Course Descriptions
CRIM
6300 Proseminar in Criminology (3 semester hours)
Introduction to graduate study in criminology through exposure to issues
surrounding concepts of crime, criminals and societal response. Students learn to examine critically the
theoretical, methodological and policy issues in criminology and criminal
justice. (3-0) Y
CRIM
6303 Etiology of Crime and Criminality (3 semester hours) This
course examines the history of criminological thought incorporating the major
works of such theorists as Bentham, Beccaria, Marx, Durkheim, Lombroso, Shaw
and McKay, Sutherland, Becker, and Merton. (3-0) Y
CRIM
6307 Extent of Crime and Measurement (3 semester hours) This
course will address problems in criminology and examine the major data sources
available on crimes, criminals who commit them and the limitations of such
data. Topics also include measurement
issues and problems concerning research on the nature and extent of criminal
behavior. (3-0) R
CRIM
6308 Victimology (3 semester hours) This course examines risks and
consequences of crime for its victims.
Issues considered include victim-offender relationships, characteristics
of victims, the nature of the injuries they experience, and criminal justice procedures
that involve them. (3-0) R
CRIM
6309 Communities and Crime (3 semester hours) This course examines
the trends and sources of crime and social disorder across communities. The course emphasizes fear of crime,
neighborhood changes and the resulting affect, responses, relationships, and
public policies addressing those factors.
(3-0) R
CRIM
6310 Delinquency and Juvenile Justice (3 semester hours) This
course will examine youth crime, child victimization, and juvenile
justice. Students learn the processes by
which specific behaviors are identified as delinquent, the historical evolution
of the juvenile justice, and current policies and practices. (3-0) R
CRIM
6311 Crime and Justice Policy (3 semester hours) This
course will provide an introduction as well as in-depth study into crime and
the efforts to control crime through public policy. (3-0) Y
CRIM
6313 Corrections (3 semester hours) This course will examine the history,
forms, and functions of correctional philosophies, institutions, programs, and
policies. Topics include the structure
and functions of prisons and jails, community corrections, intermediate
sanctions, and the growth of correctional control in modern society. (3-0) R
CRIM
6314 Policing (3 semester hours) This course will provide historical,
social and political analysis of the roles and functions of policing in
America. (3-0) R
CRIM
6315 Violent Crime (3 semester hours) This course will provide an in-depth
analysis of the sources and patterns of violent offending across time and space.
Topics include conceptions and typologies of violent crimes, offenders, victim
offender relations, and efforts to predict and control violent offending. (3-0)
R
CRIM
6317 Courts (3 semester hours) This course will address the objectives,
institutions and processes involved in the adjudication of offenders. Topics include the structure and function of
the judicial system and principal court actors. (3-0) R
CRIM
6323 Violence and Gun Control (3 semester hours) The
primary purpose of this course is the examination of facts surrounding one of
the most heated issues of our times: the relationship between guns, violence
and gun control. The course provides a comprehensive criminological view of the
topic rather than a political or legal one. Students will learn about
evaluating evidence, the "stricter gun law" debate, flaws in
arguments on both sides of issue, as well as tricks used by advocates to
persuade people to agree with their point of view. (3-0) R
CRIM
6324 Correlates of Crime and Justice (3 semester hours) This
course is intended to examine the nature, relationships, attributes and indices
at the situational and aggregate levels to various forms of crime and systems
of justice. (3-0) R
CRIM
6348 Drugs and Crime (3 semester hours) This course provides students with a
survey of the historical context of the legislative initiatives that have been
attempted to combat the use of drugs, the relationship between drug use/abuse
and crime, and the crime and public policy problems surrounding the control of
drugs. (3-0) R
CRIM
6390 (PA 6390) Administrative and Leadership in Justice Agencies (3
semester hours) This course focuses on the administrative structures,
processes, and behavior in managing criminal justice agencies. The focus is on human and financial resources,
organizational theory, decision-making, productivity, measurement and
enhancement, organizational design, and ethics and culture in police, courts,
and correctional agencies. (3-0) Y
CRIM
6395 (PA 6365) Contemporary Issues in Justice Administration (3
semester hours) This course explores and surveys classical and recent
literature in criminal justice focused on various critical issues confronting
the criminal justice system. The course studies the trends, contemporary
topics, and reform movements currently prominent in the fields of policing,
courts and corrections. Prerequisite: Permission of department (3-0) Y
CRIM
6V90 Thesis Writing Research (1-6 semester hours)
Students conduct a master's level research project under the supervision of
faculty. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor required. ([1-6]-0) R
CRIM
6V96 Master Thesis Research (1-6 semester hours) Students conduct
masters level research project under the supervision of faculty. May be
repeated for credit (6 hours maximum). [(1-6)-0] R
CRIM
6V98 Analytical Writing Research (1-9 semester hours)
Students perform independent research under the supervision of faculty. May be
repeated for credit. ([1-9]-0) R
CRIM
7300 Advances in Criminology Theory (3 semester hours) This course
examines contemporary criminological theories and the degree to which research
has provided empirical support for explanations of crime and criminality. (3-0)
Y
CRIM
7301 Seminar in Criminology Research and Analysis (3
semester hours) This course examines a variety of quantitative methods and
procedures used in criminology research. Students will plan and execute an
independent research project. Need
working topic for dissertation and dataset is preferred. Prerequisites: EPPS
6310, EPPS 6313 and EPPS 6316 or equivalent. Permission of instructor required.
(3-0) Y
CRIM
7310 Advanced Quantitative Methods in Criminology (3
semester hours) This course is designed to be an extension to CRIM 7301.
Quantitative research techniques not covered in 7301 will be addressed in depth
as they apply to longitudinal and multilevel criminological research. Topics
may include, but are not limited to, structural equation modeling (SEM),
multilevel growth curve modeling, growth mixture models, panel regression,
propensity score matching, and latent class analysis. Topics may vary by
semester and may be tailored to fit students' research needs. Enrollment
requirements: All students must have successfully completed CRIM 7301 with a B
or better. Students should have a firm understanding of varying regression
techniques, etc., prior to enrolling. Prerequisites: CRIM 7301. Permission of
instructor required. (3-0) Y
CRIM
7342 Qualitative Criminology (3 semester hours) This
course will examine ethnography and other qualitative approaches to studying
crime, criminals, and criminal justice, particularly participant observation
and informant and respondent interviewing.
Topics include phenomenology, case study, in-depth interviewing,
ethnomethodology, conversation analysis, historical methods, gaining access,
sampling, data collection and analysis, and legal and ethical concerns. (3-0) R
CRIM
7351 Advanced Criminological Theory Seminar (3 semester hours)
Topics will vary from semester to semester on various criminological theories.
Prerequisites: Students must complete CRIM 6303 and CRIM 7300 prior to
enrolling. Consult with an advisor to determine the appropriateness for one's
degree plan and specialty areas of study. May be repeated for credit as topics
vary (9 elective hours maximum). (3-0) R
CRIM
7381 Special Topics in Criminology (3 semester hours) Topics
vary from semester to semester. Prerequisite: Consult with an advisor to
determine the appropriateness for one's degree plan and specialty areas of study.
May be repeated for credit as topics vary (9 elective hours maximum). (3-0) R
CRIM
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. Student performance is assessed by
instructor as pass/fail only. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. May be
repeated for elective credit (9 hours maximum for MS students and 12 hours
maximum for PhD students). Can be applied for credit additionally at the
discretion of the program on a case-by-case basis. ([1-9]-0) R
CRIM
8V99 Dissertation (1-9 semester hours) Provides faculty supervision of a
student's dissertation research.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor required. May be repeated as
necessary for credit. [(1-9)-0] Y
ECON
5321 Microeconomic Theory for Applications (3 semester hours)
For Master of Science students only.
Modern approaches to the theory of the firm, the theory of the consumer,
and formal relationships among the various economic functions developed using
dual approaches to the optimization of objectives such as profit maximization,
utility maximization, and cost minimization.
Introduction to game theory; and market analysis through
classical/neoclassical and game theoretic approaches. MSAE students who intend to enter the PhD
program in ECON should take ECON 6301. (3-0) Y
ECON
5322 Macroeconomic Theory for Applications (3 semester hours)
For Master of Science students only.
Development of modern macroeconomic theory, including national income
accounts and their relation to input-output tables; classical, Keynesian, and
monetarist aggregate models; behavior hypotheses of consumption, investment,
and government; properties and the role of money and interest; foreign trade
and investment; price rigidity, price flexibility, and employment; wage-price
interaction and inflation; unemployment; and ad hoc stabilization models. MSAE students who intend to enter the PhD
program in ECON should take ECON 6302. (3-0) Y
ECON
6109 Econometrics I Lab (1 semester hour) This course uses STATA
both as a data analysis tool and a programming language in econometric
analysis. The course parallels ECON
6309, Econometrics I, in the topics covered in econometric data analysis. May
be repeated for credit. Corequisite or
prerequisite: ECON 6309. (0-1) R
ECON
6301 Microeconomics Theory I (3 semester hours) Modern
approaches to the theory of the firm, the theory of the consumer, and formal
relationships among the various economic functions developed using dual
approaches to the optimization of objectives such as profit maximization,
utility maximization, and cost minimization.
Introduction to game theory; and market analysis through
classical/neoclassical and game theoretic approaches. (3-0) Y
ECON
6302 Macroeconomics Theory I (3 semester hours) This
course is the first in a sequence of core graduate macroeconomic theory
courses. The main aim is to introduce
students to the methods of deterministic dynamic analyses in economics. The second aim is to employ those methods in
understanding aggregate empirical regularities as they pertain to economic
growth with standard modern macroeconomic theory. Therefore, primary course
aims include a thorough discussion of non-stochastic dynamics and optimization.
Next, using these methods, exogenous and endogenous growth applications that
illustrate the applied general equilibrium analyses that comprise modern
macroeconomic growth theory are discussed. The course concludes with an
introduction to non-stochastic overlapping generations models and discusses the
role of dynamic efficiency in macroeconomic theory. (3-0) Y
ECON
6305 Mathematical Economics (3 semester hours) Mathematical tools
used in advanced topics model building and in the social and economic analysis
of public policy. (3-0) Y
ECON
6306 Applied Econometrics (3 semester hours) This course
investigates the consequences of relaxing the classical linear regression model
assumptions and explores solutions when the assumptions do not hold. Topics
include a review of the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) basics (including the
assumptions, hypothesis testing, multicolinearity, dummy variables and
heteroskedasticity), model specification and selection, GLS, maximum likelihood
estimation, binary choice models, simultaneous equation models, instrumental
variables, and fixed and random effects models. (3-0) Y
ECON
6309 Econometrics I (3 semester hours) An introduction to econometrics, with a
development of background concepts in linear algebra and statistics. The course
focuses on estimation, hypothesis testing, and prediction in the classical
linear regression model. Corresponding
large sample issues are considered.
General testing principles, such as likelihood ratio, Wald, Lagrange
multiplier, and Hausman-type tests are also discussed. Other topics include model specification and
nonlinear estimation issues.
Recommended: ECON/GISC 6311. (3-0) Y
ECON
6311 (GISC 6311) Statistics for Economists (3 semester hours)
The course introduces calculus-based statistical analysis and probability
theory, providing background for econometrics and economic modeling of simple
stochastic processes. Standard
probability distributions are covered, including Bernoulli, binomial, negative
binomial, hypergeometric, Poisson, normal, gamma, beta, t and F
distributions. Estimation and hypothesis
testing are discussed. Introductory
asymptomatic theory, including the Law(s) of Large Numbers and the Central Limit
Theorem, will be covered as well as real-world applications of probability
theory as time permits. (2-3) Y
ECON
6316 Spatial Econometrics (3 semester hours) The application of
econometric techniques to the explicit treatment of space (geography) in social
science models. Covers the specification
of spatial regression models, estimation and specification testing. The emphasis is on the application of spatial
econometric methods to an empirical data analysis project. Prerequisite: ECON
6306 or ECON 6309. (3-0) R
ECON
6320 Game Theory for the Social Sciences (3 semester hours) Non-technical
survey of game theory and its applications in the social sciences. Introduction
to concepts such as dominant strategies, Nash equilibrium, evolutionary
stability, repeated games, and games with incomplete information. Applications
include collective action, conflict, bargaining, the evolution of altruism and
cooperation, and signaling. (3-0) R
ECON
6321 Financial Economics I (3 semester hours) A course in
quantitative methods for investment analysis, supplemented with detailed
descriptions of the prominent players and the rules of the game which prevail
in major U.S. financial markets.
Security valuation, fixed income pricing formulas, and basic portfolio
management are covered. The key concepts
and outstanding debates surrounding the efficient market hypothesis are
introduced. (3-0) R
ECON
6322 Financial Economics II (3 semester hours) Continuation of
Financial Economics I. It covers core
concepts in portfolio theory within the mean-variance framework, focusing on
the problem of choosing a point on the efficient set. Additional topics to be covered include the
CAPM model, arbitrage pricing theory, bond analysis, and the basics of the term
structure. (3-0) R
ECON
6331 Labor Economics I (3 semester hours) Labor economics is
the branch of economics that deals with how labor markets function. Topics covered will include labor supply,
retirement, wage structure, inequality in earnings, discrimination, and labor
market frictions. This course is one of
two courses in nonsequential course offerings in graduate labor economics.
(3-0) R
ECON
6332 Labor Economics II (3 semester hours) This course continues
the study of theoretical and applied research of labor markets from Labor
Economics I. Topics studied include
demand for labor, wage setting institutions, wage structure, investment in
human capital, and labor mobility. Labor
Economics I is not a prerequisite for Labor Economics II. (3-0) R
ECON
6335 Health Economics (3 semester hours) Economic analysis of the health care
industry to explain the demand for and supply of medical care. Includes analysis of behavior of consumers,
producers, and insurers; and public policies to regulate the industry and to
provide services for the various segments of the population. (3-0) R
ECON
6336 Economics of Education (3 semester hours) This seminar
examines theoretical and empirical writings relating to educational policy. The
issues considered will include the link between educational achievement and
earnings, the role of early childhood, assessments of head start and pre-school
programs, the effectiveness of compensatory education and tutoring programs,
the large and persistent achievement gap between children from minority and
low-income families and those from middle-income Asian and white families, a
critical examination of educational production functions, the extent and
consequences of school segregation, bilingual education programs, special
education programs, international comparisons of student achievement and
schools, school finance and an examination of various school reform proposals.
(3-0) R
ECON
6340 Industrial Organization (3 semester hours) Market
structure, firm conduct, and economic performance of business with emphasis on
firms' strategic behavior in price and nonprice competition. Topics include oligopoly pricing and
production decisions, strategic entry deterrence, location strategies, product
differentiation, advertising, research and development, and the effects of
firms' conduct on economic welfare and market structure. (3-0) T
ECON
6343 Economic Regulation of Business (3 semester hours) Studies
the rationale for, and the history and political-economic results of,
government intervention in markets in the form of (1) direct regulation of
prices, quantity, entry and exit, and product quality in industries (utility,
communication, and transportation), and (2) indirect intervention through
antitrust laws and the regulation of advertising. Government deregulation and changes in
antitrust institutions also are explored.
Prerequisite: ECON 5321 or ECON 6301 or PA 7317 or POEC 7317. (3-0) T
ECON
6344 Transfer Pricing (3 semester hours) The economics of transfer pricing of
goods, services, and intellectual property traded among units (divisions or
affiliated firms) of a common parent company.
Multidivisional firms and multinational enterprises use transfer pricing
for coordination of divisional objectives, allocating internal resources, and
maximizing after-tax profits, among other goals. Governments base firms' tax liability on
transfer prices; so their taxing authorities operate to ensure transfer prices
adequately reflect the value of goods and services, challenging firms'
established transfer pricing if it is deemed necessary. Legal issues and methods used by private
firms and government agencies for establishing transfer prices are
explored. (3-0) T
ECON
6351 Development Economics (3 semester hours) An overview of
theories of national economic growth and development in the context of
developing countries. This includes
macroeconomic models; the role of financial development, trade, and
agriculture; domestic sectoral policy; human resource development; the
environment; and poverty. (3-0) R
ECON
6352 (POEC 6360) World Political Economy (3 semester hours) An
overview of the major economic, social, political and cultural forces that
influence the nature of the international economic and political environment,
as well as global economic and political relations. Topics include: theories of global political
economy; economic and political transformation in Eastern Europe, China and the
former Soviet Union; democratization and development in the less developed
countries; military and non-military approaches to national and international
security; environmentally sustainable economic development; and the
international implications of technological failure. (3-0) T
ECON
6355 International Trade (3 semester hours) Provides a broad
overview of theory and evidence concerning international trade, direct foreign
investment and trade policy. Topics
include scale economies, imperfect competition, and product differentiation,
trade dynamics, economic growth, trade policies, and the political process.
(3-0) R
ECON
6356 International Finance (3 semester hours) Financial aspects of
growth and income determination in open economies. Specific topics include financial risk in the
international setting; money and exchange rate regimes; income determination
and macroeconomic policy; history of international monetary arrangements, and
current issues in international monetary reform. (3-0) R
ECON
6361 Public Sector Economics (3 semester hours) Examines
the economic role of government in a mixed economy. Surveys why markets may fail and explores
governmental strategies of intervention in light of these failures. Expenditure
and tax policies are studied with attention to effects on both efficiency and
distribution. (3-0) T
ECON
6362 (POEC 6353) 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 U.S. economy. (3-0) Y
ECON
6363 Public Economics I (3 semester hours) A study of
externalities, public goods, club goods, and related topics. Pass/Fail grade
only. Prerequisite: ECON 5321 or ECON 6301. (3-0) R
ECON
6371 (SOC 6341) Urban Economics (3 semester hours) Presents
methods and models for understanding urban growth and development
processes. Topics include analysis of
urban growth, land use patterns, transportation and local public good delivery
systems. Welfare consequences of various
urban policy options are explored. (3-0)
R
ECON
6372 (PA 6342) Local Economic Development (3 semester hours)
This class will examine the role of local governments in promoting economic
development in the United States, and will analyze the economic development
process. Attention will be given to
economic theories of local development and practical implications of those
theories. Topics include local economic
development and poverty, tax incentives, infrastructure credits, firm location
decisions and effects of government competition for economic activity. (3-0) S
ECON
6380 Experimental Economics I (3 semester hours)
Introduction to the methodology of laboratory experimental economics, including
principles of experimental design, development of effective protocols, research
with human subjects, and statistical analysis of experimental data, designing
experiments to test theory, experimental measurement of preferences and
attitudes, and market and institutional "wind-tunnel" design. Prerequisites: ECON 6301 and ECON 6309, or
instructor's permission. (3-0) T
ECON
6V00 Tools for Economic Research (2-3 semester hours) First
two credit hours examines single and multivariate calculus at a level
appropriate for entering PhD and MS students in economics, functional areas of
business, and social sciences. Includes optimization theory and matrix algebra.
Those enrolled in the optional 3rd credit hour will receive basic instruction
in a statistical package (e.g., STATA). Pass/fail only. ([2-3]-0) Y
ECON
6V01 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 (9 hours
maximum). ([1-9]-0) R
ECON
7301 Microeconomics Theory II (3 semester hours) General
equilibrium theory of markets and welfare economics; discusses the problems of
existence, stability, efficiency, and equity of economic equilibrium; and
introduces social choice and the special problems created by public goods,
externalities, and uncertainty.
Recommended: ECON 6301. (3-0) Y
ECON
7302 Macroeconomics Theory II (3 semester hours) This
course is the second in a sequence of core graduate (doctoral level) macroeconomic
theory courses. The main aim is to
introduce students to the methods of stochastic dynamic analyses in
economics. The second aim is to employ
those methods in understanding aggregate empirical regularities, for instance
as they pertain to business cycles, with standard modern macroeconomic
theory. Therefore, primary course aims
include a thorough discussion of stochastic dynamics and optimization. Next, using these methods, applications that
illustrate the applied general equilibrium analyses that comprise: modern
macroeconomic business cycle theory, consumption, asset pricing and topics in
'behavioral' macroeconomics are discussed.
Recommended: ECON 6302. (3-0) Y
ECON
7303 Microeconomics Theory III (3 semester hours) Primarily
a course on the role of strategic interdependence in economics using game
theory. Topics include noncooperative
games, simultaneous-move games and dynamic games with applications from a wide
variety of fields in economics. (3-0) T
ECON
7309 Econometrics II (3 semester hours) This is the second core course in the
econometrics sequence of the economics Ph.D. program. The course extends the topics covered in the
first course and covers topics such as serial correlation, unit roots,
cointegration, and dynamic models; panel data; simultaneous equation models,
maximum likelihood and GMM estimations methods. (3-0) Y
ECON
7311 Special Topics in Econometric and Spatial Analysis (3
semester hours) Topics vary from semester to semester. May be repeated for credit (9 hours maximum). However, students may not take more than 3
hours of the field requirement from ECON 7311. (3-0) R
ECON
7315 Econometrics III (3 semester hours) This is the third
core course in the econometrics sequence of the economics Ph.D. program. The course extends the topics covered in the
first two courses and covers topics such as Bayesian, semiparametric and
nonparametric estimation approaches; discrete choice models, limited dependent
variable models and duration models; and bootstrap and jackknife methods. Prerequisite:
ECON 6310. (3-0) Y
ECON
7316 Game Theory (3 semester hours) Advanced treatment of topics in
noncooperative game theory. May also
include a brief survey of cooperative game theory. Major topics covered include correlated
equilibrium, equilibrium refinements, evolutionary stability and dynamics,
multi-level selection, revelation principle, strategic substitutes and
complements, uniqueness and comparative statics. Prerequisites: GISC 7310 or EPPS 7316 or ECON
6306 or permission of instructor. (3-0) R
ECON
7321 Special Topics in Labor Economics (3 semester hours) Topics
vary from semester to semester. May be
repeated for credit (9 hours maximum). However, students may not take more than
3 hours of the field requirement from ECON 7321. (3-0) R
ECON
7331 Special Topics in Industrial Organization (3
semester hours) Topics vary from semester to semester. May be repeated for
credit (9 hours maximum). However, students may not take more than 3 hours of
the field requirement from ECON 7331. (3-0) R
ECON
7341 Special Topics in International Development (3
semester hours) Topics vary from semester to semester. May be repeated for credit (9 hours
maximum). However, students may not take
more than 3 hours of the field requirement from ECON 7341. (3-0) R
ECON
7351 Special Topics in Public Economics (3 semester hours) Topics
vary from semester to semester. May be
repeated for credit (9 hours maximum). However, students may not take more than
3 hours of the field requirement from ECON 7351. (3-0) R
ECON
7363 Public Economics II (3 semester hours) A study of positive
and normative theories of taxation, the effect of taxation on behavior,
behavioral public finance and related topics. Pass/Fail grade only.
Prerequisite: ECON 6361 or ECON 6363. (3-0) R
ECON
7381 Special Topics in Experimental and Behavioral Economics (3
semester hours) Topics vary from semester to semester. May be repeated for credit (9 hours
maximum). However, students may not take
more than 3 hours of the field requirement from ECON 7381. (3-0) R
ECON
7391 Special Topics in Economics (3 semester hours) Topics
vary from semester to semester. May be
repeated for credit (9 hours maximum).
(3-0) R
ECON
7V01 Literature Survey/Paper Seminar (3 or 6 semester hours) Students
registering for this seminar work towards the completion of their literature
survey requirement. Course includes oral
presentations and progress reports. ([3-6]-0) R
ECON
7V02 Research in Economics (3-6 semester hours) Topics vary from
semester to semester. May be repeated
for credit. Prerequisite: Consent of
instructor. ([3-6]-0) R
ECON
7V03 Research Paper Seminar (3-6 semester hours) Students
registering for this seminar work towards the completion of their research
paper requirement. Oral presentations
and progress reports. ([3-6]-0) T
ECON
8V01 Dissertation Seminar (3-9 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. ([3-9]-0) R
ECON
8V02 Dissertation (1-9 semester hours) Provides faculty supervision of a
student's dissertation research. May be
repeated for credit. Prerequisite:
Consent of instructor. ([1-9]-0) Y
ECON
8V97 Internship (1-9 semester hours) Provides faculty supervision for a
student's internship. Internships must
be related to the student's course work.
Internships are mainly intended for terminal MSAE students.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. ([1-9]-0) R
EPPS
6310 Research Design I (3 semester hours) This course is the
first in a two-course sequence devoted to the research enterprise and the study
of data development strategies and techniques to facilitate effective
statistical analysis. Topics generally
covered include: (1) issues and techniques in social science research with
emphasis on philosophy of science, theory testing, and hypothesis formulation;
(2) measurement and data collection strategies, reliability and validity of
measures and results, sampling, surveys; and (3) examination of qualitative
versus quantitative research techniques, working with observational data, field
research issues, and triangulation. (3-0) Y
EPPS
6313 Introduction to Quantitative Methods (3 semester hours)
This introductory graduate-level statistics course is geared to the consumption
of statistical methods commonly used in social science research. Topics include
creating and interpreting graphical and tabular summaries of data, descriptive
statistics, basic probability theory, sampling distributions, basic hypothesis
testing (t-tests, chi-square tests, and analysis of variance), estimation of
population parameters, confidence intervals and correlation. An introduction to
regression analysis will also be provided. Topics are supported by
computer-supported data analyses. (3-0) Y
EPPS
6316 Applied Regression (3 semester hours) This course provides
a survey of the bivariate and multiple regression models estimated using
Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), with an emphasis on using regression models to
test social and economic hypotheses. This application-focused course presents
examples drawn from economics, political science, public policy and sociology,
introduces the basic concepts and interpretation of regression models, and
basic methods of inference. Topics are supported by computer-supported data
analyses. Prerequisite: EPPS 6313 or EPPS 7313. (3-0) Y
EPPS
6320 Short Courses in Contemporary Social Science Research Methods (3
semester hours) This course is comprised of three short courses that each last
two full days over the course of a calendar year. The classes are each intensive surveys of
modern statistical methods that are used in the social sciences. Typically, these classes are taught all day
on Thursday/Friday (sometimes Friday/Saturday).
In order to get credit, the student must attend all three classes (six
full days) over the course of the year.
The class will be offered in the spring semester so the student must
have attended the class or classes that were offered in the fall semester
immediately prior to the semester in which the student is taking the class for
credit. Taught pass/fail only. (3-0) Y
EPPS
6324 Data Management for Social Science Research (3
credit hours) Covers the principles and practical techniques of data cleaning,
data organization, quality control, and automation of research tasks. Topics covered will include data types,
useful text and math functions, labeling, recoding, data documentation, merging
datasets, reshaping, and programming structures such as macros, loops, and
branching using Stata and R. The course
will also discuss using LaTeX to automate outputting of results and graphics in
publishable formats. Prerequisite: EPPS
6313 or EPPS 7313 or permission of instructor. (3-0) R
EPPS
6342 Research Design II (3 semester hours) This course is the
second in a two-course sequence devoted to the study of data development
strategies and techniques to facilitate effective statistical analysis. Topics generally covered include: the logic
of causal inquiry and inference in the Economic, Political and Policy Sciences,
the elaboration paradigm and model specification, anticipating and handling
threats to internal validity, hierarchies of design structure (experimental,
quasi-experimental and non-experimental): linking design structure to effect
estimation strategies and analyzing design elements in published
literature. Students will be required to
select a research topic in consultation with the instructor and prepare a
written comparative design analysis.
Recommended: EPPS 6310, EPPS 6316 or equivalents recommended. (3-0) Y
EPPS
6346 Qualitative Research Methods (3 semester hours) This
course provides an overview of qualitative research in the Economic, Political
and Policy Sciences. Students will
investigate the assumptions underlying qualitative research approaches and
critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of such approaches. Possible topics may include participant
observation, ethnographic interviewing, ethnomethodology, conversation
analysis, case study, and the analysis of historical documents. (3-0) T
EPPS
6352 Evaluation Research Methods in the Economic, Political and Policy Sciences (3
semester hours) A review of research methods used in program evaluation, with
an emphasis on public and nonprofit social programs. Issues to be addressed include research
design, appropriate performance standards, measurement and selection of
individuals, sampling, data collection, and data analysis. (3-0) Y
EPPS
7304 Cost-Benefit Analysis (3 semester hours) Examines methods for
measuring costs and benefits of public projects and policies, and the
application of cost-benefit analysis to areas such as economic development,
water resources, recreation, transportation, regulation, and the environment.
(3-0) R
EPPS
7313 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics (3 semester hours)
The course provides a thorough introduction to probability and statistics. Probability topics covered include random
variables, expectations, and probability distributions. The heart of the course is a rigorous
introduction to statistical inference: sampling theory, confidence intervals,
and hypothesis tests. The final section
of the course is an introduction to regression analysis, with an emphasis on
interpretation of regression results, using examples from recent research.
Recommended: one semester of calculus.
(3-0) Y
EPPS
7316 Regression and Multivariate Analysis (3 semester hours)
This course provides a detailed examination of the multiple regression models
estimated using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), with an emphasis on using
regression models to test social and economic hypotheses. Also covered are
several special topics in regression analysis, including violations of OLS
assumptions, the use of dummy variables, and fixed effects models. The course
ends with an introduction to advanced topics in regression analysis,
qualitative response models, and non-OLS approaches to estimation. Topics are
supported by computer-supported data analyses using application-specific software.
Prerequisite: EPPS 7313. (3-0) Y
EPPS
7318 Structural Equation and Multilevel (Hierarchical) Modeling (3
semester hours) An introduction to structural equation modeling (SEM) and
multilevel modeling (MLM), sometimes called hierarchical linear or mixed
modeling. SEM represents a general
approach to the statistical examination of the fit of a theoretical model to
empirical data. Topics include observed
variable (path) analysis, latent variable models (e.g., confirmatory factor
analysis), and latent variable SEM analyses.
MLM represents a general approach to handling data that are nested
within each other or have random components.
Topics include dealing with two-level data that may be cross-sectional,
such as students within classes, or longitudinal, such as repeated observations
on individuals, firms or countries.
Recommended: EPPS 7316 or equivalent.
Prerequisite: ECON 6306 or ECON 6309 or EPPS 6316 or permission of instructor. (3-0) R
EPPS
7344 Categorical and Limited Dependent Variables (3
semester hours) This course examines several types of advanced regression
models that are frequently used in policy analysis and social science
research. The key similarity of these
models is that they involve dependent variables that violate one or more of the
assumptions of the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression model. The main models examined in the course are
binary logit and probit, multinomial logit, ordinal probit, tobit, and the
family of Poisson regression models. All
these models are estimated using maximum likelihood estimation (MLE). The Heckman correction for selection is also
addressed. Recommended: EPPS 6316 or the equivalent. (3-0) Y
EPPS
7368 Spatial Epidemiology (3 semester hours) Examines the
conceptual and analytic tools used to understand how spatial distributions of
exposure impact processes and patterns of disease. Emphasizes the special
design, measurement, and analysis issues associated with spatial patterns of
diseases. Contemporary diseases of
public health importance are addressed, and the statistical and inferential
skills are provided that can be used in understanding how spatial patterns
arise and their implications for intervention.
Prerequisite: EPPS 6313 or equivalent. (3-0) R
EPPS
7370 Time Series Analysis (3 semester hours) The course considers
several important topics in applied time series analysis including the
specification and testing Box-Jenkins models and dynamic regressions. Other topics may include forecasting, vector
autoregression models, unit root inference, cointegration, autoregressive
conditional heterogeneity, Bayesian time series, and regime switching
models. Students also learn how to use
modern time series software. Recommended:
EPPS 7316 or equivalent. (3-0) R
EPPS
7386 Survey Research (3 semester hours) This course exposes students to the use
of survey methods in social science research.
Emphasis is placed on interview and questionnaire techniques and the
construction and sequencing of survey questions. Attention is also devoted to sampling theory,
sampling and non-sampling errors, and the use of recent advances in fieldwork
to reduce measurement error in surveys. Recommended: EPPS 6313 or equivalent.
(3-0) R
EPPS
7390 Bayesian Analysis for Social and Behavioral Sciences (3
semester hours) This course covers the theory and application of Bayesian
statistics for economic, political, and other social science data. Students
will learn how maximum likelihood and Bayesian estimation are related and how
the latter is used to develop decision based inference. Topics include
subjective probability, general linear models, posterior simulation methods,
model specification and averaging, and sensitivity analysis. Prerequisite: EPPS
7316 or equivalent. (3-0) R
EPPS
7V81 Special Topics in Social Science Research Methodology
(1-9 semester hours) May be repeated for credit as topics vary (9 hours
maximum). (3-0) R
EPPS
7V88 Workshop in Teaching Effectiveness (1-3 credit hours) Workshop
will focus on preparing students for positions as teaching assistants, lecturers,
and those who expect to teach as a career in the social sciences. Emphasis will be placed on videotaped student
presentations and feedback, guest presentations, student visits to EPPS faculty
classes. May be repeated for credit (3 hours maximum). [(1-3)-0] R
EPPS
8V95 Frontiers of Social Science Research Methods
(1-6 semester hours) Students working on dissertations or research papers
receive feedback and advice on research methods, the discussion of methods in
their writing, and presentation of results. (3-0) R
Geospatial Information Sciences
GISC
6301 Geospatial Data Analysis Fundamentals (3 semester hours)
Focuses on data handling techniques and applying basic statistical methodology
to spatial research questions. Concepts of statistical data analysis including
descriptive statistics, exploratory methods, sampling theory, statistical
inference and correlation analysis are reviewed from a Geo-Information Sciences
perspective. Regression analysis and
basic methods of spatial pattern analysis are introduced. A prior course in statistics (such as EPPS
3405) is strongly recommended. (3-2) Y
GISC
6311 (ECON 6311) Statistics for Geospatial Science (3
semester hours) The course introduces calculus-based statistical analysis and
probability theory, providing background for econometrics and economic modeling
of simple stochastic processes. Standard
probability distributions are covered, including Bernoulli, binomial, negative
binomial, hypergeometric, Poisson, normal, gamma, beta, t and F distributions. Estimation and hypothesis testing are
discussed. Introductory asymptomatic
theory, including the Law(s) of Large Numbers and the Central Limit Theorem,
will be covered as well as real-world applications of probability theory as
time permits. (2-3) Y
GISC
6317 Computer Programming for GIS (3 semester hours) General
introduction to Visual Basic and other languages with GIS related applications.
Topics covered include fundamental data structures and algorithms,
user-interface design, component object model, and data base management.
Emphasis on rapid GIS application development with hands-on experiences.
Students are expected to design and implement a project. (3-0) Y
GISC
6325 (GEOS 5325) Introduction to Remote Sensing (3 semester
hours) Application of airborne and satellite remote sensing for understanding
the surface of the earth. Focus on
interpretation of images obtained by passive and active imaging systems using
electromagnetic radiation, especially visible, infra-red, and radar. Laboratory course. (2-3) Y
GISC
6326 Geovisualization (3 semester hours) Examines the theoretical concepts and
practical applications of cartographic and geographic visualization. Topics covered in lectures include concepts
for geographic data representation, symbolization and map design, and methods
for geographic visualization and display.
3D visualization, cartographic animation, and web-based mapping may also
be included. Lab sessions explore the
implementation of cartographic and geographic visualization with industry
standard GIS software. Prerequisite:
GISC 6381 or equivalent knowledge. (3-0) R
GISC
6379 Special Topics in Geographic Information Sciences (3
semester hours) Topics vary from semester to semester. May be repeated for credit (9 hours
maximum). Consult with adviser to
determine appropriateness of topic for degree plan. (3-0) R
GISC
6380 Spatial Concepts and Organization (3 semester hours) Examines
the recurring patterns of physical and human objects on the Earth's surface,
the flows of circulations among them, and the spatial concepts and theories
which have been advanced to help understand and explain these spatial
arrangements. Provides a fundamental understanding of spatial processes,
concepts, and theories. (3-0) R
GISC
6381 Geographic Information Systems Fundamentals (3
semester hours) Examines the fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems and
their applications. Emphasizes the
concepts needed to use GIS effectively for manipulating, querying, analyzing,
and visualizing spatial-based data. Industry-standard GIS software is used to
analyze spatial patterns in social, economic and environmental data, and to
generate cartographic output from the analysis.
(3-0) Y
GISC
6382 Applied Geographic Information Systems (3 semester hours)
Further develops hands-on skills with industry-standard GIS software for
application in a wide variety of areas including urban infrastructure
management, marketing and location analysis, environmental management, geologic
and geophysical analysis and the Economic, Political and Policy Sciences.
Prerequisite: GISC 6381 or equivalent with instructor's permission. (3-0) Y
GISC
6383 Geographic Information Systems Management and Implementation (3
semester hours) Management strategies for GIS are examined by presenting GIS as
an integrated system of people, computer hardware, software, applications and
data. Implementation is examined as a
systematic process of user needs assessment, system specification, database
design, application development, implementation, operation, and
maintenance. Includes design of
implementation plans as case studies to explore various techniques associated
with each step of this process. (3-0) Y
GISC
6384 Spatial Analysis and Modeling (3 semester hours)
Treatment of more advanced topics in the application of spatial analysis in a
GIS environment. Topics covered include raster-based cartographic modeling, 3-D
visualization, geostatistics and network analysis. Student will be acquainted with
state-of-the-art software through hands-on laboratory experiences.
Prerequisite: GISC 6381. (3-0) Y
GISC
6385 GIS Theories, Models and Issues (3 semester hours) Provides
an understanding of the underlying theories, mathematical and geometric tools,
and their computational implementations that establish GIS capabilities to
handle and analyze geo-referenced information.
Associated issues (such as uncertainty, spatial analysis and spatial
data management) highlighted. Prerequisites: GISC 6381 and GISC 6382, or
equivalent with instructor's permission. (3-0) Y
GISC
6387 Geographic Information Systems Workshop (3 semester hours)
Provides a structured laboratory experience focused on the students'
substantive area of interest. Each
participant develops a project which should include aspects of database design
and manipulation, spatial analysis, and cartographic production. Projects may be designed in coordination with
a local government, utility, business, or other entity that uses GIS in its
operations and research. Prerequisites:
GISC 6381 and GISC 6382. (3-0) Y
GISC
6388 GIS Application Software Development (3 semester hours)
Provides instruction and hands-on experience in specific techniques and
languages for developing application systems based on GIS concepts. Students will learn to use current generation
commercial software to design and implement an application. Prerequisites: GISC 6381 and GISC 6317, or
permission of instructor. (3-0) R
GISC
6389 Geospatial Information Sciences Master's Project (3
semester hours) Requires completion of an original GIS project by the student
working alone or in a team. Team efforts
must result in products that can be associated uniquely with each student. Projects normally continue efforts started in
GISC 6387 or GISC 6386. (3-0) S
GISC
6V01 Independent Study in GIS (1-9 semester hours)
Provides faculty supervision for a student's individual study of a topic agreed
upon by the student and the faculty supervisor. Prerequisite: Permission of
instructor. May be repeated for credit. ([1-9]-0) S
GISC
6V98 Master's Thesis (3-9 semester hours) Provides faculty supervision of a
student's master's thesis research.
Prerequisite: Consent of GIS Program Head and instructor. May be repeated for credit. ([3-9]-0) S
GISC
7310 Regression Analysis with Spatial Applications (3
semester hours) The specification, interpretation and properties of the
multiple linear regression model including spatial and aspatial regression
diagnostics are examined. Extensions to
the logistic and Poisson regression models and spatial heterogeneity are
provided. A review of the key concepts of matrix algebra and simulation
techniques is given. Practical data analysis for large datasets is exercised by
coupling statistical software with GIS environments. Prerequisite: GISC 6301 or
GISC 6311 or equivalent. (3-0) Y
GISC
7360 GIS Pattern Analysis (3 semester hours) Examines univariate
and multivariate methods for point pattern analysis, geo-statistical surface
interpolations, and spatial regression models.
Underlying models and processes leading to spatially clustered and
spatially dispersed patterns are discussed.
Course has particular relevance for local and global spatial analyses of
crime, disease, or environmental patterns.
Prerequisites: (GISC 6381 or GISC 6311) and (GISC 6301 or equivalent).
(3-0) R
GISC
7361 Spatial Statistics (3 semester hours) The application of
statistical techniques to the explicit treatment of space (geography) in social
science models. Covers indices of
spatial autocorrelation, the specification of autoregressive models (Gaussian,
Poisson, binomial/logistic), geostatistical modeling, spatial filtering,
Bayesian map analysis, random effects in models, and imputation of missing
geocoded data. Recommended: GISC 7360. Prerequisite: GISC 7310 or EPPS 7316 or
equivalent. (3-0) R
GISC
7363 Internet Mapping and Information Processing (3
semester hours) Provides a conceptual overview and hands-on experiences in
Internet mapping and web-based geospatial information processing with
state-of-the-art commercial software. Topics
covered include client/server configuration, distributed data access and
display, web-based user interaction and customization. (3-0) T
GISC
7364 Demographic Analysis and Modeling (3 semester hours) Examines
key demographic models for population analysis, their underlying theoretical
foundations, and extensions into the spatial domain. Incorporates quantitative
estimation and projection techniques and their use within a geographic
information systems framework. Provides
a solid understanding of spatio-temporal population dynamics, either local or
global, which is essential to many disciplines engaged in planning for the
public and private service sectors, for transportation networks or for regional
development projects. Prerequisite: EPPS
7313. (3-0) R
GISC
7365 (GEOS 5326) Remote Sensing Digital Image Processing (3
semester hours) Introduction to remote sensing digital image processing
techniques. Topics covered include principles of remote sensing and remote
sensors, image visualization and statistics extraction, radiometric and
geometric correction, image enhancement, image classification and change
detection. Innovative image processing
approaches will also be introduced.
State-of-the-art commercial image processing software is used for labs
and applications development.
Prerequisite: GISC 6325. (3-0) Y
GISC
7366 (GEOS 5329) Applied Remote Sensing (3 semester hours) Focuses
on the application of remote sensing techniques to solving real world urban and
environmental problems in areas such as urban and suburban landscape, land use
and land cover, transportation and communication, vegetation and forestry,
biodiversity and ecology, water and water quality control, soils and minerals,
geology and geomorphology studies. The
current generation, industry standard software is used for labs and
applications development. Prerequisite:
GISC 6325/GEOS 5325. (3-0) Y
GISC
7367 (GEOS 7327) Remote Sensing Workshop (3 semester hours) An
independent project is designed and conducted by the student, after instructor
approval. The project develops and
demonstrates student's competence in using remote sensing techniques in a
substantive application to his/her field of interest. Projects may be developed in coordination
with a local government, utility, business, or other entity, which uses remote
sensing in its operations and research.
A formal presentation and a project report are required. Prerequisites: GISC 6381 and GISC 7365/GEOS 5326.
(3-0) Y
GISC
7387 GI Sciences Research Design (3 semester hours) Examines
issues relative to the conduct of effective and valid research in geospatial
information sciences and related fields. (3-0) Y
GISC
7389 GI Sciences Ph.D. Research Project
Qualifier (3 semester hours) Requires completion, according to uniform
guidelines established by the GI Sciences program, of a GI Sciences Research
Project and its presentation to a committee of at least three GI Sciences
faculty. May be repeated once in the
immediately following semester. May
substitute for GISC 6389 GI Sciences Master's Project. Pass/Fail only. Prerequisite: completion of
24 hours of coursework in GI Sciences Ph.D. program. (3-0) Y
GISC
8320 Seminar in Spatial Analysis (3 semester hours) Examines
selected topics in spatial analysis or GI Science. May be repeated for credit
when topics differ. (3-0) R
GISC
8V27 Internship in GIS (1-9 semester hours) Provides faculty
supervision for a student's internship, which must be related to GIS. ([1-9]-0)
S
GISC
8V29 Research in GIS (1-9 semester hours) Provides faculty supervision of
research conducted by a student.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. May be repeated for credit.
([3-9]-0) S
GISC
8V99 Dissertation (1-9 semester hours) Provides faculty supervision of a
student's dissertation research.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. May be repeated for credit.
([1-9]-0) S
International Political Economy
IPEC
6V01 Independent Study (1-6 semester hours) Provides faculty
supervision for student's individual study of a topic agreed upon by the student
and the faculty supervisor. This course can only be taken Pass/Fail.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. May be repeated for credit. ([1-6]-0) R
IPEC
6V97 Internship (1-6 semester hours) Provides faculty supervision for a
student's internship. Internships must be related to the student's coursework.
This course can only be taken Pass/Fail. Prerequisite: Permission of
instructor. May be repeated for credit. ([1-6]-0) R
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) R
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) S
PA
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) S
PA
6314 Policy Analysis (3 semester hours) This course introduces students to policy
analysis, exploring approaches and providing tools to analyze contemporary
policy questions at various levels of governance. (3-0) R
PA
6316 Leadership in Public and Nonprofit Management (3
semester hours) This course will examine the major theories and practices of
leadership in public and nonprofit organizations. Effective leaders from public
and nonprofit organizations will speak to the class about the challenges of
leading in complex environments. (3-0) R
PA
6317 (PSCI 6317) Intergovernmental/Intersectoral Relations and Management (3
semester hours) This course explores the conceptual foundations of federalism
that prescribe the relationships among federal and state governments in the
U.S. It considers the practice of intergovernmental administration (federal,
state, local) and intersectoral management (public, private, nonprofit)
including devolution, fiscal federalism, and through a review of current issues
in the field. (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)
S
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) S
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) R
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) Y
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.
(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 Dallas metroplex. Land use planning includes use for residential,
commercial, industrial, as well as recreational, educational, social, and
cultural activities. (3-0) Y
PA
6335 Resource Development for Nonprofit Organizations (3
semester hours) This course examines sources of revenue for nonprofit
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) 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 United States, and will analyze the economic development
process. Attention will be given to
economic theories of local development and practical implications of those
theories. Topics include local economic
development and poverty, tax incentives, infrastructure credits, firm location
decisions and effects of government competition for economic activity. (3-0) S
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 Dallas metro area through interaction with elected
and appointed officials. (3-0) T
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) S
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) R
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 nonprofit 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) R
PA
6369 Grant Writing and Management (3 semester hours) This
course provides the skills and knowledge to seek, solicit, and receive grant awards
from foundation and government sources to support public and nonprofit programs
and projects. Also covered are the skill sets necessary to manage grants
effectively to provide the greatest value to your organization and to the
granting agency. (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 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) T
PA
6374 Financial Management for Nonprofit 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
6380 (SOC 6380) Nonprofit Organizations (3 semester hours) This
course examines issues related to the rise, scope, development, and impact of
nonprofit organizations. The course explores both the unique missions of
nonprofit organizations and the management challenges posed by this expanding
sector. (3-0) T
PA
6382 (SOC 6381) Nonprofit Management (3 semester hours) This
course examines issues, strategies, and techniques related to executive
leadership and management in nonprofit organizations. (3-0) R
PA
6390 (CRIM 6390) Administration and Leadership in Justice Agencies (3
semester hours) This course focuses on the administrative structures,
processes, and behavior in managing criminal justice agencies. The focus is on human and financial
resources, organizational theory, decision-making, productivity, measurement
and enhancement, organizational design, and ethics and culture in police,
courts, and correctional agencies. (3-0) Y
PA
6395 (CRIM 6365) Contemporary Issues in Justice Administration (3
semester hours) This course explores and surveys classical and recent
literature in criminal justice focused on various critical issues confronting
the criminal justice system. The course studies the trends, contemporary
topics, and reform movements currently prominent in the fields of policing,
courts and corrections. Prerequisite: Permission of department (3-0) Y
PA
6399 Capstone in Public Affairs (3 semester hours) The
capstone in public affairs is the culminating experience for graduating MPA students.
Students integrate knowledge from across the MPA curriculum in a
faculty-directed semester-long applied research project. (3-0) Y
PA
7305 Leadership and Change in Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3
semester hours) Examines the range of contemporary theories of leadership and
change in public/nonprofit settings. Examines the set of actions and behaviors
requisite for leading contemporary organizations and provides applied tools for
enacting change and adapting models of change to varied organizational
settings. (3-0) Y
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) R
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) R
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) R
PA
7314 Advanced Policy Process, Implementation and Evaluation (3
semester hours) This advanced seminar provides in-depth introduction to central
theories of the policy process, implementation and evaluation, reviews classic
and contemporary literature in the field, and introduces students to key
approaches to public policy research. (3-0) Y
PA
7317 (POEC 7317) Economics for Public Policy (3 semester hours)
Introduces students to the use of economic methods of the analysis of public
policy. The primary theoretical framework for the course is microeconomics, but
the course may also include macroeconomics at the discretion of the instructor.
A variety of public policy topics are covered in the course such as education,
employment and the labor market, taxes and redistribution, access to health
care, poverty and inequality, and public assistance programs. (3-0) S
PA
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 will 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) S
PA
7320 Advanced Human Capital Research and Theory (3 semester
hours) This advanced seminar reviews the classic and contemporary literature on
human resources management and related issues, presents key theories and
explores key approaches to human capital research and analysis, and explores
contemporary issues of human capital development in the public/nonprofit
sectors. (3-0) Y
PA
7322 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
7325 Survey of Public Affairs (3 semester hours) This
class examines current issues and challenges in the field of public affairs,
with emphasis on the four fields that comprise the PhD program: leadership,
change and conflict resolution; social policy and development; decision-making;
and management and organizational analysis.
The concept and practice of action research will also be explored within
the context of public affairs. Open only
to PhD students in Public Affairs. (3-0) Y
PA
7328 Economic Theory for Public Affairs (3 semester hours) This
course examines concepts and analytical tools of economics and demonstrates how
these concepts are used in analyzing public policy problems and designing
appropriate responses. Following an
exposition of the basic theoretical and analytical concepts in a public policy
context, the course examines the role and limitations of economics in public policy
making. (3-0) R
PA
7330 Research Design in Public Affairs (3 semester hours) Includes
a variety of applied research techniques aimed at enhancing analysis of
intra-organizational and extra-organizational settings. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques
will be explored and applied. Techniques
range from ethnographic analysis of organizational and social cultures to
development of survey research methods for needs assessment, environmental
sensing and marketing. Prerequisite:
EPPS 6313 or equivalent. (3-0) Y
PA
7340 (PSCI 7340) Intergovernmental and Intersectoral Relations (3
semester hours) This course explores the conceptual foundations of federalism
that prescribe the relationships among federal and state governments in the
U.S. It considers the practice of intergovernmental administration (federal,
state, local) and intersectoral management (public, private, nonprofit)
including devolution, fiscal federalism, and through a review of current issues
in the field. (3-0) Y
PA
7350 Advanced Organizational Theory and Behavior (3
semester hours) This advanced seminar provides in-depth examination of key
theories of organizational behavior and change, reviews classic and
contemporary literature in the field, and introduces students to common approaches
to organizational research. (3-0) Y
PA
7360 Advanced Fiscal and Budgetary Policy (3 semester hours)
This advanced seminar reviews central theories of public budgeting and finance,
reviews essential literature in the field, and provides a foundation for
evaluating and analyzing organizational budgets. (3-0) Y
PA
7375 Nonprofit Organizations: Theory and Practice (3
semester hours) This class explores the leading theories of nonprofit
organizations. Examines the unique
elements of nonprofit organizations and the academic and practical challenges
produced by these distinctive elements.
Examines how theory is applied to the practice of management in
nonprofit organizations. (3-0) Y
PA
7381 Special Topics in Public Affairs (3 semester hours) Topics
vary semester to semester and are rotated typically among the major fields
within the program. May be repeated for
credit (9 hours maximum). (3-0) R
PA
7V62 Policy Research Workshop in Public Affairs
(3-9 semester hours) Students join a faculty member in a group research
project. May be repeated for credit (12
hours maximum). 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) R
PA
8340 Dissertation Seminar in Public Affairs (3 semester hours)
Students will explore current issues in public affairs of relevance to their
field experiences. The course will focus
on the identification of these current issues as sources and challenges for ongoing
research in public affairs. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Permission of the Program
Director. (3-0) S
PA
8V01 Independent Study (1-9 semester hours) Students will work
with a faculty member to develop an individualized course of study relevant to
public affairs. May be repeated for
credit. ([1-9]-0) S
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.
May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. ([1-9]-0) S
PA
8V99 Dissertation (1-9 semester hours) May be repeated. Total hours may not exceed 18 semester
hours. Students will design and
implement an improvement effort within an organization in their chosen field of
specialization. The goal of this course
is to provide students an applied experience dealing with the challenges of
institutional and organizational change.
Prerequisite: Permission of the Program Director. ([1-9]-0) Y
PSCI
5306 The American Legal System and the Practice of Law (3
semester hours) The American legal system will be examined through seminar
presentations by speakers experienced in judging and in legal practice. (3-0) Y
PSCI
5307 Legal Reasoning and Writing (3 semester hours) The
process of reaching legal decisions by relying on precedent, history, policy
concerns, and tradition will be studied.
Additionally, techniques for researching and citing case law and
statures will be examined. (3-0) Y
PSCI
5308 Immigration Law (3 semester hours) This course will cover the core body of
immigration law and regulation in the United States, with a special emphasis on
asylum law. (3-0) T
PSCI
5V83 Independent Study (1-9 semester hours) Provides faculty
supervision of student's individual study of a topic that is directly relevant
to the student's Master's degree program and is agreed on by the student and
the faculty supervisor. Prerequisite:
Permission of instructor. May be repeated
for credit (9 hours maximum). ([1-9]-0) R
PSCI
6300 Proseminar in Comparative Politics and International Relations (3
semester hours) Studies major theories of democracy, democratization, and
globalization, relationships between democratization and globalization, and
their implications for citizen politics, government performance, and regime
legitimacy. (3-0) Y
PSCI
6301 Constitutional Law (3 semester hours) This class addresses
the evolution of the American Constitution. The course will examine major
constitutional concepts that are important to an understanding of American government.
Additionally, major interpretations of the Constitution and the role of courts
in the American legal system will be explored. (3-0) Y
PSCI
6304 Internship in Constitutional Law Studies (3 semester hours)
Students will gain practical legal experience by working as an intern in a law
office, court, or in the office of a legal organization such as a district
attorney's or public defender's office. (3-0) Y
PSCI
6305 Workshop in Constitutional Law Studies (3 semester hours)
Students will undertake a major research topic on a law-related matter which
will develop skills in legal research and writing, quantitative research, or
field research. (3-0) Y
PSCI
6306 Human Rights and International Law (3 semester hours) This
course explores international agreements and their effects on individual rights
in a variety of contexts such as international conflicts, civil wars, and
oppressive political regimes. (3-0) R
PSCI
6309 International Political Economy (3 semester hours) An
integration of the insights of international relations and international
economics. Explores the politics of
international trade and finance, or economic globalization; investigates the
simultaneous pursuit of wealth and power in states and other international
actors. (3-0) T
PSCI
6311 Proseminar in Law and Courts (3 semester hours) The
purpose of this graduate seminar is to survey the different areas of
empirical/quantitative research in the subfield of judicial politics. The
course will assess the courts as political institutions and examine the
interactions between the judiciary and other institutions. We will address the
core theoretical debates and assess key methodological issues concerning
judicial decision-making in the U.S. context. We will also place these debates
within the growing body of comparative judicial behavior literature. (3-0) Y
PSCI
6314 Policy Processes, Implementation and Evaluation (3
semester hours) Applies models of the policy system to the analysis of legislative,
administrative and judicial processes at different points in the policy
cycle. Uses case studies, empirical
analysis, direct observation, and group projects. Prerequisite: PSCI 6313 or permission of
instructor. (3-0) Y
PSCI
6316 International Organizations (3 semester hours) An
analysis of international intergovernmental organizations such as the United
Nations, the International Monetary Fund, and the European Union. Topics include their historical development,
internal political processes, and consequences for the international political
system. (3-0) T
PSCI
6317 (PA 6317) Intergovernmental/Intersectoral Relations and Management (3
semester hours) This course explores the conceptual foundations of federalism
that prescribe the relationships among federal and state governments in the
U.S. It considers the practice of intergovernmental administration (federal,
state, local) and intersectoral management (public, private, nonprofit)
including devolution, fiscal federalism, and through a review of current issues
in the field. (3-0) Y
PSCI
6318 Judicial Selection (3 semester hours) This is a course
that focuses on the ways in which political systems place judges on courts. We
will focus primarily on American courts, with our time split evenly between the
appointive systems used by the federal government and some states and the
elective systems used by most other states. We will also discuss the methods
used in other countries for the selection of judges. (3-0) R
PSCI
6323 Public Choice (3 semester hours) This course covers the application of
economic reasoning to non-market decision-making in situations involving
collective choice. Topics include market
and government failure, collective action, properties of different voting
rules, design of constitutions, and the behavior of candidates, elected
officials, bureaucrats, and voters. Recommended: POEC/PA 7317 or equivalent.
(3-0) R
PSCI
6324 Local and State Government and Politics (3 semester hours)
Examines public policy institutions and processes at the local and state levels
in the United States, with particular attention to developments in the
Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and the State of Texas. Addresses issues of policy convergence,
divergence, and representation. (3-0) R
PSCI
6325 Decision Theory (3 semester hours) Explores the development of
decision-making models and theories across organizational and institutional
environments. Includes details analysis
of decision-making under conditions of certainty, risk and uncertainty. (3-0) T
PSCI
6330 Campaigns and Elections (3 semester hours) This
course surveys the state of the art research on campaigns and elections in
American politics with a focus on Congressional and Presidential elections.
(3-0) T
PSCI
6331 Executives, Legislatures and Public Policy (3
semester hours) An investigation of the role played by executives and
legislatures in shaping public policy in the United States. (3-0) T
PSCI
6332 The U.S. Congress (3
semester hours) This course examines the most recent research on the legislative
branch of the United States. We examine
the role of parties, incumbency, elections, and organized interests on who gets
elected to Congress, how Congress organizes itself, and how Congress makes
public policy. (3-0) T
PSCI
6333 Political and Civic Organizations (3 semester hours) An
institutional perspective on political parties, interest groups, and other
organizations such as labor unions and nonprofit organizations that are
important actors in political and civic affairs. The emphasis is on internal operations of
organizations, their strategic behavior, and interactions with government,
including both regulation by the state and attempts to influence public
decision makers. (3-0) T
PSCI
6335 (POEC 6335) 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.
(3-0) T
PSCI
6337 Comparative Institutions (3 semester hours) A
comparative analysis of political and economic institutions in different
settings. Includes a consideration of
different theoretical approaches to the comparative study and design of
institutions in the United States and elsewhere. (3-0) T
PSCI
6339 Election Law and Electoral Systems (3 semester hours) An
examination of election law in America from redistricting to ballot access to
campaign finance. We also spend time
looking at different electoral systems in the U.S. and around the world. (3-0)
R
PSCI
6340 Texas Legislative Affairs Workshop (3 semester hours) The Texas
Legislative workshop is a course offered during semesters when the Texas Legislature
is in session. This course is designed
to afford students the opportunity to explore the working of the Texas
Legislature up close with sessions held in both Dallas and Austin. Students enrolled in this course will have
the opportunity to interact with members of the Texas Legislature and their
staff as they examine the current public policy issues confronting Texas. (3-0)
T
PSCI
6341 Texas Legislative Process (3 semester hours) This course
examines the legislative process in the Texas Legislature. Students will learn the intricacies of
passing legislation by examining the constitutional rules of Texas' lawmaking
and the evolution of each chamber's parliamentary rules. This course also
offers a practical element as specific case studies are examined to illustrate
the importance of legislative process in Texas. (3-0) T
PSCI
6342 Comparative Courts and Law (3 semester hours) The
purpose of this graduate seminar is to survey the growing body of comparative
research on courts, law and justice issues. The course will examine a selection
of topics within this broadly defined field. The course will examine both
qualitative and quantitative work. These
examinations will span comparative politics, international relations, and the
broader sub-field of public law. (3-0) R
PSCI
6343 Law and The Policy Process (3 semester hours) Provides
the legal perspective on public policy and emphasizes the role of the judicial
system in the recent evolution of public policy in selected problem areas.
(3-0) T
PSCI
6347 (POEC 6347) Proseminar in Political Institutions and American Politics (3
semester hours) Surveys the scholarly literature on major institutions
associated with policymaking in the United States, including Congress, the
Presidency, the bureaucracy, and interest groups. (3-0) S
PSCI
6350 Logic, Methodology, and Scope of Political Science (3
semester hours) Promotes understanding of how and why research projects are
conducted, and when and why research programs cease to contribute to knowledge
production. Attention also is paid to major modes of analysis in political
science, the state of the discipline, and future directions in field-specific,
cross-field, and cross-disciplinary research. (3-0) T
PSCI
6352 Empirical Democratic Theory (3 semester hours)
Encourages critical and constructive thinking about complex and simple, as well
as stable and variable, developments in citizenship, government and
politics. Additional consideration is
given to formal, game-theoretic, and other approaches to individual action,
institutional design, and individual-institutional interactions. (3-0) T
PSCI
6353 Mathematical Models in Political and Social Science (3
semester hours) Introduces students to a variety of models in the Economic,
Political and Policy Sciences, including primarily rational choice approaches
but also some computational work. The course will allow students to understand
and compose rudimentary models, including prisoner's dilemma, assurance games, and
strategic voting. (3-0) T
PSCI
6357 (POEC 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 Latin America in its quest for economic growth and
development. The emphasis is to
understand the broad patterns of development and change in the region and the
physical, historical, social and economic constraints which have affected
development, broadly understood. (3-0) R
PSCI
6358 Refugee and Migration Policy (3 semester hours) This
course will examine core policy issues related to refugees, migration,
trafficking, forced migration, and internally displaced persons. The course
will survey relevant political and social science literature and seek to
understand these issues in the context of theories within international
relations, comparative politics, and international law. (3-0) T
PSCI
6361 (POEC 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) T
PSCI
6362 (POEC 6362) Political Development (3 semester hours) This
course surveys different perspectives on and theories of political development.
Topics covered include the role of the state, democratization, political
stability, civil society and environmental concerns. (3-0) R
PSCI
6363 (POEC 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 that have occupied
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) R
PSCI
6364 Public Opinion and Survey Research (3 semester hours)
Introduces students to the principles and practices of survey research. Topics include
the selection of an appropriate survey method, questionnaire design and
testing, response problems, interviews and surveys, and the analysis of survey
data, including those on political attitudes and public opinion dynamics. Also
examines how these data are used in developing successful political campaign
strategies (3-0) T
PSCI
6V42 Legislative Affairs Internship (1-6 semester hours)
Students will work with the professor to identify with a relevant government
office approved by the professor. Students will be asked to participate in the
daily operations of that office and learn the intricacies of staffing from a
first-hand perspective. ([1-6]-0) S
PSCI
7320 (POEC 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. (3-0) R
PSCI
7330 Contemporary International Security (3 semester hours) An
examination of current research on security and interstate conflict, with
emphasis on social-scientific explanations for why wars occur and how they can
be prevented. The course begins with theories of war and models of crisis
bargaining, then proceeds to empirical analysis of how war-making is affected
by such factors as regime type, domestic audiences, economic interdependence,
multinational production, balances of power, environmental and demographic
pressures, intergovernmental organizations, American hegemony, international hierarchies,
and social networks. (3-0) T
PSCI
7340 (PA 7340) Intergovernmental and Intersectoral Relations (3
semester hours) This course explores the conceptual foundations of federalism
that prescribe the relationships among federal and state governments in the
U.S. It considers the practice of intergovernmental administration (federal,
state, local) and intersectoral management (public, private, nonprofit)
including devolution, fiscal federalism, and through a review of current issues
in the field. (3-0) Y
PSCI
7350 Institutions and Citizen Behavior (3 semester hours) Examines
the major theories, concepts and models associated with relationships between
public institutions and citizen behavior, particularly how such institutions as
elections, interest groups, political parties and social movements mobilize
behavior and how behavior, in turn, influences institutional processes and
outcomes. (3-0) T
PSCI
7352 Choice and Decision Making (3 semester hours) This
course integrates theories of political choice with models of decision-making
in the fields of social cognition, economics, and consumer behavior. (3-0) T
PSCI
7372 Game Theory for Political Scientists (3 semester hours)
An introduction to formal models with more than one decision-maker, this course
will cover basic solution concepts in game theory. The course will pay particular attention to
applications in political science, rather than the foundational models in
economics. (3-0) T
PSCI
7381 Special Topics in Political Science (3 semester hours) Topics vary
semester to semester and are rotated typically among the three fields of the
program. May be repeated for credit (9
hours maximum). (3-0) R
PSCI
7V83 Independent Study (1-9 semester hours) Provides faculty
supervision of student's individual study of a topic that is directly relevant
to dissertation or practicum research and is agreed on by the student and the
faculty supervisor. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. May be repeated for
credit. ([1-9]-0) R
PSCI
8381 Research Seminar in Political Science (3 semester hours)
Promotes faculty-student research collaboration and students' dissertation or
practicum and professional development. May be repeated for credit. (3-0) Y
PSCI
8V99 Dissertation or Practicum (1-9 semester hours)
Provides faculty supervision of a student's dissertation research.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. May be repeated for credit. ([1-9]-0) S
Public Policy and Political Economy
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
6319 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) R
POEC
6329 Ethics, Culture, and Public Policy (3 semester hours) This course considers the
principal schools of ethical thought in the world's major cultural traditions
and their implications for law and public policy. Topics to be considered
include tensions between personal and collective interests, the conflict
between democratic and authoritarian theories and systems of law and
government, the relation between morality and law, the way law itself differs
in different cultural regions, and the ethical role of institutions such as the
family, government, business, religion, and interest groups. (3-0) Y
POEC
6335 (PSCI 6335) 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.
(3-0) T
POEC
6347 (PSCI 6347) Proseminar in Political Institutions and American Politics (3
semester hours) Surveys the scholarly literature on major institutions
associated with policymaking in the United States, including Congress, the
Presidency, the bureaucracy, and interest groups. (3-0) S
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 U.S. economy. (3-0) Y
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) Y
POEC
6355 Political Economy of the Middle East (3 semester hours)
Analysis of the interplay of cultures and conflicts in the Middle East. The course will examine ancient cultures,
Islam and the Ottoman Empire, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the rise of the Oil
Kingdoms, the Kurds, the Gulf wars, and terrorism in the name of Islam. The course will also focus on U.S. relations
with a number of Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq,
Egypt, and Israel. (3-0) R
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 Latin America in its quest for economic growth and
development. The emphasis is to
understand the broad patterns of development and change in the region and the
physical, historical, social and economic constraints which have affected
development, broadly understood. (3-0) R
POEC
6358 Political Economy of South and Southeast Asia (3
semester hours) Political Economy of South and Southeast Asia. South Asia is
the Indian peninsula. Southeast Asia is
the great swath of countries from Burma and Thailand through Malaysia to
Indonesia and Australia. This is a region of great cultural, political,
economic, religious, and historical diversity.
This course surveys the political economy of the region by selectively
examining key countries and their mutual interactions. The major countries, all of which are rising
military and economic powers, are Pakistan, India, Thailand, Indonesia and
Australia. Additional countries, which
will be included according to interest and available material, include Sri
Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia,
Singapore, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and New Zealand. (3-0) R
POEC
6359 Political Economy of Panama (3 semester hours) This is
a graduate course in International Political Economy that focuses upon the
Republic of Panama. Panama is a very diverse country, with political and
economic structures that developed from colonial times, when Panama was under
the control of Spain, to its incorporation into Colombia, to an independent
nation. While Panama has, since its discovery, been used for transportation,
given the narrowness of the Isthmus of Panama and the development of the Panama
Canal, it is very diverse; with cultures ranging from the cosmopolitan City of Panama to the more
traditional cultures of sparsely populated vast regions in the Province of
Darien. The importance of Panama to international political economy is of high
magnitude to the "funnel for world commerce," the Panama Canal. This
course will trace the development of politics and economics in Panama over the
course of this period to develop a critical understanding of this country,
which is of great importance both regionally and geographically. (3-0) R
POEC
6360 (ECON 6352) World Political Economy (3 semester hours) An
overview of the major economic, social, political and cultural forces that
influence the nature of the international economic and political environment,
as well as global economic and political relations. Topics include: theories of global political
economy; economic and political transformation in Eastern Europe, China and the
former Soviet Union; democratization and development in the less developed
countries; military and non-military approaches to national and international
security; environmentally sustainable economic development; and the
international implications of technological failure. (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) T
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) R
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 that have occupied
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) R
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) T
POEC
6366 International Economics (3 semester hours) This
course focuses on international trade theory and the ongoing process of
regional integration in the Americas, with particular emphasis on the North
American Free Trade Agreement. (3-0) R
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 efforts. 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 Yugoslavia, India/Pakistan, Iraq and
Kuwait, North Korea, Israel/Palestine and Sudan. (3-0) T
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) R
POEC
6369 National and International Security Strategies and Policies (3
semester hours) With the end of the decades-long Cold War, the US has become
the world's only superpower. But the
problem of national and international security continue to be a dominant
concern of national and international political and economic life, just as it
has been for more than sixty years. Many nations continue to maintain high
levels of military expenditure as a mainstay of their security policy. Yet, there has been a profound change in the
nature of the threats to security since the Cold War. Some, like the threat of intentional
full-scale global nuclear war, have receded.
Others, like the threat posed by nuclear proliferation and the terrorism
of mass destruction, have increased.
From acute hot spots to longer-term questions of restructuring power and
security arrangements in a post-Cold War world, understanding the deeper issues
of national and international security is critical to understanding what lies
behind the headlines -- and what strategies are likely to be effective in
achieving real security. Topics include:
the nature and meaning of security; security and military force; terrorism,
accidents and accidental war; nuclear proliferation; the international arms
trade; the experience of war; the economics of security policy; social and
psychological factors; and strategies for achieving security by nonmilitary
means. (3-0) T
POEC
6379 Special Topics in Development Studies (3 semester hours)
Topics vary from semester to semester. May be repeated for credit (9 hours
maximum). (3-0) R
POEC
6390 Innovation and Public Policy (3 semester hours) This
course examines the phenomenon of innovation, including the role of innovation
in theories of economic growth and the relationship between the aggregate macro
economy and the micro domain of entrepreneurs and firms. (3-0) Y
POEC
6391 The Political Economy of Technology and Innovation (3
semester hours) An exploration of the
relationships among technological advances, markets, and societal contexts,
drawing on the social sciences (especially economics and sociology),
engineering, and management. The
economic impacts of both established and emerging technologies on firms and
industries (profit and productivity), the macroeconomy, and society
(employment and earnings). Special
emphasis will be devoted to how advanced technologies transform both the work
of ¿ and work in ¿ industries throughout the economy, even as they blur the
distinctions among them. (3-0) T
POEC
6392 Management and Practice of International Development (3
semester hours) This course focuses on
the management of international development processes, including the role of
context in development, various
conceptualizations of poverty, development actors and institutions, and the challenges of development
interventions in difficult environments. (3-0) T
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
6V91 Evaluation Research (3-6 semester hours) Individual or
group project in evaluation research performed for a public or private
community organization under faculty supervision. Students will normally enroll in this course
for two consecutive semesters. The first
semester of enrollment will culminate in the completion of a formal evaluation
research proposal; the second will end with a final research report based on
conclusions of the proposed research.
Permission of the program coordinator required. May be repeated for a total of six semester
credit hours. ([3-6]-0) Y
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)
Introduces students to the use of economic methods of the analysis of public
policy. The primary theoretical framework for the course is microeconomics, but
the course may include macroeconomics at the discretion of the instructor. A
variety of public policy topics are covered including education, employment and
the labor market, taxes and redistribution, access to health care, poverty and
inequality, and public assistance programs. (3-0) S
POEC
7319 Economics of Education (3 semester hours) This seminar
examines educational policy issues from an economic perspective. The issues
considered include the link between educational achievement and earnings, the
role of early childhood, assessments of head start and pre-school programs, the
effectiveness of compensatory education and tutoring programs, the achievement
gap for poor and minority children, educational production functions, the
extent and consequences of school segregation, bilingual education programs,
special education programs, international comparisons of student achievement
and schools, school finance, and an examination of various school reform
proposals. (3-0) R
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. (3-0) R
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) Y
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 (9 hours maximum). (3-0) R
POEC
7341 Health Policy (3 semester hours) The history and political economy of the
U.S. health care system and a review of major governmental programs to expand
access to appropriate services, control rising costs, ensure the quality of
care, and promote health through prevention.
Analysis of current and recent proposals for reform of health care
policy. (3-0) R
POEC
7359 Special Topics in Policy Methods (3 semester hours) Topics
vary from semester to semester. May be repeated for credit (9 hours maximum).
(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 (9 hours
maximum). ([3-9]-0) R
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 (9 hours maximum). ([3-9]-0) R
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 (9 hours maximum). ([3-9]-0) R
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 (9 hours maximum). ([3-9]-0) R
POEC
7V76 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 School of Economic, Political and Policy
Sciences. May be repeated for credit (9 hours maximum). Prerequisites: POEC 6341,
POEC 6364, and an additional course in the concentration. ([3-9]-0) R
POEC
8398 Dissertation Seminar (3 semester hours) A seminar for
students preparing proposals or writing dissertations. Prerequisite: Successful completion of
qualifying examination or permission 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: Permission 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: Permission of instructor. May be repeated for credit.
([1-9]-0) R
POEC
8V99 Dissertation (1-9 semester hours) Provides faculty supervision of a
student's dissertation research.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. May be repeated for credit.
([1-9]-0) S
SOC
5V91 Independent Study in Applied Sociology (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: Permission of instructor. May be repeated for credit.
([1-9]-0) R
SOC
5V92 Internship in Applied Sociology (1-9 semester hours)
Provides faculty supervision for a student's internship. Internships must be
related to the student's course work. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
May be repeated for credit. ([1-9]-0) R
SOC
6312 Social-Economic Theories (3 semester hours) A
critical analysis of early and modern social and economic theories. Select
classical works of Smith, Marx, and Weber are explored, as they pertain to
Western capitalist development, along with more contemporary perspectives
related to the accumulation and exchange value of human, social and cultural
capital. Emphasis is placed on understanding how social relations and social
institutions influence economic exchanges. (3-0) Y
SOC
6340 Domestic Social Policy (3 semester hours) Overview of
governmental and non-governmental programs, policies, and institutions dealing
with those who cannot function self-sufficiently within the American market
economy, including low-income families, the elderly, the unemployed, and people
with disabilities. Analyzes how social
policy in the United States reflects the political economy and culture, as well
as social and demographic trends. (3-0) Y
SOC
6341 (ECON 6371) Urban Economics (3 semester hours) Presents
methods and models for understanding urban and development processes. Topics
include analysis of urban growth, land use patterns, transportation and local
public good delivery systems. Welfare
consequences of various urban policy options are explored. (3-0) R
SOC
6344 Gender and Policy (3 semester hours) Explores issues of
gender and public policy in the U.S.
Topics include poverty, politics, and workplace and family issues. (3-0)
R
SOC
6348 Immigration Policy (3
semester hours) This course examines immigration policy, focusing on U.S.
immigration law, within the context of changing U.S. social institutions and
society. The course gives special
attention to immigration policy centered on immigrants arriving after 1965.
(3-0) R
SOC
6350 Social Stratification (3 semester hours) This seminar will
examine the major theories and lines of research on social stratification,
defined as the hierarchical ranking of groups based on the unequal distribution
of societal resources and positions.
Focusing primarily on the U.S. class system, topics covered include:
class reproduction and mobility, the educational system and policy, empirical
definitions, the implications of race and gender for social class, and forms of
legitimation. (3-0) Y
SOC
6355 Race, Ethnicity, and Community (3 semester hours)
Considers cultural and social behavior in multiracial and multiethnic
societies. Issues include the formation
and maintenance of individual and group identity, patterns of socioeconomic
achievement, intergroup conflict, and the causes and consequences of public
policy. (3-0) R
SOC
6356 Health and Illness (3 semester hours) A review of medical
sociology and related fields, including social epidemiology and the social
demography of health and illness; health and illness behavior; health
institutions and professions; economic factors and trends in health care; and
health policies and programs. (3-0) R
SOC
6357 Health Policy (3 semester hours) The history and political economy of the
U.S. health care system and a review of major governmental programs to expand
access to appropriate services, control rising costs, ensure the quality of
care, and promote health through prevention.
Analysis of current and recent proposals for reform of health care
policy. (3-0) Y
SOC
6370 Special Topics in Applied Sociology (3 semester hours) Topics
vary from semester to semester. May be repeated for credit. (9 hours maximum)
(3-0) T
SOC
6380 (PA 6380) Nonprofit Organizations (3 semester hours) This
course examines issues related to the rise, scope, development and impact of
nonprofit organizations. The course
explores both the unique missions of nonprofit organizations and the management
challenges posed by this expanding sector of the organizational
environment. (3-0) T
SOC
6381 (PA 6382) Nonprofit Management (3 semester hours) This
course examines issues, strategies, and techniques related to executive
leadership and management in nonprofit organizations. (3-0) R
SOC 6V91
Evaluation Research (3-6 semester hours) Individual or group project in
evaluation research performed for a public or private community organization
under faculty supervision. Students will
normally enroll in this course for two consecutive fall/spring semesters. The first semester of enrollment will
culminate in the completion of a formal evaluation research proposal; the
second will end with a final research report based on conclusions of the
proposed research. Students also are
expected to participate in a weekly seminar on topics in evaluation research
featuring faculty and student presentations, guest speakers, and group
discussion. Permission of the program coordinator required. May be repeated for a total of six semester
credit hours. ([3-6]-0) Y
SOC
6V92 Research Workshop in Applied Sociology (3-6 semester hours)
Students join a faculty member in a group research project. May be repeated for
credit. (6 hours maximum) ([3-6]-0) T
SOC
6V98 Master's Thesis (3-6 semester hours) Provides faculty supervision of a
student's master's thesis research. Completion of all, or concurrent enrollment
in, major requirements. Prerequisite: Permission of Program Coordinator. May be
repeated for credit (6 hours maximum). ([3-6]-0) R