P = Prerequisite, R = Recommended, C = Concomitant
I = Fall Semester, II = Spring Semester, S = Summer Session(s)

SPEA V170 Introduction to Public Affairs (3 cr.) Broad coverage of public affairs through critical and analytical inquiry into policy making at all levels of government. Particular emphasis on intergovernmental relations as they affect policy in the federal system.

SPEA V261 Computers in Public Affairs (3 cr.) An introduction to computer applications in public affairs. Topics include basic terminology, core concepts, and issues associated with managing operation systems, designing networks, and applying user information technology to public affairs problems. Issues of security and ethics in computing are also considered. Credit given for only one of BUS K201, CSCI A106, CSCI A110, or SPEA V261.

SPEA V263 Public Management (3 cr.) P: SPEA V170. An examination of the management process in public organizations in the United States. Special attention will be given to external influences on public managers, the effects of the intergovernmental environment and, in particular, problems of management in a democratic, limited government system. II

SPEA V264 Urban Structure and Policy (3 cr.) P: SPEA V170. An introduction to urban government and policy issues. Topics include: urban government structure and policy making, the economic foundations and development of cities, demography of cities and suburbs, land-use planning, and other selected urban policy problems.

SPEA V340 Urban Government Administration (3 cr.) P: SPEA V170. Structure of local government in the United States, federalism and intergovernmental relations, policy problems faced by local officials, and the implications of these problems for local government administrators.

SPEA V346 Introduction to Government Accounting and Financial Reporting (3 cr.) An introduction to government accounting, including comparison with accounting for the private sector, intended as background for use of financial administrators. The course deals primarily with municipal accounting. Not open to students with more than 6 credit hours of accounting.

SPEA V348 Management Science (3 cr.) P: SPEA K300, MATH M107, or MATH M118. Introduction to management science models and methods for policy analysis and public management. Methods include decision analysis, linear programming, queuing analysis, and simulation. Computer-based applications are included. Prior familiarization with computers is recommended, though not required. I

SPEA V362 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3 cr.) Students in this course examine the management practices of nonprofit organizations. The course encourages students to take the perspectives of nonprofit managers, volunteers, board members, policy-makers, donors, and clients. Course projects expand understanding of the nonprofit sector and develop students' management skills, analytical tools, and knowledge.

SPEA V365 Urban Development and Planning (3 cr.) P: SPEA V264 and SPEA K300. This course identifies the major problems associated with urban development in the United States, and investigates the potential of public planning strategies and tools to deal with these problems. An emphasis is placed on the application of analytical approaches to problem definition and solution.

SPEA V366 Managing Behavior in Public Organizations (3 cr.) This course provides an introduction to the management of people in public organizations. Focus is on behavioral science in management and related analytical and experiential applications.

SPEA V368 Managing Government Operations (3 cr.) P: SPEA V348. Application of analytical techniques to operating decisions in public management sector. Cases are used extensively to illustrate the application of techniques (such as charting, capacity and demand analysis, forecasting, performance measurement, decision analysis, queuing/simulation, Markov modeling, and cost-effective analysis) to design, scheduling, inventory assignment, transportation, and replacement decisions.

SPEA V370 Research Methods and Statistical Modeling (3 cr.) P: SPEA K300 or equivalent. This course will introduce the student to the basic methods, issues, analytical techniques, and ethical considerations of evaluation research.

SPEA V371 Financing Public Affairs (3 cr.) P: SPEA V170, ECON E103, ECON E104. A survey of economic and political theories of market failures, public expenditure evaluation, economic stabilization, systems of redistribution, and fiscal federalism. Examples and applications to contemporary government decisions.

SPEA V372 Government Finance and Budgets (3 cr.) Study of fiscal management in public agencies, including revenue administration, debt management, and public budgeting. I

SPEA V373 Personnel Management in the Public Sector (3 cr.) The organization and operation of public personnel management systems with emphasis on concepts and techniques of job analysis, position classification, training, affirmative action, and motivation.

SPEA V376 Law and Public Policy (3 cr.) The purpose of this course is to provide a basic understanding of the origins, process, and impact of law in the making and implementing of public policy. The course's major objective is to provide students with the substantive concepts necessary to understand the judicial system and law in its various forms.

SPEA V380 Internship in Public and Environmental Affairs (1-6 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Open to interested students upon approval of the faculty. Students are placed with public agencies or governmental units for assignments to a defined task relevant to the educational interests in public affairs. Tasks may involve staff work or research. Full-time participants may earn up to 6 credit hours. May be repeated for credit. S/F graded.

SPEA V390 Readings in Public and Environmental Affairs (0-3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Independent readings and research related to a topic of special interest to the student. Written report required. May be repeated for credit.

SPEA V401 Financial and Cost-Benefit Analysis (3 cr.) This course familiarizes students with the principles of financial analysis, cost-benefit analysis, and Kaldor/Hicks accounting. Topics include netpresent value calculation, net annual worth, public and private decision criteria, and market data adjustment for taxes, rents, and other market distortions.

SPEA V407 Public Law and Government Relations ( 3 cr.) The purpose of the course is to build understanding of government relations work as applied in careers in the field. It covers the historical evolution of the Constitutional right to petition the government with an understanding of the limitations imposed upon the process. The interaction of public and private sectors is included. II

SPEA V421 Metropolitan Development (3 cr.) Discussion of the process of development in metropolitan regions. Includes topics such as economic development, land use evolution, and demographic change. Consideration of relevant policy issues.

SPEA V432 Labor Relations in the Public Sector (3 cr.) An introductory overview of labor relations in the public sector. Course includes the development, practice, and extent of the collective bargaining process and administration of the labor agreement by state and local governments.

SPEA V441 Topics in Financial Management and Policy (3 cr.) P: SPEA V372. Various topics focusing on financial management and policy are examined in a state and local setting. Course may be repeated for different topics.

SPEA V444 Public Administrative Organization (3 cr.) A review of research findings and analysis of the operation of public agencies and their performance.

SPEA V450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs (1-3 cr.) Extensive analysis of selected contemporary issues in public affairs. Topics vary from semester to semester. May be repeated for credit.

SPEA V461 Computer Applications in Public Affairs (3 cr.) P: BUS K201. This course is designed to provide students with the essentials of computer hardware and software needed to operate effectively in a public sector environment. The course will emphasize public sector applications using software packages or microcomputers and minicomputers.

SPEA V472 Policy Processes in the United States (3 cr.) P: Senior standing. Intended as an integrative senior course, primarily for SPEA students. Course content includes analytical perspectives of the policy process, the centers of policy, and the public interest. Selected cases involving problem analysis and decision making on public issues are included, as well as discussion of current policy issues.

SPEA V473 Management Applications Seminar (3 cr.) The purpose of this seminar is to provide students with an opportunity to apply the techniques they have learned to an actual situation. Special attention will be paid to feasible as contrasted to desirable solutions. Emphasis will be given to the contextual factors involved in developing feasible solutions.

SPEA V490 Directed Research in Public and Environmental Affairs (0-3 cr.) To be arranged with the individual instructor and approved by the chairperson of the undergraduate program. May be repeated for credit.

SPEA V499 Honors Thesis (3 cr.) Required of seniors in the honors program. Research and paper to be arranged with individual instructor and approved by the campus SPEA honors program director. May be repeated for credit.

SPEA V500 Quantitative Tools for Public Affairs (1-3 cr.) A modular presentation of mathematical and statistical concepts designed to prepare students for SPEA V506. Representative module topics include basic algebraic concepts, probability, computer use, and matrix algebra.

SPEA V502 Public Management (1-3 cr.) Analysis of concepts, methods, and procedures involved in managing public organizations. Problems of organization, planning, decision making, performance evaluation, and the management of human resources are considered. Cases are drawn from a variety of public services found at federal, state, and local levels of government.

SPEA V504 Public Organization (3 cr.) This course focuses on the behavior and theory of public organizations in four areas: (1) individuals and groups in public organizations, (2) the design of public organizations, (3) organization-environment relations, and (4) inter-organizational relations.

SPEA V506 Statistical Analysis for Public Affairs (3 cr.) Non-calculus survey of concepts in probability, estimation, and hypothesis testing. Applications of contingency table analysis, analysis of variance, regression, and other statistical techniques. Computer processing of data emphasized.

SPEA V509 Administrative Ethics in the Public Sector (3 cr.) Ethical conduct in the public sector is examined. Topics covered could include personal ethical responsibility, deception, corruption, codes of ethics, to illustrate these and other such issues affecting the workplace. Case studies and medial material will be used to illustrate these and other such issues affecting the workplace.

SPEA V512 Public Policy Process (3 cr.) An examination of the role of public affairs professionals in policy processes. Focuses on relationships with political actors in various policy areas.

SPEA V517 Public Management Economics (3 cr.) Application of microeconomics concepts and techniques, including cost, elasticity, pricing, wage determination, and cost-benefit analysis, to public management and public issues and concerns. The course is designed to provide a managerial economics perspective to decision making.

SPEA V518 Intergovernmental Systems Management (1-3 cr.) Discussion of theories and approaches to systems management including responsibilities and tasks of public systems. Examination of intergovernmental relationships and intra-local governmental relationships, treatment of organizational and systems design as well as planning, decision making, and control of public systems. Discussion of applications to services such as environment, health, and human services.

SPEA V520 Environmental Policy Analysis (3 cr.) The interrelationships among social, technical, and natural systems. Theories of growth. Causes and implications of environmental problems. Alternative policies and mechanisms for environmental control and bases for choice.

SPEA V522 Human Resource Management in Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.) Effective human resource management is vital for the long-term success of nonprofit organizations. This course explores the attachments of participants in nonprofit organizations, the motivational and personnel programs required by these attachments, and the managerial strategies for effective human resource management.

SPEA V525 Management in the Nonprofit Sector (3 cr.) An examination of nonprofit (third-sector) organizations and their role in society. Management issues and public policy affecting these organizations are discussed. Primary emphasis is on United States organizations, but attention is given to the global nature of the sector.

SPEA V526 Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.) This course emphasizes a thorough understanding of the language and key concepts of nonprofit financial management. A working knowledge of the basic analytical tools used in financial decision making for nonprofit organizations will be examined through the use of computer software.

SPEA V529 Seminar in Career and Professional Development (1 cr.) Introduction to career development in public and environmental affairs. Orientation to career development approaches and resources. Discussion and practice of professional skills and techniques. Orientation to career development opportunities. Grading is on an S/F basis.

SPEA V540 Law and Public Affairs (1-3 cr.) Explanation of law in society and its influence on public sector operations. Examination of some of the central substantive areas of the study of law, including regulatory processes, administrative adjudication, the Administrative Procedures Act, ombudsmen, and citizens rights, among others.

SPEA V542 Governmental Financial Accounting and Reporting (3 cr.) P or C: SPEA V560. An introduction to the fundamentals of accounting in business, not-for-profit and public sectors. Intended only for students without previous accounting courses. Primary emphasis is on municipal entity fund accounting, including the development and use of financial statements.

SPEA V547 Negotiation and Dispute Resolution (3 cr.) Students will learn the skill of interest-based negotiation through role play and simulation. Students will learn about dispute resolution techniques such as mediation, arbitration, fact finding, early neutral evaluation, ombudsmanship, and facilitation. The course covers dispute resolution in federal government and in the context of public, environmental, labor, and business disputes.

SPEA V550 Topics in Public Affairs (1-3 cr.) Selected research and discussion topics organized on a semester-by-semester basis, usually with significant student input in the course design.

SPEA V554 Human Services Administration (3 cr.) Focus is on policy, management, and organization relating to a variety of human service systems. Special attention is given to the management of social programs in the environmental systems.

SPEA V556 Topics in Human Services Administration (3 cr.) Readings and research on selected topics in the field of the management of human services. Topics selected for study will vary.

SPEA V560 Public Finance and Budgeting (1-3 cr.) The fiscal role of government in a mixed economy, sources of public revenue and credit; administrative, political, and institutional aspects of the budget and the budgetary process; problems and trends in intergovernmental fiscal relations.

SPEA V561 Public Personnel Management (1-3 cr.) Analysis of the structure, operations, and design of public personnel systems, including government agencies and public enterprise. Relationships between public policy and personnel concepts, values, and operations considered.

SPEA V562 Public Program Evaluation (1-3 cr.) Examination of how the programs of public agencies are proposed, established, operated, and evaluated. Discussion of the role and conduct of research in the program evaluation process. In addition, techniques of effective evaluation and analysis are discussed.

SPEA V563 The Planning Process (1-3 cr.) Seminar designed to familiarize students with planning ramifications of policy issues faced by governments. The focal topics selected for study will vary. Emphasis placed on identification and analysis of substantive issues, methods employed for resolution, and application of planning techniques for achieving goals.

SPEA V564 Urban Management (3 cr.) The management of public policy in American urban government, with special attention to the relationship of structure, process, and policy. Readings and case studies will focus on urban management problems relating to leadership, planning, and operations.

SPEA V566 Executive Leadership (3 cr.) Analysis of executive leadership within the context of public organizations in the United States. Examines the role of public managers and the principles and factors that affect their actions in light of current research and practice.

SPEA V569 Managing Interpersonal Relations (3 cr.) P: SPEA V502 and SPEA V504. This course will teach students the theory and application of individual and group human behavior. Key interpersonal skills will be modeled expertly on videotape. Students will be expected to practice these key skills and receive feedback on their performance.

SPEA V570 Public Sector Labor Relations (1-3 cr.) An introductory overview of labor relations concepts within the framework of the public sector. The development, practice, and extent of the collective bargaining process as well as the administration of the labor agreement will be examined for state agencies, local municipalities, and school districts.

SPEA V572 Urban Topics (3 cr.) Selected topics in urban policy and administration. The course is sometimes restricted to a special group of students focusing on a particular research interest.

SPEA V580 Readings in Public Affairs (1-3 cr.) P: Written consent of instructor. Readings on selected topics in public affairs.

SPEA V585 Practicum in Public Affairs (1-6 cr.) Students hold work assignments with public agencies. Grading is on an S/F basis.

SPEA V590 Research in Public Affairs (1-3 cr.) P: Written consent of instructor. Research on selected topics in public affairs.

SPEA V595 Managerial Decision Making (1-3 cr.) P: SPEA V504 and SPEA V539. Applications of decision-making tools to substantive public management problems. A variety of managerial cases and issues are selected for intensive discussion and analysis.

SPEA V600 Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs (1-6 cr.) Projects in public affairs. The students work on a research and resource team to complete a project for a public-sector client. Faculty act as project managers and resource personnel.

SPEA V601 Workshop in Public Affairs (1-6 cr.) Projects in public affairs. The students work on a research and resource team to complete a project for a public sector client. Faculty act as project managers and resource personnel.

SPEA V631 Health Planning (3 cr.) A workshop in analysis and use of health data in a planning context. Course deals with the planning process and planning methods with an emphasis on systems theory. Class project or plan is developed, presented, and defended in a simulated public hearing format.

SPEA V665 Seminar in Policy and Administration (3 cr.) Politics of program development and management. Translation of plans into viable, administrable programs. Marshaling support, political processes, strategies, constraints, tradeoffs, etc.

SPEA V680 Research Design and Methods in Public Affairs (3 cr.) Three major areas will be covered: philosophy of science, theory and design of research, and applied research methodologies. Topics play a major role in providing insights into how usable knowledge is created, defended, and replaced.

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