Public Affairs: Degree Requirements

Public Affairs Degree Requirements *

General Information
Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs may major in either management, civic leadership, or policy studies.

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Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs

Degree Requirements

The Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs requires 120 credit hours.

The SPEA curriculum is divided into three categories: general education, electives, and major area.

General Education

Communications

Three courses for a minimum of 9 credit hours.

The following writing course:

ENG W131 Elementary Composition (3 cr.) or equivalent campus option (must earn a C or higher)

One of the following:

BUS X204 Business Communications (3 cr.)
ENG W231 Professional Writing Skills (3 cr.)

The following speech course:

COMM R110 Fundamentals of Speech Communication (3 cr.) or equivalent campus option

Social Sciences and Humanities

Six courses for a minimum of 18 credit hours.

The following three courses:

ECON E201 Introduction to Microeconomics (3 cr.)

ECON E202 Introduction to Macroeconomics (3 cr.)

POLS Y103 Introduction to American Politics (3 cr.)

One of the following courses:

ANTH Al04 Culture and Society (3 cr.)

CLAS C205 Classical Mythology (3 cr.)

FLAC F200 World Cultures through Literature (3 cr.)

GEOG G110 Introduction to Human Geography (3 cr.)

HIST H105 American History I (3 cr.)

HIST H106 American History II (3 cr.)

HIST H108 Perspectives on the World to 1800 (3 cr.)

HIST H114 History of Western Civilization II (3 cr.)

REL R133 Introduction to Religions (3 cr.)

REL R212 Comparative Religion (3 cr.)

Two courses from the following Social Sciences and Humanities lists:

Social Sciences

AFRO A150 Survey of the Culture of Black Americans (3 cr.)

ANTH A104 Culture and Society (3 cr.)

COMM C180 Introduction to Interpersonal Communication (3 cr.)

ENG G104 Language Awareness (3 cr.)

FOLK F101 Introduction to Folklore (3 cr.)

GEOG G110 Introduction to Human Geography (3 cr.)

GEOG G130 World Geography (3 cr.)

HIST H117 Introduction to Historical Studies (3 cr.)

POLS Y101 Principles of Political Science (3 cr.)

POLS Y219 Introduction to International Relations (3 cr.)

PSY B104 Introduction to Psychology as a Social Science (3 cr.)

PSY B310 Life Span Development (3 cr.)

SOC R100 Introduction to Sociology (3 cr.)

SOC R121 Social Problems (3 cr.)

SPEA J101 The American Criminal Justice System (3 cr.)

WOST W105 Introduction to Womens Studies (3 cr.)

Humanities

CLAS C205 Classical Mythology (3 cr.)

CMLT C190 Introduction to Film (3 cr.)

ENG L105 Appreciation of Literature (3 cr.)

FLAC F200 World Cultures through Literature (3 cr.)

FOLK F101 Introduction to Folklore (3 cr.)

HER H100 Art Appreciation (3 cr.)

HER H101 History of Art I (3 cr.)

HER H102 History of Art II (3 cr.)

HIST HI05 American History I (3 cr.)

HIST H106 American History II (3 cr.)

HIST H108 Perspectives on the World to 1800 (3 cr.)

HIST H113 History of Western Civilization I (3 cr.)

HIST H217 The Nature of History (3 cr.)

Courses may be substituted with permission of faculty advisor.

Natural Sciences

Three natural science courses of more than one credit each are required. One of the courses must have an associated laboratory of 1 or 2 credits. The courses and laboratory must total a minimum of 8 credit hours.

Courses may be chosen from the following list:

ANTH A103 Human Origins and Prehistory (3 cr.)

AST A100 The Solar System (3 cr.)

AST A105 Stars and Galaxies (3 cr.)

BIOL K101 Concepts of Biology I Plants (5 cr.)

BIOL K103 Concepts of Biology II Animals (5 cr.)

BIOL N100 Contemporary Biology (3 cr.)

BIOL N107 Introduction to Zoology (4 cr.)

BIOL N200 The Biology of Women (3 cr.)

BIOL N212 Human Biology (2 cr.)

BIOL N213 Human Biology Laboratory (1 cr.)

BIOL N214 Human Biology (2 cr.)

BIOL N215 Human Biology Laboratory (1 cr.)

BIOL N217 Human Physiology (5 cr.)

BIOL N251 Introduction to Microbiology (3 cr.)

BIOL N322 Introductory Principles of Genetics (3 cr.)

CHEM C100 World of Chemistry (3 cr.)

CHEM C101 Elementary Chemistry I (5 cr.)

CHEM C102 Elementary Chemistry II (5 cr.)

CHEM C105 Principles of Chemistry I (3 cr.)

CHEM C106 Principles of Chemistry II (3 cr.)

GEOG G107 Physical Systems of the Environment (3 cr.)

GEOG G108 Physical Geography Laboratory (2 cr.)

GEOG G303 Weather and Climate/Topical Seminar in Urban and Regional Systems (3 cr.)

GEOG G307 Biogeography: Distribution of Life (3 cr.)

GEOG/GEOL G185 Global Environmental Change (3 cr.)

GEOL G107 Environmental Geology (3 cr.)

GEOL G109 Fundamentals of Earth History (3 cr.)

GEOL G110 Physical Geology (3 cr.)

GEOL G115 Introduction to Oceanography (3 cr.)

GEOL G117 Environmental Geology Laboratory (1 cr.)

GEOL G119 Fundamentals of Earth History Laboratory (1 cr.)

GEOL G120 Physical Geology Laboratory (1 cr.)

or GEOL G206 Advanced Physical Geology Laboratory (2 cr.)

GEOL G132 Environmental Problems (3 cr.)

GEOL G180 Dinosaurs (3 cr.)

PHYS 100 Physics in the Modern World (5 cr.)

PHYS 152 Mechanics (4 cr.)

PHYS 200 Our Physical Environment (3 cr.)

PHYS 218 General Physics I (4 cr.)

PHYS 219 General Physics II (4 cr.)

PHYS 251 Heat, Electricity, and Optics (5 cr.)

PHYS P201 General Physics I (5 cr.)

PHYS P202 General Physics II (5 cr.)

PSY B105 Psychology as a Biological Science (3 cr.)

Quantitative Methods

Three courses for a minimum of 9 credit hours.

One of the following computer courses:

SPEA V261 Computers in Public Affairs (3 cr.)

BUS K201 The Computer in Business (3 cr.)

CPT 115 Computer Information Systems Fundamentals
and CPT 140 Programming Constructs Lab (3 cr. each)

CSCI N201 Programming Concepts (3 cr.)

CSCI N207 Data Analysis Using Spreadsheets (3 cr.)

Note: CPT 135 or CPT 107 may be used by IUPUC students to meet this requirement.

One of the following mathematics courses:

MATH M118 Finite Mathematics (3 cr.)

MATH M119 Brief Survey of Calculus I (3 cr.)

MATH 163 Integrated Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (5 cr.)

MATH 164 Integrated Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (5 cr.)

One of the following statistics courses:

SPEA/MATH/PSY K300 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.)

ECON E270 Introduction to Statistical Theory in Economics and Business (3 cr.)

PSY B305 Statistics (3 cr.)

SOC R359 Introduction to Sociological Statistics I (3 cr.)

STAT 301 Elementary Statistical Methods I (3 cr.)

General Electives

Additional courses beyond the general education and major requirements are needed to complete the minimum 120 hours required for the degree.

Majors

There are three majors offered on the Indianapolis campus: Management, Civic Leadership, and Policy Studies.

Management Major

15 courses.

The following course:

SPEA V170 Introduction to Public Affairs (3 cr.)

Two of the following courses:

SPEA E272 Introduction to Environmental Sciences (3 cr.)

SPEA V221 Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3 cr.)

SPEA V264 Urban Structure and Policy (3 cr.)

The following four courses:

SPEA V348 Management Science (3 cr.)

SPEA V366 Managing Behavior in Public Organizations (3 cr.)

SPEA V372 Government Finance and Budgets (3 cr.)

SPEA V376 Law and Public Affairs (3 cr.)

Seven of the following courses (a minimum of one course in each of the four sections):

Section 1:

SPEA V263 Public Management (3 cr.)

SPEA V362 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3 cr.)

Section 2:

SPEA V346 Introduction to Government Accounting and Financial Reporting (3 cr.)

or

SPEA V356 Introduction to Nonprofit Accounting and Reporting (3 cr.)

SPEA V361 Financial Management (3 cr.)

SPEA V458 Fund Development for Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)

Section 3:

SPEA V368 Managing Government Operations (3 cr.)

SPEA V369 Managing Information Technology (3 cr.)

SPEA V370 Research Methods and Statistical Modeling (3 cr.)

Section 4:

SPEA V373 Human Resources Management in the Public Sector (3 cr.)

SPEA V435 Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (3 cr.)

SPEA V443 Managing Workforce Diversity (3 cr.)

The following capstone course:

SPEA V473 Management, Leadership, and Policy (3 cr.)

Civic Leadership Major

15 courses.

GatewayThe following course:

SPEA V170 Introduction to Public Affairs (3 cr.)

The Nature of Civil SocietyThe following two courses:

SPEA V221 Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector or
POLS Y378 Problems in Public Policy: Civil Society and Public Policy (3 cr. each)

V376 Law and Public Policy (3 cr.)

The Political Process and Civic Engagement

The following two courses are required:

SPEA V382 Political Action and Civic Engagement (3 cr.)

SPEA V264 Urban Structure and Policy (3 cr.)

Select two of the following:

SPEA H432 Health Care Marketing (3 cr.)

SPEA V263 Public Management or
SPEA V362 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3 cr. each)

SPEA V436 Communication for Government and Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)

PENDING: SPEA V438 Mass Media and Public Affairs (3 cr.)

SPEA V450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs: Community and the Constitution (3 cr.)

SPEA V450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs (3 cr.)as approved by advisor

SPEA V472 Policy Processes in the United States (3 cr.)

Leadership and Conflict ResolutionThe following two courses:

SPEA V412 Leadership and Ethics (3 cr.)

SPEA V435 Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (3 cr.)

Emphasis Areafour courses required

The four courses (12 credit hours) must be chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor. At least two of the courses must be at the 300-level or above. The emphasis area will allow the student to study a sector, policy, or skill in depth. Examples include:

Nonprofit and Community Leadership

SPEA V362 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3 cr.)

SPEA V379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)

SPEA V450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs (3 cr.)

SPEA V458 Fund Development for Nonprofits (3 cr.)

SPEA Y378 Civil Society and Public Policy (3 cr.)

Political Process and Civic Leadership

SPEA V260 Topics in Public Affairs: Political Action and Civic Engagement (3 cr.)

SPEA V260 Topics in Public Affairs: Political Organization (3 cr.)

SPEA V379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)

SPEA V406 Public Law and the Electoral Process (3 cr.)

POLS Y301 Political Parties and Interest Groups (3 cr.)

International Affairs

SPEA V260 Topics in Public Affairs: Terrorism and Public Policy (3 cr.)

SPEA V450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs (3 cr.)related topics

POLS Y219 Introduction to International Relations (3 cr.)

POLS Y360 United States Foreign Policy (3 cr.)

POLS Y375 War and International Conflict (3 cr.)

CapstoneThe following course:

SPEA V473 Management, Leadership, and Policy (3 cr.)

Internship

SPEA V380 Internship in Public and Environmental Affairs Policy (3-6 cr.)

Electives

If necessary, 1 to 3 courses to bring the total to 15 courses.

Policy Studies Major

15 courses.

GatewayThe following course:

SPEA V170 Introduction to Public Affairs (3 cr.)

Policy Processes and Contextfour courses

One of the following two courses:

SPEA V221 Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3 cr.)

SPEA V362 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3 cr.)

One of the following two courses:

SPEA V263 Public Management (3 cr.)

SPEA V372 Government Finance and Budgets (3 cr.)

The following two courses:

POLS Y213 Introduction to Public Policy (3 cr.)

SPEA V412 Leadership and Ethics (3 cr.)

Tools for Policy Analysis and EvaluationThe following four courses:

SPEA V348 Management Science (3 cr.)

SPEA V369 Managing Information Technology (3 cr.)

SPEA V376 Law and Public Policy (3 cr.)

SPEA V379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.)

Policy Emphasis AreaA total of four courses for a minimum of 12 credit hours from the following, chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor. Specialized competency: a policy area in depth.

Criminal Justice

SPEA J101 The American Criminal Justice System (3 cr.)

SPEA J260 Topics in Criminal Justice (3 cr.)

SPEA J301 Substantive Criminal Law (3 cr.)

SPEA J305 Juvenile Justice (3 cr.)

SPEA J439 Crime and Public Policy (3 cr.)

Environment

SPEA E162 Environment and People (3 cr.)

SPEA H316 Environmental Science and Health (3 cr.)

SPEA H416 Environmental Health Policy (3 cr.)

BIOL K341 Principals of Ecology (3 cr.)

Health

SPEA H316 Environmental Science and Health (3 cr.)

SPEA H320 Health Systems Administration (3 cr.)

SPEA H354 Health Economics (3 cr.)

SPEA H401 Strategic Planning in Health Care Organizations (3 cr.)

SPEA H416 Environmental Health Policy (3 cr.)

SPEA H420 Health Policy (3 cr.)

SPEA H474 Health Administration Seminar (3 cr.) P: SPEA H320 and senior standing.

Urban

SPEA V260 Topics in Public Affairs (3 cr.)

SPEA V264 Urban Structure and Policy (3 cr.)

SPEA V450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs: Geographic Information Systems (3 cr.)

SPEA V450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs (3 cr.)

Nonprofit

SPEA V221 Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3 cr.)

SPEA V260 Topics in Public Affairs (3 cr.)

SPEA V362 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3 cr.)

SPEA V450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs (3 cr.)

SPEA V458 Fund Development for Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)

POLS Y378 Problems in Public Policy: Civil Society and Public Policy (3 cr.)

International Policy

POLS Y219 Introduction to International Relations (3 cr.)

ECON E303 Survey of International Economics (3 cr.)

POLS Y377 Globalization (3 cr.)

HIST D314 Soviet Social and Cultural History (3 cr.)

CapstoneThe following course:

SPEA V473 Management, Leadership, and Policy (3 cr.)

Internship (3-6 credits)

SPEA V380 Internship in Public and Environmental Affairs Policy (1-6 cr.) or
SPEA J380 Internship in Criminal Justice (1-6 cr.) Electives

If necessary, 1 to 3 courses to bring the total to 15 courses.

* The IUPUC curriculum offers a significant portion of the IUPUI plan of study. Students transfer to the Indianapolis campus for degree completion.

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