College of Education and Public Policy

Return to: Part 4: Colleges, Schools & Divisions

Education

Neff Hall 250 ~ 260-481-4146 ~ ipfw.edu/educ

The mission of the College of Education and Public Policy is to prepare professionals in teaching, counseling, and leadership who demonstrate the capacity and willingness to continuously improve schools and related entities so that they become more effective with their clients by:

• Becoming more caring, humane, and functional citizens in a global, multicultural, democratic society
• Improving the human condition by creating positive learning environments
• Becoming change agents by demonstrating reflective professional practice
• Solving client problems through clear, creative analyses
• Assessing client performance, creating and executing effective teaching, counseling, and educational leadership by utilizing a variety of methodologies reflecting current related research
• Utilizing interdisciplinary scholarship, demonstrating technological and critical literacies, and effectively communicating with all stakeholders.

The academic programs in the College of Education and Public Policy are listed below. Requirements for these programs appear in Part 5  of this Bulletin.

The College of Education and Public Policy at IPFW offers B.S.Ed. degrees in elementary education and secondary education.  (An A.S. in early childhood education is also offered, however, we no longer admit new students into the program.  Students currently in this program must complete the degree by August 1, 2013.) The B.S.Ed. Secondary degree is divided into two programs.

The College of Education and Public Policy also offers minors/certifications in each of the content areas listed above and the following:

Chemistry
English as a New Language
Life Sciences
Mathematics
Mild Intervention (minor for elementary or secondary)
Physical Science
Physics
Theatre

In addition the following teaching majors are available at IPFW through the following colleges:

Teaching majors can also be completed as a part of the following B.A./B.S. programs:

Special Academic Regulations for Students in Education

There are a number of academic regulations for students seeking admission to the teacher education program.  They include the following:

1. pass Praxis I or alternative measure
2. complete at least 45 credit hours with a minimum 2.50 cumulative GPA including all coursework from all colleges; minimum 2.50 GPA in all coursework taken at IPFW; minimum 2.50 GPA in your major course work (secondary) including 2.50 GPA in all major coursework taken at IPFW
3. grade of 3.0 (B) or better in COM 11400, ENG W131, EDUC W200/M101, and ENG W233 (elementary only)
4. grade of 2.0 (C) or better in specific courses (see your advisor for a list of these courses)
5. pass the first portfolio checkpoint
6. pass an Indiana State Police Limited Criminal History Report  

Additional academic regulations apply for admission to student teaching and for graduation.  See your advisor for more details. 

Certification-Only Option

Students who already hold a bachelor’s degree and who seek to obtain a teaching license in elementary education or in secondary education may qualify for enrollment under a Certification-Only status.  Students who complete our certification-only option will qualify for an Indiana teaching license, but will not receive a second baccalaureate degree.  Students enrolled in this option will have to complete the same education (EDUC) courses (67 credits in elementary education or 39 credits in secondary education) as those enrolled in a degree-seeking program, however, they may be waived from completing IPFW general education requirements and IPFW content (secondary major) course requirements provided that they pass Praxis I (or alternative) and Praxis II exams before admission to Block 1 courses.  For more information on this option, contact the Education advising office in the College of Education and Public Policy, Neff Hall 243  -  260-481-6449. 

Public Policy

Neff Hall 260 ~ 260-481-6351 ~ ipfw.edu/public-policy

The Department of Public Policy is a multidisciplinary department of the College of Education and Public Policy. Public Policy is organized as a professional division, committed to teaching, research, and service. Public Policy offers a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs (B.S.P.A.) degree program that provides a sound general baccalaureate education combined with specialized study. Additionally, Public Policy offers minors in criminal justice and public affairs. Public Policy’s multidisciplinary faculty and curriculum address environmental, health, public policy, and management issues from a variety of perspectives.

The academic programs in the division are listed below. Requirements for these programs appear in Part 5  of this Bulletin.

Academic Requirements

You must be in good academic standing (cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher, core/concentration/major GPA of 2.30 or higher) to qualify for an internship and to graduate.

Special Academic Regulation for Students in Public Policy

Requirements for the undergraduate degree should be completed within 10 years of admission to the department of Public Policy. You may transfer no more than 90 credit hours (60 credits from a junior college) toward a Bachelor of Science degree program. A maximum of 10 credits will be awarded on the basis of military training toward any degree in Public Affairs. With prior approval, you may take three courses totaling no more than 10 credit hours by correspondence through the IU Division of Extended Studies, Independent Study Program. However, you cannot satisfy a core, concentration, or major requirement by correspondence.

Good Standing in Public Policy requires that you maintain a minimum semester and cumulative GPA of 2.00 and a minimum core/major GPA of 2.30. Therefore, you will be placed on academic probation if your semester, cumulative, or core/concentration GPA at the end of any regular semester is lower than these minimum standards. Once on probation, you may be dismissed from the department and IPFW if you fail to make significant progress toward good standing or if you fail to meet the minimum IPFW standards listed in Part 8  of this Bulletin.

DPEA Internships

As a Public Policy major, you may earn a maximum of 12 hours of elective credit during your junior and senior years through the department internship program, if you are a student in good standing and have obtained prior approval from the Internship Coordinator. Internships are strongly encouraged because they give you the opportunity to apply classroom theory and techniques to the real world and to network with professionals in your career field. The program is designed for maximum flexibility so that many valid learning experiences can qualify as internships. Internships can be full or part time, paid or unpaid, credit or noncredit. Interested students should contact the Coordinator of Advising and Student Services at the Public Policy office for further information about internships.

Special Opportunities for Students in Public Policy

The IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs offers opportunities to study in Washington, D.C., through the Washington Leadership Program, as well as opportunities to study abroad through programs in The Netherlands and Australia. You should contact the Public Policy office for current information about these programs.

The Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP) is a competitive program for outstanding undergraduate Public Policy students. If you have a GPA of 3.50 or higher, you may apply to the AMP program as early as your junior year. This program allows you to fulfill up to 24 credit hours toward the M.P.A. graduate program or 18 credit hours toward the M.P.M. graduate program by taking graduate-level SPEA courses during your senior year that can count toward both your undergraduate program and a future graduate degree program.

Return to: Part 4: Colleges, Schools & Divisions