Course Descriptions

Master of Public Administration (Online)

PSC501: Seminar in Public Administration and Policy

(3 crs.) Overview of the theoretical and historical evolution of public policy and administration; theories and problems of organization and administrative reform; implementation and policy analysis; and theories of bureaucratic control. (Lec. 3) Pre: Graduate standing or permission of instructor.

PSC 502: Diversity and Inclusion in Public Administration and Policy

(3 crs.) This course examines issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion as these concepts relate to public management and public policymaking.

PSC503: Problems In Public Personnel Administration

(3 crs.) Cross-listed as (PSC), LHR 503. Development of personnel administration, including problems of recruitment, examination, promotion, and staffing within public service. Emphasis on evaluation of employee performance and collective bargaining in public service. (Lec. 3) Pre: graduate standing or permission of instructor.

PSC504: Ethics in Public Administration and Policy

(3 crs.) This course explores through case studies, class discussion, and readings how ethical deliberation is an essential commitment and skill for public administrators and practitioners of public policy and its analysis. (Seminar) Pre: graduate standing or permission of instructor.

PSC505: Public Program Evaluation

(3 crs.) Cross-listed as (PSC), SOC 505. Research design and methodologies associated with the evaluation of governmental programs and activities. (Lec. 3) Pre: STA 308 or equivalent or permission of instructor.

PSC506: Seminar In Budgetary Politics

(3 crs.) Examination of federal, state, and local fiscal and budgetary processes, focusing on the politics of the budgetary process and models of budgeting, with emphasis on contemporary issues. (Seminar)

PSC507: Public Finance

(3 crs.) Political, administrative, and technical elements of government financial management in public policy settings are examined. Special emphasis is placed on local and state governments and public authorities. (Lec. 3) Pre: graduate standing or permission of instructor.

PSC 508: Policy and Grant Writing

(3 crs.) This course is designed to develop the policy and grant writing skills of graduate students seeking careers in public management and public policymaking.

PSC 510: Critical Topics in Public Policy

(3 crs.) Graduate seminar on special topics in public policy not regularly covered in other courses.

PSC524: Seminar in Public Policy Problems

(3 crs.) An in-depth exploration of the policy process and public policy problems through the different traditions and approaches of public policy analysis. (Seminar) Pre: graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

PSC573: Administrative Law

(3 crs.) Legal aspects of interaction among government agencies, individuals, and public interest groups. Systematic analysis of leading cases, evaluating the courts as an instrument for protecting the individual’s rights in administrative action. (Lec. 3) Pre: PSC 113.

PSC583: Public Policy Analysis

(3 crs.) The historical evolution and study of policy analysis as a subfield of public policy; the different traditions, analytical methods, and concepts that relate to the subfield of policy analysis. (Seminar) Pre: graduate standing or permission of instructor.

PSC590: Internship in Public Administration and Policy

(3-6 crs.) Participation at a public service, non-profit, or policy organization. Planning, policy analysis and formation, personnel management, budgeting and finance, and public service responsibilities that are the hallmark of effective governance. (Practicum) Pre: permission of M.P.A. director. May be taken as one 6-credit unit or two 3-credit units.

PSC 592: Capstone in Public Administration and Policy

(3 crs.) Capstone course for MPA program, where graduate students engage in a research-intensive project under the direction of the course instructor.

curriculum

Get in touch.

URI Online Student Support Center

401.874.5280

Program Director

Aaron Ley
ajley@uri.edu