Civic Leadership (B.S.P.A.)
The Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs requires 120 credit hours. The program includes four main areas: I. IUPUI Common Core, II. SPEA 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 Civic Leadership major teaches students how individuals and organizations can work together to provide for their communities. Graduates often work in public service roles - leading businesses, nonprofit organizations or government agencies. This major is ideal for pre-law students, or students interested in advocacy or community leadership.
*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 Civic Leadership requirements that include the general education coursework, click here.
I. IUPUI Common Core (30 Credits)Students at IUPUI will complete 30 hours of general education coursework prior to graduation with a baccalaureate degree. The coursework is aligned with the Indiana Statewide Transferable General Education Core. For more information, please visit http://go.iupui.edu/gened.
- Core Communication (2 courses; 6 credits) From approved list, students must take at least one writing course (ENG W131 - Reading, Writing and Inquiry I or ENG W140 Honors Composition I) and one speaking and listening course (COMM R110 - Public Speaking) for a total of two courses and six credits.
- Analytical Reasoning (2 courses, 6 credits) From approved list, at least one college level math course. It is recommended that SPEA students take Math M118 (finite) and SPEA K300 (Statistical Techniques).
- Life and Physical Sciences (2 courses, 6 credits) From approved list, at least two courses and six credits toward the life and physical sciences.
- Cultural Understanding (1 course; 3 credits) From approved list, at least one course. SPEA students are encouraged to complete first year competency in a foreign language.
- 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.
Classes in this area must be a minimum of 3 credits each.
- BUS A200 or A201 – Accounting
- ENG W231 or BUS X204 - Professional Writing Skills or Business Communications
- *ECON E201 – Introduction to Microeconomics
- *ECON E202 – Introduction to Macroeconomics
- *POLS Y103 – Introduction to American Politics
*If ECON E201, ECON E202, and/or POLS Y103 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 SPEA 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 a SPEA Academic Advisor.
All SPEA 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 (9 courses; 24-26 credits)- SPEA V170 Introduction to Public Affairs (3 cr.)
- SPEA V252 Career Development &Planning (2 cr.)
- SPEA V261 Computers in Public Affairs (or BUS K201) (3 cr.)
- SPEA V264 Urban Structure & Policy (3 cr.)
- SPEA K300 Statistics (or equivalent) (3 cr.)
- SPEA V370 Research Methods (or SPEA J202) (3 cr.)
- SPEA V376 Law & Public Policy (3 cr.)
- SPEA V380 Internship in Public & Environmental Affairs (0-6 cr.)
- SPEA V473 Management, Leadership & Policy (3 cr.)
IV. Civic Leadership Major (10 courses; 30 cr.)
Required courses:- SPEA-V 221 Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 382 Political Action and Civic Engagement (3 cr.)
Select one of the following:
- SPEA-V 263 Public Management (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 362 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3 cr.)
Select one of the following:
- SPEA-V 378 Policy Processes in the United States (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 408 Individual Rights, Common Goods and Public Policies (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 438 Mass Media and Public Affairs (3 cr.)
Select two of the following:
- SPEA V322 Sustainable Management (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 412 Leadership and Ethics (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 435 Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 443 Managing Workforce Diversity (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 450 Overseas Study (in consultation with a SPEA academic advisor and with approval of the program director, students can count SPEA study abroad experiences as required major coursework).
Choose a concentration and at least four courses. The four courses (12 credit hours) must be chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor to allow the student to study a sector, policy, or skill in depth. At least two courses must be 300-level or above.
Nonprofit and Community Leadership
- SPEA-V 362 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 458 Fund Development for Nonprofits (3 cr.)
- POLS-Y 301 Political Parties and Interest Groups (3 cr.)
Political Process and Civic Leadership
- SPEA-V 378 Policy Processes in the United States (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
- SPEA-V 408 Individual Rights, Common Goods and Public Policies (3 cr.)
- POLS-Y 317 Voting, Elections, and Public Opinion (3 cr.)
International Affairs
- SPEA-V 272 Terrorism and Public Policy (3 cr.)
- POLS-Y 219 Introduction to International Relations (3 cr.)
- POLS-Y 375 War and International Conflict (3 cr.)
- POLS-Y 377 Globalization (3 cr.)
Legal Studies
- POLS-Y 211 Introduction to Law (3 cr.)
- POLS-Y 221 Leg Res/ Writing/ Paralegal Studies (3 cr.)
- POLS-Y 304 Constitutional Law (3 cr.)
- POLS-Y 305 Constitutional Rights and Liberties (3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 301 Substantive Criminal Law (3 cr.)
- SPEA-J 302 Procedural Criminal Law (3 cr.)
Additional courses beyond the IUPUI Common Core, SPEA General Education requirements, Public Affairs Core, and Major requirements to total 120 credit hours (these are not required to be SPEA 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 IUPUI School of Public & Environmental Affairs once they acquire 12 credit hours, have a cumulative GPA of 2.3 in SPEA major courses (sections III and IV), 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.
Please see your SPEA Academic Advisor with any questions. To make an appointment with your advisor, call SPEA Student Services at 317-274-4656.