Courses
Students may, with the approval of the program director, program dean and the university registrar, transfer relevant graduate level courses taken in allied graduate programs (e.g., MBA) at this or other regionally accredited universities.
Unless otherwise indicated, all courses are 3 credits.
PA 501 Public Administration and Public Policy
Introduction to public administration; modern theories of administration and public policy.
PA 502 Public Policy Seminar
Small group tutorial experience designed for in-depth exploration of a topic or problem.
PA 550 Research Methods
Study of current methods of conducting research in Public Administration; problem definition, hypothesis construction, research design, sampling, collection, evaluation of data and interpretation of findings.
PA 554 Public Budgeting and Finance
Public budget planning, formulation, analysis and implementation. The fiscal role of government. The problems of revenue and expenditure planning, administration and control.
PA 556 Inter-Governmental Relations
An analysis of the problems, practices and policies relating to the management and financing of inter-governmental projects; relationships between local, state and federal governments.
PA 562 Human Resource Management
Governmental personnel systems. Policies for classification, compensation, training and advancement. Public employee unionization. Developing strategies for collective negotiations in public organizations.
PA 565 Organizational Theory and Development
Organization, leadership, and decision theory, and contemporary developments in management and behavioral sciences are emphasized.
PA 568 Ethics in Public Policy and Administration
An examination of moral issues which arise within a public organization, e.g., privacy, obligation to obey the law, government responsibility, etc.
PA 582 Selected Topic
Topics of current and particular interest or concern in Public Administration, e.g., arbitration and collective bargaining, criminal justice policy, environmental policy and public healthcare policy.
PA 582 (ST) California Policy Development and Political Process
This course provides a general examination, combined with select case studies, of the intricate political and institutional pressures placed upon our state and local policymaking process, including direct democracy, term limits, campaign finance, diversity of population and geography, special interest group advocacy, political parties, polls, and the separation of powers.
PA 590 Independent Study
PA 593 Public Administration Theory
Systematic analysis of the ideas and ideals which have influenced the study of public administration; exploring theories of public administration. Emphasis on state and local government.
PA 595 Implementation and Analysis of Public Policy
A broad study of interactive processes which operate in the formation, maintenance and application of public policy. An opportunity to examine the policy process in selected public agencies. An examination of the relevant analysis as it relates to administration in the public sector.
PA 596 Urban Policy and Planning
The course addresses contemporary theory and application of community development. The course focuses on the components of planning and the interaction of planning with different elements of government. Topics include policies relating to land use, growth management, redevelopment, property rights and other issues impacting urbanization and development.
PA 598 Law and Public Policy
An analysis of the impact of court and legislative decisions on public policy, with particular emphasis on public institutions; examining how public policy is shaped by law. Topics include: employment discrimination, managerial liability for negligence in hiring, training, supervision, etc., civil rights violations, employee rights in the workplace, and more.
PA 599A/B Thesis/Project
BUS 554 Communication for Management
The purpose of this course is to enhance verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills. Professional and interpersonal dialogue, group communications and processes will be explored. Managerial writing, public speaking, positive self-presentation and techniques for effective meetings will be included.
BUS 558 Organizational Dynamics
Examination of conceptual models used to facilitate planned organizational change and development by internal and external consultants are considered. Topics include necessary skills for interacting within organizations, intervention strategies and managing client-consultant relationships. Case studies of successful and unsuccessful organizational development efforts are analyzed. The course addresses challenges for organizational change within a global environment. Prerequisites: Permission of the Instructor.
BUS 559 Leadership and Managerial Effectiveness
Development of core competencies and skills needed for effective managerial leadership in organizations is addressed. Study includes the historical development of the field of leadership, examination of various leadership perspectives and models, and various measures of managerial and organizational effectiveness in a global environment. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor.
BUS 581 Management Concepts for Information Technology
In today's dynamic and competitive economy, the ability of an enterprise to effectively leverage existing and emerging information technology is a critical success factor in gaining and sustaining a strategic advantage. This course presents management concepts that lead to an understanding of information technology and its role within the enterprise. The challenges of transitioning from legacy technology and business practices to new technology and reengineered business practices will be examined. The course also reviews how to build consensus among business and technology professionals using modern approaches to strategic planning, business process reengineering and system development. Utilizing case studies, the student will apply theory and practice.