Public Policy and Political Economy Course Descriptions
POEC 6301 Political-Economic Theories (3 semester
hours) A critical analysis of theories of politics and economy. Focuses on such thinkers as Smith, Marx, and Keynes, and on bodies
of theory about political and economic systems. Explores
the controversies that have shaped the development of political economy and
their implications for interdisciplinary policy analysis. (3-0) Y
POEC 6323(PA 6313
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
POEC 6319 (PSCI 6310) Political Economy of MNCs (3 semester hours)
The Political Economy of Multinational Corporations will approach the rise of
international firms and their behavior from a social scientific approach,
utilizing research in economics, political science, and other
disciplines. In addition to the historical rise of international firms,
the course covers the economic theory of the firm, MNCs as political actors,
the dynamics of foreign direct investment, and the relationship of MNCs to
developing countries. The aim of the course is to understand the causes
and effects of the behavior of transnational corporations, particularly in
regard to economic policy.(3-0) T
POEC 6335 (PSCI
6335) Institutions and Development Institutions and Development (3 semester hours) An
overview of leading theories, institutional perspectives, issues and policy
debates concerning urban, regional, national and global development. Topics may
include economic growth, technology and innovation, shifts in industrial
structure, spatially imbalanced change, and their welfare consequences.
POEC 6327
Microeconomics for Policy I
(3 semester hours) Develops the tools of economic
analysis and demonstrates their uses for decision making and the evaluation of
public policies. ECO 3310 or equivalent recommended. (3-0) Y
POEC 6353 (ECON
6362) Industry, Technology, and Science Policy (3 semester hours) Focuses on the
impact of social, economic, and political factors on industry as critical units
of production, and how these interact with technology and science. Topics
include availability of skilled labor, research and development in industry,
business-university relationships, innovation, and international
competitiveness of the
POEC 6354
Theories and Issues of Development (3 semester hours) In approaching
development, there is an important interaction between theories and issues,
each to some extent defining the other. This course will review a number
of prominent instances in which we see this interaction-where theory has shaped
the way people defined and approached practical problems and also where
pressing practical problems have sometimes demanded new theoretical
developments. Specific theories and issues discussed vary. Possible
theories of interest include arguments for and against slavery, mercantilism,
the idea of economic "takeoff," central planning versus pluralism, and the role
of democracy and human rights. Issues include labor conditions, urban
living conditions, population growth and population quality, environmental
pollution and sustainability, and governmental ineffectiveness and corruption.
(3-0) T
POEC 6355 Political Economy of the
POEC 6357 (PSCI 6357) Political Economy of Latin America (3 semester
hours) Addresses historical and contemporary issues in Latin American political
economy. Uses
case studies and cross-regional comparisons to assess competing explanations. Analyzes the current political and economic situation facing
POEC 6358
Political Economy of South and Southeast Asia (3 semester hours) Political Economy of South and Southeast
Asia.
POEC 6360 (ECON
6352) World Political Economy (3 semester hours) An overview of major social, political,
economic, and cultural forces that influence the nature of international
political and economic relations. (3-0) T
POEC 6361 (PSCI
6361) Political Violence and Terrorism (3 semester hours) In this
discussion-based seminar, we will cover the topics of terrorism, political
violence, and civil war. We will examine concepts, causes, and
consequences of different types of political violence. Additionally, we
will discuss topics relevant to research, including discussions of different
approaches (quantitative, qualitative, and formal) and a perusal of different
data sources. We will take advantage of literature from multiple
disciplines.(3-0)
POEC 6362 (PSCI
6362) Political Development
(3 semester hours) This course will survey different perspectives and theories
of political development. Topics covered include the role of the state,
democratization, political stability, civil society and environmental concerns,
among others. (3-0) T
POEC 6363 (PSCI 6363) Conflict and Development (3 semester hours) This module will explore the nexus between violent intrastate
conflict and development. It will examine some of the key conceptual frameworks
advanced to understand conflict and will explore specific themes which have
preoccupied researchers and policy practitioners in recent years. In addition
to assessing the economic costs of the conflicts, this course will also examine
the traditional factors that have been purported to explain the prevalence of
insurgency. (3-0) T
POEC 6364
Development Economics
(3 semester hours) An overview of theories of national
economic growth and development, with emphasis on economy-wide modeling,
application of micro-economic theories, and domestic sectoral
policy. (3-0) R
POEC 6366
International Economics
(3 semester hours) The course focuses on international
trade theory and the ongoing process of regional integration in the
POEC 6367
Topical Issues in Conflict and Conflict Resolution (3 semester
hours) This
course will examine in detail three recent international or ethnic conflicts
and the national and international efforts to resolve the conflicts and/or
mitigate their effects. The course will examine theories of conflict
including ethnic conflict and just war theory. It will examine the
historical sources of the conflicts, the regional and international dimensions,
the precipitating causes and the intensification of the conflicts.
Examples of conflicts that could be used include: the former
POEC 6368
Population and Development
(3 semester hours) Examines the relations among
population, resources, economic development, and the environment in light of
conflicting Malthusian and anti-Malthusian paradigms. Topics include fertility,
mortality, public health, human capital, use of resources, and environmental
impacts at local, regional, and global scales. (3-0) T
POEC 6369
National and International Security Strategies and Policies (3 semester hours) With the end of the decades long Cold
War, the
POEC 6379
Special Topics in Development Studies (3 semester hours) Topics vary from semester to semester. (May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 9 hours.
However, MPA or doctoral students may not take more than 3 hours of their
concentration requirement from POEC 6379 and POEC 6376.) (3-0) T
POEC 6V76 Policy
Research Workshop in Development Studies (3-9 semester hours) Students join a faculty member in a
group research project. Topics vary from semester to semester. However,
students may substitute an individual Field Research Project for this workshop;
the project must be approved by the faculty of the
POEC 6V81
Special Topics in Political Economy (1-9 semester hours) Topics vary from semester to semester.
May be repeated for credit as topics vary. ([1-9]-0) S
POEC 7306
Macroeconomic Theory and Policy (3 semester hours) Studies various schools of macroeconomic
theory, their political and economic implications and the policies that flow
from them. Discusses the design and implementation of
policies related to inflation, unemployment, business fluctuations and
long-term economic growth. (3-0) R
POEC 7317 (PA 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
POEC 7318 (PA 6308)
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
POEC 7320 (PSCI
7320) International Negotiations (3 semester hours) This course
examines both the substance and the process of international negotiations.
Students study the theory and analysis of negotiations and identify issues,
interests and positions of the parties. The course covers the substantive areas
of arms control, trade, and environmental negotiations. The course moves from
the analysis of simple, bilateral negotiations with only a few issues in
contention to complex multilateral negotiations.
POEC 7321
Seminar on Business and Government (3 semester hours) Examines the
interactions between markets and the state from a comparative and public policy
perspective. Special emphasis will be placed on issues involving industry
regulation/deregulation, antitrust/competition, innovation/industrial policy,
infrastructure investment, intellectual property, social regulation, and global
trade/investment. (3-0)
POEC 7327 Innovation Dynamics and Economic
Change (3 semester hours) Examines the convergence
of the information technology and telecom industries. Explores
the role of technological innovation together with economic, institutional, and
legal-regulatory issues shaping the new IT-Telecom industry within both
domestic and geopolitical contexts. (3-0) T
POEC 7329
Special Topics in Industry and Public Policy (3 semester hours) Topics vary from semester to semester. (May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 9 hours.
However, MPA or doctoral students may not take more than 3 hours of their
concentration requirement from POEC 7329). (3-0) T
POEC 7330
Special Topics in Institutions and Processes (3 semester hours) Topics vary from semester to semester. (May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 9 hours. MPA or
doctoral students may not take more than 3 hours of the concentration
requirement from POEC 7330 and POEC 7326.)
POEC 7376
Special Topics in Social Policy (3 semester hours) Topics vary from semester to semester. (May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 9 hours. MPA or
doctoral students may not take more than 3 hours of their concentration
requirement from policy research workshops and POEC 7376.) (3-0) T
POEC 7381
Special Topics in Political Economy (3 semester hours) Topics vary from semester to semester. (May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 9 hours.) (3-0)
R
POEC 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 6 hours.
([3-9]-0) T
POEC 7V47
Policy Research Workshop in Health Care Policy (3-9 semester hours) Students join
a faculty member in a group research project. (May be
repeated for credit to a maximum of 12 hours. MPA or doctoral students
may not take more than 3 hours of their concentration requirement from policy
research workshops and POEC 7376.) ([3-9]-0) T
POEC 7V62
Policy Research Workshop in Social Policy (3-9 semester hours) Students join a faculty member in a
group research project. (May be repeated for credit to a
maximum of 6 hours.) ([3-9]-0) T
POEC 7V64
Policy Research Workshop in Poverty Research and Policy (3-9 semester hours) Students join
a faculty member in a group research project. (May be
repeated for credit up to 6 hours).
([3-9]-0) T
POEC 8398
Dissertation Seminar
(3 semester hours) A seminar for students preparing proposals or writing
dissertations. Prerequisite: Successful completion of qualifying examination or
consent of instructor. (May be repeated for credit.)
(3-0) S
POEC 8V01
Independent Study
(1-9 semester hours) Provides faculty supervision for student’s individual
study of a topic agreed upon by the student and the faculty supervisor.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. (May be repeated for
credit.) ([1-9]-0) R
POEC 8V97 Internship (1-9 semester hours) Provides faculty
supervision for a student’s internship. Internships must be
related to the student’s coursework. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
([1-9]-0) R
POEC 8V99 Dissertation (1-9 semester hours) Provides faculty
supervision of a student’s dissertation research. Prerequisite: Consent
of instructor. (May be repeated for credit.) ([1-9]-0)
S