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Policies & Procedures

Policies & Procedures

All Indiana University students are required to be familiar with and comply with the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct. All O'Neill students must also comply with the O'Neill Student Honor Code, the Academic Misconduct Policies, and the following MPO policies.

O’Neill Form Policies

An exception form is required for any course not appearing in the degree outlines and/or concentration templates that outline faculty-approved electives. General elective hours taken to fulfill the required minimum number of credit hours for a degree do not require substitution approvals as long as they are O’Neill courses. Non-O’Neill courses have a separate approval process; see Academic Exceptions – Outside-Program Courses for more information.

A student who wishes to substitute a course into their concentration should first work with the appropriate concentration advisor to determine if the proposed substitution is appropriate. The student may then access the Academic Exceptions Form in the Forms section of the Current Student Portal and select either “Request a Concentration Requirement Substitution” or “Request to Use an Alternate Elective Course in My Concentration.” The Exception Form will be routed to the concentration advisor for approval, then to the appropriate Faculty Program Director(s) for final approval before being entered into the student’s online Academic Advising Report (AAR).

Submitting requests for academic exceptions after a course has been taken is highly discouraged.

A course waiver normally means that a student has already demonstrated proficiency in the subject matter covered by a required course. Thus, a student will be offered the opportunity to pursue another course that will expand the student’s proficiency in a related or new subject area. A course waiver does not reduce the number of total credit hours required by the student’s degree program.

A student who wishes to request a waiver of a core course may access the Academic Exceptions Form in the Forms section of the Current Student Portal and select “Request a Core Course Waiver.” A syllabus for the prior coursework should be attached. The Exception Form will be routed to the respective Gatekeeper for that course who will evaluate the student’s case and determine if another course may be taken in its place.

Waivers are only available for core courses. V600 Capstone is not eligible to be waived. If a student has demonstrated proficiency in a concentration requirement, another course should be substituted for that course rather than having the requirement waived. The number of credits required by a concentration cannot be reduced.

Students may petition to waive one or more core course requirements. Waiving a course does not reduce the number of credit hours necessary to earn a degree.

MAAA
COURSE	FACULTY MEMBER	E-MAIL	FACULTY OFFICE
All AADM-Y courses	Karen Gahl-Mills	kgahlmil	SPEA A323

MES
COURSE	FACULTY MEMBER	E-MAIL	FACULTY OFFICE
SPEA-E 513	Vicky Meretsky	meretsky	SPEA A321
SPEA-E 543	Landon Yoder	yoderl	SPEA 341B

MIA
COURSE	FACULTY MEMBER	E-MAIL	FACULTY OFFICE
All SPEA Core courses	Daniel Preston	prestond	SPEA 217
All INTL Core courses	Jessica O’Reilly	jloreill	GISB 1019

MPA
COURSE	FACULTY MEMBER	E-MAIL	FACULTY OFFICE
SPEA-F 560	Denvil Duncan	duncande	SPEA 375F
SPEA-V 506	Tom Rabovsky	rabovsky	SPEA 451
SPEA-V 517	Justin Ross	justross	SPEA 375E
SPEA-V 532	Jill Nicholson-Crotty	jillnich	SPEA 351
SPEA-V 535	Tom Rabovsky	rabovsky	SPEA 451
SPEA-V 536	Paul Helmke	phelmke	SPEA 447
SPEA-V 537	Laura Littlepage	llittlep	SPEA 423
SPEA-V 548	Jennifer Silva	jensilv	SPEA 410J

MSES
COURSE	FACULTY MEMBER	E-MAIL	FACULTY OFFICE
SPEA-E 526	Kim Novick	knovick	MSB-II 316
SPEA-E 538/SPEA-V 506	Mallory Barnes	malbarn	MSB-II 304
SPEA-E 527	Vicky Meretsky	meretsky	SPEA A321
SPEA-E 536	Jonathan Raff	jdraff	MSB-II 308
SPEA-E 552	Vicky Meretsky	meretsky	SPEA A321

There are limits on how many courses can be taken outside of IU Bloomington’s O’Neill School and counted towards an O’Neill degree. These courses must be approved for use in an O’Neill degree. This includes:

Courses taken at another department at IUB
Courses from a regional campus of IU (including the O’Neill School at a regional campus)
Courses from another institution
Courses taken prior to the start of an IUB O’Neill program are considered transfer courses. Students are limited to transferring in 9 credits of approved coursework. O’Neill students cannot use coursework that has already been counted towards another conferred degree.
Courses taken after the start of an IUB O’Neill program are considered Outside Program courses. Students are limited to taking 6 credits (or 8 credits in the case of approved 4-credit language courses) of approved Outside Program courses. Students are encouraged to consider O’Neill course options prior to making outside course selections.
No more than 9 credits of transfer courses and Outside Program courses will be approved in total.
Transfer courses and Outside Program courses must receive a grade of B or better to count towards an O’Neill IUB degree. Courses with grades of B- or lower will be counted in the student’s GPA but will not count towards any degree requirements.
Students seeking to use transfer courses or outside program courses towards their O’Neill degree should access the Outside-Program Course Request Form in the Forms section of the Current Student Portal.
The form will be routed to the Faculty Program Director for review. Once reviewed, the O’Neill Records Office will notify the student.
A course approved via the Outside Program & Transfer Course Request Form will count towards total credit hours as a general elective. Students who wish to have an outside-program or transfer course count towards concentration requirements should first complete the Outside-Program Course Request Form, then, if approved, complete an Academic Exception to substitute the course for a concentration requirement. Outside-Program Course Request approval does not guarantee that the course will be counted in the concentration.

Students who will not register for classes for a semester or more should fill out the Leave of Absence form available in the Forms section of the Current Student Portal. This includes both students who are taking a semester or more off for any reason (such as health, finances, etc.) but plan to return at a later date and also students who do not intend to continue with the program.

Students who have gone a semester or more without registering for classes will need to submit the Returning Student Form in order to have their student record reactivated, which allows them to register for classes. This includes taking a break from school for personal or academic reasons, working on incomplete grades from previous terms without registering for new classes, etc. The Returning Student form can be accessed in the Forms section of the Current Study Portal or by emailing the O’Neill Records Office at oneillrc@iu.edu. If possible, students should submit the Returning Student form in advance of the start of classes. This process generally only takes 1-2 business days but can take longer in some cases. Students who are appealing an Academic Dismissal should use this form and include rationale for the appeal.

O’Neill Academic Policies & Regulations

O’Neill’s residential graduate students (students who are taking courses on campus and are not part of O’Neill Online) will be eligible to enroll in most O’Neill Online courses without first seeking permission to do so. Online course registration will be delayed for residential students to allow O’Neill Online students time to enroll in the courses they need; the exact date will be communicated via email from the MPO. SPCN-V 551 and SPCN-V 600 are not available to residential students.

Residential students interested in enrolling in online courses must read the Online Enrollment FAQ document before registering for an online class. Failure to read and understand the online enrollment policy could result in possible irreversible consequences that could affect degree completion.

Students may work directly with a faculty member on an individual plan of study by submitting an Independent Study Contract for a Readings or Research course. The available courses are:

o V580 Readings in Public Affairs

o V590 Research in Public Affairs

o E579 Readings in Environmental Science

o E625 Research in Environmental Science

o Y680 Readings in Arts Administration

o Y690 Independent Study in Arts Administration

The independent study course will count as a general elective unless the student submits an Academic Exceptions Form to have the course substituted into a concentration. Students should work with the sponsoring professor to agree upon a plan of study, and then submit the Independent Study Contract in the Forms section of the Current Student Portal. The contract must offer detail that clearly reflects a plan of independent study including learning objectives, learning activities, and graded deliverables. The form will be routed to the sponsoring professor for confirmation, then to the Faculty Program Director for final approval. The O’Neill Records Office will contact the student with registration information once this process is complete.

The grade of Incomplete (or “I”) used on final grade reports indicates that coursework is satisfactory as of the end of the semester but has not been completed. Instructors may award the grade of Incomplete only after a student demonstrates that holding him or her to the normally fixed time limits for completing course work would constitute an unjust hardship, for example extreme medical or personal circumstances. An Incomplete should not be offered as an option if a student’s course load is merely too heavy and/or a course cannot be completed within the timeframe of any given semester/session.

Please note that multiple grades of Incomplete may jeopardize a student’s academic progress. See more information under “Multiple Incompletes.” The time allowed for the removal of an Incomplete is one calendar year from the date of its recording. The IU Registrar will automatically change an outstanding “I” to “F” at the end of this period.

A student should not re-enroll in a course if a grade of Incomplete has been recorded. Contact the O’Neill Records Office (oneillrc@iu.edu) for clarification regarding policies.

By University policy, students considered “full time” are expected to take at least 8 credit hours per semester. Summer full-time enrollment is 4 credit hours. Only grades of “C” or better are counted toward O’Neill degree requirements. If a “C-” or lower is received in a required course, it must be retaken. Outside courses require a grade of B or better to count toward O’Neill degree requirements; see Academic Exceptions – Outside-Program Courses.

Students who wish to audit courses need to consult with the instructor and seek permission. Next, a student should obtain an auditing form from Student Central’s website (https://studentcentral.indiana.edu/register/audit.html). After completing the form and obtaining the instructor’s signature, students can upload the form to Student Central’s secure contact form (a link is available on Student Central’s website). Please know that audit hours are assessed at a rate per credit hour ($25.00) regardless of residency classification. Additionally, IU charges mandatory fees based on your total on-campus hours, whether you’re taking classes for credit or auditing them. Students who choose to audit a course(s) should be sure to fully understand the expectations (course obligations) as an auditor.

Audited courses do not fulfill degree requirements. Full- and part-time, degree-seeking students are offered priority in O’Neill courses if space constraints limit enrollment. O’Neill Capstone courses are not open to audit. O’Neill adheres to a guideline that a non-degree seeking student may not audit more than 12 credit hours of O’Neill coursework (this is consistent with the credit transfer policy maintained by the University for non-degree seeking students).

Students who enroll in a course for audit, then decide they want to drop the course must complete an audit drop form from Student Central’s website (https://studentcentral.indiana.edu/register/audit.html) and submit it via Student Central’s secure contact form, which is linked at the website above.

Any student who disputes a grade in an O’Neill course because of error, bias, or failure to follow the grading policy as outlined in the syllabus may initiate the grade appeal process. Here are the steps:

Within 14 days of the final grade being posted, the student notifies the Faculty Program Director through email that he or she wishes to appeal a grade. This email must include the:
- course number;
- section number;
- name of the instructor; and
- reason for appeal (error, bias, or failure to follow the grading policy as outlined in the syllabus).
The Director then sends an email to the instructor informing him or her that the grade appeal process has been initiated and that the instructor will soon be receiving a request for a meeting by the student.
The student must then contact the instructor and meet with him or her to discuss the issue. At this meeting, both student and instructor will make a good faith effort to resolve the dispute to the satisfaction of both.
If the grade dispute is not resolved at this meeting, the student then makes a written appeal to the Director through an email that briefly describes the situation and states what relief he or she seeks.
The Director then meets with the student and the instructor separately to learn more about the situation and understand both sides of the grade dispute.
After these meetings, the Director may suggest a solution to the parties to see if they find it acceptable.
The instructor makes a final decision on the grade, sending it by email to the student and the Director.
Within 14 days of the instructor’s decision email, the student may appeal the instructor’s decision by sending an email to the Executive Associate Dean that contains the:
- the course number;
- the section number;
- the name of the instructor;
- the reason for appeal (error, bias, or failure to follow the grading policy as outlined in the syllabus),
- a brief description of the situation; and
- what relief he or she seeks.
The Executive Associate Dean will inform the Academic Fairness Committee (Committee) of the appeal. The Committee will then contact the student about the appeal and inform the student of next steps.
The Committee will “consider procedural errors in assigning grades.” BL-ACA-H35. The Committee may “direct the Dean of the School/College to change grades on the basis of the Committee's findings.”

Further questions about this process may be directed to the Director of the Master’s Programs Office (SPEA A304, oneillmp@iu.edu).

Students may change their schedules through the first week of classes without being assessed additional fees. After the first week of classes, please consult Student Central for IU policies, regulations, and fees.

“Even Exchange” Policy for Graduate Students Not in Flat-Fee Programs

If you’re a graduate student in a program other than a law, optometry, or M.B.A. program, you may exchange one class for another through the second week of full-term classes with no additional tuition. Note the following requirements:

You must use eDrop/eAdd Pair to request your even exchange. If you make the request during this time period, it will be covered under this policy even if the approval occurs after the second week of classes.
Both classes must be full-term classes subject to the 75 percent refund period during the second week of classes. The courses must be from the same session and cannot be for a different session for either the drop or the add component.
You’ll receive a grade of “W” for the class you drop.
The exchange is applicable only to one class dropped and one class added for the same number of hours.
If the hours of the class you add are greater than those of the class you drop, you’ll be charged tuition for the extra hours.

O’Neill Program Specific Policies

Electives

In addition to core and concentration requirements, students are encouraged to take O’Neill graduate elective hours to satisfy the total credit hour requirements of their degrees. For an elective course to count toward a graduate degree, it must be 500-level or higher or listed in the University Graduate School Bulletin as eligible for graduate credit.

If the course is outside the O’Neill curriculum, it should be approved by the appropriate Faculty Program Director—see Academic Exceptions – Outside-Program Courses.

NOTE: Some 400-level language courses have titles suggesting they are for graduate students, but do not actually count for graduate credit. Contact the O’Neill Graduate Records Office (oneillrc@iu.edu) for clarifications.

Experiential

Each candidate for the MPA degree must obtain professionally relevant experience through one of the following options.

Internship– Students who are ready to complete an internship should consult with their academic advisor regarding the number of credits the student should register for and to confirm what degree requirements the internship may satisfy. Additionally, students must consult the Career Hub before the internship begins. The Career Hub will provide details concerning eligibility, procedures and required paperwork.

Registered Internship (0-6 credit hours) –To satisfy the MPA experiential requirement with an internship during the degree program, students must register for zero to six credits of SPEA-V 585 Practicum in Public Affairs. The amount of credit hours granted is determined by the number of hours worked. A student must work for 120 hours for zero and one credit, while each credit hour thereafter is earned by working an additional 80 hours. To satisfy the requirement, students must complete the proper paperwork with the Career Hub before starting an internship and must complete all progress reports and other required paperwork during the internship. In addition, Indiana University policy states “registration for the internship should be placed in the session during which the external event or experience on which it is based occurs.” Internships that have been completed in the past cannot be registered for a current or future term.

Research internships are also an option, with a supervising O’Neill faculty member or a researcher, agency, or organization outside O’Neill. Further details are available with the Career Hub.

Internships for International Students- International students seeking to fulfill the experiential component should consult with Indiana University’s Office of International Services (OIS) to make sure they meet all necessary guidelines for participation. Please follow the links offered to read more about qualifications.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT):

https://ois.iu.edu/student-employment/work- authorization/f1/curricular.html

Academic Training:

https://ois.iu.edu/student-employment/work- authorization/j1/academic.html

International students will generally be approved for one internship and CPT request per degree program (e.g. an MPA student will likely be approved for one internship, and an MPA-MSES student will likely be approved for two internships even though the dual program only requires one internship). CPT requests are approved by OIS and therefore must be proven as integral to the student's degree program(s). Therefore, any additional CPT requests outside of the one required to complete the experiential component of O'Neill degrees must be well-supported and will need to be approved by MPO staff and the designated Faculty Program Director. Please contact the MPO at agoneill@iu.edu for any questions or inquiries.

Capstone

All Master of Public Affairs students complete a semester-long Capstone project committed to problem solving for a client organization. Each Capstone section is a group project in which students with different backgrounds and skills work together in a collaborative learning format. Each section’s topic is determined by the faculty member offering the course. Topics integrate management, policy, finance, and/or science/technology in an interdisciplinary framework and involve perspectives developed in all the O’Neill concentrations. The Capstone is part of the Core and not an element of any specific concentration. While the other five Core courses are taken early in the MPA program, the Capstone is taken in the final semester of coursework. The Capstone is an integral part of the MPA program; as such, it is not possible to waive this course.

The focus on a work product for a specific client requires students to inform themselves quickly about new and complex subject areas, to master problem solving, project management, and team skills, and develop the confidence to tackle problems and situations they may encounter in professional life after O’Neill.

Academic Exceptions and Waivers for MAAA and MAAA-MPA Students

MAAA degrees are conferred by the University Graduate School, which has slightly different procedures for exceptions and waivers. All MAAA student requests for waivers, course substitutions, and exceptions must be approved in advance by both the O’Neill Faculty Program Director of MAAA and by the Dean’s Office of the University Graduate School. Approval is granted by the Request for Substitution or Waiver of Program Requirements form, which is available at One.IU.edu.

Detailed instructions for submitting the Request for Substitution or Waiver of Program Requirements form can be found on our Prior Experience Forms page.

When filling out the approval form, students should explain their reasoning in detail despite having preliminary approval from an advisor or Faculty Program Director since the University Graduate School will be reviewing the request as well. Requests for internship or practicum waivers must be based on professional experience gained prior to beginning the MAAA program.These requests may take several weeks for processing.

Before submitting your substitution/waiver form, first connect with the Assistant Director of MAAA or the Faculty Program Director of MAAA to review your eligibility.

Electives

For an elective course to count toward a graduate degree, it must be 500-level or higher or listed in the University Graduate School Bulletin as eligible for graduate credit. For MAAA and MAAA-MPA students, approval is not needed to take elective courses outside of O’Neill (SPEA or AADM), so long as the courses are 500-level or higher (or approved for graduate credit) and offered on the IU Bloomington campus.

Courses taken at another IU campus or another institution are considered transfer credit. Up to 9 credit hours of appropriate graduate course work with grades of B (3.0) or higher may be transferred. Students should access the Outside Program Course Request Form in the Forms section of the Current Student Portal to request approval for an elective taken at another IU campus or institution.

Enrollment Requirements

MAAA and MAAA-MPA students must enroll in at least one semester or two summer sessions of full-time coursework during the course of their program.

MAAA-MPA students must complete at least 21 credit hours within the MAAA program (AADM courses) and 21 credit hours within the MPA program (SPEA and SPCN courses). Consult with your academic advisor to ensure you are on track for meeting this credit hour requirement for your degree.

Experiential Requirements

MAAA and MAAA-MPA students must complete three 50-hour arts management practicum projects, as well as a 280-hour internship.

Practicum (AADM-Y 550, 0-3 credits) – Three different 50-hour arts management projects are completed throughout the three semesters of coursework. Students should register for 0 credits each semester, unless also completing practicum credits toward their elective requirement. Students should seek advice from an advisor before beginning practicum work. Students should submit their practicum proposals for approval from the course instructor before beginning work toward the projects. Practicum proposals can be submitted here.

Internship (AADM-Y750, 0-3 credits) - Each student is required to complete a 280-hour internship. These internships give students an excellent opportunity to apply classroom theory and techniques to real-life experiences. Students should register for AADM-Y 750 either in the summer between their second and third semesters, or in the spring following the third semester in the program. Before registering, students must submit an internship contract with the Career Hub (SPEA 200) for approval. To obtain credit, students must complete all required paperwork. Students should complete AADM-Y 750 for 0 credits, unless also completing internship credits toward their elective requirement. Students should confer with their advisor(s) prior to registration each term to ensure they are making progress toward completing all degree requirements. Students can register their internships with the Career Hub here.

A student’s experiential requirement may also be satisfied through Prior Experience. To qualify, experience must have been gained prior to taking courses in the MAAA program. For more information, first connect with the Assistant Director of MAAA or the Faculty Program Director of MAAA to review your eligibility.

Practicum and Internship Guidelines for International Master’s Candidates:

International students completing a MAAA or MAAA-MPA degree must meet with an advisor from the Office of International Services prior to beginning practicum and internship work. Students must apply for curricular practical training (CPT) in each semester that they will complete practicum and/or internship work that is either off-campus or a paid opportunity. Arts Administration requires immediate participation in Curricular Practical Training, and therefore a request for CPT must be made to the Office of International Services (OIS). A student may begin CPT only after receiving his or her Form I-20 with an endorsement from an advisor at OIS. For more information on CPT, please visit the OIS website or call 812-855-9086.

Tuition & Enrollment

MAAA-MPA students: Students should plan to enroll in classes and pay tuition as an MPA student for the first year of study and as a MAAA student for the second year of study. For any remaining semesters of enrollment, students should plan to alternate between the MPA and MAAA programs. This only affects the distribution of tuition between the schools; it does not change the types of classes that students are able to enroll in during a given semester. The O’Neill Graduate Records Office will check dual degree student enrollments each term to ensure enrollments are placed under O’Neill when necessary and will reach out to students whose enrollments need switched to adhere to this rule.

Electives

MIA and MIA-MPA students can choose any of the graduate-level courses offered by O'Neill or Hamilton Lugar (HLS) for their degree's elective requirements. For an elective course to count toward a graduate degree, it must be 500-level or higher or listed in the University Graduate School Bulletin as eligible for graduate credit. Possible options for MIA and MIA-MPA would include language and/or culture courses at HLS, or further studies in O’Neill related subject areas.

HLS courses can have any of the following prefixes: AFRI, CEUS, EALC, EURO, INST, INTL, LTAM, MELC, REEI, SEAS, and SGIS. O'Neill courses have the prefix SPEA.

Additionally, the following courses are preapproved: POLS-Y 569 International Relations: Approaches and Issues, ECON-E 501 Economic Development, and ECON-E 501 International Trade.

Students may take up to 6 credits in graduate level courses offered by other academic units at IUB, pending they are not using prior experience (PE) or transfer credit, with approval from the Faculty Program Director.

MIA-MPA Experiential Requirement

Each candidate for the MPA degree must obtain professionally relevant experience through one of the following options.

Registered Internship (0 credit hours) – Students who are ready to complete an internship should consult with their academic advisor regarding the number of credits the student should register for and to confirm what degree requirements the internship may satisfy. Additionally, students must consult the Career Hub before the internship begins. The Career Hub will provide details concerning eligibility, procedures and required paperwork.

To satisfy the MPA-MIA experiential requirement with an internship during the degree program, students must register for 0 credits of SPEA-V 585 Practicum in Public Affairs. The amount of credit hours granted is determined by the number of hours worked. A student must work for 120 hours for zero and one credit hour, while each credit hour thereafter is earned by working an additional 80 hours.

To satisfy the requirement, students must complete the proper paperwork with the Career Hub before starting an internship and must complete all progress reports and other required paperwork during the internship. In addition, Indiana University policy states "registration for the internship should be placed in the session during which the external event or experience on which it is based occurs." Internships that have been completed in the past cannot be registered for a current or future term.

Research internships are also an option, with a supervising O'Neill faculty member or a researcher, agency, or organization outside O'Neill. Further details are available with the Career Hub.

Students can register their internships with the Career Hub here.

2. Prior Experience – A student’s experiential requirement may be satisfied through Prior Experience (PE). There are three categories of PE (Professional, Military, and Volunteer). Although prior experience sometimes comes with a reduction in credits, students in the MPA-MIA program are not eligible for a credit reduction. They may only apply for a waiver of the experiential requirement.

Applications for the different types of PE can be found online via the Forms section of the Current Student Portal. Completed forms should be returned to the O’Neill Graduate Records Office (SPEA A328 or oneillrc@iu.edu) so they may be advanced to the appropriate Faculty Program Director for review and potential award of credit.

Students are strongly encouraged to submit applications for PE within the first 24 credit hours. Please see your academic advisor for counsel and questions/concerns.

Internships for International Students - International students seeking to fulfill the experiential component should consult with Indiana University’s Office of International Services (OIS) to make sure they meet all necessary guidelines for participation. Please follow the links offered to read more about qualifications.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Academic Training (AT)

Electives

If the course is outside the O’Neill curriculum, it should be approved by the appropriate Faculty Program Director—see Academic Exceptions – Outside-Program Courses.

Capstone

The capstone course gives MES students an opportunity to use their knowledge and skills to address a real world, client-based problem. Students from a variety of backgrounds work together on a semester- long project for an individual, organization, or agency.

SPEA-V 600 Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs - Should be taken in the (final) spring semester.

Prior Experience

The MES program director may grant up to 6 credit hours towards the MES degree for students who have significant experience in environmental management or environmental sustainability, volunteer experience with certain partner organizations, or military experience. This experience must have been gained prior to taking courses in the MES program. Depending on the nature of the experience, prior experience credit may be granted in the core, concentration, or capstone portion of the degree, or in combinations of these. Applications for the different types of PE can be found online via the Current Student Portal in the Forms section.

Completed forms should be returned to the O’Neill Graduate Records Office (SPEA A328 or oneillrc@indiana.edu) so they may be advanced to the appropriate Faculty Program Director for review and potential award of credit. Students are strongly encouraged to submit applications for PE within the first 24 credit hours. Please see your academic advisor for counsel and questions/concerns.

Electives

If the course is outside the O’Neill curriculum, it should be approved by the appropriate Faculty Program Director—see Academic Exceptions – Outside-Program Courses.

NOTE: Some 400-level language courses have titles suggesting they are for graduate students, but do not actually count for graduate credit. Some 400-level courses are approved for graduate credit in the MSES program. Contact the O’Neill Graduate Records Office (oneillrc@iu.edu) for clarifications.

Experiential

Each candidate for the MSES and MSES-MPA dual degree must obtain professionally relevant experience through one of the following options:

Internship – Students who are ready to complete an internship should consult with their academic advisor regarding the number of credits the student should register for and to confirm what degree requirements the internship may satisfy. Additionally, students must consult the Career Hub before the internship begins. The Career Hub will provide details concerning eligibility, procedures and required paperwork.

Registered Internship (0-6 credit hours) –To satisfy the MSES-MPA experiential requirement with an internship during the degree program, students must register for zero to six credits of SPEA-E 589 Practicum in Environmental Science or SPEA-V 585 Practicum in Public Affairs. The amount of credit hours granted is determined by the number of hours worked. A student must work for 120 hours for zero and one credit, while each credit hour thereafter is earned by working an additional 80 hours. To satisfy the requirement, students must complete the proper paperwork with the CareerHub before starting an internship and must complete all progress reports and other required paperwork during the internship. In addition, Indiana University policy states “registration for the internship should be placed in the session during which the external event or experience on which it is based occurs.” Internships that have been completed in the past cannot be registered for a current or future term.

Research internships are also an option, with a supervising O’Neill faculty member or a researcher, agency, or organization outside O’Neill. Further details are available with the Career Hub.

Internships for International Students - International students seeking to fulfill the experiential component should consult with Indiana University’s Office of International Student Services (OIS) to make sure they meet all necessary guidelines for participation. Please follow the links offered to read more about qualifications.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT):http://ois.iu.edu/living-working/employment/f1/curricular.html

Academic Training (AT): http://ois.iu.edu/living-working/employment/j1/academic.html

International students will generally be approved for one internship and CPT request per degree program (e.g. an MPA student will likely be approved for one internship, and an MSES-MPA student will likely be approved for two internships even though the dual program only requires one internship). CPT requests are approved by OIS and therefore must be proven as integral to the student's degree program(s). Therefore, any additional CPT requests outside of the one required to complete the experiential component of O'Neill degrees must be well-supported and will need to be approved by MPO staff and the designated Faculty Program Director. Please contact the MPO at agoneill@iu.edu for any questions or inquiries.

Thesis Project – Students completing the MSES Thesis Concentration automatically complete the experiential requirement for the MSES and MSES-MPA dual degree. See the MSES Thesis Concentration pages for additional information.

Capstone

MSES and MSES-MPA dual degree students should take a course during which they participate in a team to carry out an integrative project that addresses a multi-disciplinary problem. A faculty advisor may be consulted regarding an appropriate selection. This requirement may be met in one of the following ways:

SPEA-V 600 Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs
An alternative course with a similar structure, such as SPEA-E 546 Stream Ecology (P: SPEA-E 556) or SPEA-E 560 Environmental Risk Analysis (P: SPEA-E 538 or SPEA-V 506) or other approved course.
MSES Thesis - Completion of the MSES Thesis Concentration satisfies the MSES or MPA-MSES dual degree capstone requirement. Students interested in completing a research thesis will find additional information on the MSES Thesis Concentration page.

Electives

If the course is outside the O’Neill or partnering school’s curriculum, it should be approved by the appropriate Faculty Program Director—see Academic Exceptions – Outside-Program Courses.

MSHM Practicum Overview

The MSHM Practicum is a three-course elective sequence that provides students with meaningful leadership experience in a healthcare organization. Students serve as project managers, working 15–20 hours per week during the academic year while completing SPEA-H 585 (Practicum 1) and SPEA-H 586 (Practicum 2) in the fall, followed by SPEA-H 600 (MSHM Capstone) in the spring (prerequisites: H585 and H586). This sequence is ideal for students who want to apply their knowledge in a real-world setting and strengthen their résumés with both professional experience and certifications.

Organizations vary each year and may include hospitals, consulting firms, medical device companies, insurance providers, pharmaceutical companies, clinics, and long-term care facilities. Students apply for placements during the summer Career Development and Design (CDD) course, where they prepare application materials, interview, and submit ranked preferences. While students may not always receive their top choice, the matching process ensures a strong alignment with each student's goals and interests. Students may choose to apply for remote or in-person sites, and practicum schedules are coordinated directly with the placement organization. Enrollment in all three courses is required for participation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to take all three courses?
Yes. The practicum is a yearlong commitment and requires enrollment in all three courses—H585, H586, and H600.

What types of organizations offer practicum placements?
Placement sites vary each year and have included hospitals, consulting firms, medical device companies, pharmaceutical organizations, insurance providers, clinics, and long-term care facilities.

How do I apply for a practicum site?
You’ll apply during the Career Development and Design (CDD) course in the summer. This includes preparing your résumé, interviewing with potential sites, and ranking your preferences. Matches are made based on alignment between student goals and site needs.

Will I get my first choice?
Not always. While student preferences are considered, placement depends on availability, interview outcomes, and site requirements.

Can I choose a remote or in-person placement?
Yes. You can choose whether to apply to remote or in-person opportunities—or a mix of both.

What is the weekly time commitment?
You’ll work 15–20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters. Your specific schedule will be determined in coordination with your practicum site.

What kinds of projects will I work on?
Projects vary by site, but all focus on solving real problems in healthcare management—such as improving operations, supporting strategic initiatives, or advancing health equity.

Will I earn certifications?
Yes! Students often earn professional certifications during the practicum that strengthen their résumés and job market readiness.

Will I still take Career Development and Design (CDD) if I don’t take practicum?

Yes. This course encompasses so much more than just the application process

A student’s experiential requirement may be satisfied through Prior Experience (PE). Depending upon the type and amount of experience, a student may qualify for a credit reduction as well. There are three categories of PE (Professional, Military, and Volunteer) available to MPA, MSES, MPA-MSES, MES, and MIA students. MAAA and MAAA-MPA students have different guidelines for PE since they are governed by the University Graduate School; see the appropriate page for information on exceptions and waivers for MAAA students.

Applications for the different types of PE can be found online via the Current Student Portal in the Forms section. Completed forms should be emailed to the O’Neill Graduate Records Office (oneillrc@iu.edu) so they may be advanced to the appropriate Faculty Program Director.

Please note:

PE waivers and credit reductions are granted for experience gained prior to taking courses in the MPA, MES, MSES, and MIA programs.
Students are strongly encouraged to submit applications for PE within the first 24 credit hours.
Students may be approved for more than one type of PE, but the combined credit reduction cannot exceed 9 credit hours for MPA, MSES, and MPA-MSES students or 6 credit hours for MES and MIA students.
Credit reductions cannot result in the elimination of degree or concentration requirements. Students receiving prior experience credit reductions should carefully plan the balance of their program with an advisor.
A student may not apply for PE with any of O’Neill’s outside, dual degree programs (e.g., MPA-MA, MSES-JD). All of O’Neill’s outside dual degree programs reflect a discounted credit hour program in an effort to streamline the academic demands for the student. Further credit reductions are not negotiable. This does not apply to O’Neill’s dual MPA-MSES and MAAA-MPA degree.
Determination of PE credit is made separately from decisions about transfer of credit. Under no circumstances will the prior experience credit and transfer credit total more than:

o 18 credit hours for MPA, MSES, and MPA-MSES students

o 15 credit hours for MES students
o 6 credit hours for MIA students

Professional Experience: Experiential waivers and credit reductions can be granted for prior professional or technical work experience. The appropriate Faculty Program Director, using guidelines set forth in the Professional Experience application forms, determines if the experience qualifies for a waiver and/or reduction. In general, credit reductions require work experience above entry level that involves some independent managerial, analytic, or scientific responsibility and work that articulates with the student’s current field of study. Only experience gained after graduating with a bachelor’s degree and before starting an O’Neill master’s program will be considered. The Professional Experience Application can be found in the Forms section of the Current Student Portal.

General guidelines to qualify for Professional Experience:

- The work is generally assumed to have been paid, full-time work, but students may make the case for highly relevant volunteer and part-time work.
- To qualify for a waiver of the experiential requirement, experience should roughly equal or surpass that of a summer internship.
- Position may be with government, private firm, or nonprofit organization, but the work must be explicitly related to an MPA, MES, MSES, or MIA career path, regardless of the type of employer.
- Employing entity may be domestic or international.
- Documentation from supervisors may be required.

Military Experience: Students with at least one year of active duty or full-time guard/reserve service OR two years of part-time guard/reserve service with the U.S. military are eligible for an experiential waiver and a minimum 3-credit reduction. Proof of service that indicates dates of service will be required. The Military Credit Reduction Application can be found in the Forms section of the Current Student Portal.

Students who have international military experience should submit the Professional Experience form rather than the Military Credit Reduction Form

Volunteer Experience: Students who have participated as a volunteer in Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, or Teach For America are eligible for a 3- or 6-credit hour reduction based on years of service, as well as a waiver of their experiential component. Proof of service will be required. The Volunteer Credit Reduction Application can be found in the Forms section of the Current Student Portal.

Official Master’s Academic Alert Policies

Students must be in good academic standing in order to graduate. To be in good standing, students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.000 or higher*. If a student falls below a 3.000 GPA, they will be placed on academic alert for the following semester. Students on academic alert must schedule and attend appointments with an O’Neill Master’s Programs Office advisor or Faculty Program Director.

Under special circumstances, a student may be dismissed if their cumulative GPA is less than a 2.0 in their first semester.

A student placed on academic alert has one semester to raise their cumulative GPA to 3.000 or above. Failure to do so will result in a review of the student’s status and may result in dismissal from the program.

For students in degree programs requiring more than 36 credit hours, students must have 6 completed credits before being placed on academic alert.

For students in all degree programs requiring 36 or fewer credit hours, a student may be reviewed by their program director(s) for dismissal from their program at the end of their first semester.

For students in the degree programs requiring 36 or fewer credit hours (with exception of the MIA program), students may be placed on academic alert at the conclusion of their first course.

For all students:

GPA – Once a student is placed on academic alert, at least a 3.0 term GPA must be earned in the subsequent semesters. While any student with below a 3.0 cumulative GPA will remain on academic alert, they at least would need to earn a 3.0 term GPA in the following semester.
Failed Core Courses – If a student does not pass a core course on the 2nd attempt, they will be placed on academic alert regardless of GPA. Failure to pass on a 3rd attempt will result in dismissal. Grades of “C” or better are considered passing; a “C-” or lower is considered failing.
Enrollment – A hold will be placed on the record of students on academic alert that will only be removed once they meet with their academic advisor. The student is expected to meet with their academic advisor by the end of the 3rd week of the semester. The academic advisor and/or program director will recommend that the student follow a course schedule prescribed by their advisor.
Dismissal Appeal – Any student being academically dismissed can appeal their dismissal, in writing, to the program director within 2 weeks of being notified of the dismissal decision. If a dismissed student wants to return and didn't originally appeal their dismissal, the student can apply to return after a break of a least a full fall/spring semester away. If approved to return, they would return on academic alert status. The appeal form can be found within the Returning Student Form in the Forms section of the Current Student Portal.
Leave of Absence/Returning Student – If a student on academic alert chooses to take a leave of absence, the student will return on academic alert status. Additionally, a hold will be placed on their record, and they must meet with an academic advisor before enrolling. If a dismissed student wants to return and didn’t originally appeal their dismissal, the student can apply to return after a break of at least a full fall/spring semester away via the returning student form. This would be reviewed similarly to an appeal by the program director. If approved to return, they would return on academic alert status - a hold will be placed on their record, and they must meet with an academic advisor before enrolling.

Note regarding academic alert: If a student is placed on academic alert, a hold will be placed on their academic record. This hold will prevent the student from registering for next semester's courses. The hold will remain on the student’s academic record until the student schedules and attends a meeting with an O’Neill MPO advisor or faculty program director.

*Cumulative GPA can be found at the bottom of the AAR; transcript GPA is not always accurate.

Students with more than one incomplete on their record will have a hold placed on their student account which will prohibit registration for the next semester. The hold will be lifted when the student has only one incomplete remaining or has completed all incomplete courses. If students have enrolled and still have multiple incompletes on their record at the start of the next term, students may be administratively unenrolled from courses until the incompletes are resolved

Students who are on academic alert, financial aid alert, or have multiple incompletes in coursework must make an appointment(s) with an O’Neill MPO advisor or Faculty Program Director.

The decision of the frequency of the appointments for each student will be decided by the O’Neill MPO staff member or faculty program director The decision will be based on the student’s overall academic performance and need. Students who are placed on academic alert or have multiple incompletes will be notified of their status and how often they must meet with an O’Neill MPO advisor or a faculty program director. Frequency of appointments are subject to change at the discretion of MPO staff and faculty program directors, based on student progress, performance, and feedback.

Current Students

Policies & Procedures