Master of Public Administration

The purpose of this course is to develop a deeper understanding of key concepts in the process of public policy formation and adoption. Decision and policy making are examined with respect to decision making and bureaucratic influence and control. The role of public administrators in the policy process and the steps necessary for policy implementation are explored.

In this course, students examine and apply theories of leadership and organizational behavior. Attention is given to the importance and influence of communication, motivation, group dynamics, and organizational change as it impacts effective decision-making in public, private and non-profit organizations

Emphasizing the skills of data analysis and statistical inference, this course explores key issues in understanding and applying modern research to public management and policy making, including the use of theory and models, identifying causes, experiments and quasi experiments, the logic of control variables and the interpretation of multiple regression, measurement concepts and methods, qualitative methods, and sampling. The emphasis is on learning these ideas through practice with many different examples of real-world research and empirical evidence. Ethical, political, and other contextual factors will be integrated.

In this course, students develop quantitative analytical skills that can be applied to public management and policy problems, program evaluations, and critical research questions. This course emphasizes the application of statistical techniques, the interpretation of statistical results, the use of statistics in management decision-making, and the implementation of statistical tools using computer software. Students learn both the statistical theory and software skills necessary to perform analysis in the public and nonprofit sectors. The course takes a systemic approach to the exposition of the general linear model for continuous dependent variables, and lays the theoretical foundations for linear econometric approaches. Students are introduced to the use of computerized statistical analysis using the software programs, SPSS and/or R.

This course introduces students to selective topics central to an administrator’s role in a government, private or nonprofit agency. Students will explore grant writing, strategic planning, local government administration, economic development and intergovernmental relations/management. The theoretical concerns and problems facing administrators as well as practical case studies representing current solutions are analyzed with each topic. Additionally, students will learn the process of grant writing by reviewing grants, prospect research and proposal writing, and they will examine advanced strategies employed by public sector officials to address planning and management issues. Students, also, will develop policy strategies and a professional portfolio.

Budgeting involves the acquisition, allocation, and use of resources to support organizations, programs, and people’s needs. The emphasis in this course is on budget formats, processes, and politics rather than other aspects of financial administration such as accounting, debt management, and cash flow. Also, this course focuses on budget preparation and approval, not execution and auditing.

This course introduces and explores the societal complexities and organizational challenges associated with contemporary human services administration. It uses a casebook approach to bridge the theoretical foundation, the ecological orientation, and highlight the practical challenges associated with the administration of human services.

This course introduces and explores the societal complexities and organizational challenges associated with contemporary human services administration. It uses a casebook approach to bridge the theoretical foundation, the ecological orientation, and highlight the practical challenges associated with the administration of human services.

This course provides an opportunity for students to understand and reflect on ethical dimensions and dilemmas facing modern public administration. It seeks to foster the development of sound judgment by allowing students to read, critically examine, discuss, and learn from the lapses and successes in judgment and ethics of government administrators.

This course covers management of criminal justice organizations; development and characteristics of corrections and police agencies; problems of administration of justice; and management trends and innovation.

This course considers the major issues confronting administrators of large, urban police departments, such as professionalism, recruitment, selection, training, deployment, innovation, evaluation, and charges of brutality, inefficiency and corruption.

This course reviews key court decisions and explores the tension between constitutionally guaranteed individual rights, crime prevention, and public safety efforts. The course also addresses policy analysis and planning in the criminal justice field and offers an understanding of the policy context in which the criminal justice system functions.

Students analyze current local government ad-ministration through local charters, intergov-ernmental relations, comprehensive planning, economic development, and the operational service functions of local city/county/munici¬pal governments. Also, this course explores the political context and administrative decision-making involved in developing and managing public policies for local communi¬ties

This course covers the major topics, issues, and contributions in public administration on organizations and management, with emphasis on applications to government and nonprofit organizations. Students will analyze concepts, methods, and procedures involved in organizing, planning, decision making, performance evaluation, managing personnel, and building organizational culture. This course will examine case studies where organizations at the federal, state, and local level as well as within the nonprofit sector have encountered and successfully overcome management problems and reforms.

This course examines public policy development in the executive and legislative branches of government with attention to the role of public affairs professionals in policy processes and the intersection of private and public interests. Students will explore key concepts in the processes of public policy formation and adoption with emphasis placed on how ideas for government action are translated from concepts into reality.