Public Administration Course Descriptions

PA - 351. Introduction to Public Administration (3)

Designed to establish the learning outcomes for the major and to introduce students to concepts and structure of government, public administration leadership, personnel management, budgeting, and policy analysis. It also addresses the political and intergovernmental structures and environment in which public managers function.

PA - 352. Public Policy Analysis (3)

(For BPA Generalist Students) Explores models of decision-making analysis in public organizations, analysis of bureaucratic politics, executive implementation, and judicial interpretations. It also includes methods of evaluating policy effectiveness, efficiency, and responsiveness. Specific attention will be devoted to current issues.

PA - 353. Organizational Theory and Design (3)

Examines the elements of behavioral science as applied to small and large organizations (primarily public and nonprofit), including analysis of organization structure, design, and applied leadership theory.

PA - 355. Applied Statistics for Public Administrators (3)

Introduces the student to several analytical and statistical tools used by public managers to evaluate and manage programs. Qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection, data analysis, and research design are included.

PA - 362. Legal Responsibilities of Public and Nonprofit Managers (3)

Examines general legal responsibilities of managers in the public and nonprofit sectors in regard to citizens and social groups, as well as the legal rights of employers and employees.

PA - 364. Human Resources Management (3)

Examines methods of human resource accounting and techniques of personnel management as they pertain to recruitment, selection, performance appraisals, employee productivity, and wage and salary determination.

PA - 365. Introduction to Public and Nonprofit Finance and Budgeting (4)

Analyzes the sources of public and nonprofit revenue and expenditures, and applies analytic tools to track and control agency funds. The focus is on the budget as a planning document, political process, and a tool for management control of performance.

PA - 366. Emerging Developments in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors (3)

Covers state-of-the-art managerial techniques designed for public and nonprofit managers, IT developments, and employment trends as they pertain to mid-career administrators, their career planning and path development.

PA - 368. Field Project in Public Administration (2)

Enables students to identify a topic of interest (Public Administration, Law Enforcement Leadership, or Nonprofit Administration emphasis), and under faculty supervision, to conduct research and develop a report on their findings. The course will include a required service-learning component. The Field Project courses meet in San Francisco on three Saturday mornings during the last two semesters of the program.

PA - 378. Nonprofit Governance and Development (3)

(For Nonprofit Administration emphasis students only) Surveys the most important functions and processes of nonprofit management, as well as strategies leading to increased organizational effectiveness. Aspects of nonprofit board governance, planning and leadership, approaches to fundraising and development, as well as other managerial issues are discussed.

PA - 400. Contemporary Law Enforcement Leadership (3)

(For Law Enforcement Leadership emphasis students only) Addresses contemporary leadership issues that challenge today's sheriffs, police chiefs, and other law enforcement managers. The focus will be on proactive strategies for addressing these issues.