420. AMERICAN PUBLIC POLICY (3). Foundation, design, implementation, and evaluation of American public policy at federal, state, and local levels. PRQ: POLS 100 or consent of department.
500. SCOPE AND DYNAMICS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (3). Examines the history of public administration and the basic issues which confront it including administrative responsibility and ethics, and the formulation and implementation of public policy.
501. DATA ANALYSIS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (3). Examines techniques for the collection, manipulation, interpretation, and presentation of data and information in public policy/management processes, and demonstrates applications of the techniques using micro-computer technology.
504. PUBLIC PROGRAM EVALUATION METHODS (3). An examination of the techniques of evaluation and their application to selected policy areas, including a discussion of experimental, quasi-experimental, and other evaluative tools. Requires design of a research project. PRQ: PSPA 501 or consent of department.
505. ORGANIZATION THEORY AND BEHAVIOR (3). A survey of theory and research on organizations relevant to public administration, with a focus on key organizational functions and ways of defining and responding to organizational problems. PRQ: PSPA 500 or consent of department.
509. PUBLIC PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (3). An examination of techniques, methods, and policies concerning the management of personnel in public and quasi-public organizations.
510. PUBLIC BUDGETING AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (3). Examination of the public budgetary process and related financial management techniques.
512. INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND DECISION SUPPORT IN PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS (3). An introduction to concepts and skills concerning the management of information technology in the public sector. Coverage of topics related to managing computers and using software (including spreadsheets and data base management systems) to support the decision making process. PRQ: PSPA 501 or consent of department. Recommended PRQ: PSPA 505.
526. SOCIAL POLICY (3). Introduction to the policies related to the delivery of social services in the United States, including such service systems as income maintenance, personal social services, housing, health care, disability policy, and employment and training policy. Emphasis is placed on policy analysis, planning, community organization, and administration of social programs.
527. TOPICS IN HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (3).
A. The Politics of Mental Health
B. Clinical Administration: Treatment through Institutional Change
C. Planning and Policy Making in Health and Mental Health
D. Mental Health Administration
An examination of political and administrative aspects of organizing, maintaining, and delivering health and mental health services.
530. LOCAL AND METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT (3). Discussion of the operational and administrative aspects of local and metropolitan government in the United States, including design and structure, municipal law, finance, administrative organization, local political systems, and intergovernmental relations.
531. URBAN PLANNING AND ZONING (3). The basic theory, techniques, and practice of modern urban planning and land use regulation; current trends and problems; social, political, and economic characteristics of urban, suburban, and metropolitan political systems.
532. PROBLEMS OF MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION (3). The administration of local government Introduction to the tools, institutions, analytical techniques, financing instruments, and policy issues relevant to economic development policy at the state, local, and regional level.
535. LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY (3). Introduction to the tools, institutions, analytical techniques, financing instruments, policy issues relevant to economic development policy at the state, local, and regional level.
550. LEADERSHIP IN PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS (3).
Examination of leadership models and exploration of leadership theory
historically and how conceptions of leadership have evolved, changed,
and adapted. Leadership development, training, and practices in public sector organizations.
552. PUBLIC SECTOR REVENUE MANAGEMENT (3). Investigation of theories and politics of taxation, impacts of alternative taxes, fiscal federalism, mechanics of raising funds, macroeconomic impacts, and principles of municipal investment. PRQ: PSPA 510 or consent of department.
554. INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND GOVERNMENT (3). An examination of management issues, innovative applications, and research involving information systems and government. Covers topics such as geographic information systems, expert systems, pert/cpm software, and political and legal issues involved in public information systems. PRQ: PSPA 512T or consent of the department.
555. ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR (3). Examines the theoretical basis of organization development (OD) and total quality management (TQM). Demonstrates how OD and TQM technologies can be applied to public sector organizations for improving program quality and performance.
556. MANAGEMENT OF NOT-FOR-PROFIT AGENCIES (3). A comprehensive study of the not-for-profit organization as an integrated and complex model. Examines not-for-profit management principles and objectives, program services, planning, resource development and fund raising, volunteer development, and public relations.
557X. ACCOUNTING FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (3). Crosslisted as ACCY 557. Survey of governmental and other public sector accounting for non-accounting majors. Topics include an introduction to accounting, budgeting, auditing , and financial statement analysis as applied to state and local governments, hospitals, colleges, universities, and other nonprofit organizations. PRQ: Consent of Division of Public Administration or Department of Accountancy.
558. LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR (3). Federal, state, and local government employee-management relations with emphasis on legislative, judicial, political, and social considerations. Special attention is given to selected occupational groups such as police and fire in the public sector. Comparisons with the private sector and the special bargaining problems of various units in the public sector are considered.
559. TOPICS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (3). Selected issues concerning the policy and administrative processes of public organizations. May be repeated to a maximum of 9 semester hours as the topic changes.
560. ETHICS AND PUBLIC SERVICE IN AMERICA (3). Examination of
contemporary and historical ethical dimensions of public service in the
United States, with focus on the duties and responsibilities of the public
administrator to act ethically and with integrity.
561. THEORY AND ANALYSIS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (3). An examination of the major theoretical and conceptual concerns of public administration as a field of academic inquiry. Required for advanced graduate work in the field leading to the M.A. or Ph.D. degree. Not available to candidates for the M.P.A. degree.
564. POLITICS OF PUBLIC BUDGETING (3). This course focuses on the political aspects of budgeting with particular attention to the local level. It deals with topics such as how deficits occur, the relationship of machine and reform governments to spending level and balance, and the politics of taxation and tax revolt. The course addresses the broader questions of how governments gain support or fail to gain support for spending and revenue decisions in a democracy. Recommended PRQ: PSPA 510.
571. READINGS IN COMPARATIVE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (3). Survey of research literature and discussion of administrative processes and methods in various governments.
572. ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS OF LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES (3). An examination of selected problems of public administration in less developed countries.
592. INDEPENDENT STUDY IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (1-3). Open to qualified M.P.A. students who wish to do individual advanced work in public administration. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 semester hours.
595. INTERNSHIP IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (1-3). A preprofessional experience composed of three elements: administrative or staff service in a public or quasi-public agency; seminar meetings consisting of student presentations and action exercises; and presentations by practicing public administrators and scholars in the field of public affairs. May be repeated to a maximum of 8 semester hours. The only grades awarded are S, U, and I. PRQ: Consent of department.
599. PUBLIC SECTOR RESEARCH (1-3). Research and writing related to the completion of the starred paper requirement for the M.P.A. degree. To be taken for 3 hours upon first enrollment and 1 hour in each term thereafter until departmental acceptance of the completed research project. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours. PRQ: PSPA 504 or consent of department.
620. SEMINAR IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (3). Research and discussion of selected topics. May be repeated to a maximum of 9 semester hours as topic changes.
623. SEMINAR IN ADMINISTRATIVE THEORY (3). Intensive examination of selected topics related to the science of public management, the politics of administration, and the role of government agencies in the formulation of public policy.
625. INDEPENDENT STUDY IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (1-6). Open to students admitted to a program of doctoral study at NIU who wish to do individual advanced work in public administration. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 semester hours.
635. SEMINAR IN COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE (3). Survey of the scholarly literature focusing on the systems of governance in American communities and on the problems confronting community governance, with particular emphasis upon urban issues.
302. GOVERNMENT IN METROPOLITAN AREAS (3).
An examination of the political and structural elements of government in metropolitan areas. Particular emphasis is placed upon the impact of public and private influences exercised through the network of government agencies upon urban regions. PRQ: POLS 100. Recommended: POLS 303.
303. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS (3).
The structure, functions, and dynamics of community political systems. Local legislative, executive, and electoral processes are considered. PRQ: POLS 100.
405. URBAN POLITICAL BEHAVIOR (3).
The organization, conduct, and problems of politics in American urban government. PRQ: POLS 100 or equivalent. Recommended: POLS 303. May also be counted in the empirical theory and behavior field.
220. INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC POLICY (3)
Factors important in the policy process through and examination of selected issue areas such as health, the environment, energy, and economic regulation. Politics of evaluation and its uses.
321. GOVERNMENT AND THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM (3).
Topics include business regulation, poverty, unemployment and labor training policies, housing, and the political aspects of economic policy making. PRQ: POLS 100.
324. POLITICS OF ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT (3).
Political aspect of the major issues involved in contemporary policy-making respecting domestic and foreign energy supplies , various aspects of environmental policy, and status of publicly held lands. Hoe federal, states and local governments deal with these issues. PRQ: At least sophomore standing.
325. POLITICS OF REGULATION (3).
The politics, procedures, and role of the regulatory agencies in the American government; the impact of regulatory decisions on industry, resources, and environments by regulatory bodies such as FAA, NRC, and FTC. PRQ: POLS 100.
326. GOVERNMENT AND WELFARE (3).
A political administrative analysis of domestic programs in areas such as social insurance, health, and education. Both the politics of welfare and the substance of programs will be emphasized. PRQ: At least sophomore standing.
329. COMPARATIVE PUBLIC POLICY (3).
Policy outputs (e.g. public expenditures) from a comparative and political economy perspective. The advantages and limitations of using budgetary data to study policy; techniques for measuring expenditures and analyzing budget data, and budgetary priorities and changes as they reflect the political economy of semi-capitalist states of Latin America and Southeast Asia. PRQ: At least sophomore standing.
330. BUREAUCRACY AND THE PUBLIC POLICY PROCESS (3).
The role of the bureaucracy in the formation and implementation of public policy. Includes the interaction of public agencies with other agencies, chief executives, legislatures, courts, other levels of government, parties, interest groups, and the media. PRQ: POLS 100.
331. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (3).
Leadership, decision making, organizational behavior, program effectiveness, and fiscal management in public administrative agencies. PRQ: POLS 100.
PSPA 420. AMERICAN PUBLIC POLICY (3).
Foundation, design, implementation, and evaluation of American public policy at federal, state, and local levels. PRQ: POLS 100 or consent of department.
426. AGING, POLITICS, AND PUBLIC POLICY (3).
This course examines the role that aging plays in politics and policy. Attention is given to impact of the aging on elections and other aspects of the political process. Also examined are the relationships between aging and major programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and others. PRQ: At least junior standing.
432. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA (3).
An examination of public administration in selected Southeast Asian countries; includes an analysis of the various factors which condition the operation of these administrative systems, a study of the major ingredients in each, and an appraisal of how well they function in terms of development programs as well as traditional activities. PRQ: At least junior standing.
439. INTERNSHIP IN ADMINISTRATION (3).
Admission upon written departmental approval. Two days a week or equivalent in a government agency. The only grades awarded are S, U, or I. Recommended: POLS 331.
499H. SENIOR HONORS THESIS (1-3).
Preparation of an honors thesis under the guidance of a faculty member. May be repeated to a maximum of 4 semester hours. PRQ: Senior standing, POLS 397H, and consent of department