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. In addition, a specialized study major may be developed with the approval of a faculty advisor and the program director to meet special career needs. 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 DPEA 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 DPEA degree requirements cannot be used to satisfy any other DPEA 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 Division of Public and Environmental Affairs, and complete the following requirements: