Introduces students to organizational theories and practices useful to public service managers. Teaches how to use structural, human resource, political and symbolic perspectives to rethink public service organizations. Provides an introduction to managerial issues including workforce diversity, decision making and leadership; stresses critical thinking and writing skills.

Covers the examination of the size, scope, capacity, and limitations of the nonprofit, government, and business sectors, in the domestic and international context. Students will be introduced to research and become familiar with print and electronic resources and databases. They will learn to develop meaningful research questions, write literature reviews, and analyze the interrelationships between the three sectors.

This course introduces students to the branches of economics known as microeconomics, public finance, and welfare economics. Students learn to apply standard economic tools to identify policy issues and to analyze them. Specific skill set includes present value techniques. PREREQUISITE(S): MPS 500.

Focuses on processes and techniques of analyzing and designing public policies. Students are introduced to an analytical way of thinking that includes: defining and modeling policy problems; designing policy alternatives; evaluating policy alternatives using ethical, legal, economic, organizational, and political criteria; and anticipating problems of policy implementation.

This course introduces students to the challenges and opportunities of policy implementation. It helps students understand and improve the implementation of public and organizational policies. Using a variety of approaches, students learn to analyze implementation, the factors that influence the process, and to monitor, evaluate, revise, and reform policies.

Explores the roles of individuals and organizations in the public policy process, particularly as power arrangements facilitate or impede consensus building. Examines how legislation is written and how administrative rules are formed in government agencies. Special attention is paid to advocacy techniques such as lobbying, public education, and litigation.

Provides an overview of the legal process, developing a basic understanding of legal principles, terms, and court systems. Applies legal analysis to policy issues in the three sectors. Examines the sources of law and explores methods of legal research within the context of public policy analysis.

This course introduces students to the principles underlying scientific and applied research. It covers both qualitative and quantitative approaches and teaches students to collect and analyze data. Students learn about research ethics, causality, sampling (both random and purposive), and the techniques of survey design. Students calculate descriptive and inferential statistics using statistical software. Students learn applied program research, including developing and evaluating program theory and processes.

This course introduces students to more advanced mixed methods of scientific research including interviews and focus groups, observation, and ethnography. Students learn about the design of experiments and the problems associated with spuriousness and control. Students calculate and interpret bivariate and multivariate statistics using statistical software. Students learn applied research, including needs assessment and outcomes evaluations. Students develop their own research proposal for their capstone or thesis project.

In this capstone course students complete an action research project integrating applied research, theoretical frameworks, and professional practice. Students choose one of the applied research competencies learned in MPS 590 and focus on either a policy or management issue.

This course provides students with the essential framework for personal and professional ethical decision making applied in the context of diverse workplaces and international organizations. Through lectures in ethical theories, case studies in applied ethics, and specific assignments, students clarify their personal-professional values, assess their moral intelligence, and develop their ethical leadership integrity. Students will also study the ethics of organizations, including the formation of social norms, how they influence individual decisions, and how entire organizations can become more ethical. Formerly MPS 506.

This course explores causes of urban poverty both in the US and abroad. It compares and contrasts policies addressing basic human needs. It includes discussion of global cities and international poverty reduction programs.

This course discusses urban issues including social area analysis, neighborhood change, land use and other topics. It examines community organizations as problem-solving bodies that interact with government agencies to affect urban development.

This course provides an overview of theories and approaches to sustainable social and economic development and examines the roles of Non Governmental Organizations as well as methods of evaluating their effect. The course covers the role of NGOs in building and strengthening sustainable communities and societies in developing countries.

This course increases understanding and knowledge of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as organizations of change. It focuses on the international public sector including relationships with NGO's and the nonprofit sector. Students expand experiential and intellectual understanding of these global actors and how they compare to the US. The course takes place in Brussels.

Topics vary each term. (May be taken more than once). Variable credit.

Students carry out a theoretically-based research project designed in MPS 585. The final product of this course is a master's thesis. Binding fee.