PPA - Public Policy and Administration

This course introduces the key theories, concepts, and practices in the field of public administration by examining the history, traditions, and controversies in the field; exploring how politics, policy and administration interact; and reflecting on the changing nature of public policy and administration in the United States. Major topics include organizational theory and behavior, the role of bureaucracy in the political process, human resource management, issues of discretion, accountability, and an exploration of a personal and professional commitment to public service. Pre-requisite(s): Graduate standing, or permission of the Program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 3 semester hours

This is an introductory course on public policy analysis. Policy analyst are responsible for defining and framing public policy issues, identifying and evaluating strategies for addressing policy challenges, and putting forth recommendations on how to effectively address policy issues. This course helps students understand the role that policy analysis plays within the policymaking cycle, become critical consumers of policy analysis, and equips them with the skills necessary to write and present a professional policy analysis report. Pre-requisite(s): PPA 500; or permission of the Program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 3 semester hours

This course introduces students to theories of leadership and applies them to managerial challenges facing public and nonprofit organizations. Students discuss the historical development of public and nonprofit organizations; public and nonprofit organizational structures; distinctions and similarities in mission, values, and cultures; collaboration between the two sectors; tools for effective leadership; the impact of public policy on operations; and strategies for improving decision making within the organization. Pre-requisite(s): PPA 500 and RES 510; or permission of Program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 3 semester hours

This course reviews legal aspects of policy implementation within administrative agencies and their oversight by the courts. Students examine the growth of administrative power; conflict of interest laws; administrative decision-making processes; the constitutional context of administrative action; government agency actions of rulemaking, adjudication, and enforcement of law and regulations; transparency; and judicial review. The course also addresses ethical challenges faced by public administrators while carrying out their administrative duties. Pre-requisite(s): PPA 500 and RES 510; or permission of Program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 3 semester hours

This course provides an overview of community planning and urban development. The course focuses on the historical and contemporary relationships between urban social patterns, federal policies, and neighborhood initiatives. Students will examine factors that contribute to disparities in urban communities and the challenges of managing, planning and implementing policy across diverse groups. Students analyze and evaluate how metropolitan development, proposed and implemented projects, and sociopolitical dimensions of community programs affect planning and development. Students also examine initiatives in the Chicago metropolitan area or a metropolitan area of their choice and develop a research project on a specific planning initiative. Pre-requisite(s): PPA 500 and RES 510. Co- requisite(s): None. 3 semester hours

This course provides a review of the foundational theories of urban society. Students assess the impact that public and social institutions have on inequality within the urban environment. They further identify causes of poverty and inequality within the urban environment and examine strategies for addressing social challenges related to urban poverty. Students also analyze strategies used to impact urban policy making with the intended goal of bringing forth social change. Pre-requisite(s): PPA 500 and RES 510; or permission of Program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 3 semester hours

This course prepares students with the essential professional writing and communication skills in public policy and administration. Students will learn about the principle formats of public policy writing and communication, including backgrounders, white papers, one-pagers, talking points, Op-eds, memos, grant proposals, public hearings and presentations. Students will develop their writing skills through weekly writing assignments and hone their public speaking skills in formal and informal contexts. Pre-requisite(s): PPA 500. CO-requisite(s): None. 3 semester hours

This course introduces students to international comparative approach to public administration and policymaking. Through a combination of policy analysis, empirical research, and case studies, students examine approaches to public administration and policy development and implementation in a number of industrialized societies. Readings and discussions address topics such as social welfare, education, maternity/paternity leave, immigration, sustainable development, economic development, finance and organizational management, and international aid. Students collect, evaluate, and analyze information and data to make systematic comparisons between public policies in different societies. Pre-requisite(s): PPA 500, RES 510 or permission of Program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 3 semester hours

This course examines contemporary theories of citizenship and immigration policies across a selection of political contexts. The course contextualizes the historical, political, and socio- economic factors that shape household migration decisions, remittances, illegality and legality, and intergenerational dynamics, among other issues. Students will examine how humanitarian and law enforcement regimes have politicized immigration policy and how this politicization may facilitate and hinder immigrant incorporation in practice. As a class, students apply their theoretical knowledge in the examination of a particular immigration policy issue through qualitative and quantitative research. Pre-requisite(s): PPA 500. Co-requisite(s): None. 3 semester hours

This course recognizes that gender, race, and culture must be addressed in public policy to achieve equality. Readings focus on how constructions of gender, race, and culture inform and are informed by civil society, political discourse, and economic and political structures. The course considers a range of theories and case studies, including: health care, child care, race, minimum wage, affordable housing, gender gaps in education, property rights, culture, international migration, reproductive labor, and reproductive social justice. Students use intersectionality as theory and method to engage in how equality practices in the public sector and policy initiatives address gender, racial, and cultural issues. Pre-requisite(s): PPA 500 or another Master level gateway course equivalent by approval of Program Director. Co-requisite(s): None. 3 semester hours

This course introduces students to international dimensions of public administration, including the institutions, organizations, and actors involved in international development. Students will learn key concepts and techniques in international public service and apply them to a series of in-depth case studies, examining the ways cultures, histories and political contexts shape public policy formation and implementation. Students will also examine and reflect upon the core tenants of effective leadership in the global public sector. Pre-requisite(s): PPA 500. Co-requisite(s): None. 3 semester hours

This course investigates public finance and budgeting from both theoretical and applied perspectives. The theoretical component explores theories related to public sector intervention into the free market economy, governmental revenues, and how decisions are made about public expenditures. The applied component of this course explores the strategies used by public agencies to meet a wide range of objectives, such as defense, health, social service, economic development, and education. Pre-requisite(s): PPA 500 and RES 510; or permission of Program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 3 semester hours

The internship enables students to integrate academic theory with experiential learning while working in a public or non-profit organization. In a placement of their choosing, students will consider concepts such as participation, citizenship, and democracy and reflect on what constitutes good policymaking, administration and management. Students will have supervised fieldwork, generate reflections, briefs and papers that make sense of the internship within the larger context of citizenship and social justice. Students must complete a minimum of 45 hours of internship and related activities per semester credit hour earned, up to 3 semester credit hours total. Pre-requisite(s): PPA 565 and PPA570 or permission of program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 1-3 semester hours

This course serves as the capstone course for the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program. Students demonstrate the acquisition of MPA program learning outcomes through the development of a professional portfolio that assesses and integrates work completed in prior courses with additional work completed in the capstone course. They further delve into the concepts of creating, measuring, and recognizing public value, as well as forecasting trends in public administration that are likely to impact clients, agencies, and taxpayers. Pre-requisite(s): PPA 500, RES 510, PPA 502, PPA 503, PPA504, PPA 560, LAP 693, HRM 505; or permission of Program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 3 semester hours

In-depth study of a contemporary public policy and administration topic. As the topic varies each term, students may register at most twice. Pre-requisite(s): PPA 500. Co-requisite(s): None. 3 semester hours

The thesis is a formal written document which investigates a public policy and administration theory, a particular public policy case study, or the relationship between a public policy and/or public policy administration theory and a case study as the result of disciplined inquiry, under the supervision of a faculty member. Pre-requisite(s): PPA 512, PPA 560, PPA 565, and PPA 570; or permission of Program Chair or designate. Co-requisite(s): None. 3 semester hours

Continuous registration required until thesis is complete. Pre-requisite(s): Masters standing, consent of instructor, and prior registration for the required number of hours in PPA 599. Co-requisite(s): None. 0 semester hours