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About the School
Indiana University's School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) is the largest school of its kind in the United States, with two core campuses in Bloomington and Indianapolis and programs at other regional campuses. SPEA is known for its distinctive interdisciplinary approach, bringing together the social, natural, behavioral, and administrative sciences in one faculty at three degree levels: Bachelor, Master, and Ph.D.
SPEA is the only institution in its league with an interdisciplinary character where students can combine science and public affairs. Through the wide array of concentrations and joint degrees SPEA offers, students can design an education corresponding to their interests. Indiana University's other highly ranked schools and programs complement SPEA's offerings; the school has 15 joint programs in social and natural sciences and professional fields.
Mission Statement
The School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University was established in March 1971 by action of the Indiana University Faculty Council and the Board of Trustees. The Faculty Council asked the school to help deal "more effectively and dispassionately with the needs and problems of modern society" and to bring greater coordination and visibility to IU's efforts in public and environmental affairs.
The Trustees directed the school's efforts toward delivering high quality educational programs at the undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels; providing high-quality public service; and conducting research in the interest of public service. Today, SPEA is an interdisciplinary professional school serving the public, private, and non-profit sectors at local, state, national, and international levels.
SPEA's mission is three-fold:
- To educate leaders in public affairs and environmental science
- To create and advance knowledge through scholarly research
- To redress complex social and environmental challenges
National Rankings
In the most recent U.S. News rankings, SPEA occupied 3rd place among the 250 NASPAA/APPAM schools for its Bloomington campus, with specialty programs ranking separately in the top ten.
- Environmental policy and management ranked 1st
- Nonprofit management ranked 1st
- Public finance ranked 2nd
- Public management/administration ranked 3rd
Notable also was the inclusion for the first time of SPEA's Indianapolis campus with an overall placement of 35th out of 250.
- Criminal justice ranked 3rd
- Nonprofit management ranked 4th
Enrollment
High rankings have increased competition for admittance to the school and have also increased enrollment.
- Bloomington 2006 Master's class = 378 students
- Bloomington 2006 Bachelor's class = 840 students
- IUPUI 2006 Master's class = 255
- IUPUI 2006 Bachelor's class = 627.
Teaching and Excellence
The faculty at SPEA has been recognized for both teaching practices and excellence in their respective fields.
Research and Scholarship
SPEA researches are world class and the research conducted here at SPEA affects policy at the local, state, federal, and international levels. Current research funding includes:
- Democratic Parliamentary Strengthening Program in Ukraine, through a grant of $499,954 from the U.S. Agency for International development
- The Integrated Atmospheric Deposition, through a grant of $686,860 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Waste Tire Recycling and Disposal in Indiana, through a grant of $90,516 from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management
- Early Intervention Planning Council, through a grant of $745,606 from the City of Indianapolis
- Indiana Mentor Corps, through a grant of $306,717 from the Indiana Commission on Community Services and Volunteerism
- FY 2004 Surface Water Grant, through a grant of $288,867 from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Centers and Institutes
SPEA's many centers and institutes present an impressive range and depth of expertise, including:
Advancing Indiana and Beyond
At the local and state level, SPEA faculty and staff work hand-in-hand with government officials in conducting research, giving advice, evaluating policy and building partnerships. Faculty members have written tax laws, served on city council, and developed economic plans for regional areas. SPEA students and faculty are very active at the federal level as well. SPEA has more than 25,000 alumni enjoying rewarding careers with the EPA, State Department, OMB, the Red Cross, and many other well-known governmental, nongovernmental, and private sector organizations.
At the global level, SPEA's Global Initiatives (SGI) promote positive change through applied research, teaching, and public service for governmental, intergovernmental, for-profit, nonprofit, and academic institutions. SGI offers expertise in democratization and civic engagement, economic development and public finance, and international, environmental, and natural resource management. Initiatives have been organized on five continents.
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