Public Administration

This course provides students with the foundational concepts necessary to understand how the administrative process functions. Students will determine strategies that will allow agencies at the federal, state, and local levels to remain efficient and maintain strong institutional performance despite issues such as polarization, gridlock, shifting demographics and challenging economic and budgetary conditions.

This course addresses the issues of motivation, leadership, and communication within public and nonprofit organizations. Included are negotiation, conflict resolution, and team building. Special attention will be paid to the unique character of public and nonprofit organizations operating with a mission of public service and within the context of the political leadership and public constituencies.

This course provides exposure to the key accounting concepts, basic financial statements and analytical techniques required for effective financial management in addition to the basic working capital, fixed assets and debt management concepts. The course will also provide students with basic financial management tools including cost accounting, ratio analysis and integrated financial planning/budgeting. The goal is to provide general managers with a working knowledge of essential financial management concepts and tools as well as the ability to understand and analyze financial statements of many types of organizations. This course assumes no knowledge of financial management.

This course explores the concepts, principles, and methods of research in public administration, with application to administrative functions and decision making. Topics include literature reviews, research design, definition and measurement of variables, analysis and interpretation of data, and communication of research results. Emphasis is placed on the role and importance of scientific investigations and systematic inquiries in the development and planning of public policy related to public administration and its functions.

This course explores the goals, processes, and activities associated with fundraising and resource development including the resources provided by volunteers in the non-profit sector. Topics may include annual and capital campaign development, special events, planned giving, communication strategies, stakeholder relationships, automation techniques, and volunteer procedures (including recruitment, training, and recognition). Course will also address legal reporting requirements pertaining to contributions.

This course examines the strategies and execution of grant and proposal writing as well as contract administration in the non-profit and governmental sectors. Topics may include research into funding sources, use of prospectus documents, preparation competitive proposals for grants and contracts, and peer review. Students will engage in all aspects of grant and proposal writing, including how to efficiently and effectively describe research and program design, outcomes, objectives and methodology, data management, evaluation, and budget development applied to the preparation of an actual proposal. Students will also examine the contract administrative responsibilities resulting from successful grants and contracts, including monitoring and reporting program and fiscal data.

This course explores the history, growth, and evolution of nonprofit organizations and examines the critical management and leadership challenges facing the professional manager in the nonprofit sector. Topics may include the role of the executive team, board of directors, full-time staff, and volunteers in identifying and realizing the mission of a nonprofit organization. In addition, students will study the legal framework and requirements for nonprofit organizations including those pertaining to lobbying and electoral politics.

This course examines the goals, methods, and techniques of program evaluation in governmental and non-profit organizations. Special emphasis is placed on how program evaluation relates to legislative and executive budgeting, program planning, and program implementation.

This course analyzes the structure, principles, and operation of state and local government in the United States. It examines the governmental interrelationships contained in the American Federal system. Topics may include the analysis of the executive, legislative, and judicial functions of state and local governments, with special attention paid to the similarities and differences among the levels and branches of government as well as the complementary and conflictual relationships between the state and federal government levels.

This course examines the process of enacting laws and performing other legislative/administrative/judicial functions in the U.S. Congress and state legislatures. Special attention is paid to the relationship between public administrators and the legislative and judicial processes.

This course focuses on the relationship between public administration and the law. Topics may include the role of public administrators in formulating law and policy through the rule-making process and administrative law, how case law is relevant to public organizations, managers, and the administration of governmental programs, and the liability of government in selected settings.

This course integrates knowledge, skills, and abilities from a wide variety of content areas to better meet the challenges faced by public administrators. Topics may include developing organizational strategy, executing decision making, shaping the planning process, and managing of organizational change. Use of the case method will draw significantly on students' prior public administration study and experience.

The course provides students with an overview of the core theoretical principles of public administration and their practical application to the day-to-day implementation of public policies. Students explore the main functional areas within public administration at the federal, state, and local levels of government. The course places public administration practice in context with the broader political system and its importance in solving public problems.