Master of Public Affairs Course Descriptions
PA
6300 Quality and Productivity Improvement in Government (3 semester hours) Examines the implications and challenges of improving public
sector quality and productivity. Provides practical methods
for improving government productivity and quality efforts. Provides tools for measuring performance and for managing
performance. (3-0) Y
PA
6309 Fundamentals of Quantitative Reasoning (3 semester hours) This
course prepares students for the required PA 5313 Descriptive and Inferential
Statistics course. This course will use a hands-on approach to illustrate
the utility of algebra and descriptive statistics in applied quantitative
reasoning. Students will acquire the skills and quantitative foundation
necessary to evaluate applied work issues, make recommendations, and evaluate
decisions. (3-0) Y
PA
6311 Public Management
(3 semester hours) The application of ideas and
techniques of public management and decision making to examine the various
roles of the general manager in public organizations. Utilizes
the case method. (3-0) Y
PA
6313 (POEC 6323 and PSCI 6313) Public Policymaking and Institutions (3 semester
hours) Surveys the major institutions associated with policymaking, including
Congress, the Presidency, the bureaucracy, and interest groups. These
institutions are studied by linking them to the decision-making theories of organizations,
social choice and incrementalism. (3-0) Y
PA
6316 Leadership in Public and Non-profit
Management (3
semester hours) This course will examine the major theories and practices of
leadership in public and non-profit organizations. Effective leaders from
public and non-profit organizations will speak to the class about the
challenges of leading in complex environments. (3-0) Y
PA 6318 Information Systems in Policy Environments (3 semester hours) Overview of the
technology, role and management of computer-based information systems in policy
environments.
Provides the managerial foundation for effective decision
making with respect to information technology implementation in public
organizations. (3-0) Y
PA
6319 Topics in Public Affairs (3 semester hours) Topics
vary from semester to semester. (May be repeated to a maximum
of 9 hours.) (3-0) Y
PA
6320 Organizational Theory
(3 semester hours) Focuses on bureaucracy and
rationality, formal and informal structures, and the role of the environment.
Organizational factors such as technology, power, information, and culture, as
well as the implications of organizational theory for public policy are
examined. (3-0) T
PA
6321 Government Financial Management and Budgeting (3 semester hours) Management of
government finances, including revenue collection and enforcement, cash and
debt management, investments, general and special funds, controllership,
financial and program audits, purchasing, financial reporting, managerial use of
governmental accounting systems, GAO and professional accounting standards.
(3-0) Y
PA
6322 Negotiations for Effective Management (3 semester hours) Students in this course will learn about
negotiations, principally in the public sector, and will develop and practice
skills to become more proficient negotiators and more effective managers. The
course will be a combination of learning about negotiations and participating
in exercises and simulated negotiations. The exercises and simulations
reinforce theories about the role of negotiations in effective management and
enable students to develop their own negotiation skills. (3-0) Y
PA
6324 Community Planning (3
semester hours) This course examines local
issues involving growth and development on the local level of government.
Specifically, it examines land use planning, zoning, subdivision regulations,
and the processes that are involved with these issues. (3-0) Y
PA
6326 Decision Tools for Managers (3 semester hours) This course
introduces students to the variety of analytical and mathematical tools
intended to improve management decision making. Cognitive failures in
decision-making and remedies are also explored. Tools range from systems
analysis to techniques of management science. Uses available
software for management science studies. (3-0) T
PA
6327 Land Use Law and Ethics (3 semester hours) This
course covers two key elements of the planning profession: ethics and law as
they relate to plan implementation. Community planning actions and decisions
can impact the social and economic welfare of people, neighborhoods, cities,
and regions in nontrivial ways. Ethics play an important role in guiding the
planner; telling us what we should do (3-0) Y
PA
6328 Management Process and Analysis (3 semester hours) This course
examines rigorous methods for analyzing management processes and decision
making. Focuses on the examination, critique and design of
management systems. Examines various methods for
improving organizational performance. (3-0) T
PA
6329 Quantitative Models of Public Management (3 semester hours) This course addreses models of public management that have been tested
with quantitative research. The course will discuss quantitative models
of human resource management, budgeting, implementation, and organizational
development. In addition to discussing the findings of this research, the
class will discuss the foundations of quantitative social science research on
public management. (3-0) T
PA
6330 Basics of Land Development (3 semester hours) Land
development is the conversion of land from one use to another. This course
emphasizes key concepts of land use practices utilized by local governments in
the
PA
6332 Historic Preservation
(3 semester hours) The conservation of our physical
environment provides a visual glimpse of history, but a meaningful sense of
time and place within our communities is a wise use of resources. This course
addresses: 1) the planning and development process as it applies to
conservation of the built environment, 2) the practice of historic preservation
and its relationship to planning for the future of a community, and 3) the
legal basis for preparation and implementation of preservation plans and
ordinances at the local level. (3-0) Y
PA
6333 Marketing and Communication for Non-profit Organizations (3 semester hours) This course examines the unique dynamics of marketing
mission-based organizations and the communication strategies necessary to
relate to various stakeholder groups. (3-0) R
PA
6335 Resource
Development for Non-profit Organizations (3 semester hours) This course examines sources of revenue for non-profit
organizations. Specific topics include fundraising, grant writing, and donor
dynamics. The course is designed to prepare the student to work
effectively as a member of a fundraising team – either as staff or volunteer
board member. (3-0) R
PA
6337 Capital Budgeting
(3 semester hours) This course analyzes capital
planning and budgeting as central features to economic development,
transportation, communication, and to the delivery of other essential services.
The course details the steps needed to provide the physical structure of local
government, from selecting capital projects to planning how to pay for those
projects to structuring and selling debt. (3-0) Y
PA
6338 Program Design
(3 semester hours) Concentrates on the parts of professional practice that begin
where analysis ends. Explores wide array of ideas in
linguistics, literature, psychology, theater, architecture, and the Economic,
Political and Policy Sciences that encourage rigor and creativity in the design
of public policies, programs, and projects. (3-0) R
PA
6342 (ECON 6372) Local Economic Development (3 semester hours) This class will
examine the role of local governments in promoting economic development in the
PA
6344 Local Government Management (3 semester hours) This course
examines structure of local governments, the roles of key elected and appointed
officials, and numerous issues and problems that local government managers and
policymakers face. It also presents for discussion and study some of the
best management practices that local government managers use in achieving
effective and efficient delivery of services. There is a focus on local
government management in the
PA 6345 Human Resources Management (3 semester hours) Examines
theories, principles, and practices of human resources management in public
organizations.
Explores implications of social and administrative values as
expressed in current human resource policies. (3-0) Y
PA
6348 Navigating the Government Workplace (3 semester hours) The governmental workplace is often a
complicated work environment with numerous stakeholders. This practical
course explores the challenges that public managers face at all levels of
government in having successful careers. (3-0) Y
PA
6351 Introduction to Homeland Security (3 semester hours) This course provides a comprehensive overview of the
structure of Homeland Security, its origins and developing trends and
challenges. Selected material from Congress, FEMA, Department of Justice,
local, state, and other government and non-government agencies will be
studied. Examines both historical and contemporary
Homeland Defense and Security issues. (3-0) Y
PA
6353 Emergency Management
(3 semester hours) This course examines issues related
to the management of emergencies including discussion of emergency
preparedness, emergency mitigation, and emergency response. The course
will also discuss the interplay of local, state, and federal actors in
emergency response as well as the role of government, private, and non-profit
organizations in emergency response. (3-0) T
PA 6354 Transportation Planning (3 semester hours) Transportation
planning is the process of making useful information available to
decision-makers at the organizational level to better understand the
characteristics and constraints of transportation systems. This class explores
transportation planning processes, the characteristics of urban travel, as well
as management and analytical techniques that deal with the dynamics of
urbanization and land use. (3-0) Y
PA
6370 Project and Contract Management (3 semester hours) This course
examines issues related to the management of large projects with particular
attention to the management of contracts and grants to third parties.
This course will discuss the justifications for contracting out public work,
methods of oversight of contracts, and the steps in planning these large
projects. The course will also discuss the implications of project
planning for grant writing. (3-0) T
PA
6371 Pre-emptive Strategies and Tactics for
Homeland Security(3 semester hours) Provides a
comprehensive study of formulating pre-emptive strategies and tactics related
to terrorist attacks and certain man-made disasters, such as a chemical plant
explosions. This course is a field-based application. Explores current
published pre-emptive strategies and tactics, means and methods for improving
current plans and explores new pre-emptive strategies and tactics driven by new
intelligence assessments. (3-0) Y
PA
6374 Financial Management for Non-profit Organizations (3 semester hours) This course introduces the basic concepts of third sector
financial literacy. Curriculum includes financial planning and budgeting,
monitoring of contracts and grants, and reporting mechanisms. (3-0) R
PA
6375 History and Theories of the American Philanthropic Sector (3 semester hours) This course examines the evolution of non-profit and
philanthropic organization and their role in American society. (3-0) R
PA
6376 Assessment and Outcomes for Non-profit Organizations (3 semester hours) Accountability
is a pervasive theme for the third sector, especially considering its diverse
sources of funding. This course examines qualitative and quantitative
measurement tools as well as the sector’s most successful practices. (3-0) R
PA
6380 (SOC 6380) Non-profit Organizations (3 semester hours) This course
examines issues related to the rise, scope, development, and impact of
non-profit organizations. The course explores both the unique missions of
non-profit organizations and the management challenges posed by this expanding
sector. (3-0) T
PA
6382 (SOC 6381) Non-profit Management (3 semester hours) This course
examines issues, strategies, and techniques related to executive leadership and
management in non-profit organizations. (3-0) R
PA
7307 Information Sharing and Communication for
Homeland Security(3 semester hours) Provides a
comprehensive overview of the structure of network, organizational and group
information sharing and communication. Focuses include new theories and
applications to information sharing and communication and intelligence gathering
techniques of state and local fusion centers. (3-0) Y
PA
7308 Social Networks and Intelligence Led
Policing (3
semester hours) Provides a comprehensive study of
concepts and methods for adopting intelligence as a foundation of law
enforcement business operations for sound decision-making. Exploiting social
networks is a primary means for preventing terrorism and crime. The course
explores how intelligence led policing depends on creating strong community social
networks to enhance policing of criminal networks. (3-0) Y
PA
7309 Protecting Critical Resources and
Infrastructure (3
semester hours) Includes a comprehensive study of the
current plans and policies in place for protecting critical resources and
infrastructure, both public and private. The class will consist of a thorough
review of the current literature pertaining to
critical infrastructure protection policies, methods, plans, and identify new
technology driven critical infrastructures. (3-0) Y
PA
7317 (POEC 7317) Economics for Public Policy (3 semester hours) Economics for Public Policy is a
doctoral level course designed to introduce students to the use of economic
methods of the analysis of public policy. While the primary theoretical
framework for the course is microeconomics, the course also includes
macroeconomics. A variety of public policy topics are covered in the course
such as education and education reform, employment and the labor market, taxes
and redistribution, health and health care, poverty and inequality, and public
assistance programs. A central theme in the course is the role of the
government. (3-0) Y
PA
7318 (POEC 7318) Ethics, Culture and Public Responsibility (3 semester hours) This course
provides a general consideration of traditions of ethical thought, the
interactions between personal behavior and cultural groups/norms and the
implementation of public responsibility. Topics to be considered shall include
tensions between personal and collective goals, the nature and limits of
tolerance, and the role of institutions such as the family, government,
business, churches and interest groups. (3-0) Y
PA
7V26 Policy Research Workshop in Institutions and Processes (3-9 semester hours) Students join
a faculty member in a group research project on the political economy of public
policy decisions in the context of institutional settings, such as
legislatures, executive or administrative agencies, courts, or metropolitan
systems. (May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 12
hours. However, MPA or doctoral students may not take any more than 3
hours of their concentration requirement from POEC 7326 and POEC 7330.)
([3-9]-0) T
PA
8V97 Internship
(1-9 semester hours) Provides faculty
supervision for a student’s internship. Internships must be related to
the student’s course work. ([1-9]-0) R