When I first applied to IU, I had no idea what I was actually going to study. All I knew was I was here to earn a Bachelor's degree in something that would get me a job in a field that I somewhat would enjoy. The biggest reason I chose to attend Indiana University was because out of all the schools in the state of Indiana, IU had the most options academically. I arrived my freshman year with an open mind, a bright outlook on my future, and a desire to use what I was going to learn in the next four years for the greater good. It did not take me very much time to discover a school and major that was a perfect match for me. I found it amazing that I had never heard of my current school before entering IU, even though it is one of the top schools in its field.
My JourneyDuring Welcome Week I participated in an academic information session, in which RAs from my dorm split us into groups based upon the school our major was offered through. Since I came in with no major I went into the "Exploratory" group. It was then that I had actually heard of my current school for the first time. One of the RAs was holding a sign labeled SPEA, which at the time I had no idea what those four letters stood for.
After some research and exploration of a few school resources I found the School of Public and Environmental Affairs along with a list of intriguing majors and minors that they offered. After visiting their website I scheduled a group advising session, where a SPEA advisor talks about each major offered and what you can do with each one after you graduate. Before the presentation started I received a folder containing everything I needed to know about SPEA, including all of my completed courses and the ones I still needed to take to be admitted into the school. This session provided me with more than enough information to make a decision on a major that I felt was a great fit for me.
What is SPEA?When anyone asks me to explain exactly what SPEA is, I find myself having trouble being able to capture everything about this school. The best way I can explain it is the way I was told by my advisor. The School of Public and Environment Affairs is located right next to the Kelley School of Business, which is ironic because the two schools' missions are totally opposite from one another. Kelley teaches you the best way to make money, while SPEA teaches you the best way to benefit the community with the money you make.
What does SPEA offer?Majors offered include; Environmental Science and Environmental Science Management, for those who want to make saving the planet their full time job, and Public Affairs majors which basically includes everything else. Public Affairs majors include the areas of government and public organizations along with nonprofit ones. There is also just a basic Management degree for those who are still not completely sure who they want to work for after they graduate. This degree along with a few others within SPEA, overlap with Kelley, but the topics you will learn about with the SPEA degree differ greatly from those in Kelley. SPEA has a unique set of majors and minors for students who want to make the most out of their four year degree. They are also adding new areas of study all the time, widening the topics you can learn about and apply to the real world.
SPEA also has multiple student organizations for those who wish to get experience in the community before graduating or getting an internship or job. If you are a senior in high school and know that SPEA is the school for you now, then you may apply for direct admission and may want to apply for the Civic Leaders dorm for those who want to live in a community of like-minded leaders and experience in leadership and politics.
The study abroad program unfortunately is not as large as other schools at IU, but it is growing and adding more international schools. The reason for this is because Public Affairs courses are not readily available all over the world, and SPEA has unique classes that are hard to find elsewhere. If you plan on studying abroad, early planning is crucial. Talk to an advisor about this if you have the slightest interest in a semester or year overseas.
SPEA also has an honors program for those who decide to attend SPEA after being admitted to IU, which is not based on your standardized test scores from high school, which is good news for most people since high school test scores may not always be an accurate measure of one's current level of intelligence and potential. I could write a novel on the programs and courses that SPEA offers, but I'll save you the time and give you a link so you can explore for yourself!
How do I know if SPEA is right for me?SPEA is a school that is very different from the rest of Indiana University. It has so many different areas of study that all somehow interconnect and all have the same mission, to better the world. Whether it is studying the environment and how to change people's behavior about it, how to eliminate poverty, or the affects of government policy, SPEA classes will educate you on the world's problems and some suggestions on how to solve them. If any of this sounds of interest to you, check out the SPEA website below and schedule a group advising session. Your dream major may be awaiting, and you may have never even heard of it yet!
SPEA website:http://www.indiana.edu/~spea/index.shtml
List of majors and minors:http://www.indiana.edu/%7espea/prospective_students/undergrad/degrees/index.shtml
Sign up for a group advising session: For more about SPEA: