Course Descriptions

All courses have the following PREREQ: Admission to Public Administration Program or permission of instructor (PERM/INST).

PUBADM 500 ADMINISTRATION IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR (3-0-3)(F/S). Designed to introduce students to the broad field of public administration at the graduate level. The course surveys a number of important issues in contemporary public administration, including an emphasis on political, legal, economic and social institutions and processes.

PUBADM 501 PUBLIC POLICY PROCESS (3-0-3) (F/S). Process of policy-making, both within an agency and within the total governmental process, emphasizing policy and program planning, policy implementation and the value system of administrators.

PUBADM 502 ORGANIZATIONAL THEORY AND MANAGEMENT (3-0-3)(F/S).Theories of organization behavior and management, with special attention given to public and nonprofit sector organizations. Pre/Corequisite: PUBADM 500 or permission of program director.

PUBADM 503 RESEARCH METHODS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (3-0-3)(F/S). An introduction to quantitative and qualitative data analysis with an emphasis on using descriptive and inferential statistics as tools in both public policy analysis and public program analysis. The use of quantitative analysis to support management decision making is examined. Computers will be used in the analysis of quantitative data. Pre/Corequisite: PUBADM 500 or permission of program director.

PUBADM 504 PUBLIC BUDGETING AND FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION (3-0-3) (F/S). Determination of fiscal policy, budgeting processes, and governmental forms of budgeting. Consideration of fiscal policy and processes in various program areas. Emphasis on the interface between technical and political processes. Pre/Corequisite: PUBADM 500 or permission of program director.

PUBADM 505 PUBLIC PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION (3-0-3)(F/S). An examination of the personnel/human resource management role as it has evolved in the public sector. The multiple responsibilities of personnel managers in the public sector will be examined, and the link between public policy and personnel management are identified. Pre/Corequisite: PUBADM 500 or permission of program director.

PUBADM 506 QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS AND METHODOLOGY (3-0-3) (F/S). Interviews, observation, focus group methods examined in relation to planning and public administration. Other topics include communication skills in terms of writing, presentation, interpersonal dialogue, and group process. PREREQ: PUBADM 533 (or equivalent) or PERM/INST.

PUBADM 507 INTERMEDIATE QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS AND METHODOLOGY (3-0-3) (F/S). Elementary distribution theory, statistical inference, and an introduction to multiple regression. Emphasis on practical applications. PREREQ: PUBADM 533 (or equivalent) or PERM/INST.

PUBADM 508 ADVANCED SURVEY RESEARCH (3-0-3) (F/S). Addresses the theoretical and practical nexus between public policy and public opinion and the role that surveys play in that relationship. Students engage directly in advanced survey research through design, implementation, sampling, data collection, follow-up, analysis, and ethical considerations. PREREQ: PUBADM 533 (or equivalent) or PUBADM 536 or PERM/INST.

PUBADM 509 PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS (3-0-3) (F/S). This class will introduce policy analysis, policy tools, and factors shaping the utilization of policy analysis. A significant portion of the course will be spent in learning and applying analytical techniques. PREREQ: PUBADM 533 (or equivalent) or PERM/INST.

PUBADM 510 PROGRAM EVALUATION (3-0-3) (F/S). Exploration of issues related to evaluation research and design with particular attention to design and critique of process, outcome, and impact evaluations and the utility of evaluation in performance monitoring. PREREQ: PUBADM 533 (or equivalent) or PERM/INST.

PUBADM 511 DECISION-MAKING IN PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT (3-0-3)(F/S). Designed to introduce decision theory and optimization techniques and tools in public and nonprofit organizations to provide basic techniques related to planning, monitoring, managing, and measuring program performance.

PUBADM 512 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND PUBLIC POLICY (3-0-3) (F/S). Examines implications of information technology for policy-making and policy analysis as well as the management of knowledge and information in and between organizations.

PUBADM 513 ECONOMICS OF PUBLIC POLICY (3-0-3) (F/S) (Alternate Years). Contributions of economic analysis to the justification, design, and implementation of economic policy, especially as it relates to the market economy and the benefits and costs associated with government intervention.

PUBADM 514 INTRODUCTION TO NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT AND COLLABORATION (3-0-3) (F/S) (Alternate Years). The course examines the implementation of public policy through nongovernmental organizations. Students will gain a general understanding of the history of philanthropy in selected nations and will explore the various social, economic, and political assumptions that found contemporary cross-sector delivery systems.

PUBADM 515 POLICY IMPLEMENTATION AND PRACTICE (3-0-3) (F/S) (Alternate Years). Examines mechanisms, assumptions, and measurement issues surrounding various forms of public policy implementation including the use of direct service delivery by public organizations, collaborative systems and the use of for-profit and nonprofit organizations.

PUBADM 516 CITY-COUNTY GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION (3-0-3)(F/S) (Alternate Years). Introduction to different urban and rural political systems, governance and administration including variations in electoral structures, governing bodies, and an analysis of political parties, interest groups and emerging policy issues.

PUBADM 517 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS (3-0-3)(SP). Explores the unique political and legal environment facing nonprofits and best practices in effectively and efficiently managing human and financial resources.

PUBADM 518 INTRODUCTION TO CONTRACT MANAGEMENT (3-0-3)(F) (Alternate Years). Explores issues, trends, ethics, and best practices in contract management from the pre-award phase through post-award.

PUBADM 530 ADMINISTRATIVE LAW AND REGULATION (3-0-3) (F/S). Sources of power and duties of administrative agencies, rules and regulations made by agencies through investigation and hearings, judicial decisions and precedents relating to administrative activities.

PUBADM 532 GRANT WRITING (3-0-3)(F/S). Students will explore the skills and techniques associated with successful grant writing and will prepare a grant proposal.

PUBADM 533 RESEARCH DESIGN AND MEASUREMENT (3-0-1)(F/S). Introduction to the role of data in public management including ethical concerns of conducting research, the research design process and measurement. Course meets for 5 weeks.

PUBADM 534 DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS (3-0-1)(F/S). Introduction to descriptive statistics including central tendency, measures of dispersion, normal distribution, contingency tables, data collection and sampling using SPSS. Course meets for 5 weeks. PRE/COREQ: PUBADM 533 or PERM/INST.

PUBADM 535 INFERENTIAL STATISTICS (3-0-1)(F/S). Explores inferential statistics with attention to hypothesis testing, cross-tabs with Chi-Square, independent samples t-test, ANOVA, association/correlation and simple regression using SPSS. Course meets for 5 weeks. PRE/COREQ: PUBADM 533 or PERM/INST.

PUBADM 536 INTRODUCTION TO SURVEY RESEARCH METHODS (3-0-1)(F/S). Introduction to several methods of conducting surveys to explore the strengths and limitations of this mode of data collection including developing instruments and assessing results. Course meets for 5 weeks. PRE/COREQ: PUBADM 533 or PERM/INST.

PUBADM 537 ADVANCED STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES (3-0-1)(F/S). Explores more advanced techniques including multiple regression, logistic regression, dummy variables, multicollinearity, regression assumptions and time series modeling. Course meets for 5 weeks. PRE/COREQ: PUBADM 533 or PERM/INST.

PUBADM 540 CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN NATURAL RESOURCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION (3-0-3) (F/S). Examines current and topical issues and controversies in natural resource and environmental policy from the perspective of public policy and public administration.

PUBADM 541 ENVIRONMENTAL AND REGULATORY POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION (3-0-3) (F/S). Examines aspects of environmental regulatory politics and policy. Topics examined include the politics of regulation, pollution and energy policy, and intergovernmental environmental management.

PUBADM 542 SCIENCE, DEMOCRACY AND THE ENVIRONMENT (3-0-3) (F/S). Examines the role of science and scientists in the formation of U.S. environmental policy making. Special attention is given to the tension between elite and democratic forms of decision making.

PUBADM 543 PUBLIC LAND AND RESOURCE POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION (3-0-3) (F/S). Examines the major issues, actors, and policies affecting the public lands and resources of the United States. Special attention is paid to the processes, institutions, and organizations that influence how public land policy and resource policy is made.

PUBADM 544 ENERGY IN THE WESTERN U.S. (3-0-3) (F/S). Examines energy resources, uses, reserves, and the perspectives of citizens impacted by resource extraction developments in the oil, gas, coal, oil shale, tar sands, nuclear, and renewable industries.

PUBADM 545 U.S. ENERGY POLICY (3-0-3) (F/S). Exploration of the key issues in the development of major energy policy choices in the U.S. with attention also paid to issues with international ramification.

PUBADM 546 CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION (3-0-3) (F/S).  Scientific basis for global warming concerns and addresses policies to curb greenhouse gas emissions.  Experience from greenhouse gas markets and regulations are highlighted.

PUBADM 547 WATER RESOURCES POLICY AND MANAGEMENT (3-0-3) (F/S). Considers water resource policy, management, and politics in the U.S. with attention to the clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, water allocation, public trust doctrines, and current water resource issues.

PUBADM 550 THE EXECUTIVE AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS (3-0-3) (F/S). This course covers the powers and responsibilities of elected and appointed executives in the public sector. Concepts examined in the class include leadership and management, executive roles, management theories and styles, relationships with the separate branches of government and other actors in the political environment. The unique position of the executive between politics and administration and the relevant activities in policy formation through implementation form the basis of discussion.

PUBADM 560 STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION (3-0-3)(F/S). This course examines state and local government administration in a political and organizational context and the attendant interunit, intersector, and interjurisdictional cooperation and conflict in policy administration. Attention is paid to management in a federal system with a focus on nation-state-local relations.

PUBADM 561 HOW TO PLAN A CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE (1-0-1) (F/S/Su). Examines key skills for public servants that are marketable to employers, and career paths that include employment in public, private, and non-profit organizations.

PUBADM 562 HOW PUBLIC POLICY IS MADE (1-0-1) (F/S/Su). Examines the public policy process including stages, types, and the roles public servants play.

PUBADM 563 HOW THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS WORKS (1-0-1) (F/S/Su). Examines the process by which decisions are in made in legislative bodies, including parliamentary process and budgetary allocations.

PUBADM 564 HOW TO ENGAGE CITIZENS (1-0-1) (F/S/Su). Examines importance of citizen participation in policy processes, including the role of social capital.

PUBADM 565 HOW TO MANAGE PUBLIC FINANCES (1-0-1) (F/S/Su). Examines key issues in public financial management, including basic government accounting and regulations governing public spending.

PUBADM 566 HOW TO NAVIGATE ETHICAL CHALLENGES (1-0-1) (F/S/Su). Provides an introduction to ethical challenges faced by public servants, including legal responsibilities.

PUBADM 567 HOW TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE (1-0-1) (F/S/Su). Explores issues related to leadership, mentoring and training employees, and working with others.

PUBADM 568 HOW TO NEGOTIATE RISKS (1-0-1) (F/S/Su). Examines the way in which organizations make an assessment of, control, and transfer risk.

PUBADM 569 HOW TO MAKE POLICY CHOICES (1-0-1) (F/S/Su). Introduction to techniques used to assess the potential impacts of policy choices.

PUBADM 570 PUBLIC MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES (3-0-3)(F/S). This course addresses such knowledge and skills for managers and leaders in public organizations as: personal assessment; leading and managing others; aspects of self and others which underlie behavior; managing stress and time; decision making; public participation; working with elected and appointed public officials; working with the media; solving problems; communicating supportively and assertively; appropriately using power and influence; understanding motivational processes; managing conflicts; empowering and delegating; and building teams.

PUBADM 571 ETHICS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR (3-0-3)(F/S). Examination of ethical dilemmas facing civil servants and elected officials utilizing case studies, current ethics statutes, and approaches in the public administration literature to the subject.

SELECTED TOPICS (3-0-3): To be offered as staff availability permits
PUBADM 580 ADMINISTRATIVE THEORY AND PRACTICE
PUBADM 581 NATURAL RESOURCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
PUBADM 582 PUBLIC POLICY AND POLICY ANALYSIS
PUBADM 583 PUBLIC MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES
PUBADM 584 STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION
PUBADM 585 INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
PUBADM 586 COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL PLANNING

PUBADM 590 PUBLIC SERVICE INTERNSHIP (variable credit). Arranged as field experience for those students with no prior experience in governmental or other organizational assignments. Such internships will be established and arrangements made for placement through the MPA Internship Director.

PUBADM 597 SPECIAL TOPICS SPECIAL TOPICS (1-3 credits). Offered occasionally and reflect emerging topics in public administration.

PUBADM 692 CAPSTONE COURSE (3 credit). A final comprehensive assessment of the knowledge and skills of a master’s student in the major field of study. A culminating activity taken in the last semester of a master’s program. PREREQ:PERM/CHAIR

DISPUT 501 HUMAN FACTORS IN CONFLICT MANAGEMENT (1-0-1) (F). The course presents communication theories to assist managers understanding, analyzing, and managing conflict. The course focuses on the causes of conflict and includes the influence of style on conflict. The course is pragmatic as well as theoretical.

DISPUT 502 NEGOTIATION THEORY AND PRACTICE (1-0-1) (F). The successful manager in professional settings is involved in a variety of negotiation activities. The tactics, strategies, and operations of effective and ineffective bargaining/negotiation behaviors will be presented. The course develops negotiator skills and knowledge leading to collaborative based action and solutions.

DISPUT 503 CONFLICT INTERVENTION METHODS (1-0-1) (F).This course overviews the various contexts of third party intervention into conflict: facilitation, public involvement processes, mediation and arbitration, and develops skills at first level supervisor/manager intervention into employee conflicts.

PUBADM 601 PHILOSOPHY OF SOCIAL INQUIRY (3-0-3) (F/S). Exploration of epistemological and normative issues involved in social science and public policy research. PREREQ: Admission to the Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy and Administration program or PERM/INST.

PUBADM 602 PHILOSOPHICAL AND PRACTICAL FOUNDATIONS OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE (3-0-3) (F/S).Examines political, social, economic, and administrative theories that have shaped democratic government and its institutions and processes. Topics include prominent writings in both political and public administration theory. PREREQ: Admission to the Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy and Administration program and PUBADM 500, or PERM/INST.

PUBADM 603 ADMINISTRATION AND THE STUDY OF PUBLIC POLICY (3-0-3) (F/S). Combines an overview of the field of public administration with an introduction to the range of research foci pertinent to the study of public policy and its administration. A practical orientation for the beginning researcher includes development and refinement of technical oral and written communication skills through the preparation of research critiques, research proposals including dissertation prospectus, and proposals for research funding. PREREQ: Admission to the Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy and Administration program and PUBADM 501, or PERM/INST.

PUBADM 604 ADVANCED TECHNIQUES IN POLICY RESEARCH (3-0-3) (F/S). Direct application of quantitative and qualitative analysis to contemporary and emerging local, regional, state, national, comparative policy questions. Students are expected to work on selected policy research projects with identified public, private or nonprofit organizations. PREREQ: Admission to the Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy and Administration program and PUBADM 503 and 9 credits from PUBADM 506, PUBADM 507, PUBADM 508, PUBADM 509, PUBADM 510, GEOG 560; or PERM/INST.

PUBADM 605 SEMINAR IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION (3-0-3) (F/S). Examines the major issues, policy choices, and actors in current environmental and natural resource policy. Attention is centered upon, but not limited to, U.S. policies and issues.

PUBADM 606 SEMINAR IN STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION (3-0-3) (F/S). Examines current issues in state and local governance, with some particular attention paid to Western U.S. and state of Idaho issues and policies.

PUBADM 689 DISSERTATION PROPOSAL (0-0-V). Presentation of background, objectives, scope, methods and timeline of proposed dissertation research. Graded Pass/Fail.

PUBADM 691 DOCTORAL COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION (0-0-V).Culminating assessment comprising a comprehensive examination to evaluate the depth and breadth of knowledge in Public Policy and Administration.Graded Pass/Fail.

PUBADM 693 DISSERTATION (0-0-V). Original research and analysis of results culminating in the preparation of a dissertation. Graded Pass/Fail.

PUBADM 696 DIRECTED RESEARCH (3-6 credits)

SPS 501 SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH DESIGN (3-0-3)(F/S). Introduction to the logic of research design in the social sciences. Basic methods of quantitative and qualitative research and their application to different disciplines. The relationship among theory, research, and social policy. The development and interpretation of research reports.

SPS 502 QUANTITATIVE METHODS FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES (3-0-3)(F/S). Univariate and introductory multivariate techniques through computerized statistical packages in the social and behavioral sciences and entailing statistical problem solving using various data-sources. PREREQ: SPS 501 or PERM/INST.

SPS 503 QUALITATIVE METHODS FOR THE SOCIAL SCIENCES (3-0-3)(F/S). Interviews, observation, focus group methods examined in relation to research endeavors in criminal justice, political science and public policy and administration. Other topics include communication skills in terms of writing, presentation, interpersonal dialogue, and group process. PREREQ: SPS 501 or PERM/INST.

SPS 504 SURVEY RESEARCH (3-0-3)(F/S). Students engage directly in advanced survey research through design, implementation, sampling, data collection, follow-up, analysis, and ethical considerations. PREREQ: SPS 501 and SPS 502 or PERM/INST.

SPS 505 PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS (3-0-3)(F/S). Introduces policy analysis, policy tools, and factors shaping the utilization of policy analysis. A significant portion of the course is spent in learning and applying analytical techniques. PREREQ: SPS 501 or PERM/INST.

SPS 506 PROGRAM EVALUATION (3-0-3)(F/S).  Explores issues related to evaluation research and design with particular attention to design and critique of process, outcome, and impact evaluations and the utility of evaluation in performance monitoring. PREREQ: SPS 501 or PERM/INST.

SPS 507 ADVANCED QUALITATIVE METHODS AND ANALYSIS (3-0-3)(F/S). Students develop advanced skills in qualitative inquiry and the application of methods, such as advanced interviewing skills, Delphi methods, and qualitative content analysis.  Students also apply qualitative analysis software such as nVivo.  Other topics include communication skills in terms of writing, presentation, interpersonal dialogue, and group process. PREREQ: SPS 501 and SPS 503, or PERM/INST.

SPS 508 MAXIMUM LIKELIHOOD ESTIMATION (3-0-3) (F/S). Examine and implement techniques necessary to estimate limited dependent variables using maximum likelihood estimation. Topics include binary, count, ordinal, nominal, and duration dependent variables and the appropriate models and robustness tests for them. PREREQ: SPS 501 and SPS 502, or PERM/INST.

SPS 509 ADVANCED QUANTITATIVE METHODOLOGY (3-0-3) (F/S). Examines and implements advanced techniques in quantitative methodology as it applies to the social sciences. PREREQ: SPS 501 and SPS 502, or PERM/INST.

SPS 510 GAME THEORY AND FORMAL MODELING (3-0-3) (F/S). Examines and implements formal modeling and game theoretic techniques in modeling decision-making across various actors. PREREQ: SPS 501 and 502, or PERM/INST.