Public Administration

This course examines theoretical and practical aspects of public administration and the historical development of the field. Students examine the structure, functions and evolution of federal agencies and their relationship to state and local governments and organizations that administer public policy and resources. Management and leadership issues within public administration agencies and organizations are explored in addition to the relationships between agencies and organizations and the larger community.

Public administration is primarily involved with public service and policy, which may involve managing and securing funds through grants. This course will provide strategies for approaching foundational and governmental grants and guide the student through every phase of creating a successful grant, from preparation through post-submittal follow up.

Examines key financial institutions, processes and techniques relating to public budgeting, revenue and expenditure. Covers analytical techniques appropriate for the analysis of revenue, spending and debt issuance. Reviews stages of the budget process and related actors and analytical techniques using the federal budget process as a case study. Discusses performance-laden budget reforms, governmental accounting, debt management and financial reporting. Reviews principles of taxation and evaluates major sources of revenue and their significance.

This course is the foundation of public policy analysis. Explores the interrelationships among politics, policy formulation and implementation, and ethics and values, with emphasis on the public sector in the United States. Examines how political parties, key stakeholders, interest groups and public opinion influences public policy; its role and issues in federal, state, local and nonprofit agencies; and how public bureaucracies implement policy through decision-making, planning, organizing and other administrative processes.

Examines models of and societal and personal assumptions about leadership. Elements, factors and processes that give rise to effective executive and managerial leadership are discussed and applied to large, complex organizations. Addresses the theory, concepts, research and practice in conflict analysis and resolution. The roles of private and public-sector leaders in conceptualizing, planning and managing innovation and change, and in mediating conflicts are explored, as are the theoretical bases of various decision-making and problem-solving strategies.

Reviews the political, social and economic factors influencing policy analysis and planning for analyzing, solving and resolving practical problems designed for policy issues facing federal, state, local and nonprofit sectors. Examines quantitative and qualitative methods, processes and concepts of public policy analysis and develops skills in applying critical-thinking, analytical techniques and various forms of structured analytical writing and communications. The role and ethical dimensions of policy analysis in the policy-making process are discussed.

This course will provide the skills to planning, organizing the complex roles and functions of planning in the development of urban settlements including transportation, business districts, neighborhoods, green space and more.

This course examines U.S. public administration within the U.S. Constitution and U.S. legal system as the foundation for all laws in the public, nonprofit and private sectors in a constitutional, regulatory and administrative legal framework. It uses the federal government as the context for analyzing administrative agencies and the public sector administrator's legal responsibility and accountability of public goods while applying legal principles, concepts and processes needed to address legal subjects most relevant to public administration. Accordingly, the course explores how the legal system addresses critical issues faced by public officials and how the law is designed to work. The course also explores the relationship between public administration and law, and specifically how the law is upheld in the decision-making process.

Analyzes basic principles and functions of personnel administration in the public service; reviews roles of personnel management, recruitment, placement, wage and salary management, valuing and managing talent, training, retirement and other personnel functions. Provides an overview of workplace policies and procedures related to conflict resolution, employee conduct, hiring practices, and employment standards.

This course examines the global context of public administration policies, procedures and stakeholders and the impact on geo-economic and geopolitical systems. Students examine public administration controversies from the local and global perspective and learn how to evaluate policy alternatives. Case studies are used to analyze efficacy of solutions and the nature of shifting global policy.

This course integrates theory into application presented in a portfolio, demonstrating core competencies in the areas of corporate governance, public personnel administration, public budgeting and finance, constitutional law, public policy, program evaluation and public leadership in the public or nonprofit sector. The objective of the portfolio focuses on the application of knowledge, skills and abilities of a public or nonprofit manager and its role and responsibilities in the public and/or nonprofit sector. The portfolio consists of approved research position papers, PowerPoint presentations, role-playing in the various roles of public officials and administrators, and competency exams.
A grade of B or higher is required for satisfactory course completion.