Master of Public Administration-Capstone Option

The study and practice of public administration is explored in its political context. The student is introduced to the environment within which public administration functions and the dynamics of behavior within large organizations. How choices are made among competing policies, factors affecting the implementation of policy, and the role of policy evaluation in shaping policy choices are examined. Managing large scale bureaucratic organizations is analyzed including the role of leadership, the management of personnel and finances, and the role of communication in inter- and intra-organizational relations.

This course examines the way government policies emerge from the political process and are implemented through participating institutions. In this class students will investigate how good analysis can contribute to informed policy-making and review the factors that go into developing effective implementation strategies. In addition, today’s need for enhanced public accountability and the challenging problems of measuring program performance are examined.

This course is designed to develop fundamental skills essential for students to evaluate public programs. Knowledge of the policy process and research methods is brought together in the ethical assessment of program needs, processes, and outcomes.

RECOMMENDED AS FIRST PROGRAM COURSE. REQUIRED AS ONE OF FIRST THREE PROGRAM COURSES. This course presents the research methods commonly used by all social scientists. Consequently, the course will prepare the student to understand material and issues associated with but not limited to the logic of the scientific method, research design, and statistical analysis of data. The course is intended to provide a foundation from which the student may use the knowledge and practices acquired throughout the rest of their graduate program in their selected field of study.

This course examines a range of management issues and strategies within the context of managing public organizations. The core focus is on an enhanced understanding of the theoretical and practical approaches to public management, an examination of enduring and day-to-day dilemmas faced by competent public managers, and the application of relevant theories to public management within the United States.

There is a complex, ongoing interaction between law and public policy in the United States, and with renewed emphasis on deregulation, decentralization, downsizing and reengineering, there is an increasing awareness that public policy, and the administrative law system that manages it, are subject to intensifying political and cultural pressures. The attempt to solve social issues by new laws and regulations has created results that were often unforeseen and has led to increased attacks on the administrative law process in the courts and in legislative chambers. These constant changes have made this a difficult time for public managers. This course examines the sources, operation and consequence of such changes on the law and public policy formation, and analyzes public policy initiatives from political and legal aspects as to their intentions, achievable aims, and intended and unintended outcomes.

This course focuses on a mixture of theory and applications that will provide the student the basic tools required to evaluate contemporary public finance issues and policies. Decisions about public spending, raising revenue, borrowing, and managing public debt are intensely political and involve personal interests, interest groups, and political parties, as well as other areas of concern. The subject matter of this course is presented in two parts: Budgeting and Revenue. Part One of the course covers government expenditure (budgeting) or the liability side of the balance sheet. Included in this part are such topics as the budget process, budgeting institutions, budget methods, budget classification, and capital budget and infrastructure. Part Two covers the topic of Revenue. Included in this part are such topics as the various types of taxes (income, sales, and property) as well as debt administration.

This graduate course provides a framework for an in-depth understanding of day-to-day, practical approaches/aspects of problems/challenges that impact the human resource management/leadership field; topical issues arising out of the three constants in life, as well as the workplace today: Change, Choices,and Consequences to those choices as applied to both civilian and military organizations.

This course focuses upon the problems and challenges of managing individuals, groups, and organizations in a virtual or distributed environment. Virtual means that work is accomplished by interdependent people performing at different time or places, or across organizations. This course addresses current topics associated with the new forms of organizing that new technology and accompanying strategic changes promote. The student will examine online business models, sources of competitive advantage in e-commerce, and techniques for evaluating opportunities. In this context, the student will also discuss ways in which e-commerce organizations differ from conventional organizations and how to create e-commerce alliances. Issues include a focus on social interactions; the social, political, economic, and technological contexts of virtual communities and the limits for their sustenance.

This course is a detailed and practical examination of DOD acquisition regulations and procedures. Duties and responsibilities of the Program Manager at each point in the systems acquisition process continuum will be stressed.

This course focuses on the analysis and resolution of complex environmental management issues. Environmental Management investigates the use of management tools and strategies to resolve complex environmental problems and controversies, including application of adaptive management, structured decision-making, and negotiation principles, and incorporating stakeholders, economic drivers, and the human element. Environmental leadership, collaboration, and conflict resolution will be emphasized, with due consideration to the use of sound scientific data in environmental decision making. Students will be expected to use critical thought, innovation, and creativity to formulate an adaptive management plan for a highly controversial environmental issue or policy as their course final project.

An examination of characteristics of, and dynamic relationships among, individual, interpersonal and group behavior as related to complex organizations. Stress is placed on successful managerial strategies for minimizing workplace turbulence arising from employee behavior in the context of technological, structural, cultural and environmental factors.

This course will provide a framework for understanding individual and group behaviors within dynamic organizations. Topics to be covered will be human behavior principles in individual, groups/teams, and organizational settings. The main emphasis of this course will be on developing effective administrative/managerial skills in improving employee performance.

This course addresses the ethical dimensions of management with a special focus on the processes managers may use to raise and resolve ethical dilemmas and conflicts in organizational settings. Policies pertaining to treatment of those raising ethical issues will be considered. The legal and regulatory requirements of ethical conduct will be examined. Policies and codes of conduct established by various organizations and industry groups will be critically examined. The course will feature case studies involving alleged breaches of ethical conduct among publicly held corporations.

This course covers the major administrative theories that drive macro-level public behavior. It will begin with a consideration of the broad significance of the study of public organizations for individuals in modern society. It will then examine how theorists and practitioners have sought to develop more formal perspectives on public management. It will examine those ideas that are of greatest relevance to the construction of an integrated theory of public organizations. The progression of the course follows the evolution of administrative theory from the pioneering work of Weber, Taylor and Woodrow Wilson to current theories regarding the “New Public Management.”

The course covers a combination of theories and applications that will provide the student with basic tools required to understand, navigate, and communicate with the three administrative elements of the federal government. The emphasis of the course is based on a study of composing, legislating, implementing, and enforcing public policy set against a background of both historical and current elements.

This course is an analysis and provides research on legislatures, legislators, and the legislative process at national, state, and local levels. It focuses on comparative legislative structure and behavior among nations, U.S. states, and local governments. Its focus is on legislative structure and decision-making.

This course addresses the fundamental principles and theory of emergency and disaster. It covers the conceptual necessities for effective preparation, response, and recovery. It identifies specific examples of effective theory in practice in different systems.

This course focuses on the pre-emergency functions that are critical in emergency management and disaster relief systems, to include mitigation, risk management, planning, and process. The course covers all issues associated with emergency planning up to the point that the emergency actually occurs.

This course deals with the interaction, coordination, and facilitation between federal, state, and local AND the different functions associated with emergency and disaster management (fire, police, emergency medical, military, public health, etc.) during public crises. Included in the course is in-depth study of current policy and plans associated with interagency cooperation, shortfalls in interagency and intergovernmental efforts, principles for effective interorganizational behavior, and concepts for closer interorganizational action.

This course is a study of the economics associated with international, national, state, or local level disaster. Students will study, analyze, and conduct research on the direct and indirect economic losses associated with disaster. The course will cover the economics associated with both public and private institutions.

The capstone seminar option includes a thesis, or a major research project or paper in lieu of the final comprehensive examination, which has no credit hours. Those who elect this option may reduce their electives by three semester hours to accommodate the seminar option credit. This option is desirable for those students who wish to focus on specific subject matter of an interdisciplinary nature or who would like to continue their education at a higher level. Students electing this option must use this as one of the graduate electives.