Public Administration Course Descriptions

PA - 611. Introduction to Public Management (3)

Reviews the history, status of, and emerging trends in public management on the federal, state, and local levels. Included is a survey of contemporary political, economic, and managerial concepts and developments in public administration that will serve as a foundation for further coursework in the program.

PA - 613. Organizational Analysis (3)

Examines management theory and organizational behavior in public organizations. Major theories, research, and practical applications are reviewed.

PA - 617. Health Care Issues (3)

(For Health Service Administration Concentration Students) Examines the U.S. health care issues as well as the major participants of the health care delivery system (providers, payers, controllers, and consumers), and describes various forces determining the historical, current, and future roles of the participants.

PA - 620. Administrative Ethics (3)

Examines ethical issues and responsibilities faced by administrators applying ethical principles within an organizational context. The ethical dimensions of organizational process and administrative behavior are addressed using the works of major theorists.

PA - 623. Economics and Finance for Public Managers (3)

Reviews basic theory behind and various techniques for financing public agencies and examines the effects of the economy on society. Issues of public expenditure, revenue generation, fiscal policies, and re-development are discussed.

PA - 632. Public Policy Analysis (3)

(For generalist PA students) Focuses on the skills and techniques necessary to conduct comprehensive public policy research and analysis. Specific attention is given to the stages of the policy process, the role of interest group politics, and the development of viable policy alternatives.

PA - 633. Public Sector Budgeting (3)

Examines the process of public sector budgeting from the perspective of managerial planning and control. Budget formats are reviewed, as are techniques used to analyze budgetary data. Specific attention is given to forecasting, cost-benefit analysis, and cost-effectiveness analysis.

PA - 636. Human Resource Planning and Management (3)

Investigates current human resource management issues in the public sector. The planning for, and performance of, traditional personnel functions and relevant techniques are covered, in addition to contemporary issues and trends that impact on public sector employment. Aspects of strategic HR planning and management are discussed.

PA - 638. Emerging Technologies for Public Managers (3)

Provides an introduction to the use of a variety of technologies that support the work of public managers. Topics include the aspects of management of information systems, web applications, aspects of telecommunication, and project management. Ethical considerations and confidentiality issues are also addressed.

PA - 644. Strategic Planning and Implementation (3)

(For generalist PA students)Designed to provide students with an overview and the skills necessary to become effective strategists. Topics include the strategic planning process and organizational change issues.

PA - 650. Integrative Seminar in Public Management (3)

Students integrate the theory and practice of public administration, while identifying gaps in their learning and expanding their knowledge through further evaluation and conceptualization of specific areas of interest and concern in public management. Students prepare for and take the comprehensive case analysis exam.

PA - 660. Managed Care and Health Care Law (3)

(For Health Services Administration Concentration Students) Provides an overview of the system providing managed health care in America, from the viewpoint of HMOs, physicians, physician organizations, hospitals, ancillary providers, employers, and federal and state governments.

PA - 670. Quantitative Methods (3)

This course provides an overview of the research methodologies used for public decision making. Concepts include specification of questions to guide inquiry, basis for causal inference, acquisition of quantitative data, reliability and validity issues, descriptive, and elements of inferential statistics. Provides students with an opportunity to build skills in designing, conducting, and analyzing research.

PA - 688. Independent Study - Health Care Administration (3)

(For Health Service Administration Concentration Students) Enables students, under faculty supervision, to develop a study outline and to conduct research on health care administration-specific issues within or outside of their work settings.

PA - 698. Independent Study - Public Administration (3)

(For generalist PA students) Enables students, under faculty supervision, to develop a study outline and to conduct research on issues public administration-specific within or outside of their work settings.