This course explores the concepts, principles, and methods of research in public administration, with application to administrative functions and decision making.

This course integrates knowledge, skills, and abilities from a wide variety of content areas to better meet the challenges faced by public administrators. Topics may include developing organizational strategy, executing decision making, shaping the planning process, and managing of organizational change.

This course explores the history, growth, and evolution of the non-profit organizations and examines the critical management and leadership challenges facing the professional manager in the non-profit sector. Topics may include the role of the executive team, board of directors, full-time staff, and volunteers in identifying and realizing the mission of a non-profit organization. In addition, students will study the legal framework and requirements for non-profit organizations including those pertaining to lobbying and electoral politics.

This course explores the goals, processes, and activities associated with fundraising and resource development including the resources provided by volunteers in the nonprofit sector. Topics include annual and capital campaign development, special events, planned giving, communication strategies, stakeholder relationships, automation techniques, and volunteer procedures (including recruitment, training, and recognition). The course will also address legal reporting requirements pertaining to contributions.MPA5001 – Foundations of Public Administration

This course provides students with an overview of public administration and examines the political, social, institutional, and organizational setting in which practitioners in public administrators function.

MPA5005 – Public and Nonprofit Organizational Behavior

This course addresses the issues of motivation, leadership, and communication within public and nonprofit organizations. Included are negotiation, conflict resolution, and team building. Special attention will be paid to the unique character of public and nonprofit organizations operating with a mission of public service and within the context of the political leadership and public constituencies.

MBA6501 – Strategic Human Resources Management

This course explores human resources from a strategic perspective to help an organization achieve its goals. Topics may include investments in human resources, workforce demographic trends, theories of human resource management, workforce training and development, workforce utilization and assessment, and performance management systems.

MPA5010 – Public and Nonprofit Budgeting and Accounting

This course examines the management of public funds and the preparation and administration of their related budgets. Basic accounting and financial management functions most relevant to public administration are examined, including the roles of treasury, comptroller, and auditing. Topics may include revenue projections, expenditure controls, fiscal management, the relevance of public policy in establishing budgetary priorities, and the utilization of information and accounting systems. Course will also include accounting and auditing requirements particular to nonprofit organizations.

MPA6501 – State and Local Government and Intergovernmental Relations

This course analyzes the structure, principles, and operation of state and local government in the United States. It examines the governmental interrelationships contained in the American Federal system. Topics may include the analysis of the executive, legislative, and judicial functions of state and local governments, with special attention paid to the similarities and differences among the levels and branches of government as well as the complementary and conflictual relationships between the state and federal government levels.

MBA6505 – Organizational Development And Change Management

This course explores the theoretical grounding and practical approaches necessary to effectively diagnose organizational problems, develop intervention approaches, and implement organizational solutions. Topics include entering and contracting, organizational diagnostic models, organizational surveys, change impediments, managing the change process, organizational/interpersonal/group interventions, and evaluation approaches.

The latest major approaches and techniques of management are studied, including planning, systems management, new organizational concepts, computer influence, controlling, and quantitative measurement.