| Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA) | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1972 |
| Type | Public |
| Dean | John Graham |
| Academic staff | 100 |
| Students | 2400 |
| Location | Bloomington and Indianapolis, Indiana, USA |
| Website | www.spea.indiana.edu |
The Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs (or SPEA) is one of the undergraduate and graduate schools of Indiana University, and is the largest public policy and environmental studies school of its kind in the United States. Founded in 1972, it was the first school to combine public management, policy, and administration with the environmental sciences.
SPEA was founded on the IU-Bloomington campus, and today also has a campus at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). At Bloomington, faculty focus in seven areas: environmental science, public management, nonprofit organizations, civil society and law, public finance and budgeting, policy analysis and economics. The IUPUI campus has programs in environmental health science, health programs, public affairs, and criminal justice and public safety.
John D. Graham became the fourth dean in the school’s history in fall 2008. Graham served in the White House Office of Management and Budget(OMB) from 2001 to 2006, and previously was a Professor of Policy and Decision Sciences at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Contents |
SPEA is the only institution in its league with an interdisciplinary character where students can combine science and public affairs. 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. For example, in conjunction with the Department of Political Science, SPEA offers a Joint Ph.D. Program in Public Policy, the only one of its kind in the country. As another example, students interested in environmental studies can focus on the science or the public policy aspect under the same roof.
In the 2009 "Best Graduate Schools" survey by U.S. News & World Report, SPEA ranked second in the country and is the nation’s highest-ranked undergraduate and graduate program in public affairs at a public institution. Six of its specialty programs are ranked in the top 10 listings; four others are in the top 20. SPEA is also a founding member of the Council of Environmental Science Deans and Directors.
Students have taken the initiative to organize several clubs such as the Nonprofit Management Association, the public Affairs Student Association, the Environmental Management Association, Students Taking Active Roles Today (START), the International Public Affairs Association, and the Diversity Project.
In addition, the Graduate Student Association works closely between students, faculty and staff, to coordinate communication among them and offer opportunities for leadership and involvement to the school's masters students. Elected officers attend regular meetings with faculty and staff to discuss programs, policies and other aspects of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs experience. Active members attend committee meetings and coordinate projects, trips, activities and parties. Every person in the professional masters programs at SPEA-IUB is a member of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs Graduate Student Association (GSA).
Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis:Elinor Ostrom, Director
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||