Hoosier State online MPA (public affairs) degree
Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA), based in Bloomington, Ind., has launched an online master’s degree in public affairs through SPEA Connect. The program’s launch follows recent approval of the program from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE).
The online MPA degree from Indiana University (IU) enables distance-learning students and working professionals access to an academic public affairs program that will allow them to continue their careers while learning new skills and furthering their public affairs expertise.
SPEA Connect, a joint initiative between IU-Bloomington and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, presents SPEA’s curriculum and faculty in an online format that meets the professional development and career needs of the 21st century workforce without sacrificing rigor. U.S. News and World Report ranks SPEA’s graduate programs No. 2 in the nation.
SPEA Connect allows distance learners around the world to earn a degree without having to move to Indiana. “We believe our online MPA is an ideal opportunity for mid-career professionals, whether they are located in Washington or Kinshasa, Congo, to further their knowledge and career prospects without having to leave their families and jobs,” said IU’s Distinguished Professor James Perry. Perry is the director of online education at SPEA and has worked with his faculty colleagues to design and deliver online curriculum that will meet the diverse needs of online students and working professionals.
Govpro asked Perry why 2012 is a good time to enroll in Indiana’s online MPA degree program. Perry responded, “All levels of government are facing serious uncertainties about the role of government in society and how it will be funded going forward. The SPEA MPA provides individuals with the leadership skills to impact policy and drive change. The outstanding national and international reputation of the SPEA MPA and the doors it opens for graduates is a great hedge in the current environment.”
Graduates of the new IU program will be well prepared, said SPEA Dean John D. Graham. “Our MPA degree program produces graduates with strong problem-solving and analytical skills and is additionally coupled with a sound interdisciplinary approach. Our online MPA students will meet the same standards for quality and academic rigor as their on-campus peers.”
The new MPA degree offering will provide value when compared to its residential and online peers, said SPEA Executive Associate Dean David Reingold. “As a top-ranked public affairs program, SPEA is highly sensitive to the potential debt-burden that graduate education can bring, and SPEA Connect’s tuition levels have been set to reflect the public nature of our school.”
In addition to the online MPA degree program, SPEA Connect gives students the opportunity to pursue online graduate certificates in Public and Nonprofit Management. SPEA Connect plans to begin offering an online graduate certificate in Public Budgeting and Financial Management in the near future.
