PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

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.
PA 6602 Quantitative Methods in Public Management (3)
    An introduction to the fundamental concepts of descriptive and inferential statistics including bivariate analyses and parametric and nonparametric statistical techniques.
PA 6603 Economics for Public Management (3)
    An introduction to economic theory emphasizing the application of selected microeconomic and macroeconomic theories to issues in public administration.
PA 6610 Foundations of Public Administration (3)
    An overview of the history and intellectual foundation of public administration including the major ideas, developments, theories, concepts, and contributors to the growth of public administration and its practice in the United States. The student is introduced to the case analysis method.
PA 6612 Comparative Public Administration (3)
    Comparative survey of administrative structures and processes in a variety of developed and less developed nations. Selected international and domestic policy problems are examined.
PA 6620 Organization Theory (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 organization.
PA 6622 Public Policy Analysis (3)
    The study of the theoretical orientations underlying 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.
PA 6624 Public Human Resource Management (3)
    A survey of the basic principles and functions that include planning, work analysis, position classification, job specifications, recruitment, staffing, performance management and appraisal, labor-management relations, training, and other personnel functions.  Topics include statutory and regulatory constraints and outsourcing and privatization.
PA 6625 Specialized Study in Public Administration (3)
    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 student’s faculty adviser or the Director of the MPA Program must approve the topic. The specialized study may substitute for a required core course only once in a student’s program and only if taken for three credit hours.  See semester hour limits listed under Course Restrictions in General Regulations section.
PA 6630 Strategic Planning (3)
    The 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, and program outcome(s) and impact evaluation (s).
PA 6640 Intergovernmental Relations (3)
    The administrative, fiscal, and legal issues that govern relations among the various governmental entities in the United States.
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 6645 Managing Government Contracts (3)
    An overview of the principles, legal aspects, processes, and strategies of contract management in public and nonprofit organizations.
PA 6646 Organizational Behavior (3)
    The study of the various theoretical perspectives that help to explain complex organizational behavior in public and nonprofit organizations in the global environment including motivation, diversity, group dynamics, communications, power, conflict, culture, and change.
PA 6647 Advanced Contract Administration (3)
    Examination of the current processes, procedures, standards, issues and problems in planning, managing, auditing, and evaluating contract performance.
PA 6648 Contract Negotiation (3)
    This course focuses on management of the overall contract negotiation process and examines the basics of negotiation, including the procedures, processes, psychology, and skills. These contract negotiation processes are applied to the defense contracting framework. Perspectives of both government and commercial interests are explored.
PA 6649 Government Contract Law (3)
    This course focuses on legal aspects of government contracting. Procurement laws and federal acquisition regulations are examined to serve as a basis for development of case methods. The case methods are used in this course to emphasize legal procedures and logic. The course highlights the significance of the legal process for practicing public administrators.
PA 6650 Governmental Budgeting (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 6652 American Public Finance (3)
    A study of the concepts, principles, practices, and relationships in American fiscal policy at the federal, state, and local levels. Topics include financial growth, expenditure problems, taxation, justice and equity problems, constitutional limitations, administrative revenues and the role of legislation, and indebtedness.
PA 6660 Readings in Public Administration (1-3)
    Readings and studies in public administration related to the student’s unique needs with the approval and guidance of the adviser. This course may not be substituted for a required core course.  See semester hour limits listed under Course Restrictions in General Regulations section.
PA 6665 Leadership in Public Administration (3)
    A survey of leadership theories, styles, and strategies in the contemporary public and nonprofit workplace that focuses on motivation and communication.
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)
    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 nonprofit organizations; marketing the program; planning special events; and influencing policy directions through lobbying.
PA 6668 Grant Writing for Public and Nonprofit 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 acquisition processes, stewardship of funds, and project management strategies including evaluation, dissemination, and continuation plans.
PA 6669 Nonprofit Financial Management (3)
    The study of cash management and investment strategies for nonprofit managers. Topics include traditional banking and cash flow functions and financial strategies managing excess cash, endowment, long-term gifts, borrowing, risk management, benchmarking, and long term planning.
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 6679 Computers and Government Management Information Systems (3)
    Conceptual and practical foundations of information processing systems, support for management, and decision-making functions in government. Topics include computer systems, project management, the economic and legal consideration of managing, implementing, and evaluating information systems.
PA 6694 Internship (3)
    A practical learning experience in a public or nonprofit organization that includes a written paper analyzing a problem pertinent to the student’s concentration. The Internship cannot be used to satisfy an elective or core course requirement. Pass/Fail grade.
PA 6699 Capstone in Public Administration (3)
    The required outcome assessment course using case analyses, papers, and/or computer simulations that emphasize the application of analytical skills and knowledge gained from curriculum courses to administrative, organizational, and policy problems. Students take the Capstone course as the final core course or, with the approval of the instructor, in conjunction with the final core course in the MPA program.  To successfully complete this course, the student must achieve a grade of “A” or “B.”

NOTE:  Courses from disciplines other than Public Administration (CJ, HRM, MAN, IR, PSY, EBSEBS, and EDU) used as PA concentration selections are described in the bulletin sections pertaining to those programs.