Undergraduate

SPEA Accelerated Masters

The Accelerated Masters Program is a competitive program for outstanding SPEA undergraduate students. Students may apply to the Master of Public Affairs (M.P.A.) or the Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Public Safety (M.S.C.J.P.S.) early in their junior year.

Participation in this program allows students to fulfill some graduate program requirements during their senior year. Graduate courses count for both graduate and undergraduate degree requirements. Before starting the graduate program, students must have satisfied all general education and specific core requirements.

Admission

The program admits students from among the top tier of SPEA undergraduate majors. To be considered, a student must:

  • Complete a minimum of 96 credit hours for the accelerated M.P.A. or 102 credits for the accelerated M.S.C.J.P.S. toward their undergraduate degree including specified general education, major, and elective requirements (see appropriate degree planning sheet below).
  • Have no more than 30 transfer hours counted toward graduation requirements.
  • Have a 3.2 undergraduate GPA and a 3.5 SPEA major GPA.
  • Apply online for the M.P.A. or M.S.C.J.P.S. degree programs via the school's master's programs admission process.
  • Submit at least three letters of recommendation from faculty members.
  • Submit a personal statement.

Degree Planning Sheet

  • Accelerated M.P.A. Planning Sheet pdf file (for undergraduate Civic Leadership, Management, Policy Studies, and Media and Public Affairs majors)
    • Must complete a minimum of 96 specific undergraduate credits including general education, SPEA major courses, and elective requirements.
    • Undergraduate SPEA major courses include:
      • For Civic Leadership majors - SPEA V170, V264, V382, V412, V435, V263 or V362, V473 or V450 (Indiana Leadership Seminar)
      • For Management majors - SPEA V170, V358, V366, V372, V221 OR V264 OR V375, V346 OR V356 OR V369 OR V373 OR V379 OR V458 OR V412 OR V435 OR V443, V473 OR V450 (Indiana Leadership Seminar)
      • For Policy Studies majors - SPEA V170, V348, V372, V378, V412, V221 OR V362, V473 or V450 (Indiana Leadership Seminar)
    • The accelerated program allows students to double count 24 credits from the MPA towards the BSPA.
  • Accelerated M.S.C.J.P.S. Planning Sheet pdf file (for undergraduate Criminal Justice)
    • Must complete a minimum of 102 specific undergraduate credits including general education, SPEA major courses, and elective requirements.
    • Undergraduate SPEA major courses include:
      • For Criminal Justice majors - SPEA J101, J150, J201, J202, J306, J321, J331, J301 OR J302, 1 CJ elective course (3 cr), and 1 Management and Policy course (see list on degree planning sheet)
    • The accelerated program allows students to double count 18 credits from the M.S.C.J.P.S. towards the B.S.C.J.
  • Accelerated M.S.C.J.P.S. Planning Sheet pdf file (for undergraduate Public Safety Management)
    • Must complete a minimum of 102 specific undergraduate credits including general education, SPEA major courses, and elective requirements.
    • Undergraduate SPEA major courses include:
      • For Public Safety Management majors - SPEA J101, J150, J202, J272/V272, J376, J387, J429, 1 PSM elective (see list on degree planning sheet), 1 management and policy course (see list on degree planning sheet).
    • The accelerated program allows students to double count 18 credits from the M.S.C.J.P.S. toward the B.S.C.J.