Course Descriptions

PA 5304 Policy Processes, Implementation and Evaluation (3 semester hours) Application of models of the policy system to the analysis of legislative, administrative and judicial processes at different points in the policy cycle. Use of case studies, empirical analysis, direct observation, and group projects. Prerequisite: POEC 5303. Same as PSCI 5304. (3-0) Y
PA 5305 Microeconomics for Policy I (3 semester hours) Develops the tools of economic analysis and demonstrates their uses for decision-making and the evaluation of public policies. Prerequisites: ECO 3310, POEC 5300, or equivalent. Same as POEC 5305. (3-0) Y
PA 5308 Ethics, Culture and Public Responsibility (3 semester hours) This course provides a general consideration of traditions of ethical thought, the interactions between personal behavior and cultural groups/norms and the implementation of public responsibility. Topics to be considered shall include tensions between personal and collective goals, the nature and limits of tolerance, and the role of institutions such as the family, government, business, churches and interest groups. Same as POEC 5308. (3-0) Y
PA 5315 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. Same as PSCI 5315. (3-0) Y
PA 5318 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. Same as PSCI 5318. (3-0) Y
PA 5321 Government Financial Management and Budgeting (3 semester hours) Management of government finances, including revenue collection and enforcement, cash and debt management, investments, general and special funds, controllership, financial and program audits, purchasing, financial reporting, managerial use of governmental accounting systems, GAO and professional accounting standards. (3-0) Y
PA 5323 Quality and Productivity Improvement in Government (3 semester hours) Examines the implications and challenges of improving public sector quality and productivity. Provides practical methods for improving government productivity and quality efforts. Provides tools for measuring performance and for managing performance. (3-0) Y
PA 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. Same as POEC 6320, PSCI 6320 and SOC 6320. (3-0) T
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 Same as PSCI 6326. (3-0) T
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 Same as PSCI 6328. (3-0) T
PA 6338 Program Design (3 semester hours) Concentrates on the parts of professional practice that begin where analysis ends. Explores wide array of ideas in linguistics, literature, psychology, theater, architecture, and the social sciences that encourage rigor and creativity in the design of public policies, programs, and projects. Same as POEC 6338.. (3-0) T
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. (Same as POEC 6365, ECO 6372) (3-0) Y
PA 7305 Leadership of Public and Non-Profit Organizations (3 semester hours) Examines the range of contemporary theories of leadership with particular emphasis on public and non-profit organizations. Explores cases of leadership success and failure in these environments. Examines the set of actions and behaviors requisite for leading contemporary organizations. (3-0) Y
PA 7310 Proseminar in Public Affairs (3 semester hours) Explores current issues in public affairs faced by institutional leaders with an emphasis on issue definition and strategic problem-solving. Explores the gamut of issues that make institutions �public� Topics include stakeholder management, social responsibilities of institutions and the management of complex networks. (3-0) Y
PA 7311 Models and Tools of Change Management (3 semester hours) Examines the set of theories and models of change management as they relate to organizational change. Provides applied tools for enacting change in a variety of organizational change. Provides applied tools for enacting change in a variety of organizational environments. Provides tools for adapting models of change to scope and scale of changes required. (3-0) Y
PA 7312 Research Methodologies for Executives (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: POEC 5313. (3-0) Y
PA 7315 Fundraising and Media Relations for Nonprofit Organizations (3 semester hours) Fundraising is one of the most important but least understood functions for a manager of non-profit organizations, universities, private (and increasingly public) schools, arts and social service organizations. This course is designed to prepare the manager to work effectively as a member of a fundraising team � either as staff or volunteer board member. (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 7332 Legal Environment of Public Affairs (3 semester hours) This class explores how the affects the operation, management and environment of public and non-profit organizations. Examines topics ranging from administrative law to legal relationships with other governmental and non-profit entities. The course also examines the relationship between legal and ethical mandates in the public realm. (3-0) T
PA 7343 Human Resources Management (3 semester hours) Examines theories, principles, and practices of human resources management in public organizations. Explores implications of social and administrative values as expressed in current human resource policies. (3-0) Y
PA 7359 Special Topics in Policy Methods (3 semester hours) Topics vary from semester to semester. (May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 9 hours.) (3-0) R
PA 7375 Non-Profit Organizations: Theory and Practice (3 semester hours) This class explores the leading theories of non-profit organizations. Examines the unique elements of non-profit organizations and the academic and practical challenges produced by these distinctive elements. Examines how theory is applied to the practice of management in non-profit organizations. (3-0) T
PA 7390 Advanced Research Techniques for 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: POEC 5313 � Descriptive and Inferential Statistics. (3-0) Y
PA 8340 Capstone Seminar for Leadership in Public Affairs (3 semester hours) May be repeated. Students will examine leadership issues arising from their field experiences. The course will focus on the identification of similarities and differences between leadership challenges across varying institutional environments. Includes lectures and discussions with local institutional leaders. Prerequisite: Permission of the Program Coordinator.(3-0) Y
PA 8350 Field-Based Organizational Improvement Experience (3 semester hours) May be repeated. Total hours may not exceed 9 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 Coordinator. (3-0) Y
PA 8360 Public Affairs Research Practicum (3 semester hours) May be repeated. Total hours may not exceed 9 semester hours. This practicum will focus on the dissertation research. Students will be required to make oral and written reports that detail the progress of the dissertation. (3-0) Y
PA 8V99 Dissertation (3-9 semester hours) Provides faculty supervision of student�s dissertation research. Prerequisite: consent of program office. (May be repeated for credit). ([3-9]-0) S
PA 5304 Policy Processes, Implementation and Evaluation (3 semester hours) Application of models of the policy system to the analysis of legislative, administrative and judicial processes at different points in the policy cycle. Use of case studies, empirical analysis, direct observation, and group projects. Prerequisite: POEC 5303. Same as PSCI 5304. (3-0) Y
PA 5305 Microeconomics for Policy I (3 semester hours) Develops the tools of economic analysis and demonstrates their uses for decision-making and the evaluation of public policies. Prerequisites: ECO 3310, POEC 5300, or equivalent. Same as POEC 5305. (3-0) Y
PA 5308 Ethics, Culture and Public Responsibility (3 semester hours) This course provides a general consideration of traditions of ethical thought, the interactions between personal behavior and cultural groups/norms and the implementation of public responsibility. Topics to be considered shall include tensions between personal and collective goals, the nature and limits of tolerance, and the role of institutions such as the family, government, business, churches and interest groups. Same as POEC 5308. (3-0) Y
PA 5315 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. Same as PSCI 5315. (3-0) Y
PA 5318 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. Same as PSCI 5318. (3-0) Y
PA 5321 Government Financial Management and Budgeting (3 semester hours) Management of government finances, including revenue collection and enforcement, cash and debt management, investments, general and special funds, controllership, financial and program audits, purchasing, financial reporting, managerial use of governmental accounting systems, GAO and professional accounting standards. (3-0) Y
PA 5323 Quality and Productivity Improvement in Government (3 semester hours) Examines the implications and challenges of improving public sector quality and productivity. Provides practical methods for improving government productivity and quality efforts. Provides tools for measuring performance and for managing performance. (3-0) Y
PA 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. Same as POEC 6320, PSCI 6320 and SOC 6320. (3-0) T
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 Same as PSCI 6326. (3-0) T
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 Same as PSCI 6328. (3-0) T
PA 6338 Program Design (3 semester hours) Concentrates on the parts of professional practice that begin where analysis ends. Explores wide array of ideas in linguistics, literature, psychology, theater, architecture, and the social sciences that encourage rigor and creativity in the design of public policies, programs, and projects. Same as POEC 6338.. (3-0) T
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. (Same as POEC 6365, ECO 6372) (3-0) Y
PA 7305 Leadership of Public and Non-Profit Organizations (3 semester hours) Examines the range of contemporary theories of leadership with particular emphasis on public and non-profit organizations. Explores cases of leadership success and failure in these environments. Examines the set of actions and behaviors requisite for leading contemporary organizations. (3-0) Y
PA 7310 Proseminar in Public Affairs (3 semester hours) Explores current issues in public affairs faced by institutional leaders with an emphasis on issue definition and strategic problem-solving. Explores the gamut of issues that make institutions �public� Topics include stakeholder management, social responsibilities of institutions and the management of complex networks. (3-0) Y
PA 7311 Models and Tools of Change Management (3 semester hours) Examines the set of theories and models of change management as they relate to organizational change. Provides applied tools for enacting change in a variety of organizational change. Provides applied tools for enacting change in a variety of organizational environments. Provides tools for adapting models of change to scope and scale of changes required. (3-0) Y
PA 7312 Research Methodologies for Executives (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: POEC 5313. (3-0) Y
PA 7315 Fundraising and Media Relations for Nonprofit Organizations (3 semester hours) Fundraising is one of the most important but least understood functions for a manager of non-profit organizations, universities, private (and increasingly public) schools, arts and social service organizations. This course is designed to prepare the manager to work effectively as a member of a fundraising team � either as staff or volunteer board member. (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 7332 Legal Environment of Public Affairs (3 semester hours) This class explores how the affects the operation, management and environment of public and non-profit organizations. Examines topics ranging from administrative law to legal relationships with other governmental and non-profit entities. The course also examines the relationship between legal and ethical mandates in the public realm. (3-0) T
PA 7343 Human Resources Management (3 semester hours) Examines theories, principles, and practices of human resources management in public organizations. Explores implications of social and administrative values as expressed in current human resource policies. (3-0) Y
PA 7359 Special Topics in Policy Methods (3 semester hours) Topics vary from semester to semester. (May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 9 hours.) (3-0) R
PA 7375 Non-Profit Organizations: Theory and Practice (3 semester hours) This class explores the leading theories of non-profit organizations. Examines the unique elements of non-profit organizations and the academic and practical challenges produced by these distinctive elements. Examines how theory is applied to the practice of management in non-profit organizations. (3-0) T
PA 7390 Advanced Research Techniques for 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: POEC 5313 � Descriptive and Inferential Statistics. (3-0) Y
PA 8340 Capstone Seminar for Leadership in Public Affairs (3 semester hours) May be repeated. Students will examine leadership issues arising from their field experiences. The course will focus on the identification of similarities and differences between leadership challenges across varying institutional environments. Includes lectures and discussions with local institutional leaders. Prerequisite: Permission of the Program Coordinator.(3-0) Y
PA 8350 Field-Based Organizational Improvement Experience (3 semester hours) May be repeated. Total hours may not exceed 9 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 Coordinator. (3-0) Y
PA 8360 Public Affairs Research Practicum (3 semester hours) May be repeated. Total hours may not exceed 9 semester hours. This practicum will focus on the dissertation research. Students will be required to make oral and written reports that detail the progress of the dissertation. (3-0) Y
PA 8V99 Dissertation (3-9 semester hours) Provides faculty supervision of student�s dissertation research. Prerequisite: consent of program office. (May be repeated for credit). ([3-9]-0) S