10 MPA Concentrations
Community and Economic Development
(15 credit hours)
The Community and Economic Development concentration prepares students for professional positions that help people develop sustainable communities and enhance the economy at the local and regional level. Students may not use MPA core courses to fulfill concentration requirements.
REQUIREMENTS: (6 credit hours)
The following two courses are required:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-L 563 Planning and Community Development |
|
SPEA-L 622 Local Economic Development |
|
ELECTIVES: (9 credit hours)
Group I – Select one of the following three courses:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-E 518 Vector-based Geographic Information Systems |
|
SPEA-M 547 Negotiation and Dispute Resolution for Public Affairs |
|
SPEA-P 507 Data Analysis and Modeling for Public Affairs |
P: E538 or V506 |
Group II – In consultation with a concentration advisor, select two courses from the above list and from the following courses:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
AADM-Y 551 Cultural Planning & Urban Development |
|
SPEA-D 573 Development Economics |
|
SPEA-D 576 Approaches to Development |
|
SPEA-D 578 Introduction to Comparative and International Affairs |
|
SPEA-D 669 Economic Development, Globalization, and Entrepreneurship |
P: V517, a course in urban economics or consent of instructor |
Group II Electives: (continued)
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-F 609 Seminar in Revenue Theory and Administration |
P: F560 |
SPEA-F 610 Seminar in Government Budget and Program Analysis |
P: F560 |
SPEA-F 667 Seminar in Public Capital and Debt Theory |
P: F560 |
SPEA-I 516 Public Management Information Systems |
|
SPEA-L 564 Local Governance |
|
SPEA-L 568 Management of Local Government Services |
|
SPEA-M 602 Strategic Management for Public and Nonprofit Organizations |
|
SPEA-N 521 The Nonprofit & Voluntary Sector |
|
SPEA-P 541 Benefit-Cost Analysis |
P: V517 or consent of instructor |
SPEA-P 562 Public Program Evaluation |
|
SPEA-R 563 Corporate Sustainability in a Tri-Sectoral World |
|
SPEA-S 596 Sustainable Development |
|
Other relevant O’Neill courses may count toward the elective requirement with the approval of a Community and Economic Development concentration advisor. At least one elective must be chosen from the above list.
*Registration in courses outside of O’Neill requires an Outside-Program Course Request Form (may be obtained in the Forms section of the Current Student Portal) approved by the appropriate Faculty Program Director. Please refer to the page outlining the policy on outside course substitutions.
Energy and Climate Policy
(15 credit hours)
The Energy concentration prepares students to contribute in the areas of energy generation, use and impact, focus on energy policies, behaviors, and technologies and their socioeconomic and environmental consequences. MPA students will focus primarily on economics-based quantitative methods, behavioral science contributions to energy production and conservation projects, and the application of qualitative and quantitative methods in community settings. Students may not use MPA core courses to fulfill concentration requirements.
REQUIREMENTS: (6 credit hours)
The following two courses are required:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-E 574 Energy Systems in Transition |
|
SPEA-R 674 Energy Economics and Policy |
P: V517 |
ELECTIVES: (9 credit hours)
In consultation with a concentration advisor, students select a mixture of science and policy courses related to energy in accordance to professional goals. Students must take a total of three electives courses from the Natural Science (Group I) and Economics, Public Policy, and Law (Group II) electives listed below. At least one course must be taken from each of the following groups.
Group I – Natural Science Electives (Select one or two of the following courses)
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-E 505 Renewable and Nuclear Energy and Climate Change |
R: E574 |
SPEA-E 515 Fundamentals of Air Pollution |
R: E536 |
SPEA-E 518 Vector-based Geographic Information Systems |
|
SPEA-E 529 Application of Geographic Information Systems |
P: E518, or other introductory GIS course with lab, or equivalent practical experience |
SPEA-E 536 Environmental Chemistry |
P: undergrad chemistry course with lab |
SPEA-E 591 Climate Change Impacts on Natural Resources |
P: grad course in ecology, envl policy or envl management or a waiver of one of these |
*EAS-G 576 Climate Change |
P: at least two undergraduate courses in the physical sciences or consent of instructor |
*GEOG-G 532 Physical Climatology |
P: consent of instructor |
*GEOG-G 544 Climate Change Impacts |
|
Group II – Economics, Public Policy, and Law-Related Electives (Select one or two of the following courses)
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-X 511/ Human Behavior and Energy SPEA-E 501 Consumption |
|
SPEA-P 541 Benefit-Cost Analysis |
P: V517 or consent of instructor |
SPEA-P 562 Public Program Evaluation |
|
SPEA-R 512 Energy and Climate: Law and Policy |
|
SPEA-R 532 Water Policy and Economics |
R: V517 |
SPEA-R 533 Public Natural Resources Law |
R: V536 (before or during) |
SPEA-R 535 International Environmental Policy |
|
SPEA-R 564 Environmental and Natural Resource Policy Design and Implementation |
P: V517 |
SPEA-R 625 Environmental Economics and Policy |
P: V517 |
SPEA-R 626 Energy Justice and Policy Seminar |
P: E574 |
SPEA-R 643 Natural Resource Management and Policy |
|
SPEA-R 645 Environmental Law |
|
SPEA-S 516 Preparing for Climate Change and Resilient Urban Communities |
|
SPEA-S 596 Sustainable Development |
|
|
|
INTL-I 525 International Climate Governance |
|
*LAW-B 644/ Energy Law and Policy SPEA-V 550 |
|
MSCH-T 602 Communicating Climate Change |
|
*Registration in courses outside of O’Neill requires an Outside-Program Course Request Form (may be obtained in the Forms section of the Current Student Portal) approved by the appropriate Faculty Program Director. Please refer to the page outlining the policy on outside course substitutions.
Environmental Policy and Natural Resource Management
(15 credit hours)
The Environmental Policy and Natural Resources Management concentration draws on economics, statistics, and other quantitative fields to help students develop analytical skills to interpret and use data for the formation and evaluation of policy for environmental protection and natural resources management. The concentration draws on the study of law, politics, public policy, and management to build an understanding of the institutions through which society manages the formation and implementation of its policies. Students acquire a set of skills and insights that they will use in careers in government and consulting, in the regulatory and government relations offices of corporations, and in the advocacy and analysis operations of not-for-profit organizations. Students can focus their studies on either domestic or international environmental and natural resource issues. Students may not use MPA core courses to fulfill concentration requirements.
REQUIREMENTS: (6 credit hours)
Environmental Law and Economics (6 credit hours)
The following courses are required:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-R 625 Environmental Economics and Policy |
P: V517 |
SPEA-R 645 Environmental Law
|
Note: Students who can make a strong case to take an international law course in place of R645 should consult with a concentration advisor to explore options, possibly including LAW-B 783 or a relevant SPEA topics course. |
ELECTIVES: (9 credit hours)
Group I – Environmental Policy Courses (3 credit hours)
In consultation with a concentration advisor, choose one of the following two courses:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-R 521 Domestic Environmental Policy |
|
SPEA-R 535 International Environmental Policy |
|
Group II – Analysis and Skills Courses (3 credit hours)
In consultation with a concentration advisor, choose one of the following courses:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-E 518 Vector-Based Geographic Information Systems |
|
SPEA-E 529 Application of Geographic Information Systems |
P: E518, or other introductory GIS course with lab, or equivalent practical experience |
Group II – Analysis and Skills Courses: (continued)
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-E 560 Environmental Risk Analysis |
P: E538, V506, or consent of instructor. A firm foundation in math and/or science is useful. Carries capstone credit for MPA-MSES. |
SPEA-I 515 Data Science for Public and Environmental Affairs |
|
SPEA-M 547 Negotiation and Dispute Resolution for Public Affairs |
|
SPEA-P 507 Data Analysis and Modeling for Public Affairs |
P: E538 or V506 |
SPEA-P 541 Benefit-Cost Analysis |
P: V517 or consent of instructor |
SPEA-P 562 Public Program Evaluation |
|
Group III – Context Courses (3 credit hours)
In consultation with a concentration advisor, choose one from the following list of courses:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-E 543 Environmental Management |
NOTE: Cannot count as context course for dual degree |
SPEA-R 517 Environmental Justice |
|
SPEA-R 532 Water Policy and Economics |
R: V517 |
SPEA-R 564 Environmental and Natural Resource Policy Design and Implementation |
P: V517 |
SPEA-R 626 Energy Justice and Policy Seminar |
P: E574 |
SPEA-R 643 Natural Resource Management and Policy |
|
SPEA-R 674 Energy Economics and Policy |
P: V517 |
SPEA-S 596 Sustainable Development |
|
Note: MPA students with a concentration in Environmental Policy and Natural Resource Management who want to take SPEA-E 543 must take both V535 and E543. Students can count E543 as a concentration elective.
*Registration in courses outside of O’Neill requires an Outside-Program Course Request Form (may be obtained in the Forms section of the Current Student Portal) approved by the appropriate Faculty Program Director. Please refer to the page outlining the policy on outside course substitutions.
Health Policy
(15 credit hours)
The Health Policy concentration is designed to provide students with a strong foundation that prepares them for employment in the growing and rapidly changing sectors of health policy, health care and life sciences management, and international health. Topics include health industry regulation; healthcare finance; the confluence of public health policy and politics; and more. Students may not use MPA core courses to fulfill concentration requirements.
REQUIREMENTS: (9 credit hours)
The following three courses are required:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-H 549 Health Policy |
|
SPEA-P 507 Data Analysis and Modeling for Public Affairs |
P: E538 or V506 |
SPEA-P 562 Public Program Evaluation |
|
ELECTIVES: (6 credit hours)
Economics, Finance, and Regulation Components – Select two (6 credits) of the following courses:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-H 524 Health Industry Regulation |
|
SPEA-H 525 Health Economics |
|
SPEA-H 526 Healthcare Finance |
|
SPEA-H 527 International Healthcare Systems |
|
SPEA-N 557 Proposal Development and Grant Management |
|
BUS-X 518 Business of Life Sciences 1: Trends |
1.5 credits (Must take both BUS-X 518 & BUS-X 519) |
BUS-X 519 Business of Life Sciences: Value Chain |
1.5 credits (Must take both BUS-X 518 & BUS-X 519) |
*Registration in courses outside of O’Neill requires an Outside-Program Course Request Form (may be obtained in the Forms section of the Current Student Portal) approved by the appropriate Faculty Program Director. Please refer to the page outlining the policy on outside course substitutions.
Information Systems
(15 credit hours)
The Information Systems (IS) concentration prepares students for entry-level and mid-career positions—such as systems analysts, consultants, Webmasters, and database managers—in the exciting, evolving, and rapidly growing fields of computing and communication technologies as they apply to public organizations. The IS concentration builds on a solid core of three courses and provides the flexibility to add three more electives from a wide range of course offerings. Students are encouraged to combine the IS concentration with other concentrations to strengthen their technical skills in a variety of applied areas. Students may not use MPA core courses to fulfill concentration requirements.
REQUIREMENTS: (6 credit hours)
The following two courses are required:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-I 516 Public Management Information Systems |
|
SPEA-I 519 Database Management Systems |
|
ELECTIVES: (9 credit hours)
In consultation with a concentration advisor, select three courses from the following information systems application groups. (Note: Two of the courses must be from group I, II, or III).
Group I – Geographic Information Systems Electives
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-E 518 Vector-based Geographic Information Systems |
|
SPEA-E 529 Application of Geographic Information Systems |
P: E518, or other introductory GIS course with lab, or equivalent practical experience |
Group II – Decision Support and Analysis Electives
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-E 560 Environmental Risk Analysis |
P: E538, V506, or consent of instructor. A firm foundation in math and/or science is useful. Carries capstone credit for MPA-MSES. |
SPEA-P 507 Data Analysis and Modeling for Public Affairs |
P: E538 or V506 |
SPEA-P 539 Management Science for Public Affairs |
P: E538 or V506 |
Group II – Decision Support and Analysis Electives: (continued)
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-P 541 Benefit-Cost Analysis |
P: V517 or consent of instructor |
SPEA-P 562 Public Program Evaluation |
|
SPEA-V 550 Data Science in Public and Environmental Affairs |
Will be offered as I515 in future semesters |
Group III – Design and Management of Information Systems Electives
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-I 611 Design of Information Systems |
P: I516 and I519 |
SPEA-M 602 Strategic Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations |
|
Group IV – Networking and Telecommunications Electives
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
*BUS-S 515 Foundations of Business Telecommunications |
|
*ILS-Z 525 Government Information |
|
*ILS-Z 532 Information Architecture for the Web |
|
*ILS-Z 643 The Information Industry |
|
Group V – Additional Options
Graduate courses that address issues in information technology, such as programming and the digital economy, are offered in other units such as the Kelley School of Business and the School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering. Students may elect to take one of these electives (3 credit hours) in an outside unit with the approval of a concentration advisor and the appropriate Faculty Program Director.
*Registration in courses outside of O’Neill requires an Outside-Program Course Request Form (may be obtained in the Forms section of the Current Student Portal) approved by the appropriate Faculty Program Director. Please refer to the page outlining the policy on outside course substitutions.
International Development
(15 credit hours)
The International Development concentration in the Master of Public Affairs is designed to provide students with a policy-focused understanding of international development and will introduce students to topics such as economic programming and planning, political economy, conflict and post-conflict recovery, sustainable development, international organizations, governance and business activities. Students may not use MPA core courses to fulfill concentration requirements.
REQUIREMENTS: (6 credit hours)
Students choose two of the following three courses:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-D 573 Development Economics |
|
SPEA-D 578 Introduction to Comparative and International Affairs |
|
SPEA-D 669 Economic Development, Globalization, and Entrepreneurship |
P: V517, a course in urban economics, or consent of instructor |
ELECTIVES: (9 credit hours)
In consultation with a concentration advisor, students choose three electives from Groups I and II where at least one course (3 credit hours) is from Group I (methods). If all three courses are taken from the list above, the third course will count in Group II electives.
Group I* – Methods
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-E 518 Vector-based Geographic Information Systems |
|
SPEA-P 507 Data Analysis and Modeling for Public Affairs |
P: E538 or V506 |
SPEA-P 541 Benefit-Cost Analysis |
P: V517 or consent of instructor |
SPEA-P 562 Public Program Evaluation |
|
*A student may also choose to fulfill the Group I requirement with a graduate level language or area studies course with the approval of a concentration advisor and the appropriate Faculty program director.
Group II – Other Electives
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-D 548 US Foreign Policy and Third World Regimes |
|
SPEA-D 576 Approaches to Development |
|
SPEA-D 577 International Economic Strategies and Trade Policy |
|
SPEA-D 583 Conflict and Development |
|
SPEA-M 575 Comparative Public Management & Administration |
|
SPEA-M 654 Public Program Management and Contracting |
|
SPEA-N 524 Civil Society in Comparative Perspective |
|
SPEA-N 534 NGO Management for International Development |
|
SPEA-R 535 International Environmental Policy |
|
SPEA-R 563 Corporate Sustainability in a Tri-Sectoral World |
|
SPEA-S 596 Sustainable Development |
|
SPEA-V 550 Latin American Governance |
|
SPEA-V 559 Principles and Practices of Social Entrepreneurship |
|
*Registration in courses outside of O’Neill requires an Outside-Program Course Request Form (may be obtained in the Forms section of the Current Student Portal) approved by the appropriate Faculty Program Director. Please refer to the page outlining the policy on outside course substitutions.
Local Government Management
(15 credit hours)
The Local Government Management (LGM) concentration prepares students for entry-level and mid-career management and policy positions in local government. Course work includes a local government management core required of all students and a selection of advanced electives. Students should consult with a faculty concentration advisor to choose the advanced electives best suited to their interests. Students may not use MPA core courses to fulfill concentration requirements.
REQUIREMENTS: (9 credit hours)
The following three courses are required:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-L 564 Local Governance |
|
SPEA-L 568 Management of Local Government Services |
|
SPEA-M 561 Public Human Resources Mgmt |
|
ELECTIVES: (6 credit hours)
Advanced Local Government Concentration Electives – In consultation with a concentration advisor, select two of the following courses or other graduate courses approved as substitutions.
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
AADM-Y 500 Cultural Districts and Local Arts Policy |
|
AADM-Y 504 Arts Administration in the Public and Private Sectors |
|
SPEA-F 610 Government Budgeting and Program Analysis |
P: F560 |
SPEA-I 515 Data Science for Public and Environmental Affairs |
|
SPEA-I 516 Public Management Information Systems |
|
SPEA-L 563 Planning and Community Development |
|
SPEA-L 622 Local Economic Development |
|
SPEA-M 547 Negotiation and Dispute Resolution for Public Affairs |
|
SPEA-M 570 Public Sector Labor Relations |
|
SPEA-M 575 Comparative Public Management & Administration |
|
SPEA-M 602 Strategic Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations |
|
Advanced Local Government Concentration Electives: (continued)
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-M 652 Managing Workforce Diversity in Public Organizations |
|
SPEA-M 654 Public Program Management and Contracting |
|
SPEA-N 521 The Nonprofit & Voluntary Sector |
|
SPEA-N 523 Civil Society & Public Policy |
|
SPEA-P 541 Benefit-Cost Analysis |
P: V517 or consent of instructor |
SPEA-P 562 Public Program Evaluation |
|
SPEA-R 563 Corporate Sustainability in a Tri-Sectoral World |
|
SPEA-S 515 Sustainable Communities |
|
*Registration in courses outside of O’Neill requires an Outside-Program Course Request Form (may be obtained in the Forms section of the Current Student Portal) approved by the appropriate Faculty Program Director. Please refer to the page outlining the policy on outside course substitutions.
Nonprofit Management
(15 credit hours)
The Nonprofit Management concentration equips students with the skills to effectively manage and lead nonprofit organizations through a local grounding in the legal structure and functions of nonprofits, and to apply the analytic and managerial tools that support effective nonprofit operation. Students may not use MPA core courses to fulfill concentration requirements.
REQUIREMENTS: (6 credit hours)
The following two courses are required:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-N 521 The Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector |
|
SPEA-N 525 Management in the Nonprofit Sector |
P: N521 Nonprofit management students must take N521 before N525 |
ELECTIVES: (9 credit hours)
In consultation with a concentration advisor, select three courses (9 credit hours) from the following lists. At least one course must come from Group I (nonprofit management). Up to three courses may come from Group I (nonprofit management). Up to two courses may come from Group II (additional management skills). Only one course may come from Group III (nonprofit areas). Relevant substitutions may be made in Groups II and III with a faculty advisor’s approval.
Elective Group I – Nonprofit Management: At least 1-3 nonprofit management courses may count toward the three electives.
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-F 526 Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations |
|
SPEA-M 504 Public Organizations |
|
SPEA-M 602 Strategic Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations |
|
SPEA-N 522 Human Resource Management in Nonprofit Organizations |
|
SPEA-N 523 Civil Society and Public Policy |
|
SPEA-N 524 Civil Society in Comparative Perspective |
|
SPEA-N 534 NGO Management for International Development |
|
Elective Group I – Nonprofit Management: (continued)
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-N 557 Proposal Development and Grant Management |
|
SPEA-N 558 Fund Development for Nonprofits |
|
SPEA-V 559 Principles and Practices of Social Entrepreneurship |
|
*LAW-B 569 Nonprofit Organizations |
Consult with Law. |
*LAW-B 761 Law and Philanthropy |
Consult with Law. |
Elective Group II – Additional Management Skills: In consultation with a concentration advisor, up to two additional management skills courses may count toward the three electives. Substitutions can be made with a faculty advisor’s approval.
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-I 515 Data Science for Public and Environmental Affairs |
|
SPEA-I 516 Public Management Information Systems |
|
SPEA-M 547 Negotiation & Dispute Resolution for Public Affairs |
|
SPEA-M 569 Managing Interpersonal Relations |
P: V535 |
SPEA-M 652 Managing Workforce Diversity in Public Organizations |
|
SPEA-M 654 Public Program Management and Contracting |
|
SPEA-M 662 Seminar in Accountability and Performance |
P: V535 |
SPEA-P 541 Benefit-Cost Analysis |
P: V517 or consent of instructor |
SPEA-P 562 Public Program Evaluation |
|
Elective Group III – Nonprofit Areas: In consultation with a concentration advisor, one course in a nonprofit area may count toward the three electives.
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
AADM-Y 500 Cultural Districts & Local Arts Policy |
|
AADM-Y 511 Performing Arts Center Mgmt |
|
AADM-Y 525 Museum Management |
|
AADM-Y 559 Public Policy and the Arts |
|
SPEA-D 573 Development Economics |
|
SPEA-D 576 Approaches to Development |
|
Elective Group III – Nonprofit Areas: (continued)
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-D 577 International Economic Strategies and Trade Policy |
|
SPEA-D 669 Economic Development, Globalization and Entrepreneurship |
P: V517, a course in urban economics or consent of instructor |
SPEA-H 549 Health Policy |
|
SPEA-L 568 Mgmt. of Local Govt. Services |
|
SPEA-L 622 Local Economic Development |
|
SPEA-R 563 Corporate Sustainability in a Tri-Sectoral World |
|
SPEA-S 515 Sustainable Communities |
|
*Registration in courses outside of O’Neill requires an Outside-Program Course Request Form (may be obtained in the Forms section of the Current Student Portal) approved by the appropriate Faculty Program Director.
Policy Analysis
(15 credit hours)
The Policy Analysis concentration combines an understanding of the policy process with the skills to create and consume accurate and actionable research and information designed to address public policy problems.
Concentration requirements emphasize the acquisition of quantitative and analytic skills that may be used to inform public policy decisions. The Policy Analysis field electives aim to provide students with additional skills used for policy analysis, and/or to provide students with the contextual knowledge needed to analyze policies in a substantive area. The electives change frequently, and often include topics courses as well as courses in a wide variety of policy areas: health, economic development, education, social policy, transportation, energy, etc. In general, this substantive knowledge component requires more than one course in the same area. Consequently, it is important that the plan include early consultation with a concentration advisor.
Students may also acquire this substantive knowledge by combining the Policy Analysis concentration with other concentrations. For example, dual concentrations in Policy Analysis and Sustainable Development would prepare one to do work in sustainability with a more analytical approach. As in all concentrations, students may not use MPA Core courses to fulfill concentration requirements.
REQUIREMENTS: (9 credit hours)
The following three courses are required:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-P 507 Data Analysis and Modeling for Public Affairs |
P: E538 or V506 |
SPEA-P 541 Benefit-Cost Analysis |
P: V517 or consent of instructor |
SPEA-P 562 Public Program Evaluation |
|
ELECTIVES: (6 credit hours)
In consultation with a concentration advisor, select two courses from the list below:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
AADM-Y 500 Cultural Districts and Local Arts Policy |
|
AADM-Y 559 Public Policy and the Arts |
|
SPEA-D 573 Development Economics |
|
SPEA-D 577 International Economic Strategies and Trade Policy |
|
SPEA-D 583 Conflict and Development |
|
SPEA-D 669 Economic Development, Globalization and Entrepreneurship |
P: V517, a course in urban economics or consent of instructor |
Policy Analysis Electives: (continued)
SPEA-E 574 Energy Systems in Transition |
|
SPEA-F 526 Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations |
|
SPEA-F 542 Governmental Financial Accounting and Reporting |
P or C: F560
|
SPEA-F 609 Seminar in Public Revenue Theory and Administration |
P: F560 |
SPEA-F 610 Government Budgeting and Program Analysis |
P: F560 |
SPEA-F 667 Seminar in Public Capital and Debt Theory |
P: F560 |
SPEA-H 524 Health Industry Regulation |
|
SPEA-H 525 Health Economics |
|
SPEA-H 526 Healthcare Finance |
|
SPEA-H 549 Health Policy |
|
SPEA-I 515 Data Science for Public and Environmental Affairs |
|
SPEA-L 568 Management of Local Government Services |
|
SPEA-L 622 Local Economic Development |
|
SPEA-M 547 Negotiation and Dispute Resolution for Public Affairs |
|
SPEA-N 521 The Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector |
|
SPEA-N 523 Civil Society and Public Policy |
|
SPEA-N 557 Proposal Development & Grant Administration |
|
SPEA-P 539 Management Science for Public Affairs |
P: E538 or V506 |
SPEA-R 535 International Environmental Policy |
|
SPEA-R 564 Environmental and Natural Resource Policy Design and Implementation |
P: V517 |
SPEA-R 625 Environmental Economics and Policy |
P: V517 |
SPEA-R 626 Energy Justice and Policy Seminar |
P: E574 |
SPEA-R 643 Natural Resource Management and Policy |
|
SPEA-R 645 Environmental Law |
|
SPEA-R 674 Energy Economics and Policy |
P: V517 |
Policy Analysis Electives: (continued)
SPEA-V 550 Poverty and Social Welfare Policy |
|
SPEA-V 559 Principles & Practices of Social Entrepreneurship |
|
SPEA-V 640 Law, Public Management, and Public Policy |
Limited offerings – plan accordingly. |
SPEA-X 511/ Human Behavior and Energy SPEA-E 501 Consumption |
|
*Registration in courses outside of O’Neill requires an Outside-Program Course Request Form (may be obtained in the Forms section of the Current Student Portal) approved by the appropriate Faculty Program Director. Please refer to the page outlining the policy on outside course substitutions.
Public Financial Administration
The Public Financial Administration concentration develops technical skills necessary for budget analysis, preparation, and operation; analysis and application of tax policy; and public financial planning. Students may not use MPA core courses to fulfill concentration requirements.
REQUIREMENTS: (9 credit hours)
Group I – In consultation with a concentration advisor, select at least three of the following courses:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-F 609 Seminar in Revenue Theory and Administration |
P: F560 |
SPEA-F 610 Government Budget and Program Analysis |
P: F560 |
SPEA-F 667 Seminar in Public Capital and Debt Theory |
P: F560 |
SPEA-P 562 Public Program Evaluation |
|
NOTE: Should the student decide to take all four courses, the fourth course can be counted as a concentration elective.
ELECTIVES: (6 credit hours)
Group II – In consultation with a concentration advisor, select one of the following courses:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-F 542 Governmental Financial Accounting and Reporting |
P or C: F560
|
SPEA-P 541 Benefit-Cost Analysis |
P: V517 or consent of instructor |
NOTE: Should the student decide to take both courses, the second course can be counted as one of the two required electives.
Group III – In consultation with a concentration advisor, select one of the following courses or other graduate courses approved as equivalent substitutions (any student that takes 15 credits from Groups I and II does not need to take a course from Group III):
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-F 542 Governmental Financial Accounting and Reporting |
P or C: F560
|
|
|
SPEA-H 526 Healthcare Finance |
|
SPEA-I 516 Public Management Information Systems |
|
SPEA-P 507 Data Analysis and Modeling for Public Affairs |
P: E538 or V506 |
SPEA-P 541 Benefit-Cost Analysis |
P: V517 or consent of instructor |
SPEA-P 562 Public Program Evaluation |
|
*Registration in courses outside of O’Neill requires an Outside-Program Course Request Form (may be obtained in the Forms section of the Current Student Portal) approved by the appropriate Faculty Program Director. Please refer to the page outlining the policy on outside course substitutions.
Public Management
(15 credit hours)
The Public Management concentration is designed to teach students to manage and lead using the knowledge, systems, skills, and tools necessary to effectively pursue the missions of public organizations. Upon completing the concentration requirements, students will understand the political, legal, and social context in which public policies are adopted, implemented and evaluated; the role of public bureaucracy in a democratic society; the goals, structures, processes and behavior observed within public organizations; and the core administrative functions performed by public managers and employees. Students may not use MPA core courses to fulfill concentration requirements.
REQUIREMENTS: (9 credit hours)
In consultation with a concentration advisor, select at least three of the following courses. Students taking more than three of these classes may substitute the additional courses taken from this list for a concentration elective (see below).
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-M 561 Public Human Resources Mgmt. |
|
SPEA-M 602 Strategic Management in Public and Nonprofit Organizations |
|
SPEA-M 654 Public Program Management and Contracting |
|
SPEA-M 662 Seminar in Accountability and Performance |
P: V535 |
SPEA-P 562 Public Program Evaluation |
|
ELECTIVES: (6 credit hours)
In consultation with a concentration advisor, select two of the following courses.
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-F 610 Government Budgeting and Program Analysis |
P: F560 |
SPEA-I 515 Data Science for Public and Environmental Affairs |
|
SPEA-I 516 Public Mgmt. Information Sys. |
|
SPEA-L 568 Management of Local Government Services |
|
SPEA-M 518 Intergovernmental Systems Management |
|
SPEA-M 547 Negotiation and Dispute Resolution for Public Affairs |
|
SPEA-M 570 Public Sector Labor Relations |
|
SPEA-M 575 Comparative Public Management & Administration |
|
SPEA-M 652 Managing Workforce Diversity in Public Organizations |
|
Public Management Electives: (continued)
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
P: V517 or consent of instructor |
|
SPEA-R 563 Corporate Sustainability in a Tri-Sectoral World |
|
SPEA-R 564 Environmental and Natural Resource Policy Design and Implementation |
P: V517 |
SPEA-V 550 Latin American Governance |
|
SPEA-V 640 Law, Public Management, and Public Policy |
Limited offerings – plan accordingly. |
*Registration in courses outside of O’Neill requires an Outside-Program Course Request Form (may be obtained in the Forms section of the Current Student Portal) approved by the appropriate Faculty Program Director. Please refer to the page outlining the policy on outside course substitutions.
Sustainability and Sustainable Development
In the Sustainability and Sustainable Development Concentration, students study the relations among productive activity and social and environmental impacts. They consider the role of markets and related institutions in the efficient and equitable delivery of goods and services, and develop skills to analyze and address the systematic strengths and weaknesses in the various social systems. Students examine the many factors, including social, economic, legal and political forces that promote or deter sustainability. The concentration encourages students to examine the interrelationship of environmental and social systems, the regenerative capacity of both, and the institutional change that will be required to develop greater sustainability. Graduates will be prepared for employment in government and international programs, corporate sustainability offices, and not-for-profit sustainability campaigns. Students may not use MPA core courses to fulfill concentration requirements.
REQUIREMENTS: (3 credit hours)
In consultation with a concentration advisor, choose one of the following three courses:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-R 563 Corporate Sustainability in a Tri- Sectoral World |
|
SPEA-S 515 Sustainable Communities |
|
SPEA-S 596 Sustainable Development |
|
Note: Should the student decide to take more than one of the required courses, the additional courses will only count towards the “Development, Policy, and Entrepreneurship” context grouping, as shown below.
ELECTIVES: (12 credit hours)
Group I – Context for Sustainability (6 credit hours): In consultation with a concentration advisor, select two courses from ONE of the following areas:
Development, Policy and Entrepreneurship
Natural Environment, or
Environmental Protection
Students are encouraged to select courses that lead to expertise in a particular context.
Development, Policy, and Entrepreneurship:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-D 576 Approaches to Development |
|
SPEA-D 669 Economic Development, Globalization, and Entrepreneurship |
P: V517, a course in urban economics or consent of instructor |
SPEA-E 530 Fundamentals of Sustainable Agriculture |
|
SPEA-L 622 Local Economic Development |
|
SPEA-R 512 Energy and Climate: Law and Policy |
|
SPEA-R 516 Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Governance |
|
SPEA-R 517 Environmental Justice |
|
SPEA-R 532 Water Policy and Economics |
R: V517 |
SPEA-R 535 International Environmental Policy |
|
SPEA-R 563 Corporate Sustainability in a Tri-Sectoral World |
|
SPEA-R 625 Environmental Economics and Policy |
P: V517 |
SPEA-R 643 Natural Resource Management and Policy |
|
SPEA-R 674 Energy Economics and Policy |
P: V517 |
SPEA-S 515 Sustainable Communities |
|
SPEA-S 596 Sustainable Development |
|
SPEA-V 527 Urban Sustainability |
Note: IUPUI course, permission required. |
SPEA-V 550 Food Policy in a Changing World |
|
SPEA-V 559 Principles and Practices of Social Entrepreneurship |
|
SPEA-X 511/ Human Behavior and Energy SPEA-E 501 Consumption |
|
Natural Environment:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-E 563 Wildlife Management |
P: E527 (or E527 waiver) or permission of instructor
|
SPEA-E 517 BMP Design for Healthy Urban Watersheds |
R: E545 |
SPEA-E 522 Urban Forest Management |
|
Natural Environment: (continued)
SPEA-E 528 Forest Ecology and Management |
|
SPEA-E 534 Restoration Ecology |
P: E527 or E540 or permission of instructor |
SPEA-E 540 Wetlands Ecology and Management (4 cr.) |
P: E527 or permission of instructor |
SPEA-E 545 Lake and Watershed Management |
|
SPEA-E 555 Sustaining Urban Ecosystems |
R: upper level ecology course |
SPEA-E 557 Conservation Biology |
P: E527 or waiver of E527 |
SPEA-E 591 Climate Change Impacts on Natural Resources |
P: grad course in ecology, environmental policy or environmental management or a waiver of one of these |
Environmental Protection:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-E 515 Fundamentals of Air Pollution |
R: E536 |
SPEA-E 539 Aquatic Chemistry |
R: E536 |
SPEA-E 552 Environmental Engineering |
R: E526, E536 |
SPEA-E 562 Solid and Hazardous Waste Management |
|
SPEA-E 564 Organic Pollutants: Environmental Chemistry & Fate |
R: E536 or undergraduate organic chemistry |
SPEA-E 574Energy Systems in Transition |
|
Group II – Analytical Tools (6 credit hours): In consultation with a concentration advisor, select two of the following courses or other graduate courses approved as equivalent substitutions:
|
P=Prerequisite, C=Corequisite, & R=Recommendations |
SPEA-E 511 Sustainability Assessment |
|
SPEA-E 518 Vector-Based Geographic Information Systems |
|
SPEA-E 529 Application of Geographic Information Systems |
P: E518, or other introductory GIS course with lab, or equivalent practical experience |
SPEA-M 547 Negotiation and Dispute Resolution for Public Affairs |
|
SPEA-P 507 Data Analysis and Modeling for Public Affairs |
P: E538 or V506 |
SPEA-P 541 Benefit-Cost Analysis |
P: V517 or consent of instructor |
SPEA-P 562 Public Program Evaluation |
|
MPA Specialized Concentration
(15 credit hours)
A student, whose educational and professional goals are not satisfied by O’Neill’s concentrations, may design a Specialized Concentration that best suits his or her needs in consultation with a faculty and/or concentration advisor with final approval required by the relevant Faculty Program Director(s). The student, the student’s faculty and/or concentration advisor, and the appropriate Faculty Program Director must sign a Specialized Concentration Form that specifies the courses that will comprise the customized concentration. This form is available in the Forms section of the Current Student Portal. The completed Specialized Concentration Form must be submitted prior to enrolling in the courses outlined. The concentration must be declared within the first 24 credit hours of the student’s academic program.
MPA specialized concentrations consist of a minimum of 15 credit hours.
Although no specific guidelines exist for the courses to be included in a Specialized Concentration, students must take O’Neill courses unless approved by a faculty and/or concentration advisor(s) and the appropriate Faculty Program Director(s). Students must name their Specialized Concentration. However, these names will not appear on their IU transcript. Instead, after “Major” the words “Specialized Study” will appear.