500

An introduction to urban economic theory, urban spatial form, and urban policy problems. Topics include theories of urban evolution and form, regional comparative advantage and trade, urban economic growth and development, the limits to metropolitan size, land-rent gradients, public goods and externalities in urban areas, and urban policy problems including: poverty, housing, segregation, transportation networks, congestion, land use planning, and issues in local and regional governance and public finance.

This course focuses on developing the knowledge base, tools, and skills one needs to effectively manage a wide array of public organizations. This course will explore opportunities, obstacles, and alternative management approaches associated with public management and compare private sector and public sector management.

This foundational course introduces students to the complex social, economic, political, and ethical context of public administration in the United States. Students gain an understanding of values of public institutions and the importance of public involvement in decision-making. Students develop skills for interpreting and critically evaluating the competing concerns and complexities of American public service issues.

This course will provide students with an introduction to research methods and statistical techniques used in social science research, particularly in the fields of economics and political science. This course will include basic knowledge of the concepts and models employed for conducting experimental research, policy analysis and program evaluation, and unobtrusive research from data sets. Emphasis will be placed on using and applying the qualitative and quantitative techniques most widely utilized in social science research.

This class explores the contemporary theories and practice of managing public sector organizations through the lenses of organizational theory and behavior and decision-making.

This course explores the foundation, theory, and practice of managing and leading non-profit organizations. This course will consider the history of non-profit organizations, board creation, managing non-profit employees and volunteers, developing donor relationships, and fundraising.

This course is designed to introduce the foundations of public policy. The course will enable students to understand why some public problems reach the public agenda, why some policy options (solutions and strategies) are adopted and others rejected, and why some policies appear to succeed while others appear to fail. This course will develop the student's ability to understand how public policy is imagined, created, implemented, and evaluated.

This course introduces students to the practice of analytical thinking as it is applied to the social sciences and policy analysis. As a foundational course for skill development, attention is given to detailing the practice of scholarly inquiry and introducing the logic of social science research. Emphasis is placed on developing and refining fundamental research skills involved in the evaluation, conduct, and communication of empirical work.

This course examines economic theory and methods of analysis used for making, implementing, and evaluating government policies. The course covers how key theories of macro and microeconomics can be used in formulating public policy decisions. Methods of evaluating public policies will be covered with particular focus on marginal analysis and cost/benefit analysis. The course will also cover the concepts of public goods, externalities, and public choice theory.

This course explores the concepts of quality and productivity and their importance to the public sector. Attention is given to techniques used to improve productivity and service quality as well as barriers to productivity improvement initiatives. Prerequisite: POL-520

This course examines the management of public investments and theories of taxation and non-tax revenues.

This class examines the responsibilities and benefits of ethical public sector leadership. This class will cover critical thinking, normative decision-making, and the role of values in public policy and public affairs. Ethical theories and principles commonly used in public administration are emphasized.

This class explores processes through which public demands are communicated, converted into public policy, and implemented in the context of the American democratic system. Examines the intersection of politics, policy, and administration as well as the diverse strategies and tools of public action through the lenses of current events.

This course introduces theoretical and best practice models of non-profit financial management, including fundraising and grantwriting. This course considers non-profit budgeting and financial management, determining the financial health of a non-profit, the role the board plays in financial matters, and creating a grant proposal and a fundraising plan.

This course surveys the functions of human resource management by exploring the way public sector organizations procure, organize, and develop employees. This course will also examine methods by which positive employee-employer relationships are established and maintained. Prerequisite: POL-520

This first course in a two course sequence introduces students to applied research design, data collection, data management, data analysis, and analytical reporting to allow students to conduct original research, be informed consumers of research, and be ultimately improved decision makers in public sector settings.

This course is designed for acquisition of practical skills in policy analysis. Policy analysis is the art, craft, and science of collecting and interpreting information that clarifies the causes and effects of public problems and the likely consequences of policy options. Policy analysis requires technical understanding of analytical tools and diverse policy contexts, as well as the ability to produce and communicate practical advice. To this end, policy analysis draws from the ideas and methods of many disciplines including political science, economics, and environmental science.

This second course in a two course sequence introduces students to qualitative research and various aspects of scholarly writing. This class prepares students to communicate research clearly and effectively as public service leaders.

This course is designed as an international travel seminar to observe, understand, and comparatively assess the systems and governments of select countries around the world. Course content examines the history, culture, environment, economics, governing processes, healthcare, public policy, and/or international interactions of the designated country. The course blends international travel, interdisciplinary study, intercultural interactions with peers, instructors, and foreign nationals, lectures, site visits, and interactive meetings to provide a unique experiential learning environment. Attention is given to synthesizing course content and in-country experiences from the journey as students individually and corporately reflect upon matters that relate to their chosen areas of study and being agents of change in the world.

This course focuses on the role of economic development activities and policies. Attention is given to how the success or failure of economic development activities at the local level directly impacts municipal residents and, more broadly, the welfare of the state and the nation. This course will explore the contexts within which economic development occurs, and the obstacles to and opportunities for economic development. Prerequisite: POL-520

This course introduces students to the role of strategic planning in the success and long-term stability of non-profit organizations. This course will consider strategic goals and objectives, assessments, program evaluation, the impact of environmental changes to a strategic plan, and the development of a strategic plan.

A penetrating analysis of public administration and expenditures. Explores revenue including taxation, budget examination, and the effect of fiscal policy on the economy.

This course is an advanced application seminar serving as a cumulative and integrative experience that draws together the various research and content components of the MPA curriculum. The course facilitates an analytical exercise through which students address relevant public affairs issues and problems. In consultation with the course facilitator students may complete a policy analysis, program assessment, or research thesis identifying and exploring real world problems facing policymakers in the public and private sectors. Additionally, the course provides a summative assessment of the knowledge accumulated by students throughout the program.

Students combine their program-wide content area knowledge and skills with work experience and future professional goals in a final capstone experience. Prerequisite: Successful completion of all MPA courses