Public Policy and Administration (PPA)

The course introduces students to the nature, dynamics and substance of public policy. Selected policy issues in the United States will be examined through the use of case studies. Foreign and global influences on U.S. policy-making will also be analyzed. Issues will vary across course sections over time.

An introductory survey of the principles, functions and processes of public administration with specific emphasis on the political aspects and environment of bureaucracies, and the how and why of policy-making within an administrative system. Organizational structure, personnel, budgeting, public relations and government values, traditions, and objectives are analyzed.

Study of public policy analysis. Delivers to students rational and alternative techniques for analyzing public policy while providing them opportunities to develop analytical skills.

An examination of the political planning and strategies of Congress and federal agencies in the budgetary process; politics of budgetary reform; state and local budgetary politics; and intergovernmental impacts on budgeting.

Study of the relations between the several levels of government in the United States. Political, fiscal, legal, regulatory and administrative relations as they have evolved within federal and state constitutional frameworks will be examined.

Examination of the basic constitutional framework of American public administration. Examines legal constraints imposed on public administrators by law and judicial oversight. Emphasis placed on legal issues affecting public employees. Also examines the basics of public procurement law.

Study of the management of public agencies from the executive viewpoint. Management control of public agencies will be explored including establishment of goals, policies, organizational structure and output of services. Case studies illustrate administrative behavior and managerial operations in local, regional, state and federal agencies. Does not count as part of the political science major or minor. Fulfills the College of Arts and Letters writing-intensive requirement for the major.

A study of policies and practices in stability and recovery operations. Conflict and post-conflict zones motivate international and domestic efforts to promote security, humanitarian assistance, economic stabilization and development, the rule of law, and participatory governance. This course develops management and policy design skills relevant to the pursuit of this complex agenda via case studies at the international, national and organizational levels.

A study of the problems and management of urbanization and inter-jurisdictional externalities from a regional perspective. Regionalism will be examined as an approach to solve these problems.

A study of the development and implementation of education policy in the United States at the national, state, and local levels. Students will be introduced to major issues in contemporary education policy and the evaluation of alternative policies advanced by subgroups of the population. Educational equity and its links to social and economic goals will be examined.

A study of the interaction of social welfare policy and local governance in theory and in practice. Students examine state and local government and community-based responses to urban problems from a policy and management perspective. Particular attention is paid to interagency and community collaboration as a way to enhance social service delivery.

An examination of the role of philanthropy and volunteerism in the nonprofit sector in the United States and globally. Topics discussed include: strategic giving; components of fundraising management and planning; volunteerism as a resource for organizations; board and staff responsibilities in resource acquisition; and monitoring and performance assessment.

This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of governance, accountability, trusteeship and executive leadership in nonprofit sector organizations. The course will examine critically the principal models, processes and practices used in managing nonprofit organizations and the relationships between the governing boards and executive leaders of such organizations.

This course provides a foundation in financial management, enabling students to understand and apply financial information as competent entry-level financial analysts in the public or nonprofit sector. This course will provide students with a strong financial vocabulary in budgeting and finance to be able to communicate and interpret financial language. Students will work with several cases that allow them to use the tools learned in the course.

The purpose of this course is to provide a broad overview of the theory behind and practical application of contract management. As agencies across government (federal, state and local) expand the use of contracting billions of taxpayer dollars are transferred into the private sector to conduct public business. This trend is not going away; therefore it is essential that public administrators be effective at managing and overseeing contracts.

Study of the theory and practice of economic development and community planning. Topics include human capital development, infrastructure development, regionalism, public-private partnerships.

An examination of the practical skills needed for writing successful grant proposals as well as for carrying out grant-funded projects. Proposal development features include needs assessments, work plans, and evaluation programs. The foundations of project management examined include staffing, workflow and expense monitoring, stakeholder relationships and demonstrating results.

This course examines the ethical dimensions of public service as experienced in governmental and nonprofit organizations. Course content explores governmental, organizational and individual-level efforts to promote ethical behavior and to deter corruption.

The course will examine a special topic in public policy. The course may be repeated for credit with a change in the subject matter offered.

The course will examine a special topic in public and/or nonprofit management. The course may be repeated for credit with a change in the subject matter offered.

A study of environmental politics and the policies that environmental advocacy has produced. Topics include the dynamics of policy construction, various substantive policy issues and the prospects for environmental justice and sustainability.

This course is an examination of the collaborative management necessary to address complex environmental sustainability issues facing communities at the local, state and national levels. Topics covered include systems thinking, interest-based negotiation, stakeholder analysis and environmental conflict resolution.

This research-oriented seminar provides an overview of public policy studies and the different approaches to research in this field. A major research project will strengthen the research, information access and lifelong learning capacities of the student. Fulfills the College of Arts and Letters writing-intensive requirement for the major.

This course provides students with opportunities for experiential learning in organizations engaged with public policy formulation and analysis. A research paper related to the internship is required. Permission of the instructor is required to enroll.

This course provides students with opportunities for experiential learning in a governmental or nonprofit organization. A research paper and a presentation based on the experience are required. Permission of the instructor is required to enroll.

This course provides students with opportunities for experiential learning in Washington D.C. with public and nonprofit organizations engaged with public policy formulation and analysis. A research paper related to the internship is required.