Undergraduate

Degree Programs
Policy Studies (B.S.P.A.)

The Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs in Policy Studies requires 120 credit hours. The SPEA curriculum is divided into three categories: general education, electives, and major area. Public Affairs majors focus on how we provide for our citizen, 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 Policy Studies major prepares students to analyze and assess the usefulness of existing and proposed laws. This major emphasizes critical thinking skills. Graduates often go on to law school. or directly into positions in government or government relations.

*The following requirements do not include the IUPUI General Education Core and are in effect for current IUPUI students, incoming transfer students, and intercampus transfer students. First time students admitted for Fall 2013 will complete the IUPUI General Education Core. For revised Policy Studies requirements that include the general education coursework, click here.

1. Communications (3 courses; 9 cr.)
  • ENG-W 131 Elementary Composition I (3 cr.)
  • COMM-R 110 Fundamentals of Speech Communication (3 cr.)

Choose one course:

  • BUS-X 204 Business Communications (3 cr.)
  • ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills (3 cr.)
2. Quantitative Methods (5 courses; 15 cr.)

Choose one computer course:

  • SPEA-V 261 Computers in Public Affairs (3 cr.)
  • BUS-K 201 The Computer in Business (3 cr.)

Select one mathematics courses:

  • MATH-M 118 Finite Mathematics (3 cr.)
  • MATH-M 119 Survey of Calculus I (3 cr.)
  • MATH 15300 Algebra and Trigonometry I (3 cr.)
  • MATH 15400 Algebra and Trigonometry II (3 cr.)

Choose one statistics course:

  • SPEA-K 300 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.) 
  • ECON-E 270 Intro to Stat Theory Econ & Bus (3 cr.)
  • PSY-B 305 Statistics (3 cr.)
  • STAT 301 Elem. Stat Method I (3 cr.)
  • SOC-R 359 Sociological Statistics (3 cr.)

Select one accounting course:

  • BUS-A 200 Foundations of Accounting (3 cr.)
  • BUS-A 201 Introduction to Financial Accounting (3 cr.)

Select one research methods course:

  • SPEA-V 370 Research Methods and Statistical Research (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 202 Criminal Justice Data, Methods and Resources (3 cr.)
3. Social Sciences, Humanities & Natural Sciences (3 courses; 9 cr.)
  • POLS-Y 103 Intro to American Politics (3 cr.)
  • ECON-E 201 Intro to Microeconomics (3 cr.)
  • ECON-E 202 Into to Macroeconomics (3 cr.)

CHOOSE EITHER 3A OR 3B

3A. Option 1: Language Option - Recommended (13-15 cr.)

Complete first-year foreign language requirements: 

  1. Three foreign language 100-level courses OR
  2. Complete a 200-level or 300-level foreign lanuage course with a grade of C or better OR
  3. Complete placement test, placing into 200-level or higher; this waives 100-level requirement but does not carry credit toward graduation

Choose one Natural Science course (3-5 cr.) - select from list below

Students only required to complete three credits, however if lab course is taken, may have up to five credits.

3B. Option 2: No Foreign Language (15-17 cr.)

Choose one of the following courses:

  • HIST-H 105 American History I (3 cr.)
  • HIST-H 106 American History II (3 cr.)
  • HIST-H 108 Perspectives on the World to 1800 (3 cr.)
  • HIST-H 114 History of Western Civilization II (3 cr.)
  • ANTH-A l04 Culture and Society (3 cr.)
  • CLAS-C 205 Classical Mythology (3 cr.)
  • FLAC-F 200 World Cultures through Literature (3 cr.)
  • GEOG-G 110 Introduction to Human Geography (3 cr.)
  • REL-R 133 Introduction to Religions (3 cr.)
  • REL-R 212 Comparative Religion (3 cr.)

Choose two Natural Science courses (one w/lab) - select from list below

Choose two Social Science/Humanities courses - select from list below

4A. Policy Studies Major (42-45 cr.)

Required course:

  • SPEA-V 170 Introduction to Public Affairs (3 cr.)

Select one of the following courses:

  • SPEA-V 221 Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3 cr.) or
  • SPEA-V 362 Nonprofit Management and Leadership  (3 cr.)

Select one of the following courses:

  • SPEA-V 263 Public Management (3 cr.) or
  • SPEA-V 372 Government Finance and Budgets (3 cr.)

Select one of the following courses:

  • SPEA-V 382 Political Action and Civic Engagement (3 cr.) or
  • SPEA-V 408 Individual Rights, Common Goods and Public Policies (3 cr.)

Choose four courses from the following:

  • SPEA-V 348 Management Science (3 cr.) P: SPEA K300, MATH M118 or MATH M025
  • SPEA-V 369 Managing Information Technology (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 376 Law and Public Policy (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 378 Policy Processes in the United States (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)

Select one Capstone Courses:

  • SPEA-V 473 Management, Leadership, and Policy (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 450 Indiana Leadership Seminar (3 cr.)

Required Internship Courses:

  • SPEA-V 473 Internship in Public and Environmental Affairs (0-6 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 252 Career Development and Planning (2 cr.)
4B. Policy Emphasis Area (12 cr. minimum)

Criminal Justice

  • SPEA-J 101 The American Criminal Justice System (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 150 Public Safety in America (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 222 Murder in America: Causes and Consequences (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 272 Terrorism and Public Policy (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 305 Juvenile Justice (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 426 Mapping and Analysis for Public Safety (3 cr.)

Environment

  • PBHL-A 162 Environment and People (3 cr.)
  • PBHL-A 316 Environmental Science and Health (3 cr.)
  • PBHL-A 416 Environmental Health Policy (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-K 341 Principals of Ecology (3 cr.)

Health

  • PBHL-A 316 Environmental Science and Health (3 cr.)
  • PBHL-H 320 Health Systems Administration (3 cr.)
  • PBHL-H 354 Health Economics (3 cr.)
  • PBHL-H 401 Strategic Planning in Health Care Organizations (3 cr.)
  • PBHL-A 416 Environmental Health Policy (3 cr.)
  • PBHL-H 420 Health Policy (3 cr.)
  • PBHL-H 474 Health Administration Seminar (3 cr.)  P: SPEA H320 and senior standing.

Urban

  • SPEA-J 426 Mapping and Analysis for Public Safety (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 387 Foundations of Homeland Security (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 264 Urban Structure and Policy (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs (3 cr.)
  • POLS-Y 308 Urban Politics (3 cr.)

Nonprofit

  • SPEA-V 221 Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 260 Topics in Public Affairs (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 362 Nonprofit Management and Leadership  (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-V 458 Fund Development for Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)

International Policy

  • SPEA-V 272 Terrorism and Public Policy (3 cr.)
  • POLS-Y 219 Introduction to International Relations  (3 cr.)
  • ECON-E 303 Survey of International Economics (3 cr.)
  • POLS-Y 377 Globalization (3 cr.)
  • POLS-Y 360 U.S. Foreign Policy (3 cr.)
  • POLS-Y 217 Introduction to Comparative Politics  (3 cr.)
5. General Electives (approx. 25-32 cr.)

Complete SPEA-V 100 or UCOL-U 100 First Year Seminar.

Additional courses beyond the General Education and Major requirements to total 120 credit hours (these are not required to be SPEA courses but could be):

PLEASE NOTE, preparatory math and English courses do not count towards graduation credits. If you have questions regarding this, please ask your advisor.

Important Notes

Students may transfer to IUPUI School of Public & Environmental Affairs once they acquire 12 credit hours, have a cumulative GPA of 2.3 in SPEA major courses (listed in requirement section #4A & #4B), an overall cumulative GPA of 2.0 and a previous semester GPA of 2.0.

SPEA Good Standing requires: a previous semester 2.0 GPA, a cumulative 2.0 GPA, as well as 2.3 GPA in SPEA major courses (listed in requirement section #4A & #4B).

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

Natural Science Course List
  • ANTH-A 103 Human Origins and Prehistory (3 cr.)
  • AST-A 100 The Solar System (3 cr.)
  • AST-A 105 Stars and Galaxies (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-K 101 Concepts of Biology I - Plants (5 cr.) - w/lab
  • BIOL-K 103 Concepts of Biology II - Animals (5 cr.) - w/lab
  • BIOL-N 100 Contemporary Biology (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-N 107 Introduction to Zoology (4 cr.) - w/lab
  • BIOL-N 200 The Biology of Women (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-N 212/213 Human Biology I (3 cr./1 cr.) - 213 lab
  • BIOL-N 214/215 Human Biology (3 cr./1 cr.) - 215 lab
  • BIOL-N 217 Human Physiology (5 cr.) - w/lab
  • BIOL-N 251 Introduction to Microbiology (3 cr.)
  • BIOL-N 322 Introductory Principles of Genetics (3 cr.)
  • CHEM-C 100 World of Chemistry (3 cr.)
  • CHEM-C 101/121 Elementary Chemistry I (3 cr./2 cr.) - 121 lab
  • CHEM-C 105/125 Principles of Chemistry I (3 cr./ 2 cr.) - 125 lab
  • CHEM-C 106/126 Principles of Chemistry II (3 cr./ 2 cr.) - 126 lab
  • GEOG-G 107/108 Physical Systems of the Environment  (3 cr./2 cr.) - 108 lab
  • GEOG-G 303 Weather and Climate (3 cr.)
  • GEOG/GEOL-G 185 Global Environmental Change  (3 cr.)
  • GEOL-G 107/117 Environmental Geology (3 cr./1 cr.) - 117 lab
  • GEOL-G 109/119 Fundamentals of Earth History (3 cr./1 cr.) - 119 lab
  • GEOL-G 110/120 Physical Geology (3 cr./1 cr.) - 120 lab
  • GEOL-G 115 Introduction to Oceanography (3 cr.)
  • GEOL-G 132 Environmental Problems (3 cr.)
  • GEOL-G 180 Dinosaurs (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 10000 Physics in the Modern World (5 cr.)
  • PHYS 15200 Mechanics (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 20000 Our Physical Environment (3 cr.)
  • PHYS 20100 General Physics I (5 cr.) - w/lab
  • PHYS 20200 General Physics II (5 cr.) - w/lab
  • PHYS 25100 Heat, Electricity, and Optics (5 cr.) - w/lab
  • PHYS 21800 General Physics I (4 cr.) - w/lab
  • PHYS 21900 General Physics II (4 cr.) - w/lab
  • PSY-B 105 Psychology as a Biological Science (3 cr.)
Social Sciences/Humanities Course List
  • AFRO-A 150 Survey of the Culture of Black Americans (3 cr.)
  • ANTH-A 104 Culture and Society (3 cr.)
  • CLAS-C 205 Classical Mythology (3 cr.)
  • COMM-C 180 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication (3 cr.)
  • ENG-G 104 Language Awareness (3 cr.)
  • FILM- C 190 Introduction to Film (3 cr.)
  • FLAC-F 200 World Cultures through Literature (3 cr.)
  • FOLK-F 100 Introduction to Folklore (3 cr.)
  • FOLK-F 101 Folklore (3 cr.)
  • GEOG-G 110 Introduction to Human Geography (3 cr.)
  • GEOG-G 130 World Geography (3 cr.)
  • HER-H 100 Art Appreciation (3 cr.)
  • HER-H 101 History of Art I (3 cr.)
  • HER-H 102 History of Art II (3 cr.)
  • HIST-H 105 American History I (3 cr.)
  • HIST-H 106 American History II (3 cr.)
  • HIST-H 108 Perspectives on the World to 1800 (3 cr.)
  • HIST-H 113 History of Western Civilization I (3 cr.)
  • HIST-H 117 Introduction to Historical Studies (3 cr.)
  • PHST-P 105 Giving and Volunteering in America (3 cr.)
  • POLS-Y 101 Principles of Political Science (3 cr.)
  • POLS-Y 219 Introduction to International Relations (3 cr.)
  • PSY-B 104 Introduction to Psychology as a Social Science (3 cr.)
  • PSY-B 310 Life Span Development (3 cr.)
  • PSY-G 380 Abnormal Psychology (3 cr.)
  • SOC-R 100 Introduction to Sociology (3 cr.)
  • SOC-R 121 Social Problems (3 cr.)
  • SPEA-J 101 The American Criminal Justice System (3 cr.)
  • WOST-W 105 Introduction to Women's Studies (3 cr.)

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