MA in Public Administration

PA 401. Foundations of Public Service. 3 or 4 hours.

Examines political, legal, economic and social environment of public service, internal dynamics of public organizations, relationship between public organizations and external stakeholders, and ethical and moral challenges. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Previously listed as PA 400. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MPA program or consent of the instructor.

PA 402. Principles of Data Analysis. 0-4 hours.

Topics and methods of analyzing information relevant to the administration and management of public programs and organizations. Includes causation, univariate statistics, significance testing, correlation, and regression. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours; 4 graduate hours. Previously listed as PA 407.

PA 403. Economics for Management and Policy. 3 or 4 hours.

Basic economic tools and methods relevant to public admin and current policy: opportunity cost, supply and demand, rational choice, production costs, competition vs monopoly, and economic efficiency versus equity, market failure, and public goods. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Previously listed as PA 410. Prerequisite(s): Appropriate score on the department placement test and graduate standing and admission to the MPA program; or consent of the instructor.

PA 421. Public Management. 3 or 4 hours.

Theories, concepts, and applications of management in public organizations. Topics include bureaucracy, public versus private organizations, leadership, motivation, and managing organization change, discretion, and networks. Course Information: Previously listed as PA 415. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MPA program or consent of the instructor.

PA 422. Project Management. 4 hours.

A comprehensive review of project management practices and techniques necessary to successfully manage projects in government and non-profit organizations which is rooted largely in Project Management Institute (PMI) standards and practices. Course Information: Previously listed as PA 462.

PA 431. Civic Technology. 3 or 4 hours.

Application of the Internet and related technologies for public management. Topics include, Web-based service delivery, online governance, the technological divide, the use of social media, and the changing role of public managers. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Previously listed as PA 463.

PA 432. Management of Information Technology. 3 or 4 hours.

The management of technology in government and nonprofit organizations, including typical organizational models; technology roles, skills, and leadership; integration of technology with business operations; and common technology challenges.Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Previously listed as PA 461. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; or Admission to the MPA program or consent of the instructor.

PA 433. Data Management. 3 or 4 hours.

An overview of the use and leveraging of data in order to allow government and nonprofit organizations to make better decisions and improve operations. Topics to be covered will include the concepts of data management and governance. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Previously listed as PA 460. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; or admission to the MPA program or consent of the instructor.

PA 434. Data Analytics. 3 or 4 hours.

An introduction to data analytics concepts, including the latest practices for gaining better value from data. An emphasis will be placed upon hands-on use and application of data analytics techniques. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Extensive computer use required. Meets eight weeks of the semester.

PA 435. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Public Managers. 4 hours.

Fundamental GIS tools and applications as well as the challenges in implementing and sustaining a GIS function in the public setting.

PA 447. Survey Planning and Design. 3 hours.

Theory and applications of sample survey planning and design for conducting research in health sciences and related fields. Addresses three major topics: survey design and planning, sampling, and data collection procedures. Course Information: Same as CHSC 447. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing and BSTT 400 and CHSC 446; or approval of the department.Recommended background: Credit in CHSC 446 or the equivalent.

PA 464. Technology and Innovation Theory. 4 hours.

The course focuses on theories surrounding the creation, development, transfer, and use of technology. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Ph.D. in Public Administration program or consent of the instructor.

PA 466. Science, Technology and Public Policy. 4 hours.

This course addresses the relationships between public policy and science and technology in the United States. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Ph.D. in Public Administration program or consent of the instructor.

PA 467. Civic Engagement. 3 or 4 hours.

Analytic frameworks and practical strategies for utilizing public participation in government and community decisions. Investigates interactions between civic participation, efforts to improve administration of programs and develop new public policies. Course Information: Same as PPOL 467. 3 undergraduate hours; 4 graduate hours. Previously listed as PA 564. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MPA program or consent of instructor.

PA 468. Topics in Management and Leadership of Public Organizations. 3 or 4 hours.

Examines management and leadership issues through experiences of current and former public managers, political appointees, elected officials, and other key public leaders. Emphasis on topics from Illinois and Chicago metropolitan region. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MPA program or consent of instructor .

PA 490. Field Experience in Public Policy and Administration. 4 hours.

Students work in an organization such as a government agency, community group, or nonprofit organization. Students are required to submit written work and meet with professor on periodic basis to review work experience. Course Information: Same as PPOL 490. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. A maximum of 4 hours of credit may be applied to the Master of Public Administration program. Field work required. Students who have no prior work experience in the public or non-profit sectors are strongly recommended to register for this course. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing required; and admission to the MPA program or consent of the instructor.

PA 494. Special Topics in Public Administration. 3 or 4 hours.

Consideration of timely or enduring issues in public administration not available in regularly offered courses. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MPA program or consent of the instructor.

PA 504. Principles of Financial Management and Budgeting. 4 hours.

Processes and methods relevant to government finances and fiscal health: revenues, taxation, budget formulation, operating budgets, cost analysis, planning and performance, budget reforms, politics, capital budgeting, role of budgeting in management. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MPA Program or consent of the instructor.

PA 505. Public Management Practices. 4 hours.

Current issues and challenges in public management as embedded in the disciplines of organization theory, economics, psychology, ethics, and law. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MPA program or consent of instructor; Must be taken within first 3 semesters in program .

PA 506. Public Policy Development and Process. 4 hours.

Examines the process by which public policies are formulated, decided on, implemented, and evaluated. Students learn techniques to appropriately structure, analyze, and communicate policy issues, as well as the economic rationale for public policy. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in PA 402; and PA 403 and admission to the MPA Program or consent of the instructor.

PA 510. Organization Theory and Behavior in Public Administration Research. 2 hours.

Students will be introduced to important organization theory frameworks including organizations as rational systems, open systems theory, resource dependent theory, and institutional theory. Topics to be covered include organization. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Ph.D. in Public Administration program or approval of the program director.

PA 511. History and Development of Public Administration. 2 hours.

Students will be introduced to the history of public administration as an academic discipline in the U.S. Students will learn about key issues and controversies that have served as a focus of scholars in the field. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Ph.D in Public Administration program or approval of the program director.

PA 513. Collaborative Management and Governance Networks. 2 hours.

Analyzes public administration and policy through a collaborative governance lens and explore the types of network structures that exist among public and private organizations. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing; and admission to the Ph.D Program in Public Administration or approval of the Program Director.

PA 515. Bureaucracy and the Policy Process. 2 hours.

Introduction to a number of the frameworks that have been put forth for the purpose of understanding the policy process. Topics include the concept of policy subsystems, policy learning, implementation, policy analysis and evaluation. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Ph.D. in Public Administration program or approval of the program director.

PA 521. Strategic Management: Planning and Measurement. 4 hours.

This course addresses strategies and issues relating to the strategic management of public and quasi-public organizations. It addresses strategic planning and performance measurement processes within organizations. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MPA program or consent of the instructor.

PA 522. Ethics and Accountability. 2 hours.

Better government through institutionalizing ethics and accountability. Effectiveness of boards of ethics, Inspector General, codes of ethics, and educational programs. History of ethics within the Western intellectual tradition. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MPA program or consent of the instructor.

PA 524. Leadership in Public Organizations. 2 hours.

Examines theories and practices of leadership in public sector organizations. Global, political, social, and organizational contexts of public sector leaders and interface between administrators, appointees, elected officials. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MPA program or consent of the instructor.

PA 525. The Legal Context of Public Administration. 2 hours.

Legal basis and statutory framework for administrative agencies and actions in government. Relationship between courts and public agencies, rulemaking and adjudicative powers of public agencies, and impact of specific laws on government. Course Information: Previously listed as PA 502. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MPA program or consent of the instructor.

PA 526. Public Policy Analysis. 4 hours.

Foundations, theories, practices and methods of policy analysis and regulation. Topics covered include cost benefit analysis, decision analysis, multi-objective programming and risk analysis. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): PA 402; and PA 403; or consent of the instructor.

PA 527. Public Management Theory. 4 hours.

Addresses the development of the public management subfield within the field of public administration. It covers the development of public management theory from its early stages to current questions and theoretical approaches. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Ph.D. in Public Administration program or consent of the instructor.

PA 528. Public Program Evaluation. 4 hours.

Theory and procedures for evaluating the effectiveness of programs administered by public and non-profit organizations. Includes application of research design, quantitative, and qualitative methodologies. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): PA 542 or equivalent; and admission to the Ph.D. in Public Administration program or consent of the instructor.

PA 529. Change and Reform in Public Organizations. 2 hours.

Examines how large, bureaucratic organizations change how they do business. Can improved efficiency and effectiveness result from such change? What techniques are being applied by public organizations to achieve such change? Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MPA program or consent of the instructor.

PA 531. Human Resource Management in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors. 2 hours.

History and current innovations in managing personnel and other areas of human resources. Compensation, classification, affirmative action, performance appraisal, labor relations, and unions. Statutory, court decisions affecting gvt personnel issues.

PA 532. Labor Management Relations in the Public Sector. 4 hours.

Skills and knowledge to manage labor relations in government. Constitutional influences on public employment, rights of public employees, mgmt and labor unions; civil service laws, collective bargaining, non-discrimination, and equal opportunity. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): PA 503; and admission to the MPA program or consent of the instructor.

PA 533. Managing Workplace Diversity. 2 hours.

Examines discrimination and diversity in public sector workplaces along several dimensions including race, ethnicity, sex, age, sexual preference, and physical ability. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): PA 503; and admission to the MPA program or consent of the instructor.

PA 534. Human Resource Development and Management in Public Administration. 4 hours.

Topics in public personnel administration; work motivation, performance appraisal, high performance work systems, equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, strategic human resource management and representative bureaucracy. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Admission to a Ph.D. program or consent of the instructor.

PA 535. Conflict Management. 4 hours.

Students learn the skills of interest-based negotiation through readings as well as role playing and simulation. Topics covered include resolution techniques, mediation, arbitration, fact finding, early neutral evaluation and facilitation. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MPA program or consent of instructor.

PA 539. Public Procurement and Contracting. 2 hours.

Public procurement practices and theory, including the history of public procurement and purchasing, objectives, ethical issues, forms of procurement including no-bid contracts, social requirements, requests for proposal and qualifications, etc. Course Information: Meets eight weeks of the semester. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MPA program or consent of instructor.

PA 540. Research Design for Public Administration. 4 hours.

Logic and methods of quantitative and non-quantitative research in public administration. Issues in measurement; causal inference; experimental and quasi-experimental designs; and methods of data collection. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Ph.D. in Public Administration program or approval of the program director.

PA 541. Advanced Data Analysis I. 4 hours.

Introduction to modern econometric and statistical techniques. Topics include standard OLS regression, regression with qualitative predictors, mediation and moderation, model specification, data issues, limited dependent variable models, data methods. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing; and PA 540 or equivalent or approval of the instructor.

PA 542. Advanced Data Analysis II. 4 hours.

Builds on material covered in PA 541 and covers more advanced analytical techniques using social science data including count regression models, regression discontinuity designs, instrumental variables, panel data methods, multilevel models. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing; and PA 541or equivalent or approval of the instructor.

PA 543. Social Network Analysis. 4 hours.

Covers network data collection, research design, visualization, and inferential techniques for cross-sectional and longitudinal network data. Prerequisite(s): PA 402 Graduate standing; and admission to the MPA or Ph.D. Programs in Public Administration or approval of the instructor. Recommended Background: Students should have a prior stats course and be comfortable with regression and logistic regression.

PA 544. Qualitative Research Methods in Public Administration. 4 hours.

The uses, strengths and limitations of qualitative methods of research and analysis including case studies, participant-observer, and ethnography will be explored. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; PA 540 or equivalent; or consent of the instructor.

PA 545. Research Topics in Public Administration I. 2 hours.

. Provides Ph.D. students with a better understanding of current research topics in PA