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Department of Public Administration
Course Descriptions
PAD/EPS 601 Leading Organizational Change (A). Teaches the prospective public administrator how to effectively lead an organization through a significant change effort from start to finish. Addresses important theories, concepts and tools for leading and managing change with a focus on practical application in the workplace. Uses a mixture of experimental activities, lecture and class assignments. 3 Cr. Elective
PAD/EPS 610 Public Service Web Sites Analysis (B). Cross-listed as EPS 610. Allows students to learn about the value of public service Web sites and apply concepts of value to them. Devotes initial class sessions to developing an understanding of public service Web site value. Students review and evaluate Web sites, presenting the evaluations in class. Selected evaluations will be presented at Scholars Day. Includes a midterm and final report done as a compilation of student evaluations. 3 Cr. Elective
PAD/EPS 612 Negotiation and Conflict Management (A). Examines a variety of workplace and social dilemmas facing today’s public manager. Objectives include helping managers learn how to effectively prepare for negotiation and conflict; enhance their power for troublesome situations; and develop appropriate negations and conflict management styles to deal with multiple parties, navigate social dilemmas, and negotiate across cultures. 3 Cr. Elective
PAD 613 Health Care in America (B). Provides an overview of the health care system in the United States; the political, economic, and social environment of the American health care system; how health care services are organized, financed, and delivered; cost, access, and quality problems facing the American health care system; and identification and analysis of proposals to reform the health care system. 3 Cr. Core, MPA Health; Elective in other emphases
PAD 619 Financial Administration of Health Care (B). Prerequisite: PAD 640. Helps prospective administrators in healthcare settings understand and use financial information in the decision-making process. Assists students/prospective administrators in developing an understanding of accounting principles and develops basic skills in financial statement analysis, managing working capital, budgeting, cost finding and pricing. 3 Cr. Core, MPA Health; Elective in other emphases
PAD 622 Legal Aspects of Public Administration (A). Provides students with exposure to legal issues frequently encountered by managers of public and non-profit agencies. Provides students with insight into principles of legal analysis, and conducts an in-depth review of employment issues. Covers discrimination, informed consent issues and the regulatory powers of government agencies. 3 Cr. Elective
PAD 629 Fundraising and Development (B). Designed for individuals who are currently preparing for leadership roles in this area. Explores the ethics and values in professional fund raising. Also explores various forms of exchange that take place in fund raising, from individuals through corporations. Develops skills, including prospect identification, cultivation and research. 3 Cr. Elective; Core for Certificate in Nonprofit Management
PAD 637 Marketing for Public Service Organizations (A). Presents a comprehensive overview of the theory behind nonprofit marketing and analysis of key nonprofit sectors including fundraising, the arts, education, healthcare and social ideas. Explores how marketing can be used to enhance fundraising, get the word out about a new service and increase a nonprofit’s visibility in the community. Includes a review of marketing concepts and demonstrates how to ethically apply them to situations facing all types of nonprofit organizations. 3 Cr. Elective
PAD 640 Financial Management (A). Must be taken prior to PAD 619. Geared to enable non-financial managers to understand financial management in government, health and not-for profit organizations. Examines financial management and how to make use of the financial information such as budgets, forecasts, strategic plans and financial statements. 3 Cr. 3 Cr. Core, MPA Health, Nonprofit Management and Certificate in Nonprofit Management; Elective in other emphases
PAD/EPS 641 Foundations of Public Administration (B). Cross-listed as EPS 641. Provides MPA students with the intellectual foundation that they will need for subsequent study in subfields of public administration. Emphasis is placed on the study of the ideas, value systems, theoretical frameworks, and historical events that have merged to form the field of public administration. 3 Cr. Elective
PAD/EPS 643 Information Management in Public Administration (B). Cross-listed as EPS 643. Provides current and future managers with knowledge of key information technology issues faced within modern public and nonprofit organizations. The course will equip the student with the capability to plan, implement, and evaluate IT projects. An emphasis is also placed on the organizational and social impacts of information technology initiatives. 3 Cr. Elective
PAD 644 Supervision Skills (B). For those now in (or preparing for) informal or formal leadership positions. Teaches supervisory skills through discussion, exercises, role plays, and the design/presentation of a training module on topics such as coaching and counseling, leading staff meetings, handling employee complaints, delegating responsibility, performance problem solving, performance appraisal interviewing, disciplinary action and the job interview. 3 Cr. Elective
PAD 646 Foundations of the Nonprofit Sector (B). Defines the various meanings of nonprofits; differentiates and categorizes the role of the nonprofit sector in the US economy vis a vis the for-profit and governmental sectors; describes the environment calling for increased accountability and transparency in the nonprofit sector; and analyzes and critiques various proposals for reforming the nonprofit sector and making it more accountable and transparent. 3 Cr. Core, MPA Nonprofit Management; Elective in other emphases
PAD 653 Ethics in Administration (A). Enables students to gain a conceptual and practical understanding of ethics and of the principal ethical theories. Teaches students to appreciate how ethics are applied to decisions and behavior in professional life, whether in the public or nonprofit sectors. Examines the relationship between being ethical and leadership and excellence in management. 3 Cr. Elective
PAD 655 Medicare and Medicaid Policy Issues (A). Provides a thorough overview of both the Medicare and Medicaid programs: their background and history; eligibility; covered benefits; provider reimbursement methods; program administration; financing; cost and spending patterns; their respective roles and importance in the American health-care system; and how Medicare and Medicaid both affect and are affected by current healthcare reform proposals. 3 Cr. Elective
PAD 661 Creating an Empowered Organization (A). Covers the many issues surrounding the development of empowered teams from both the leader’s and team member’s perspective. Includes a mix of current theories and experiential activities, with the latter to be used as the primary instruction method. Since there is no generic step-by-step plan for building an empowered organization, challenges students with applying the general theories and methodologies to their own workplace. Focuses throughout the course on the role of manager in developing empowered teams. 3 Cr. Elective
PAD 663 The Leadership Roundtable (A). Cross-listed as EPS 663. Seminar course that focuses on leadership theory and practice. Explores theories of leadership, critique examples and strategies of leadership, and intricately examine the issue of politics in leadership. Students in this course will be provided with the opportunity to critique leadership styles of both themselves and others. 3 Cr. Elective
PAD 664 Non-Profit Advocacy and Government Relations (A). Addresses the origin, growth and future of the nonprofit sector’s relationship to the government sector, both in the United States and internationally. Reviews the historical and current partnerships with and regulation by government entities. Examines the nonprofit organization’s advocacy role on behalf of its mission and beneficiaries, as well as the scope of permitted lobbying and political activities. Covers in detail the devolution of government functions to the third and private sectors and its consequences for resource management, administration and service delivery in several nations (though primarily in the United States). Examines the state’s role in regulating speech by nonprofits and government funding of service delivery through religious-based organizations. 3 Cr. Elective
PAD/EPS 666 Computer Applications (B). Cross-listed as EPS 666. An intermediate-level course designed to enhance students’ skills in the computer applications used in Public Administration core courses. Applications include the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), MS Excel, PowerPoint, and the use of on-line courseware. Includes readings and exercises that develop some understanding of the information technology challenges and opportunities in public service organizations. 3 Cr. Elective
PAD 667 Participatory Management and Governance (A). In both public and nonprofit organizations, citizens, employees and other stakeholders are increasingly playing a key role in decision-making and in setting the way things are done. Provides an overview of the opportunities and challenges posed by these new “participatory” forms of management and governance, with special focus placed on the role of information technology to facilitate citizen and employee input in decision-making. 3 Cr. Elective
PAD/EPS 668 Database Applications for Managers (B). Cross-listed as EPS 668. Teaches students to create and maintain databases, make data queries and reports, and to develop unique database applications to meet specific management needs. Focuses first on the basics of database management with the most current and widely used database management software; then allows students to use these skills to create a database application of their choosing. 3 Cr. Elective
PAD/EPS 672 Internet for Managers (A). Cross-listed as EPS 672. Involves use of Internet resources to learn new technologies, gather information and do research. Requires students to develop a Web site on a topic of their choosing. Entails assignments done via e-mail with only one traditional class session. 3 Cr. Elective
PAD 678 Nonprofit Management (B). Provides an understanding of nonprofit organizations: their characteristics, purpose, structure, role and the governance and management challenges confronting them. Examines practical methods and strategies for strengthening governance and board issues; planning; fund raising; marketing; public relations; financial management; and working with volunteers. 3 Cr. Core, MPA Nonprofit Management and Certificate in Nonprofit Management; Elective in other emphases
PAD 679 Grant Writing and Management (B). Provides students with a “hands-on” experience of developing and writing competitive grant proposals for nonprofit and governmental agencies in order to increase their effectiveness in planning for, submitting, obtaining and managing grants. Enables students to: create a competitive grant proposal, identify the strengths and shortcomings of grant funding for program and agency purposes, identify sources of grant funding, and analyze the strengths and shortcomings of agency support for grant writing. 3 Cr. Core, Certificate in Nonprofit Management; Elective for all emphases
PAD 680 Public Policy (A). Introduces students to the study of public policy and the practice of policy analysis. Examines the various methods of identifying and structuring public policy problems and issues, formulating and analyzing alternative responses, recommending policy actions for decision making, and designing and evaluating implementation plans and the means to monitor and evaluate the resulting policy outcomes. Focuses attention on understanding public policy and conducting analysis in a political/administrative environment in order to develop an understanding and capacity to use systematic analytic tools and concepts to improve the quality of decision making in the public sector. 3 Cr. Core, MPA General and Nonprofit Management Emphases
PAD/EPS 681 Strategic Management for Public Organizations (A). Cross-listed as EPS 681. Presents new theories of management, strategic thinking, and the goal-oriented planning and control techniques essential for survival. Explores the dilemmas and challenges of today’s managers in a dynamic economy. Provides students with concepts in four areas crucial to modern managers in the present and future such as industry analysis, competitive positioning, management of change, development of strategic thinking, visioning, leadership, long- and short-range planning and control systems. Explores management of diversity and the question of ethics in today’s restructured economy. Uses interactive lecture-discussion format and case studies designed to enable students to develop team-building and communication skills. 3 Cr. Core, MPA General, Health, Public Safety Management emphases; Elective in other emphases
PAD/EPS 682 Organizational Behavior (A). Cross-listed as EPS 682. Focuses on the interpersonal and social characteristics of organizations and the skills required to manage them. Covers topics from a behavioral perspective, including motivation, communication, leadership, group and intergroup behavior, conflict management, problem solving, ethics, diversity and other special topics. Features role plays, field interviews, films and the application of measurement instruments to complement the lecture-discussion format. Draws examples from governmental, nonprofit and business organizations. 3 Cr. Core all emphases
PAD 683 Intergovernmental Relations (A). Explores tensions between national goals and state and local priorities, and the implications for subnational units of shifts in priorities and grant-in-aid instruments at the national level. 3 Cr. Core, MPA General emphasis; Elective in other emphases
PAD/EPS 684 Budget-State and Local Government (A). Cross-listed as EPS 684. Examines budgeting as a crucial management function in public and nonprofit organizations. Gives special concern to the politics, practice, planning, and analysis which surround the budgetary decision making process 3 Cr. Core, MPA General and Public Safety emphases; Elective in other emphases
PAD/EPS 685 Human Resource Management (A). Cross-listed as EPS 685. Covers human resource management (HRM) principles and skills useful for both the supervisor and the personnel specialist in the public, nonprofit and private sectors. Includes the role of the human resource manager, job analysis and position descriptions, selection, EEO and affirmative action, civil service, employee rights, quality of work life, compensation and benefits, performance appraisal, training and career development, labor relations and occupational safety/health. Uses team projects, class exercises, role plays, student presentations, lecture-discussion and a Human Resource Information System demonstration to assure that both the knowledge and skills of human resource management are learned. 3 Cr. Core, all emphases
PA/EPS 687 Statistics for Managers (B). Cross-listed as EPS 687. Allows students to learn to use SPSS by reading chapters in a text specifically designed to help them gain proficiency in using the software and understanding statistical methods. Also allows students to learn to describe data, develop and test hypotheses, and examine the relationships that exist among variables. Evaluates students on short exercises from the text, a midterm and a final project. 3 Cr. Core, all emphases
PAD/EPS 688 Research and Program Evaluation (A). Cross-listed as EPS 688. Covers methods of measuring the efficiency, effectiveness and impact of programs and services. Teaches students to design research projects, interpret research results and evaluate programs. Places subject matter in a context that the practicing administrator can apply to programmatic needs. 3 Cr. Core, all emphases
PAD/EPS 694 Public Administration Internship Experience (B). Cross-listed as EPS 694. Prerequisite: Completion of 21 credits toward the MPA. Provides students an opportunity to learn the practical application of theories, concepts and techniques taught in the Public Administration program. Through employment in a public sector, health care, nonprofit or public safety organization, teaches students practical administrative or policy practices and how to integrate theoretical issues with those found in the workplace. 3-6 Cr. Elective
PAD/EPS 696 Project Paper/Portfolio Seminar (B). Cross-listed as EPS 696. Prerequisite: Completion of at least 30 credits of MPA course work in order to enroll, including completion of PAD/EPS 687. Students complete either a project paper, or a portfolio of accomplishments in ten knowledge and skill areas. Administrative, policy and operational issues are acceptable as topics for the project paper. 3 Cr. Core, all emphases
PAD/EPS 699 Independent Study (B). Cross-listed as EPS 699. Allows students to work individually with faculty on an area of special interest. Requires students to develop the objectives and methodologies, subject to review and approval of the faculty. 1-3 Cr.
EPS 600 Problem-Solving Planning for Public Safety Managers (A). Examines the process and development of collaborative strategic plans that address inter-agency emergency management concepts and accompanying problems. Recognizes that since September 11, 2001, public safety agencies must now prepare for the most catastrophic of events imaginable. Overcoming cross-jurisdictional system weaknesses should be addressed by the development of a comprehensive strategic plan that carefully defines issues, needs and response scenarios. 3 Cr. Elective
EPS 602 Legal Aspects of Public Safety (A). The course covers legal issues and dilemmas confronted by managers in the public safety sector with particular attention to case law and statutory parameters. The American legal system will be the focus with an emphasis on both policy development and creation of legislation, thus exploring legislative intent, statutory elements, defenses, due process sanctions and appellate review of the litigation generated by the implementation of the statute. 3 Cr. Elective
EPS 603 Ethics in Public Safety (A). Examines the roles of leadership, responsibility and accountability as they apply to ethical dilemmas and issues in public safety. Includes examination and discussion of discretion, duty responsibility, honesty, misconduct complaints, corruption, community awareness and visibility issues, decision -making and policy development in the course discussions. Focuses on recognizing and resolving ethical issues and making appropriate decisions for their agency and the professional field at large. 3 Cr. Core, MPA Public Safety emphasis
EPS 604 Developing Sustainable Public/Private Partnerships (A). Applies a systems approach to public safety management by examining the role of the community in support of public safety functions traditionally provided by state and local governments. Examines leadership issues relating to the development of community involvement in the public safety functions from the perspective of developing partnerships within the community to support public safety goals. Addresses resource development, volunteer programs, collaborative project management and problem solving as critical issues. 3 Cr. Elective
EPS 659 Public Policy Skills for Public Safety Managers (A). Examines critical policy issues facing today’s public safety manager. Explores crucial problems in the public safety environment in terms of both the internal and external forces that can affect a public safety administrator’s approach to problem solving. Emphasizes concrete ideas and realistic strategies for management effectiveness. Includes participation of experienced public safety managers who will provide a practical “hands on” view of issues explored. 3 Cr. Core, MPA Public Safety emphasis
2009-11-13
