Nov 21, 2024  
2013-2014 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2013-2014 Undergraduate Bulletin [Archived Catalog]

Public Affairs (B.S.P.A.)


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Program: Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs

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


The student learning outcomes for the degree are as follows:

 Students should be able to:

  • Understand fiscal management of public agencies.
  • Apply techniques of revenue administration, debt management, and public budgeting.
  • Understand origins, processes, and impact of law in the creation and implementation of public policy.
  • Understand the capabilities of management science.
  • Appropriately use quantitative approaches for dealing with management and policy problems. 

The B.S.P.A. degree program provides a background in the liberal arts and a focus on public affairs. This degree offers majors in criminal justice, environmental policy, health services administration, legal studies, and public management. Internships are available and strongly encouraged to provide qualified students with the opportunity to apply classroom theory and techniques to real-life experiences. The internship program is designed for maximum flexibility; internships can be full or part time, paid or unpaid, credit or noncredit.

The Public Affairs’ curriculum is divided into four categories — general education, public affairs core, a major area, and general electives. The B.S.P.A. requires a minimum of 120 credit hours with a 2.0 or higher cumulative grade-point average and a 2.3 or higher grade-point average in core and major courses. No more than 90 credits may be transferred from other accredited institutions (60 credits from a junior college). No more than 10 credits can be taken by correspondence through the IU School of Continuing Studies. A maximum of 10 credits may be applied from military experience, and a maximum of 12 credits may be awarded for police academy training completed within the past year. Courses taken to meet specific Public Affairs degree requirements cannot be used to satisfy any other Public Affairs degree requirement, but may be double-counted to satisfy the IPFW general-education distribution requirements.

To earn the Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs at IPFW, you must fulfill the requirements of IPFW (see Part 8 ) and the Department of Public Policy, and complete the following requirements:

Bachelors of Science in Public Affairs Requirements


I. General Education Courses Credits: 53


B. Quantitative Methods Credits: 9


C. Arts and Humanities Credits: 12


Arts & Humanities Electives


Choose two courses (six credits) from at least two of the following subject areas:

Classical Studies, Communication, English, Film, Fine Arts, Folklore, Foreign Language, History, Honors (Humanities only), Music, Philosophy, Religion Theatre

D. Natural Sciences Credits: 8


Social & Behavioral Science Electives


Choose two courses (six credits) from the following subject areas:

Anthropology, Criminal Justice (for non-Criminal Justice majors), Economics, Geography (selected), Journalism, Linguistics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Women’s Studies

II. Public Affairs Core Credits: 12


A grade of C or better is required in each of these courses.

III. Major Credits: 27 to 30


Additional PPOL Electives Approved By Advisor Credits: 9


A maximum of 6 credits may be earned in PPOL V380, Internship in Public Affairs.

Either of the following environmental science courses:


Additional 9 credits of PPOL electives approved by advisor


A maximum of 6 credits may be earned in PPOL V380, Internship in Public Affairs.  

Three Additional PPOL Electives Approved By Advisor Credits: 9


A maximum of 6 credits may be earned in PPOL V380, Internship in Public Affairs.

IV. General Electives Credits: 25–28


Additional courses of interest should be selected to raise the total credits to the required 120 for the BSPA degree. Students majoring in Criminal Justice or Legal Studies need an additional 25 credits minimum. Students majoring in Environmental Policy, Health Services Administration, or Public Management need an additional 28 credits minimum.  

Total Credits: 120


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