SPEA's Master of Public Affairs (MPA) program is an integrated course of study providing knowledge and experience used by the professional in various roles within a changing society.
The MPA program is designed to produce graduates who have the skills needed to be successful and take on leadership roles in an ever-changing job market.
Our degree programs produce graduates who can work well with teams of professionals and can effectively communicate and work with colleagues in a wide variety of disciplines.
Our graduates leave with strong problem-solving skills and a sound interdisciplinary context, which allow them to hit the ground running as they enter their new careers.
Unlike a theory-based or research degree, the MPA degree has an applied focus that teaches students to address society's complex problems from an interdisciplinary perspective. Thus, students are taught by faculty members with backgrounds in political science, economics, policy analysis, management science, law, international affairs, environmental policy, and other significant public policy areas.
The MPA is a two-year, 48-credit-hour program consisting of three components:
A core curriculum of management, statistics, microeconomics, law, and budgeting courses.
The MPA Core Curriculum
The MPA core ensures that each student acquires both the prerequisite analytical skills and an understanding of policy issues and governmental processes that compose the environment within which graduates will pursue their careers. These fundamental skills are transferable among a wide variety of professional fields. The core courses are:
Public Management (V502)
Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making (V506)
Public Management Economics (V517)
Law and Public Affairs (V540)
Public Finance and Budgeting (V560)
Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs (V600)
The final core course, Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs, is a culminating experience for the MPA program. Students usually work in groups for the capstone, which is a semester-long, detailed analysis of a policy or management issue, often undertaken for a real-world client in the public or nonprofit sector. Several capstone topics are offered each year. Some recent capstones include:
creation of an economic development strategy for the German state of Thuringen
green building design
developing fiscal management strategies for financially troubled nonprofits
pesticide reduction programs in preschool and daycare facilities
education policy in northwest Indiana
water quality issues resulting from improper sewage treatment in small communities
analysis of labor practices of public and nonprofit organizations
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