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IUPUI Bulletins » Schools » O'Neill School Of Public and Environmental Affairs » Undergraduate » Degree Programs » Policy Studies (BSPA)


Policy Studies (BSPA)

The Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs requires 120 credit hours. The program includes four main areas: I. IUPUI Common Core, II. O'Neill 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 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.

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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).
  3. Life and Physical Sciences (2 courses, 6 credits) From approved list, at least two courses and six credits toward the life and physical sciences.
  4. Cultural Understanding (1 course; 3 credits) From approved list, at least one course. O'Neill students are encouraged to complete first year competency in a foreign language.
  5. 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.
II. Baccalaureate Requirements: SPEA General Education Requirements (15 credits)

Classes in this area must be a minimum of three 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 O'Neill 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 O'Neill Academic Advisor.

All O'Neill 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 Intro 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. Policy Studies Major (11 courses; 33 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.)
  • SPEA-V 450 Overseas Study or Special Topics (In consultation with a SPEA Academic Advisor and with approval of the Program Director)

Policy Emphasis Area (12 cr. minimum) - Four courses must be chosen in consultation with a faculty mentor to allow the student to study a sector, policy or skill in depth. Choose at least four courses from one concentration area.

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.)
V. Open Electives (approx. 16 cr.)

Additional courses beyond the IUPUI Common Core, O'Neill General Education requirements, and Major requirements to total 120 credit hours (these are not required to be O'Neill 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 the O'Neill 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.

O'Neill Good Standing requires: a previous semester 2.0 GPA, a cumulative 2.0 GPA, as well as 2.3 GPA in O'Neill major courses.

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