University Catalog

URPA 1301. INTRO URB LIFE. 3 Hours.

URPA 3301. THE METROPLEX. 3 Hours.

URPA 4305. FOUNDATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND SUSTAINABILITY. 3 Hours.

The organization, structure and practice of environmental protection at the federal, state and local levels of government. Course will develop a full understanding of how the goals of protecting human health and the environment are achieved through the implementation of environmental law, policy, practice, enforcement and collaboration among governmental entities, industry, environmental groups and the general public. Wide ranging use of case studies will be made and full engagement in new developments in the era of climate change will be achieved.

URPA 4391. CONFERENCE. 3 Hours.

URPA 5160. URBAN MANAGEMENT/PLANNING INTERNSHIP. 1 Hour.

Intended to enhance readiness for professional work through exposure to planning practice in a one semester log internship (100 hrs in the spring or fall semester or 75 hrs in the summer). Integrates work experience and coursework through journaling and reflective practice. Requirements: (1)student secures an internship from a planning related employer and approval from the student's major professor prior to enrolling in the course;(2)the intern must provide performance evaluation by the job supervisor and the intern's evaluation of the internship experience. Enrollment open to students with no previous formal planning experience. Credit not available for previous internship or planning experience. P/F grade.

URPA 5300. FOUNDATION OF URBAN THEORY. 3 Hours.

Social theories that explain the life cycle of urban communities as they develop, expand, and are sustained or decay are presented and contrasted. Special consideration is given to role of social policy. Topics such as poverty, race, neighborhoods, and environment are addressed.

URPA 5301. FOUNDATIONS OF URBAN POLITICS AND ECONOMICS. 3 Hours.

Examines the major political and economic institutions and processes in urban communities and their effect on urban policy.

URPA 5302. FOUNDATIONS OF URBAN RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS. 3 Hours.

An introduction to research methodologies, both quantitative and qualitative, and statistical techniques useful in the analysis of urban trends and administrative programs. Previously taught as SUPA 5302.

URPA 5303. THE METROPLEX: SURVEY OF URBAN AFFAIRS, PLANNING, ADMINISTRATION:. 3 Hours.

The Metroplex provides an ideal laboratory for study with more than 100 cities and other governmental units, thousands of neighborhoods and business enterprises, major concentration of minorities and dozens of ethnic groups. An in-depth orientation on urban dynamics utilizing senior faculty members, governmental and community leaders, and current research reports and studies.

URPA 5304. URBAN POLITICS. 3 Hours.

Examination of the city as a political system, including the impact of urbanization and fragmentation on policies; input dimensions, including voting patterns and interest group development; decision-making structures, especially types of community power structures and the impact of the reform movement on structural processes. Also offered as POLS 5305; credit will be granted only once.

URPA 5305. THEORIES OF URBAN SOCIETY. 3 Hours.

Several theoretical perspectives of the community and community organization examined. Special emphasis given to theories from human ecology, organization and stratification, and social welfare.

URPA 5306. THE URBAN ECONOMY. 3 Hours.

Internal dynamics of the growth and development of the urban system and its relation to the national economy. National and urban economic policy, urban growth and land use, market imperfections, urban financial issues, and the environmental implications of urban growth studied through lecture, game simulation and policy debates.

URPA 5307. URBAN GEOGRAPHY. 3 Hours.

Emphasizes real aspects associated with urban physical environments and social, behavioral and financial processes that shape these environments.

URPA 5308. URBAN HISTORY. 3 Hours.

Extensive reading primarily in the history of the urbanization and metropolitanization of the people of the United States. Historical methods as exemplified in the works of leading historians and analyzed; examples of the scholarship of selected historians and treatises on selected cities, regions, and urban institutions studied.

URPA 5309. LOCAL POLITICS IN THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL SETTING. 3 Hours.

Critical analysis of the implications of federalism, and the changing nature of intergovernmental relations on state and local management, administration, planning, and policy making.

URPA 5310. URBAN POLICY AND THE LAW. 3 Hours.

Critical analysis of federal government and selected state and local government policies and programs designed to influence the course of change and the future development of cities and urban areas. The role of "private" governments in affecting policy explored.

URPA 5311. SOCIAL POLICY FORMATION. 3 Hours.

Utilization of a sociological approach in the study of policy formation in such areas as aging, social planning, and community problem solving.

URPA 5312. ECONOMIC POLICY. 3 Hours.

Examines structure of the U.S. economic system and its impact on welfare of consumers, workers, and industry; public policy efforts to provide for management of critical economic variables are evaluated for effectiveness and equity as they impact different interest groups.

URPA 5313. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. 3 Hours.

Focuses on current problems of community development and neighborhood revitalization. Housing, community assets, the roles of community development corporations and social capital in cities, and community economic development will be analyzed. Federal, state, and local policies, with grassroots initiatives evaluated for effectiveness on promoting alternatives for community building and organizing. Also offered as CIRP 5324; credit will be granted only once.

URPA 5314. HEALTH POLICY. 3 Hours.

Current health policy and programs, examination of historical development, economic and legal aspects, interest groups and health constituencies.

URPA 5315. URBAN EDUCATION POLICY. 3 Hours.

Examines current education policy and programs, including public school districts, charter schools, and vouchers; economic and political aspects; role of adult education programs in improving human capital.

URPA 5316. HUMAN SERVICES. 3 Hours.

Social welfare institutions: private and public; needs assessment, resource allocation, procedures, city/state/federal/private policy review; highlights of current system demands and changes. Offered as URPA 5316 and CIRP 5344; credit will be granted only once.

URPA 5317. ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY. 3 Hours.

Focuses on the physical environmental dimensions of urbanization including such factors as pollution, waste disposal, and land use; stresses the role of economic, social, and political institutions as these affect environmental quality of the city. Offered as CIRP 5342 and URPA 5317; credit will be granted only once.

URPA 5318. SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY. 3 Hours.

Examines recent welfare reform measures (federal, state, and local levels), the political issues behind them, and their influence on urban life. A central topic will be the impact of a changing society on social welfare policy needs, including analyses of labor force participation and family structure.

URPA 5319. URBAN PROBLEMS. 3 Hours.

Specific urban problems examined in depth, traced to their historical origins to see how they or similar problems have been dealt with in other times and places. Students will then propose possible solutions to the problems in their contemporary form. Offered as CIRP 5347 and URPA 5319.

URPA 5320. PUBLIC AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THEORY. 3 Hours.

Historical evolution of administrative theory including classical, sociological and social-psychological dimensions; decision-making theory; implications of public interest theory for public and non-profit management; basic concepts of organization development and impact on public administration paradigms; new public administration; and future of public and nonprofit urban organization. Also offered as CRCJ 5309 and POLS 5303; credit will be granted only once.

URPA 5321. URBAN MANAGEMENT. 3 Hours.

Focuses through lectures, readings, and exercises on major administrative process: personnel and policy development and analysis; management styles and key contemporary management problems explored through presentations by prominent local practitioners.

URPA 5322. POLITICS AND POLICY IN PUBLIC AND NON-PROFIT MANAGEMENT. 3 Hours.

Development of theory of bureaucracy; bureaucracy as social issue; ethics and morality in public and non-profit bureaucracy; mobilization of special interest support; power differentials in urban agencies; policy process in bureaucracy; new bureaucratic structures and processes for urban policy making.

URPA 5323. MANAGING CHANGE IN PUBLIC AND NON-PROFIT SERVICES. 3 Hours.

Current theories and concepts of public and non-profit organizational change with particular emphasis on organization development and action research; theoretical roots of contemporary change literature traced through readings and discussion of classical organization theory, public administration including New Public Administration decision making, public interest, phenomenology, learning theory and general systems. Prerequisite: basic organizational theory course or permission of instructor.

URPA 5324. URBAN PUBLIC FINANCE. 3 Hours.

Tax, revenue, and fiscal problems of cities and local governments in metropolitan areas; problems of matching costs and benefits in providing public services among different local governments; increasingly complex dimensions of intergovernmental fiscal relations and public budgeting systems. Offered as URPA 5324 and CIRP 5329; credit will be granted only once.

URPA 5325. ADMINISTRATIVE LAW. 3 Hours.

Examines scope and role of administrative regulation of and by governmental agencies; explores constitutional principles which limit administrative power and administrative law which governs classical areas of conflict between administrative agencies and their constituencies; rule-making, judicial review and informal regulatory processes of importance to public officials.

URPA 5326. PUBLIC BUDGETING. 3 Hours.

This course introduces students to the principles and practices used by federal, state, and local governments to acquire and spend revenues within the context of American democracy, capitalism, federalism, and economics. The primary objective of this course is to provide students with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge to enable them to be effective participants in the budgeting process and critical consumers and producers of research relevant to public budgeting. Offered as CIRP 5328 and URPA 5326. Credit will be granted only once.

URPA 5327. COMPARATIVE ADMINISTRATION AND POLICY. 3 Hours.

Extensive, multidisciplinary exposure to concepts and models of administration in developed and modernizing countries; role of the military, bureaucracy and traditional elites in development; practices and concepts of strategies for effective change.

URPA 5328. SMALL CITY MANAGEMENT. 3 Hours.

This course will focus on problems peculiar to small cities, including administrative law; personnel, planning; public works, public safety; human services; budget and finance; public relations and parks and recreation.

URPA 5329. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT IN THE PUBLIC AND NON-PROFIT SERVICES. 3 Hours.

Overview of the principles of finance as they apply to the public and non-profit services, financial reporting for state and local governments and non-profit organizations and evaluation.

URPA 5330. COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION. 3 Hours.

Structure and processes in the analysis and development of community and neighborhood organizations; special emphasis given to poverty and minority communities and neighborhoods.

URPA 5331. LAND USE PLANNING AND THE LAW. 3 Hours.

Explores the law of land use in the context of the American legal, economic, and political systems. Examines leading court decisions and precedents for their background, content, and applicability to contemporary land use. Offered as CIRP 5316 and URPA 5331. Credit will be granted only once.

URPA 5332. CAPITAL BUDGETING IN PUBLIC MANAGEMENT. 3 Hours.

Examines governmental capital budgeting processes with a focus on understanding the significance of capital improvement planning, public facility investment, and project evaluation to sound infrastructure financing and regional economic growth. Governments purchase or construct long-lasting physical assets or facilities financed mostly through borrowing. This course aims to understand the rationale for public capital budgeting and debt instruments used to finance capital investment in the political context of public budgeting in America.

URPA 5333. GOVERNMENTAL AND NONPROFIT ACCOUNTING. 3 Hours.

This course is designed as an introduction to governmental and nonprofit accounting. The course reviews major fund accounting principles, accounting for budgetary, revenue, and expenditure funds, accounting for general capital assets and long-term liabilities, accounting for fiduciary and proprietary funds, auditing practices, and financial reporting unique to government and non-profit organizations.

URPA 5334. MANAGEMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. 3 Hours.

This course focuses on the knowledge, organization, politics, issues, techniques and processes of local economic development. Emphasis is placed on contemporary issues and trends in the rich, dynamic laboratory of local economic development in Texas. Learning objectives include: 1) comprehension of basic techniques and issues such as strategic planning, leadership strategies, financial options and evaluation; 2) increased knowledge of the positive potential of thoughtful economic development for local environmental, infrastructure, and revenue challenges; and 3) enhanced professional development through individual and classroom exposure to successful practitioners.

URPA 5341. PROFESSIONAL REPORT WRITING. 3 Hours.

Provides students entering public sector employment with writing, management information, data retrieval skills to communicate ideas and information within and outside an agency; basic writing skills reviewed, including organization of reports and grammatical construction; assignments based on actual internship position of students in public agencies.

URPA 5342. INTERMEDIATE DATA ANALYSIS. 3 Hours.

An intermediate level examination of statistical and research techniques appropriate to urban and social analysis. Presuming a basic understanding of descriptive and inferential statistics, the course covers multivariate regression, including error analysis and non-linear models, path analysis, ANOVA, logit and probit models, and techniques for data reduction (e.g., factor analysis). Prerequisite: URPA 5302. Offered as URPA 5342 and CIRP 5317; credit will be granted only once.

URPA 5343. APPLIED URBAN ANALYSIS. 3 Hours.

Group and individual projects to develop research studies or strategies, data reports for local government, agency or citizen group; techniques appropriate to task utilized. P/F only.

URPA 5344. QUALITATIVE METHODS. 3 Hours.

The study of qualitative research and analysis methods. Offered as CIRP 5346 and URPA 5344; credit will be given only once.

URPA 5345. EVALUATION RESEARCH. 3 Hours.

Methodological issues in evaluating public programs; identification of variables, indicators and analyses formats presented. Prerequisite: SUPA 5302 or URPA 5302.

URPA 5346. DATA ANALYSIS. 3 Hours.

An examination of the data competencies and quantitative techniques necessary for policy analysis. The course presumes a basic understanding of the basic statistical and research techniques taught in 5302 and 5342 (or equivalents from other departments). It builds on this foundation to cover quantitative techniques in policy analysis with a particular emphasis on categorical and limited dependent variables, cross section and panel data. The purpose of the course is to equip students with the quantitative tools necessary to address policy issues that require rigorous empirical analysis. Students will be responsible for applying statistical techniques to analyze a policy issue and demonstrating their ability to communicate the results of the analysis in a professional manner.

URPA 5347. DEMOGRAPHIC METHODS. 3 Hours.

Examination of sources of data-census, vital statistics, special surveys, reports, special studies; techniques of analysis with particular emphasis on growth and projection models, interpretation of findings as a major policy area in urban analysis.

URPA 5348. COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS. 3 Hours.

Reviews theory of cost-benefit and cost-effective analyses; explores the research, measurement and methodological requirements for the assessments of costs and benefits. It is recommended that students have completed at least one graduate course in research and one graduate class in public finance.

URPA 5350. INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. 3 Hours.

This is a graduate level introductory course designed to give students an understanding of public administration as a field of academic inquiry and professional practice within the context of American federalism, democratic values, institutional dynamics, and bureaucratic politics. In addition to contextually defining public administration, the course addresses government reform, intergovernmental relations, public ethics, organizational dynamics and behavior, personnel issues, budgeting, and e-governance.

URPA 5351. HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN GOVERNMENT AND NON-PROFITS. 3 Hours.

The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with key functions of government and non-profit personnel systems, discuss various theoretical approaches and techniques, and understand the major legal requirements of public and non-profit personnel management. The course examines the structure, role, and evolution of the Civil Service, current personnel policies, and personnel management tasks such as examination, recruitment, position classification, and collective bargaining.

URPA 5352. CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN THE PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT. 3 Hours.

Labor management at all levels of government and non-profits, ability to work together to solve problems. Emphasis on collective and interest based bargaining, mediation, labor management partnership. Simulation exercises teach dynamics of bargaining, negotiation, problem solving, and small group dynamics.

URPA 5353. REFORM AND INNOVATION IN URBAN PUBLIC AND NON-PROFIT MANAGEMENT. 3 Hours.

Designed to acquaint students with urban governance and non-profit reform and innovation. Course will explore how reformed government differs from traditional bureaucracy by contrasting it with entrepreneurial government and other innovations. Examines some of the areas most in need of reform, including service delivery, organizational capacity, and fiscal decentralization.

URPA 5354. NONPROFIT MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP. 3 Hours.

This course prepares students to be entrepreneurs, innovators and change leaders by using social entrepreneurship perspective to examine leadership and management practices of nonprofit organizations. Through hands-on experiential training, developing skills in needs assessment, and formulating interventions for social change, students develop a blueprint of a nonprofit organization that takes an innovative approach for sustainable solutions of social problems.

URPA 5355. NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN PUBLIC POLICY. 3 Hours.

This course examines non-profits as community institutions with an outward focus: the political, economic, and inter-organizational environment, fund-raising and financial management, community relations and needs assessment, the role of the volunteers, boards and community leaders, marketing, and legal and government issues.

URPA 5356. ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN PUBLIC AND NON-PROFIT MANAGEMENT. 3 Hours.

Public and non-profit entrepreneurship involves the use of public powers, and partnerships with individuals, firms and other organizations, to achieve public purposes. The focus will be on creative management techniques and methods employed in managing the public and non-profit sectors.

URPA 5357. STRATEGIC MGT AND PLANNING IN PUBLIC AND NON-PROFIT SERVICES. 3 Hours.

Readings and case studies of strategic planning and management in the public and non-profit sectors; application of principles to an actual situation, involving stakeholder identification, environmental scanning, and formulation of mission statements, goals, and strategies. Offered as CIRP 5312 and URPA 5357. Credit will be granted only once.

URPA 5358. ETHICS IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE. 3 Hours.

This course examines public service theoretical ethics literature to provide a basis for each student to both reflect upon and expand their comprehension of the values and processes of ethical decision making. Beyond theoretical works, it addresses the application and evaluation of theory against the professional, workaday reality of case studies, ethical codes and other relevant materials. Three major learning objectives are: 1) achievement of a solid understanding of the dominant theoretical perspectives in the public service ethics literature; 2) competency in the development of guidelines and procedures that encourage ethical behavior, and 3) enhancement of the reach and resiliency of each member's personal commitment to public service ethics.

URPA 5359. ORGANIZATIONAL DIAGNOSIS. 3 Hours.

This class deals with tools and techniques necessary to manage public organizations. The learning objectives include ability to conduct an organizational diagnostic; and familiarity with group procedures and facilitation techniques involved in organizational change.

URPA 5360. PUBLIC AND NON-PROFIT MANAGEMENT INTERNSHIP. 3 Hours.

Designed to integrate work experience and coursework through a series of brief work-related assignments; presentations by local planning and management practitioners and class discussions and exercises. Enrollment is open to both pre-entry and in-career students. Formal internship placements with agency mentors will be arranged. P/F only.

URPA 5361. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS. 3 Hours.

The course focuses on the rise of governmental and nongovernmental organizations in geopolitics, international development, and environmental management. It analyzes their institutional histories, their organizational structures and cultures, and their role as institutional policy actors in the global diffusion of policy initiatives and managerial knowledge and practices.

URPA 5362. URBAN DIVERSITY. 3 Hours.

Examines the growing spatial and social diversity of cities; how physical as well as socioeconomic urban structures have fostered race, class, and gender inequalities; how urban policies have addressed and can address these issues. Offered as CIRP 5362 and URPA 5362.

URPA 5363. CIVIL RIGHTS AND URBAN MINORITIES. 3 Hours.

Examines the changes in and growth of the civil rights of minorities in the United States from the close of the Civil War to the present. This is accomplished through the study of court decisions, legislation, and the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s, as seen through the eyes of contemporary writers, including William Faulkner, Alice Walker, and Alex Haley.

URPA 5364. URBAN POLITICAL ECONOMY. 3 Hours.

Examines the theoretical bases of economic paradigms and the different economic policies that logically flow from them. Comparison is made between the orthodox, or neoclassical, model of economics and alternative heterodox models, including comparing the growth and development of the urban system, land use patterns, and economic policy debates. Consideration will be given to how and why the neoclassical model remains the dominant model for economic policy in Western, capitalist countries.

URPA 5365. FOUNDATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY. 3 Hours.

Explores how environmental controversy is rooted in conflict between a number of schools of environmental policy thought with divergent perspectives on issues such as how to define progress, how to balance the needs of economy and ecosystem, how to cope with environmental complexity, and what role science should play in environmental affairs. Also offered as CIRP 5343; credit will be granted only once.

URPA 5366. US IMMIGRATION POLICIES AND PLANNING FOR IMMIGRANTS. 3 Hours.

A seminar course where weekly readings would include: perspectives on international migration theory; the evolution of US immigration policy and national security; theories and urban issues related to immigrant assimilation and incorporation; urban ethnic economies and ethnic enclaves; segregation and housing of immigrants; globalization and immigrant labor networks; governance issues with providing education and other public services to immigrants and their children; and social work issues regarding generational conflict in immigrant families.

URPA 5367. STRATEGIC PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT. 3 Hours.

This course is designed to acquaint students with the theory and practice of strategically developing, utilizing, and aligning human resources so that maximum contribution from each member of an organization is used toward the attainment of strategic long-range goals and objectives. Topics include HR strategy, diversity, leadership, selection, training and development, compensation, classification, performance appraisal, and future practices for public and non-profit organizations.

URPA 5368. PRACTICAL EMPLOYMENT FOR PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT MANAGERS. 3 Hours.

The course examines the rights and obligations of employers and employees. It does this by examining the legal background pertinent to public and nonprofit management. Topics addressed include employee selection, promotion and discipline, anti-discrimination legislation, gender and family issues legislation, environmental, safety and health issues, whistleblower legislation, immigration law, worker's compensation, labor law, and drug and alcohol issues.

URPA 5390. TOPICS IN URBAN THEORY. 3 Hours.

Different topics explored on an intensive basis, especially recent theoretical approaches. May be repeated for credit as topic changes.

URPA 5391. TOPICS IN URBAN POLICY. 3 Hours.

Different topics and approaches in analysis of urban problems. May be repeated for credit as topic changes.

URPA 5392. TOPICS IN URBAN MANAGEMENT. 3 Hours.

Selected topics on current management problems including small city management, community-neighborhood relations, citizen involvement programs and techniques, personal and professional effectiveness as a total person, intergovernmental strategies and styles, public-private sector collaboration and co-planning, privatization, and other alternatives to economic service delivery. May be repeated as topic changes.

URPA 5394. SPECIAL TOPICS IN URBAN RESEARCH. 3 Hours.

Different topics each semester concentrate on a variety of methodological techniques and research strategies, such as demographic research and survey techniques. May be repeated for credit as topic changes.

URPA 5395. CONFERENCE COURSE IN URBAN AFFAIRS. 3 Hours.

Reading and research in a specialized area of urban affairs under the direction of a member of the graduate faculty.

URPA 5396. PROJECT REPORT. 3 Hours.

Student prepares report focusing on specific policy or professional issue, utilizing appropriate research techniques; subject area and design of project report with consent of instructor. Graded P/F/R only.

URPA 5397. RESEARCH REPORT. 3 Hours.

Student prepares report comparable to a journal article focusing on research issue, utilizing appropriate theory and research techniques; subject area and design of research report with consent of instructor. Graded P/F/R only. Prerequisite: URPA 5342.

URPA 5398. THESIS. 3 Hours.

A thesis conforming to University and departmental requirements may be prepared by graduate students in urban affairs. Graded F, R.

URPA 5399. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION CAPSTONE. 3 Hours.

This integrative applied research course assesses the student's ability to analyze, synthesize, and formulate cogent recommendations to solve a real public sector problem. Students will write the capstone paper using concepts drawn from the MPA core curriculum, their chosen emphasis track, and the student's professional public work experience. Students are required to successfully defend their capstone paper before a Public Administration Forum consisting of SUPA faculty, students, and other interested parties. Prerequisite: completion of all other course work required for the MPA degree, including core courses and emphasis area courses, unless an exception is approved by the MPA advisor.

URPA 5698. THESIS. 6 Hours.

A thesis conforming to University and departmental requirements may be prepared by graduate students in urban affairs. Graded P/F/R.

URPA 6301. THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS AND PH.D. WORKSHOP. 3 Hours.

Explores the development and function of theoretical models and frameworks. Examines the major theories from the social sciences designed for framing urban planning or administration issues and public policy. Designed to assist doctoral students in preparing their dissertation research. Opportunities to present work in progress, share ideas, and interact with faculty. Prerequisite: CIRP 5346 and either CIRP 5317 or URPA 5342.

URPA 6305. SEMINAR IN URBAN POLICY PROCESSES. 3 Hours.

Final course in urban policy field; focus on the political, economic, and sociological institutions in the policy process, including various theoretical approaches, and application of these multidisciplinary perspectives in the analysis of specific policy issues.

URPA 6306. SEMINAR IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. 3 Hours.

Final course in the public administration field, focuses on review and integration of the theories and principles of public administration.

URPA 6310. MONETARY AND FISCAL POLICY: THE FEDERAL ROLE. 3 Hours.

Examination of the role of the federal government in maintaining economic stability, ensuring full employment and controlling inflation; exploration of liberal interventionist, conservative and radical theories of state economic management to assess the various policy alternatives and the importance of interest groups.

URPA 6315. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION THEORY. 3 Hours.

This course is designed to critically examine public administration theory through the lenses of various governance models that have been proposed beginning with Weber's "ideal"; bureaucratic model through Osborne and Gaebler's market model to Fox and Miller's postmodern discourse model. The course begins by examining each governance model's stated or implied assumptions (about man, government, state, etc.) Second, the course considers the political philosophy and conceptual pillars on which the models are theoretically founded. Finally, the course examines the ideas of what constitutes a state as it might be relevant to a particular model and public administration.

URPA 6320. ADVANCED ORGANIZATION THEORY. 3 Hours.

The purpose of this advanced seminar is to examine the role of public agencies as organs of the State. It focuses on federal, urban, and nonprofit organizations. Learning objectives include understanding of interpretive, critical, and postmodern critiques of State's institutions; and application of power, knowledge, and gender lenses to the analysis of organizational practices, culture, and policy actions. Prerequisite: URPA 5320 or URPA 5323.

URPA 6326. PUBLIC BUDGETING & FINANCE. 3 Hours.

The primary objective of this seminar is to provide students with the theoretical underpinnings of budgeting and financial management in the public sector. Students will engage in in-depth discussions of public budgeting and financial management topics drawn from economics, decision-making models, urban politics, federalism, and others to be able to have a sound understanding of how fiscal decisions affect public administration and policy.

URPA 6340. RESEARCH DESIGN. 3 Hours.

Advanced course especially for Ph.D. students; covers logic of research design and problems of structure. Emphasis on empirical and quantitative studies.

URPA 6346. ADVANCED DATA ANALYSIS IN URBAN AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS. 3 Hours.

An introduction to selected advanced techniques related to planning analysis. Subjects include advanced applied regression analysis, multivariate logit analysis, and multinomial logistic regression. Applications of projection techniques, land use and transportation models, and methods of regional analysis. Offered as CIRP 6346 and URPA 6346. Credit will be given only once.

URPA 6349. DECISION MAKING AND PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS. 3 Hours.

This course explores the theoretical, practical, and topical connections between public policy and public administration through a decision-making lens. The objectives of the course are to enable students to identify, critique, and connect the theoretical and meta-theoretical assumptions of decision-making models to models of public policy analysis and public administration. Course objectives will be pursued through readings, seminar discussions, and research-based assignments that focus on the intersection between decision-making, public policy, and public administration.