Public Administration Courses (PA)
PA 6601 - Research Methods in Public Administration (3)
An introduction to basic, applied, and evaluative research methodologies and data analysis techniques. Students apply these methodologies to issues, programs, and research problems in the field of public administration. A grade of “B” or better is required. Prerequisite: PA 6610. In special circumstances, may be waived by the Department Chair.
PA 6603 - Economics for Public Management (3)
An introduction to economic theory emphasizing the application of selected micro-economic and macro-economic theories to issues in public administration.
PA 6604 - Workforce Planning and Staffing (3)
A study of theory, principles, and legal requirements for effective workforce planning, recruitment, selection, and employment in public and non-profit organizational settings. The course provides an in-depth analysis of tools, techniques and statistical concepts applied to the fundamental HR function of work-force planning and staffing. Prerequisite: PA 6624.
PA 6605 - Training and Development (3)
A study of concepts and practices critical to identifying human resources training and development needs critical to ensuring organizational effectiveness.
PA 6606 - Issues in Managing the Public Workforce (3)
A study of concepts and practices to introduce the student to public sector employee performance management requirements, sound employee/labor relations practices, how compensation is determined and the various pay systems and benefits, special monetary incentives, and tangible and intangible awards to motivate, retain, and recognize employee performance of today's multi-generational workforce.
PA 6607 - Performance Measurement and Management for Public and Non-profit Organizations (3)
This course focuses on how performance measurements are becoming increasingly important in public and non-profit settings. It will ground students in the fundamentals of performance measurement systems and demonstrate how they are critical from a mission, strategic, funding, transparency and accountability perspective. It will cover not only how to select appropriate measures, but also how to implement a performance measurement system and use performance measures in managing an organization. In addition, the course will highlight the need for leadership and management acumen to ensure success in achieving meaningful, significant and lasting results.
PA 6608 - Comparative Public Administration (3)
This course employs a global comparative approach to introduce students to the structures, behaviors, and processes of public administration with an emphasis on exploring the role of public management systems within the wider political and democratic frameworks in which they function in a global environment.
PA 6610 - Global Challenges in Public Administration (3)
An introduction to contemporary global challenges, including the need for more inclusivity, that face leaders in both public and nonprofit organizations in an increasingly multicultural and interdependent global society. This course will introduce students to the role of government and basic management skills needed to meet those challenges from a global perspective including policy making, leadership, management, and ethics.
PA 6620 - Theory of Organizations (3)
An introduction to the major theoretical approaches and debates in organization theory including core concepts and key issues arising from the classical and contemporary influences. Emphasis is on the evolution of organization theory in the United States and the elements that distinguish public from private organizations.
PA 6622 - Public Policy (3)
An overview of the theoretical orientations under-lying the public policy process and the conceptual framework for differentiating types of public policies. Students examine current issues and policies from various theoretical and practical perspectives. Prerequisite: PA 6601
PA 6624 - Public Human Resource Management (3)
A survey of the basic principles, functions, and constitutional issues involved with managing public employees. Specific functions addressed include planning, job analysis, position classification, recruitment and selection, staffing, performance management and appraisal, labor-management relations, training, and other personnel functions.
PA 6625 - Specialized Study in Public Administration (3)
A study of problem(s) in a public or nonprofit organization using research design and methodologies and producing a scholarly paper that contributes directly to the student's curriculum. The Director of the MPA Program must approve the topic. PA 6625 may substitute for a required concentration course only once in a student's program and only if taken for three credit hours.
PA 6630 - Strategic Planning (3)
A study and application of decision making models with emphasis on understanding the role and importance of strategic planning in public and nonprofit organizations.
PA 6631 - Program Evaluation (3)
An overview of the theoretical foundations and techniques of program evaluation including need assessments, outcome evaluations, surveys, program outcomes, and impact evaluation(s). Prerequisite: PA 6601.
PA 6632 - Arbitration, Collective Bargaining, and Labor Relations (3)
This course examines the fundamentals of labor relations, exploring a range of issues including employee rights to strike and specific statute addressing collective bargaining on the federal and local levels. The course provides a practical experience in collective bargaining and arbitration through participation in a bargaining exercise. Specific differences between public and private collective bargaining and labor relations are explored in depth.
PA 6640 - Intergovernmental Relations (3)
An examination of the administrative, fiscal, and legal issues that govern relations among the various governmental entities in the United States.
PA 6641 - Social Marketing in Public Administration (3)
The primary objective of this course is the application of traditional marketing principles and techniques to the challenges and rewards of influencing positive public behavior. Social marketing offers a revolutionary approach to solving a range of social concerns, such as public health, safety, emergency management, environmental protection, financial well-being, and community involvement. Prerequisite: Graduate Student of good standing.
PA 6643 - Advanced Public Human Resource Management (3)
This course is designed to help the student understand the law as it applies to the management of human resources. Its coverage is aimed at preparing the managers of human resources to recognize legal problems, to know the legal impact of decisions of personnel matters and to be knowledgeable in general of the law as it might impact individuals in organizations. Prerequisite: PA 6624.
PA 6644 - Administrative Law (3)
An overview of the legal environment of public administration. The focus is on the powers and procedures of administrative agencies including administrative discretion, rule-making, investigations, prosecuting, negotiating and settlement based on Constitutional law, statutory law, common law, and agency-made law and the liability of governments and their officers.
PA 6646 - Organizational Behavior (3)
A study of the various theoretical perspectives that help to explain complex organizational behavior in public and nonprofit organizations in the global environment.
PA 6650 - Governmental Budgeting & Financial Management(3)
A survey of concepts, principles, processes, and practices in governmental budgeting at national, state, and local levels and the interrelationships of planning, programming, and budgeting strategies.
PA 6660 - Readings in Public Administration (1-3)
A study of problem(s) in a public or non-profit organization using analytical methods with a public policy focus and producing a scholarly paper that contributes directly to the student's curriculum. The Director of the MPA Program must approve the topic. PA 6660 may substitute for a concentration course only once in a student's program and only if taken for three credit hours.
PA 6661 - Global Challenges in Leadership and Management ( 3)
Global change is driven by effective leaders who can identify key problems that need to be solved, understand their root causes and barriers to overcome, develop strategies to address those barriers, design effective coalitions through advocacy and partnerships, and evaluate performance to maximize the impacts of the approach that has been implemented. Effective leadership requires an understanding of the management tools to ensure success, organizational sustainability, and maximum outreach. This course will introduce students to the role of government and basic management skills from a global perspective including: policy making, organizational vision and direction, regulations, strategic planning and implementation processes, basic budgeting methods, leadership skills and intercultural team dynamics, and group facilitation, negotiation, and conflict resolution techniques.
PA 6663 - Global Health Administration (3)
The aim of this course is to accomplish an overview of the multi-topic study of global health. The course is compromised of the comprehensive exploration of various health systems, the disparities in healthcare and nutrition on a global level, the burden of disease, child health regional variations, pharmaceuticals access and other low- and middle income countries health equity issues.
PA 6664 - Global Perspectives in Local Government (3)
Today's world is characterized by ever-increasing interconnectedness and interdependence in economic, political, environmental, and social issues. Cities are becoming more ethnically culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse as migration becomes less costly and barriers to immigration decrease. Local government is changing. The growing diversity and less unified common identity in our cities, common identity in our cities, workplaces, businesses, schools create a need for globally competent leaders, public officials, administrators, and educators. This course provides an overview of the social, cultural, economic, and pragmatic issues faced by public local public officials as they traverse the channels of local landscape.
PA 6665 - Organizational Leadership (3)
An introduction to the major theoretical perspectives in organizational theory and behavior including core concepts and key issues arising from classical and contemporary influences which mold organizational leadership and behavior in public and nonprofit organizations in the global environment.
PA 6666 - Foundations of Nonprofit Organizations (3)
A survey of the history, theory, and political, organizational, legal, financial, personnel, and service contexts unique to nonprofit management.
PA 6667 - Executive Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations (3)
An examination of the managerial tools and professional practices for developing the internal and external capacity of nonprofits. Topics include working with boards, volunteers, and communities; developing partnerships with public, private and other non-profit organizations; marketing the program; planning special events; and influencing policy directions through lobbying.
PA 6668 - Grant Management for Public and Non-Profit Organizations (3)
An overview of strategies and techniques integral to identifying potential funding resources and planning, developing, and writing grant proposals. Topics include program development and grant opportunities, the funding acquisitions processes, stewardship of funds and project management strategies including evaluation, dissemination, and continuation plans.
PA 6674 - Ethics in Public Administration (3)
A study of the philosophical and practical issues related to ethical decision making in the public sector. Emphasis is on the analysis of ethical problems and the development of analytical skills and values framework to act ethically in public service roles.
PA 6675 - Public Health Services Administration and Policy (3)
The course provides a framework for developing and analyzing a range of U.S. public health policy areas and issues; acquaints students with increased understanding of the context of public health administration and healthcare policy; and examines key factors and forces impacting total public health system performances in the United States.
PA 6676 - Legal and Social Issues in Public Health Administration (3)
An examination of the legal and ethical aspects of contemporary legal and social issues within the public health services administration process.
PA 6677 - Public Health Preparedness & Emergency Response (3)
The course provides an overview of public health's involvement and response strategies to various natural and unnatural emergencies and the domestic and international responses to disasters, outbreaks, and epidemics.
PA 6678 - Introduction to Public Health (3)
An introduction to the mission, roles, issues, and context of public health, community health, and health systems, including the history and mission of public health as well as a comprehensive exploration of the essential services and core functions of public health, social justice, and human rights.
PA 6679 - E-Governance (3)
The course studies concepts and methods of e-Government strategies to include planning, implementing, and evaluating information technology used to deliver government services. Topics include e-Government strategy, the use of Web 3.0 and social media, policy concerns, and how to assess the performance and function of e-Government applications and strategies.
PA 6694 - Internship (3)
A practical learning experience in a public or non-profit organization that includes a written paper analyzing a problem pertinent to the student's concentration.
PA 6699 - Capstone in Public Administration (3)
The required outcome assessment course using case analyses, research papers, and/or experimental learning projects that emphasize the application of analytical skills and knowledge gained from curriculum courses to administrative, organizational, and policy problems. To enroll in PA 6699, students must have a 3.0 grade point average or better and take PA 6699 as the final core course or, with the approval of their faculty advisor, in conjunction with the final core course in the MPA program. To successfully complete this course, the student must achieve a grade of “B” or better. Students should retain core course textbooks for use in PA 6699. Prerequisite: 3.0 grade point average or better and completion of all required core courses. In special circumstances, may be waived by the student's faculty advisor.
PA 8801 - Introductory Seminar in Public Administration (3)
This course provides doctoral students with an opportunity to examine globalization from the viewpoint of public administration. Students develop a global perspective and develop their focus a focus from an organizational perspective as a leader who promotes a global perspective among colleagues. Specifically, this course examines public administration from the changing context of globalization.
PA 8802 - Readings in Public Administration (3)
This directed reading class requires candidates to read, critically analyze, and discuss articles representing primary source literature in the field of public administration. The course will focus on the development of the students' ability to think critically from a micro perspective (individual) to a macro (organization) perspective with the goal of identifying promising areas for future research. The focus will be on theoretical and empirical approaches to understanding current phenomenon in the field. Contributions to the literature will be explored and evolving questions as well as areas for possible research.
PA 8803 - Advanced Readings in Public Administration (3)
This course provides the student with an opportunity to gain or enhance public administration knowledge and to explore an area of interest related to public service research or the delivery and/or administration of public services. Enrollment must be approved by the department chair.
PA 8804 - Seminar in Public Administration I (3)
This course provides an in-depth understanding of specific issues in public administration. Emphasis throughout the course will be on critical thinking and reading. Attention is given to 85 theoretical and empirical approaches to understanding public administration phenomenon that have emerged within the last half century. Key questions will be explored, together with contributions to the literature, and evolving questions, as well as areas for future research. This seminar course includes theoretical orientation and theory-to-practice experiences using case studies, demonstrations, guest speakers, experts in the field, and simulations.
PA 8805 - Seminar in Public Administration II (3)
This course provides an in-depth understanding of specific issues in public administration. Emphasis throughout the course will be on critical thinking and reading, as well as class discussion. Specifically, this exploration will include critical analysis of the claims, assumptions, definitions, and values underpinning the key ideas associated with public administration. Attention is given to theoretical and empirical approaches to understanding public administration phenomenon that have emerged within the last half century. Key questions will be explored, together with contributions to the literature, and evolving questions, as well as areas for future research. This seminar course includes theoretical orientation and theory-to-practice experiences using case studies, demonstrations, guest speakers, experts in the field, and simulations.
PA 8806 - Advanced Seminar in Public Administration (3)
This course examines globalization from the view-point of public administration. Students develop a focus from an organizational perspective as a leader who promotes a global perspective among colleagues. Specifically, this course requires the student to synthesize and apply public administration knowledge through work based in real-life settings. Instructional Leadership and Administration.
NOTE: Courses from disciplines other than Public Administration (CJ and IR) used as PA concentration selections are described in the Catalog sections pertaining to those programs.