Learn more about minors in SPEA
Maybe you’re a criminal justice major who wants a baseline knowledge of forensic science. Or you’re studying health systems administration and want to learn more about environmental health and its impact. Maybe you’re just passionate about public and environmental affairs.
Whatever the case, a minor from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs can be the ideal complement to your major. It can help you further explore your interests while making you more marketable to potential employers.
Here are the different minors offered by SPEA:
To declare and earn any of the listed SPEA minors, please contact Carlie Petrus, academic advisor, at petrusc@iu.edu or 219-981-5668.
Criminal Justice
Students must complete the following requirements to earn a minor in Criminal Justice:
Requirements (3 credits each):
- SPEA J101 American Criminal Justice System
- SPEA J301 Substantive Criminal Law
Three of the following courses (3 credits each):
- SPEA J201 Theoretical Foundations of Criminal Justice Policies
- SPEA J306 Criminal Courts
- SPEA J321 American Policing
- SPEA J331 Corrections
Environmental Science and Health
Students must complete the following requirements to earn a minor in Environmental Science and Health:
Requirements (3 credits each):
- SPEA-H 316 Environmental Health Science
- SPEA-H 416 Environmental Health Policy
Three additional courses in Environmental Science and Health approved by a SPEA faculty advisor.
Forensics for Criminal Investigation
Students must complete six courses and meet the following requirements to earn a minor in Forensics for Criminal Investigation:
Requirements (3 credits each):
- SPEA J 101 American Criminal Justice System
- SPEA J 222 Murder in America, Causes and Consequences
One of the following courses:
- SPEA J 150 Public Safety in America
- SPEA J 370 Seminar in Criminal Justice
- SPEA J 305 Juvenile Justice
One of the following courses:
- SPEA J 215 Concepts of Forensic Science
- SPEA J 322 Introduction to Criminalistics
One of the following courses:
- SPEA J 303 Evidence
- SPEA J 320 Criminal Investigation
One of the following courses:
- SPEA J 301 Substantive Criminal Law
- SPEA J 302 Procedural Criminal Law
Health Systems Administration
Students must complete the following requirements to earn a minor in Health Systems Administration:
Requirements (3 credits each):
- SPEA-H 320 Health Systems Administration
- SPEA-H 371 Human Resources Management in Health Care Facilities OR SPEA-V 373 Human Resource Management in the Public Sector
Three of the following courses:
- SPEA-H 352 Healthcare Financial Management 1
- SPEA-H 402 Hospital Administration
- SPEA-H 411 Chronic and Long-Term Care Administration
- SPEA-H 441 Legal Aspects of Health Care Administration
- SPEA-H 455 Topics in Public Health
Pre-Law
Admission to law schools requires a baccalaureate degree and a Law School Admission Test (LSAT) score. The degree may be in any discipline. Students preparing for law school are advised to take courses in logical thought, American history, American politics, business, and criminal and civil law. While no specific courses are required, IU Northwest offers an interdisciplinary prelaw minor for students interested in attending law school.
Students must complete six courses totaling 18 credit hours by meeting the following requirements to earn a minor in Pre-Law:
Requirements (3 credits each):
- BUS L201 Legal Environment of Business
- HIST H106 American History II (Twentieth Century)
- PHIL P150 Elementary Logic
- POLS Y103 Introduction to American Politics
- SPEA J101 American Criminal Justice System
- One elective
Elective courses:
- BUS A201 Introduction to Financial Accounting
- BUS L303 The Commercial Law
- ECON E201 Introduction to Microeconomics
- HIST A313 Origins of Modern America
- HIST A315 Recent U.S. History
- HIST H105 American History I
- SPEA H441 Legal Aspects of Health Care
- SPEA J301 Substantive Criminal Law
- SPEA J303 Evidence
The Pre-Law advisor can approve an elective that is not on the list if it meets the educational objectives. The University provides Pre-Law counseling for interested students. Contact the Pre-Law advisor at 219-980-6695 or 219-981-5668.
Public and Environmental Affairs
Students must complete five courses and meet the following requirements to earn a minor in Public and Environmental Affairs:
Requirements (3 credits each):
- SPEA-V 170 Intro to Public Affairs
One of the following courses:
- SPEA-E 162 Environment and People
- SPEA-E 272 Intro to Environmental Science
Three of the following courses:
- SPEA-E 400 Topics in Environmental Studies
- SPEA-V 263 Public Management
- SPEA-V 366 Managing Behavior in Public Organizations
- SPEA-V 373 Human Resource Management in the Public Sector
- SPEA-V 376 Law and Public Policy
- SPEA-V 432 Labor Relations in the Public Sector
- SPEA-V 444 Public Administrative Organization
- SPEA-V 450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs
