The #2021APPAM Fall Research Conference will feature some fantastic sponsors from across the policy research spectrum. Today we're shining a spotlight on Indiana University O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
What types of programs does your school offer?
Founded in 1972, the school is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The O’Neill School was the first school to combine public management, policy, and administration with the environmental sciences.
The O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs offers programs in two locations—the IU Bloomington campus and at IUPUI in Indianapolis.
Bloomington Campus
- Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs
- Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science
- Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management and Policy
- Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Sustainability Studies
- Bachelor of Science in Arts Management
- Master of Public Affairs (offered both in-residence and online)
- Master of Science in Environmental Science
- Master of Public Affairs and Master of Science in Environmental Science Dual Degree
- Master of Environmental Sustainability
- Master of Science in Healthcare Management (offered online and hybrid, with an executive track)
- Master of International Affairs
- Master of Public Affairs and Master of International Affairs Dual Degree
- Master of Arts in Arts Administration
- Master of Arts in Arts Administration and Master of Public Affairs Dual Degree
- Ph.D. in Public Affairs
- Ph.D. in Environmental Science
- Joint Ph.D. in Public Policy
Indianapolis Campus
- Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs
- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
- Master of Public Affairs
- Master of Public Affairs and Doctor of Jurisprudence Dual Degree
- Master of Public Affairs and Master of Arts in Philanthropic Studies Dual Degree
- Executive Master of Public Affairs
- Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Learn more about the diverse opportunities available through the O’Neill School on our website.
What would you list as your school's greatest accomplishments in the last 5-10 years?
Now in its 50th year, the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs takes enormous pride in its place as one of the nation’s premier schools of public affairs and environmental studies in the country. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks the school’s Master of Public Affairs program as one of the best in the nation. Once again, the school ranked first in the 2023 Best Graduate Public Affairs programs, with three concentrations—Environmental Policy and Management, Nonprofit Management, and Public Finance—each also ranking at number one. Beyond U.S. News, the school has earned accolades from the Academic Ranking of World Universities, coming in as the top public administration program in North America and sixth-best in the world.
In 2019, the school received a transformative $30 million gift from Indiana University alumnus and former Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Paul H. O’Neill. The gift will establish the Paul H. O'Neill Center on Leadership in Public Service, a dean's initiatives fund, three faculty chair positions, five professorships, a fellowship program for master's, doctoral, and postdoctoral students, and a scholarship program, which will continue in perpetuity.
The school is also incredibly proud of its three newest degree programs—the Master of Science in Healthcare Management, a joint-degree program with IU’s renowned Kelley School of Business; the Master of International Affairs, a joint-degree program with IU’s new Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies; and the Master of Public Affairs and Master of International Affairs dual degree. New for this year, the school has introduced its innovative Master of Public Affairs Washington D.C. Accelerator Program, which combines our traditional MPA (with all the experiences of attending a top-ranked school in a Big Ten college town) with an immersive, connection-rich one-year experience in Washington, D.C.
Why should potential students choose your school or program?
The depth and breadth of programs available through the O’Neill School make it an appealing destination for students at every level. Whether pursuing their undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral degrees, students find the O’Neill School rigorous and challenging, but ultimately rewarding. Our alumni go on to successful careers in nearly every field imaginable, from arts administration and government service to nonprofit management. They fill teaching and research roles at some of the nation’s leading institutions of higher education. A degree from the O’Neill School is incredibly versatile, and with more than 37,000 alumni across the globe, graduates know they’ll find a built-in network of support wherever they go. Undergraduates will find a rich and rewarding experience in leadership development through our new NextGen Leadership Program with the Volcker Alliance.
If you are hiring, what makes your school a great place to work?
The O’Neill School is a world-renowned institution and No. 1-ranked school with 50 years of teaching and research excellence. Our faculty and students are dedicated to research and guiding society through the most pressing challenges facing current and future generations. Locally, O’Neill faculty are experts on issues that affect our neighbors every day, from homelessness and the reach of nonprofits to energy insecurity. Globally, our faculty are sought after for their insight into topics that reach worldwide significance, like COVID-19 and climate change.