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Certificate in Public Affairs

This certificate focuses on the study of public policy and law.

Admission to the certificate program in nonprofit management requires the following: Admission to the School of Public and Environmental Affairs or current enrollment in any IU degree program. 

The certificate in Public Affairs requires satisfactory completion of the following: Student must complete a total of 18 credit hours, with at least a 2.3 GPA in all required coursework toward the certificate.  

Certificate Course Requirements (18 cr.):

  • SPEA V170 Introduction to Public Affairs (3 cr.)

  • SPEA V264 Urban Structure and Policy (3 cr.)

  • SPEA V378 Policy Process in the United States (3 cr.)

  • One law course (3 cr.):

    • SPEA V376 Law and Public Policy (3 cr.)
    • SPEA J301 Substantive Criminal Law (3 cr.) P: SPEA J 10
    • SPEA J302 Procedural Criminal Law (3 cr.) P: SPEA J101
  • One Research Methods Course (3 cr.):

    • SPEA V370 Research Methods and Statistical Modeling (3 cr.) P: SPEA K300 or equivalen
    • SPEA J202 Criminal Justice Data, Methods, and Research (3 cr.) P: SPEA J101

  • One course chosen from the following (3 cr.):

    • SPEA J101 American Criminal Justice System (3 cr.)
    • SPEA J272 Terrorism and Public Policy (3 cr.)
    • SPEA J305 Juvenile Justice (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101
    • SPEA J306 Criminal Courts (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101
    • SPEA J321 American Policing (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101
    • SPEA J331 Corrections (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101
    • SPEA V375 Emergency Services Management (3 cr.) P: SPEA J101
    • SPEA J376 Principles of Public Safety (3 cr.) P: SPEA J101
    • SPEA V222 Principles of Sustainability (3 cr.)
    • SPEA V310 Environmental Justice (3 cr.)
    • SPEA V311 Natural Resources and Environmental Policy (3 cr.)
    • SPEA V323 Sustainable Policy (3 cr.)
    • SPEA V408 Individual Rights, Common Goods and Public Policies (3 cr.)
    • SPEA V419 Sustainable Community Development (3 cr.)
    • SPEA V423 Sustainable Urban Environments (3 cr.)
    • SPEA V435 Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (3 cr.)
    • SPEA V438 Mass Media and Public Affairs (3 cr.)

*other courses as approved by SPEA Academic Advisor and Program Director

Important notes:
  • A maximum of 6 hours of credit from another institution may be applied toward this certificate. Credit work for this certificate may be taken on any campus of Indiana University.
  • The SPEA double counting policy allows SPEA students to double count 2 courses or 6 credits between any combination of SPEA majors, minors, and certificates.
  • SPEA students cannot earn a certificate in the same area as their major/concentration.
  • Students must apply for graduation, during the last semester of certificate coursework, to be awarded the certificate.
  • Students may certify into the IUPUI School of Public & Environmental Affairs once they have a prior term and cumulative GPA of 2.0 and a 2.3 in SPEA certificate courses.
  • 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 a SPEA Academic Advisor with any questions. To make an appointment with an advisor, call SPEA Student Services at 317-274-4656, complete the online request form or stop by BS 3025.