Mar 28, 2024  
2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Public Affairs (BSPA)


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Program: B.S. in Public Affairs
Department of Public Policy  
College of Professional Studies

Neff Hall 260  Ph:  260-481-6351 


The BSPA (Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs) degree program provides a background in the liberal arts and a focus on public affairs. This degree offers a major in Public Administration and Policy with four concentrations in Criminal Justice Policy, Law and Public Policy, Healthcare Management and/or Nonprofit Management and Leadership.  Internships are available and are 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 Administration and Policy curriculum is divided into five categories - Purdue General Education area, Public Policy general knowledge area, Public Policy core, a major area, and general electives. The BSPA 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 (excluding PPOL 37101). No more than 90 credits may be transferred from other accredited institutions (60 credits from a junior college). Public Policy requires that 15 hours of course work in the major at the 300 or higher level be completed at Purdue (excluding PPOL 37101). A maximum of 10 credits may be applied from military transfer experience, and a maximum of 12 credits may be awarded for police academy training completed within the past year. Up to 6 credits in Public Affairs Courses (excluding PPOL 37200 and PPOL 37601) may be used in order to meet specific Public Affairs degree requirements in a second Public Affairs concentration or minor.  However, Public Affairs courses may be double-counted to satisfy the Purdue University Fort Wayne general-education distribution and public policy general elective requirements.


The student learning outcomes for the degree are as follows:

 Students should be able to:

  • Understand the importance of ideas and theory in the formulation and implementation of public policy.
  • Understand the importance of politics in all substantive public policy areas.
  • Appropriately utilize quantitative approaches for dealing with management and public policy challenges.
  • Understand the origins, processes, and impact of law in the creation and implementation of public policy.

Declaring this Major:

  • To declare a major in Public Administration and Policy, students must have a 2.0 GPA and must meet with the Public Policy Coordinator of Advising and Student Services to determine eligibility. 

General Requirements:


To earn the Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs at Purdue, students must fulfill the requirements of Purdue (see Regulations, Policies, Rights, & Responsibilities) and the Department of Public Policy, and complete the following course requirements: 

General Education Requirements Credits: 33


Category A: Foundational Intellectual Skills


1. Written Communication Credits: 3


2. Speaking and Listening Credits: 3


Category B: Interdisciplinary or Creative Ways of Knowing


4. Scientific Ways of Knowing Credits: 6


See Part 2 General Education Requirements for approved courses 

A grade of C- or better is required in each course used to satisfy the Purdue Fort Wayne general education requirements.

5. Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing Credits: 6


See Part 2 General Education Requirements for approved courses 

A grade of C- or better is required in each course used to satisfy the Purdue Fort Wayne general education requirements.

  • Cr. 3.
  • This course meets the B.5 Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing requirements and is counted as three of the six hours required by Public Policy for the B.5 category.

6. Humanistic and Artistic Ways of Knowing Credits: 6


See Part 2 General Education Requirements for approved courses 

A grade of C- or better is required in each course used to satisfy the Purdue Fort Wayne general education requirements.

7. Interdisciplinary or Creative Ways of Knowing Credits: 3


See Part 2 General Education Requirements for approved courses 

A grade of C- or better is required in each course used to satisfy the Purdue Fort Wayne general education requirements.

  • Cr. 3.
  • This course meets the B.7 Interdisciplinary Ways of Knowing requirements and is counted by Public Policy for completion of the B.7 category and as one of the Public Policy Core classes.

Category C: Capstone Course Credits: Credits from major course


8. Capstone Experience


 Capstone courses are specific to the concentration.

Note:  See (III. Concentration Credits) section.

I. Public Policy General Requirements Credits: 24


A. Communication Credits: 3


 One of the following:

B. Quantitative Methods Credits: 3


One of the following statistics courses:

(Or see advisor.)

C. Scientific Ways of Knowing Credits: 3


  • Any additional B.4 Science Course

D. Arts & Humanities Requirements Credits: 6


E. Social and Behavioral Sciences Requirements Credits: 9


II. Public Affairs Core Credits: 6


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

III. Concentration Credits: 24 to 27


A. Criminal Justice Policy concentration: 27 credits


The Criminal Justice Policy concentration in the Criminal Justice major requires 27 credit hours for completion (students are required to have a minimum of 120 credit hours with a 2.00 cumulative grade point average and a 2.30 grade point average in core and major area courses in order to receive the Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs degree).

Additional PPOL Electives Approved By Advisor Credits: 6


Two additional PPOL courses, one of which can be PPOL 38000-Internship  Cr. 6

  • PPOL 37101 may not be used to meet this requirement

B. Healthcare Management Concentration: 27 credits


The Healthcare Management concentration in the Public Affairs major requires 27 credit hours for completion (students are required to have a minimum of 120 credit hours with a 2.00 cumulative grade point average and a 2.30 grade point average in core and major area courses in order to receive the Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs degree).

Additional 6 credits of PPOL electives approved by advisor


Two additional PPOL courses, one of which can be PPOL 38001-Internship Cr. 6

  • PPOL 37101 may not be used to meet this requirement

C. Law and Public Policy Concentration: 24 credits


The Law and Public Policy concentration in the Public Affairs major requires 24 credit hours for completion (students are required to have a minimum of 120 credit hours with a 2.00 cumulative grade point average and a 2.30 grade point average in core and major area courses in order to receive the Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs degree).

Additional 6 credits of PPOL electives approved by advisor


Two additional PPOL courses, one of which can be PPOL 38001-Internship Cr. 6

  • PPOL 37101 may not be used to meet this requirement

D. Nonprofit Management and Leadership Concentration: 24 credits


The Nonprofit Management and Leadership concentration in the Public Affairs major requires 24 credit hours for completion (students are required to have a minimum of 120 credit hours with a 2.00 cumulative grade point average and a 2.30 grade point average in core and major area courses in order to receive the Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs degree).

Additional 6 credits of PPOL electives approved by advisor


Two additional PPOL courses, one of which can be PPOL 38001-Internship Cr. 6

  • PPOL 37101 may not be used to meet this requirement

IV. General Electives Credits: 30-33


Additional courses of interest or minors should be selected to raise the total credits to the required 120 for the BSPA degree. Students with concentrations in Criminal Justice Policy or Healthcare Management need an additional 30 credits. Students with concentrations in Law and Public Policy or Nonprofit Management and Leadership need an additional 33 credits. 

Total Credits: 120


Student Responsibility


Student Responsibilities: You are responsible for satisfying the graduation requirements specified for your selected program. Thus, it is essential that you develop a thorough understanding of the required courses, academic policies, and procedures governing your academic career. All requests for exceptions to specific requirements must be made in writing and may be granted only by written approval from the appropriate chair or dean.

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