Sector (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 539 Management Science for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 547 Negotiation and Dispute Resolution for Public Affairs (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 602 Strategic Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 639 Managing Government Operations (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 654 Public Program Management & Consulting (3 cr.)
Managing Information and Evaluating Effectiveness
- SPEA-V 516 Public Management Information Systems (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 526 Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 541 Benefit-Cost Analysis for Public and Environmental Policies (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 542 Governmental Financial Accounting and Reporting (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 562 Public Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
Other appropriate courses approved by a faculty advisor; plus sufficient number of additional courses to meet the minimum degree requirement of 48 credit hours with a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.