Lead government organizations, prepared to solve public sector challenges
Develop solid managerial skills to help you lead government organizations at the local, state, or federal level. You’ll study public finance and budgeting, urban development and planning, and contract management while gaining unique insight into public sector challenges. You’ll also have opportunities to explore global approaches to public management by studying abroad in places like South Africa, Ireland, or Germany.
Our recent graduates have landed public management jobs including:
Client Sales Representative, Echo Global Logistics
Associate District Manager, ADP (Automatic Data Processing, Inc.)
"The most rewarding part of my internship was seeing first-hand how people influence government. My time in the White House showed me that when the right people are brought into public service good things happen. This helped to deepen my understanding of public management as something that is powered by people rather than systems or structures."
Project Manager, Federal Railroad Administration Office of Outreach and Project Delivery Washington, D.C.
After studying public management and leadership with a minor in business, Hanchett started his career as an energy, sustainability, and infrastructure consultant at Guidehouse before transitioning into federal work.
Program learning goals
Expand for detailed learning outcomes.
1.1 Recognize legal, political, economic, and cultural constraints that are unique to public sector organizations
1.2 Analyze the role of public organizations throughout the policy process, including formulation, adoption, implementation, and evaluation of public programs
1.3 Describe the size, scope, and historical development of the federal bureaucracy
1.4 Evaluate models of political oversight and democratic accountability for public organizations
1.5 Apply models of networking and collaboration between public organizations and organizations in the private and nonprofit sectors
1.6 Assess the role of privatization and contracting out in the delivery of public programs and policies
1.7 Understand the system of federalism and the challenges and implications of intergovernmental relations in the public sector
1.8 Basic comprehension of the budgeting processes used at the local, state, and federal levels of government
1.9 Conduct benefit-cost analysis to evaluate the cost-efficiency of a public policy or program
1.10 Use a comparative framework to understand how political, legal, economic, and cultural differences shape public management across the globe
1.11 Use the results of appropriate quantitative or qualitative methods to inform decision making and improve the policy process
2.1 Analyze collaborative leadership, leadership styles, and their impact on organizations and employees
2.2 Describe relevant ethics and codes of conduct in the field of public management and analyze ethical dilemmas faced by public managers
2.3 Develop expertise in engagement of citizens, clients, and external stakeholders and develop plans for how these stakeholders would provide feedback and participate in decision-making
2.4 Explain why and how public organizations foster diversity, equity, and inclusion among employees, clients, constituencies, and communities
2.5 Identify innovative solutions to problems and obstacles faced by public sector organizations.
2.6 Use theories and frameworks in understanding the practical challenges associated with public management
3.1 Describe and apply theories of organizational change and their applications to public management
3.2 Describe and apply theories of work motivation and their application to public management
3.3 Work effectively in a diverse team and deal effectively with conflict among group members
3.4 Understand the relationship between organizational structure and outcomes
3.5 Create, plan, and develop a mission statement and strategic plan for a public sector organization (e.g., SWOT analysis)
3.6 Apply performance management strategies and techniques to evaluate the performance of a public sector organization
4.1 Speak confidently and clearly in front of groups in both informal and structured settings
4.2 Write clear, informative, professional prose that presents logically ordered, verifiable evidence in document formats (e.g., memos, statements, proposals, reports)
4.3 Recognize the difference between anecdote or personal account and systematic data, and deploy both appropriately in support of an argument
4.4 Communicate how public policies, laws, programs, and managerial innovations impact participants, governmental entities, and society
Required coursework
As a student in the O’Neill School, you will complete your degree requirements based on your matriculation date—the date you entered Indiana University Bloomington.
YourAcademic Advising Reportis your personalized report outlining your progress toward graduation. The requirements below are for advising purposes only and are not official. To discuss your degree requirements and academic goals, make an appointment with your academic advisor academic advisor.
All your degree requirements are based on the semester and year you entered IU Bloomington. If you became an IU Bloomington student in either Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 you are in the right place!
General Education: Select the appropriate academic year based on your entry date at IUB
BSPA Core
SPEA-E 183 Environment & People (3cr)
SPEA-V 181 US Policy & Administration (3cr)
SPEA-V 182 Policy-making around the World: Comparative and International Approaches (3cr)
SPEA-V 184 Law & Public Affairs (3cr)
SPEA-V 185 Management of Public Problems and Solutions (3cr)
SPEA-V 186 Introduction to Public Budgeting and Finance for Public Affairs (3cr)
Career Core (15cr)
ECON-E 251 Fundamentals of Economics I (3cr) or ECON-B 251 Fundamentals of Economics for Business I (3cr)
All your degree requirements are based on the semester and year you entered IU Bloomington. If you became an IU Bloomington student in either Fall 2023 or Spring 2024 you are in the right place!
General Education: Select the appropriate academic year based on your entry date at IUB
BSPA Core
SPEA-E 183 Environment & People (3cr)
SPEA-V 181 US Policy & Administration (3cr)
SPEA-V 182 Policy-making around the World: Comparative and International Approaches (3cr)
SPEA-V 184 Law & Public Affairs (3cr)
SPEA-V 185 Management of Public Problems and Solutions (3cr)
SPEA-V 186 Introduction to Public Budgeting and Finance for Public Affairs (3cr)
Career Core (15cr)
ECON-E 251 Fundamentals of Economics I (3cr) or ECON-B 251 Fundamentals of Economics for Business I (3cr)
Courses may be listed in more than one area below. However, no course will count more than once in the major. Additionally, no course used to fulfill the “BSPA Required Courses” above may be used to also fulfill the “Public Management and Leadership Major” below. Additional courses beyond the general education, core, and major requirements are needed to complete the minimum of 120 hours required for the degree.
The following eight Foundation courses:
SPEA-V 202 Contemporary Economic Issues in Public Affairs (3 cr.)(P: ECON-E 251 or ECON-B 251)
SPEA-V 236 Managing and Leading Organizations (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 246 Elements of Government and Nonprofit Financial Accounting Cycle (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 186)
SPEA-V 481 Grant Wring for Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 482 Overseas Topics in Public Affairs (0-15 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)
SPEA-V 491 Honors Research in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)
Electives
Electives are courses that do not meet general education or major requirements and may be used to fulfill the remainder of the 120 credit hours required for this degree. Please meet with your academic advisor to discuss your electives.
All your degree requirements are based on the semester and year you entered IU Bloomington. If you became an IU Bloomington student either Fall 2022 or Spring 2023 you are in the right place!
General Education: Select the appropriate academic year based on your entry date at IUB
BSPA Core
SPEA-E 183 Environment & People (3cr)
SPEA-V 181 US Policy & Administration (3cr)
SPEA-V 182 Policy-making around the World: Comparative and International Approaches (3cr)
SPEA-V 184 Law & Public Affairs (3cr)
SPEA-V 185 Management of Public Problems and Solutions (3cr)
SPEA-V 186 Introduction to Public Budgeting and Finance for Public Affairs (3cr)
Other Required Courses (12cr)
ECON-E 251 Fundamentals of Economics I (3cr) or ECON-B 251 Fundamentals of Economics for Business I (3cr)
Courses may be listed in more than one area below. However, no course will count more than once in the major. Additionally, no course used to fulfill the “BSPA Required Courses” above may be used to also fulfill the “Public Management and Leadership Major” below. Additional courses beyond the general education, core, and major requirements are needed to complete the minimum of 120 hours required for the degree.
The following eight Foundation courses:
SPEA-V 202 Contemporary Economic Issues in Public Affairs (3 cr.) (P: ECON-E 251 or ECON-B 251)
SPEA-V 236 Managing and Leading Organizations (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 246 Elements of Government and Nonprofit Financial Accounting Cycle (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-V 186)
SPEA-V 481 Grant Wring for Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.)
SPEA-V 482 Overseas Topics in Public Affairs (0-15 cr.) (approved topics only; consult SPEA advisor; repeatable with different topics)
SPEA-V 491 Honors Research in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.)
Electives
Electives are courses that do not meet general education or major requirements, and may be used to fulfill the remainder of the 120 credit hours required for this degree. Please meet with your academic advisor to discuss your electives.
All your degree requirements are based on the semester and year you entered IU Bloomington. If you became an IU Bloomington student either Fall 2021 or Spring 2022 you are in the right place!
General Education: Select the appropriate academic year based on your entry date at IUB
BSPA Core
SPEA-E 183 Environment & People (3cr)
SPEA-V 181 US Policy & Administration (3cr)
SPEA-V 182 Policy-making around the World: Comparative and International Approaches (3cr)
SPEA-V 184 Law & Public Affairs (3cr)
SPEA-V 185 Management of Public Problems and Solutions (3cr)
SPEA-V 186 Introduction to Public Budgeting and Finance for Public Affairs (3cr)
Other Required Courses (18cr)
ECON-E 251 Fundamentals of Economics I (3cr) or ECON-B 251 Fundamentals of Economics for Business I (3cr)
POLS Political Science (any course or an approved non-O'Neill study abroad course, 3cr)
Courses may be listed in more than one area below. However, no course will count more than once in the major. Additionally, no course used to fulfill the “BSPA Required Courses” above may be used to also fulfill the “Public Management and Leadership Major” below. Additional courses beyond the general education, core, and major requirements are needed to complete the minimum of 120 hours required for the degree.
The following seven Foundation courses:
SPEA-V 202 Contemporary Economic Issues in Public Affairs (3cr) (P: ECON-E 201)
SPEA-V 236 Managing and Leading Organizations (3cr)
SPEA-V 246 Elements of Government and Nonprofit Financial Accounting Cycle (3cr) (P: SPEA-V 186)
SPEA-V 401 Financial and Cost-Benefit Analysis (3cr) (P: SPEA-V 202)
SPEA-V 412 Leadership and Ethics (3cr)
SPEA-V 415 Data Science in Public and Environmental Affairs (3cr)
SPEA-V 435 Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (3cr)
SPEA-V 436 Communication for Government and Nonprofit Organizations (3cr)
SPEA-V 443 Managing Workforce Diversity (3cr)
SPEA-V 457 Human Recources Traning and Development (3cr) (P: SPEA-V 373)
SPEA-V 481 Grant Writing for Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3cr)
SPEA-V 491 Honors Research in Public and Environmental Affairs (3cr)
Electives
Electives are courses that do not meet general education or major requirements, and may be used to fulfill the remainder of the 120 credit hours required for this degree. Please meet with your academic advisor to discuss your electives.
All your degree requirements are based on the semester and year you entered IU Bloomington. If you became an IU Bloomington student either Fall 2020 or Spring 2021 you are in the right place!
General Education: Select the appropriate academic year based on your entry date at IUB
BSPA Core
SPEA-E 183 Environment & People (3cr)
SPEA-V 181 US Policy & Administration (3cr)
SPEA-V 182 Policy-making around the World: Comparative and International Approaches (3cr)
SPEA-V 184 Law & Public Affairs (3cr)
SPEA-V 185 Management of Public Problems and Solutions (3cr)
SPEA-V 186 Introduction to Public Budgeting and Finance for Public Affairs (3cr)
Other Required Courses (18cr)
ECON-E 251 Fundamentals of Economics I (3cr) or ECON-B 251 Fundamentals of Economics for Business I (3cr)
POLS Political Science (any course or an approved non-O'Neill study abroad course, 3cr)
Courses may be listed in more than one area below. However, no course will count more than once in the major. Additionally, no course used to fulfill the “BSPA Required Courses” above may be used to also fulfill the “Public Management and Leadership Major” below. Additional courses beyond the general education, core, and major requirements are needed to complete the minimum of 120 hours required for the degree.
The following seven Foundation courses:
SPEA-V 202 Contemporary Economic Issues in Public Affairs (3cr) (P: ECON-E 251 or ECON-B 251)
SPEA-V 236 Managing and Leading Organizations (3cr)
SPEA-V 246 Elements of Government and Nonprofit Financial Accounting Cycle (3cr) (P: SPEA-V 186)
SPEA-V 401 Financial and Cost-Benefit Analysis (3cr) (P: SPEA-V 202)
SPEA-V 412 Leadership and Ethics (3cr)
SPEA-V 415 Data Science in Public and Environmental Affairs (3cr)
SPEA-V 435 Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (3cr)
SPEA-V 436 Communication for Government and Nonprofit Organizations (3cr)
SPEA-V 443 Managing Workforce Diversity (3cr)
SPEA-V 457 Human Recources Traning and Development (3cr) (P: SPEA-V 373)
SPEA-V 481 Grant Writing for Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3cr)
SPEA-V 491 Honors Research in Public and Environmental Affairs (3cr)
Electives
Electives are courses that do not meet general education or major requirements, and may be used to fulfill the remainder of the 120 credit hours required for this degree. Please meet with your academic advisor to discuss your electives.
