IUPUI 2014-2016 » Schools » SPEA » Courses » Undergraduate

SPEA

Courses

Undergraduate

The abbreviation P refers to course prerequisites and R to recommended prerequisite courses. Prerequisites can be waived by the instructor of the course. The number of hours of credit is indicated in parentheses following the course title. Courses are listed in two groups: criminal justice/public safety and public affairs. Please contact SPEA Student Services at (317) 274-4656 (or 877.292.9321), if you have any questions.

Criminal Justice Courses
  • SPEA-J 101 The American Criminal Justice System (3 cr.) Introduction to the criminal justice system of the United States and its function in contemporary society.
  • SPEA-J 150 Public Safety in America (3 cr.) The protection of persons and property involves a number of public and private organizations. This course examines the roles that agencies working within the fire services, emergency management, criminal justice, and the private security sector play in securing public safety in the United States.
  • SPEA-J 201 Theoretical Foundations of Criminal Justice Policies (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 This course examines the impact of sociological, biological, and economic theories of crime and the practice of criminal justice. Focus is on the nature and importance of theory, context of theoretical developments, methods for the critical analysis of theoretical developments, and policy implications of the varying perspectives considered.
  • SPEA-J 202 Criminal Justice Data, Methods, and Resources (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 Course examines basic concepts of criminal justice. Students become familiar with research techniques necessary for systematic analysis of the criminal justice system, offender behavior, crime trends, and program effectiveness. Students will learn to critically evaluate existing research. Students will become familiar with existing sources of criminal justice data and will learn to assess the quality of that data.
  • SPEA-J 215 Concepts of Forensic Science (3 cr.) Forensic science and the criminal justice system. Evidence collection and analysis. Forensic chemistry including drugs and trace evidence; biology including blood spatter and DNA; pathology; entomology; anthropology; and forensic science and the law.  Please note that students taking this course cannot also receive credit for J322.
  • SPEA-J 222 Murder in America: Causes and Consequences (3 cr.) An investigation of homicide in the United States. Focus on the level and nature of homicides as well as domestic homicides; serial and mass murder; race, ethnicity, and gender; drugs and alcohol; school and workplace homicides; investigation; profiling and the death penalty; and homicide prevention and intervention programs.
  • SPEA-J 260 Topics in Criminal Justice (1-3 cr.) Study of selected issues in criminal justice. Topics vary from semester to semester. This course may be repeated for credit.
  • SPEA-J 272 Terrorism and Public Policy (3 cr.)

    This course surveys terrorism in democratic societies, with an emphasis on public policy responses designed to combat terrorism. Overviews of terrorist organizations in various countries are interspersed with analyses of significant terrorist events and public policies, and legal and public safety responses the events create.

  • SPEA-J 275 Diversity Issues in Criminal Justice (3 cr.) This course will examine the influence of diversity issues such as race, ethnicity, class, and gender on crime and the treatment of underrepresented groups thoughout the American criminal justice system.
  • SPEA-J 301 Substantive Criminal Law (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 Recommended: SPEA-J 201, SPEA-J 202 The development, limitations, and application of substantive criminal law utilizing the case-study method.
  • SPEA-J 302 Procedural Criminal Law (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 Criminal law application and procedure from the initiation of police activity through the correctional process, utilizing the case-study method.
  • SPEA-J 303 Evidence (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 The rules of law governing proof at trial of disputed issues of fact; burden of proof; presumptions and judicial notice; examination, impeachment, competency, and privileges of witnesses; hearsay rule and exceptions—all related as nearly as possible to criminal, as opposed to civil, process.
  • SPEA-J 304 Correctional Law (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 Legal problems from conviction to release: pre-sentence investigations, sentencing, probation and parole, incarceration, loss and restoration of civil rights.
  • SPEA-J 305 Juvenile Justice (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 This course is designed to provide an overview of the justice system’s response to abused, neglected, and dependent children; juvenile misconduct; and delinquent behavior. An extensive review of the development of recent legal changes to the court, options for prevention, treatment of juvenile offenders, and possible system reforms.
  • SPEA-J 306 The Criminal Courts (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 Recommended: SPEA-J 201, SPEA-J 202 An analysis of the criminal justice process from prosecution through appeal. The organization and operation of felony and misdemeanor courts are examined. Topics include prosecutorial decision-making, plea bargaining, judicial selection, and the conduct of trials, sentencing, and appeal.
  • SPEA-J 310 Introduction to Administrative Processes (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 Introduction to principles of management and systems theory for the administration of criminal justice agencies. Credit not given for both J310 and V270.
  • SPEA-J 312 White Collar Crime (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101

    White collar crime is an examination of the definitions, theories, laws, and policy responses that shape crimes by corporations, government agencies, professionals, and others engaged in legitimate occupations.

  • SPEA-J 320 Criminal Investigation (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 Theory of investigation, crime scene procedures, interviews, interrogations, surveillances, and sources of information; collection and preservation of physical evidence; investigative techniques in specific crimes.
  • SPEA-J 321 American Policing (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 Recommended: SPEA-J 201, J 202 This course will examine the history, evolution, and organization of policing in the United States. Emphasis is placed on such major contemp-orary issues as the police role, discretion, use of force, corruption, accountability, and community policing.
  • SPEA-J 322 Introduction to Criminalistics (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 Recommended: SPEA-J 301 The broad range of physical evidence developed through the investigative process, and methods of identifying and establishing validity and relevance through forensic laboratory techniques.
  • SPEA-J 324 Technology, Crime, and Public Safety (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101

    Focuses on role of technological systems in criminal justice, system types available, evolving applications, usages by public safety organizations, technology use by criminals and terrorists, the management and organizational effects of technologies, training, cost issues, anticipated impacts of technologies, and the political and legal implications for citizens and the public.

  • SPEA-J 331 Corrections (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 Recommended: SPEA-J 201, J 202 This course examines the historical development of the American correctional system and the study of administration of local, state, and federal corrections programs, including jails, probation, community corrections, and prisons. Includes the study of punishment rationales, current correctional policies, and possibilities for reform.
  • SPEA-J 355 Global Criminal Justice Perspectives (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 An international review of select criminal justice perspectives and systems within the primary legal traditions of common, civil, Islamic, and socialist systems, as well as those that do not fit into established categories, such as Native American and African tribal justice.
  • SPEA-J 369 Private Justice: Police, Courts, and Corrections (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 This course examines the role of private policing and security, courts and adjudication, and corrections. Includes legislative and ethical issues and the economics of criminal and juvenile justice privatization. Principles of loss prevention, protection of assets, relationship between public and private services, current issues in privatization.
  • SPEA-J 370 Seminar in Criminal Justice (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 Selected contemporary topics in criminal justice. This course may be repeated for credit.
  • SPEA-J 376 Principles of Public Safety (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 Examination of threats to public safety and of governmental response at various levels to those threats. Treatment of such areas as transportation and highway threats, occupational safety and health, criminal threats, emergency and disaster planning, consumer protection, and fire control and suppression. Discussion of techniques to identify and measure risk, the acceptability of risk, and governmental attempts to control risk.
  • SPEA-J 380 Internship in Criminal Justice (0-6 cr.) P: Permission of instructor Open to interested students who qualify upon approval of the faculty. Students may be placed with various criminal justice agencies for assignment to a defined task relevant to their educational interests. Tasks may involve staff work or research. Full-time participants may earn up to 6 credit hours. Course is graded S/F (Satisfactory/Fail). This course may be repeated for credit.
  • SPEA-J 381 Internship in Criminal Justice (1-6 cr.) P: Permission of instructor Students will be required to fulfill a minimum of 120 hours of relevant professional work experience.
  • SPEA-J 382 Foundations of Emergency Management (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 and J 150

    A history of emergency management and the four phases-mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. An examination of the concepts of hazard, risk and vulnerability and the history, current issues, alternative career paths, roles of local, state, and federal governments in emergency management, and the future outlook of emergency management.

  • SPEA-J 387 Foundations of Homeland Security (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 and J 150

    Examination of the theory and research driving homeland security and emergency management measures and an analytical look at the practices and principles of homeland security from an empirical perspective.

  • SPEA-J 426 Mapping & Analysis-Public Safety (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 or SPEA-J 150

    The use of the geographic information systems to map locations of events and analyze patterns for decision making in areas of public safety including criminal justice, fire services, emergency management, and homeland security.

  • SPEA-J 429 Public Safety Management and Leadership (3 cr.)

    This capstone course is designed to examine the major public management principles, policy concerns, and leadership theories learned in an undergraduate management curriculum as they relate to how public safety is achieved in the field and in the policy making arena.

  • SPEA-J 433 Institutional Corrections (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 The history and development of the jail, penitentiary, prison, and reformatory. Analysis and evaluation of contemporary imprisonment.
  • SPEA-J 439 Crime and Public Policy (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 201, J 202 and K 300 A detailed examination of the major efforts designed to control or reduce crime. A review of existing knowledge is followed by an investigation of current crime-control theories, proposals, and programs.
  • SPEA-J 440 Corrections in the Community (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 A detailed analysis of correctional alternatives to incarceration that focus on the reintegration of the offender while remaining in the community. Because of their extensive use, considerable attention is given to probation and parole. Other topics include diversion, community residential programs, restitution, halfway houses, and home detention.
  • SPEA-J 445 Trends in Corrections (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 Analysis and evaluation of contemporary correctional systems. Discussion of recent research concerning the correctional institution and the various field services.
  • SPEA-J 460 Police in the Community (3 cr.) P: SPEA-J 101 In-depth examination of crime as an urban policy problem, focusing on the role of police and victims in defining crime as a policy problem and their role in seeking to reduce the incidence of crime.
  • SPEA-J 470 Seminar in Criminal Justice (1-3 cr.) P: Senior Standing Emphasizes current developments in legal, administrative, and operational aspects of the criminal justice system.
  • SPEA-J 480 Research in Criminal Justice (1-6 cr.) P: Junior standing and consent of instructor Individual research under guidance of faculty member. This course may be repeated for credit.
Environmental Affairs Courses
  • SPEA-E 100 Environmental Topics (1-3 cr.) Study of selected issues in environmental affairs. Topics vary from semester to semester. This course is repeatable.
  • SPEA-E 162 Environment and People (3 cr.) An interdisciplinary examination of the problems of population, pollution, and natural resources and their implications for society. Credit not given for both SPEA-E 162 and E 262.
  • SPEA-E 272 Introduction to Environmental Sciences (3 cr.) P: statistics Application of principles from life and physical sciences to the understanding and management of the environment. Emphasis will be placed on (1) the physical and biological restraints on resource availability and use, and (2) the technological and scientific options to solving environmental problems.
  • SPEA-E 400 Topics in Environmental Studies (1-3 cr.) An interdisciplinary consideration of specific environmental topics. This course is repeatable.
  • SPEA-E 412 Risk Communication (3 cr.) Risk communication is the means by which technical information is communicated to others (the public included), especially in the context of making decisions about environmentally related policy (such as siting of a landfill). The course emphasizes both theory (in lectures) and practical experience through developing and acting in role-play scenarios.
  • SPEA-E 431 Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment (3 cr.) P: SPEA-E 272, CHEM-C 101 or equivalent, and MATH-M 119 or equivalent Health and ecological premises for water and wastewater treatment; principles of water supply; treatment, distribution, and construction; basis for water standards and laboratory examinations; wastewater disposal methods and construction for private installations, institutions, municipalities, and industries; water quality control with respect to wastewater pollution.
  • SPEA-E 451 Air Pollution and Control (3 cr.) P: SPEA-E 272, CHEM-C 101 or equivalent, and MATH-M 118 or equivalent A survey course covering the chemistry, transport, and fate of air pollutants related to current issues of air quality, such as photochemical smog, ozone depletion, particulate matter, and indoor air quality. Topics include the types, sources, health and environmental effects, measurement, evaluation, control, regulation, and modeling of air pollution concentrations.
  • SPEA-E 452 Solid and Hazardous Waste Management (3 cr.) P: SPEA-E 272 Types and sources of solid waste; collection methods; disposal techniques: sanitary landfill, incineration, composting, reclaiming, or recycling; advantages and disadvantages of each; special and hazardous waste handling; operation and management of solid and hazardous waste programs.
  • SPEA-E 476 Environmental Law and Regulation (3 cr.) Introductory course in environmental law and regulation. Subjects covered include command and control regulation, air quality, water quality, toxics, waste management, energy, natural resources, international environmental law, and alternative dispute resolution.
  • SPEA-E 490 Directed Field Research in Environmental Science (1-4 cr.) Individualized laboratory or field-based research in any field of environmental science, under the direction of an advising professor. Students are expected to write a report on their research at the end of each semester. May be used to fulfill laboratory course requirement with the permission of the appropriate science department.
  • SPEA-E 491 Honors Research in Environmental Science (1-4 cr.) Individualized laboratory or field-based honors research in any field of environmental science, under direction of an advising professor. Students are expected to write a report on their research at the end of each semester. May be used to fulfill laboratory course requirement with permission of the appropriate science department.
Public Affairs Courses
  • SPEA-K 300 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.) P: MATH 110/111 or equivalent Recommended: MATH-M 118 Nature of statistical data. Ordering and manipulation of data. Measures of central tendency and dispersion. Elementary probability. Concepts of statistical inference decision: estimation and hypothesis testing. Special topics discussed may include regression and correlation, analysis of variance, nonparametric methods. Credit not given for both K300 and either ECON-E 270, PSY-B 305, SOC-R 359, STAT 30100.
  • SPEA-K 301 Statistics Laboratory (1 cr.) C: SPEA-K 300 This course is an optional 1 credit hour module to accompany K300 and must be taken concurrently with K300. The course focuses on application of techniques being taught in K300. The course will allow students to obtain tutoring with specific problems. K301 sessions will be linked with K300 lectures.
  • SPEA-V 100 Current Topics in Public Affairs (1-3 cr.) Readings and discussion of current public issues and problems. This course may be repeated for credit.
  • SPEA-V 170 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. Credit not given for both V160 and V170.
  • SPEA-V 221 Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3 cr.) This course provides a broad overview of the United States nonprofit sector. Topics include the sector’s size and scope and its religious, historical, and theoretical underpinnings. It also examines perspectives on why people organize, donate to, and volunteer for nonprofit organizations and looks at current challenges that the sector faces.
  • SPEA-V 222 Principles of Sustainability (3 cr.) Meeting the needs of the present without jeopardizing the future involves an interrelationship between environmental, social, and economic systems. This course introduces and investigates the interrelationships between these approaches to synthesize a basic understanding that can lead to sustainable policies in the public, nonprofit and for-profit sectors.
  • SPEA-V 241 Management Foundations and Approaches (3 cr.) This course examines core functions of management and the political socioeconomic context within which organizations operate in different sectors of employment. It is organized into five main parts: what management entails, approaches to the study of management, contextual factors, core issues, and management functions. Course concludes with a capstone exercise.
  • SPEA-V 246 Elements of Governmental and Nonprofit Financial Accounting Cycle (3 cr.) This is a course designed to prepare students for next-level courses in governmental accounting and reporting, nonprofit accounting and reporting, and health accounting and finance.
  • SPEA-V 252 Career Development (3 cr.) Career planning and placement strategies, assessment of labor market information, market surveys, and development of customized portfolios. Emphasis given to projects, papers, and independent research.
  • SPEA-V 260 Topics in Public Affairs (1-3 cr.) Study of selected issues in public affairs. Topics vary from semester to semester. This course may be repeated for credit.
  • SPEA-V 261 Computers in Public Affairs (3 cr.) An introduction to information technology and computing applications in public affairs. Topics include basic IT concepts, project proposals, network and infrastructure design, security and ethics, data and document management, cloud computing, and IT futures. Direct application of the above with office suites, website development, spreadsheets and statistics, and databases. Recommend basic understanding of computer operations.
  • SPEA-V 263 Public Management (3 cr.) This course is 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 effect of the intergovernmental environment and, in particular, problems of management in a democratic, limited government system.
  • SPEA-V 264 Urban Structure and Policy (3 cr.) 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. Credit not given for both SPEA V161 and SPEA V264.
  • SPEA-V 270 Survey of Administrative Techniques (3 cr.) Introduction to principles of management and systems theory for the administration of public agencies. Credit not given for both V270 and J310.
  • SPEA-V 272 Terrorism and Public Policy (3 cr.) A survey of the incidence of terrorism in democratic societies, with particular emphasis on public policy responses designed to combat terrorism in cities. Overviews of ongoing conflicts with terrorist organizations in various countries are interspersed with analyses of significant terrorist events and the public policies and responses such events create.
  • SPEA-V 310 Environmental Justice (3 cr.) The study of disparate impact of environmental policies and practices on various population groups, both within the United States and internationally. This course includes studying the role of power, class, race and politics in the development and enforcement of environmental regulations.
  • SPEA-V 311 Natural Resources and Environmental Policy (3 cr.) This course develops the role of the public sector to develop environmental policy at the national, subnational, and international level. The political, environmental, and economic aspects of pollution and pollution control will be assessed.
  • SPEA-V 322 Sustainable Management (3 cr.) This course examines the role of management in public and nonprofit organizations. Special attention is given to the application of the principles of sustainability to management, methods for public and interest group participation, communication and conflict resolution, and evidence-based management designed to track organizational progress.
  • SPEA-V 323 Sustainable Policy (3 cr.) This course investigates the difficulties of incorporating long-term environmental, social, and economic concerns into policy proposals. The principles of sustainability are applied to policy considerations and existing policies are analyzed for their long-term impact.
  • SPEA-V 340 Urban Government Administration (3 cr.) 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-V 346 Introduction to Government Accounting and Financial Reporting (3 cr.) P: BUS-A 200 or A 201 or consent of instructor An introduction to government accounting, including comparison with accounting for the private sector, intended as background for the use of financial administrators. The course deals primarily with municipal accounting. Not open to students with more than 7 credit hours of accounting.
  • SPEA-V 348 Management Science (3 cr.) P: SPEA-K 300, MATH M025 or MATH-M 118 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 familiarity with computers is recommended, though not required.
  • SPEA-V 350 Introduction to Development Administration (3 cr.) Introduction to the administration of development activities in poor countries. Examines key problems, including the complexity of development, the interplay of external donors and domestic administration, and the difficulties of organizing and managing development efforts. Combines cases and textual readings, allowing the student to analyze actual programs, policies, and projects.
  • SPEA-V 352 Personal Career Planning (1 cr.) Investigation of careers, the world of work, and the career planning process. The focal point is on students and their goals. Provides assistance in developing practical, meaningful, and realistic insights into the nature of making a public career choice in today’s world. Credit not awarded for both V352 and BUS X420.
  • SPEA-V 356 Introduction to Nonprofit Accounting and Reporting (3 cr.) P: P: BUS-A 200 or A 201 or consent of instructor This course covers concepts and processes of nonprofit accounting and financial reporting with exploration of differences between for-profit, governmental, and nonprofit systems. Examples will be drawn from health organizations, welfare agencies, charities, and educational institutions.
  • SPEA-V 361 Financial Management (3 cr.) P: BUS-A 200 or BUS-A 201 This course introduces students to accounting, financial management techniques, and financial reporting. Topics include accounting, debit/credit sheets and balance sheets, financial indicators, fund balances, fringe benefits and pensions, and payroll management.
  • SPEA-V 362 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-V 365 Urban Development and Planning (3 cr.) P: SPEA-V 264 and K 300 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-V 366 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-V 368 Managing Government Operations (3 cr.) P: SPEA-V 348 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-V 369 Managing Information Technology (3 cr.) Analysis and application of information technology to problem solving.
  • SPEA-V 370 Research Methods and Statistical Modeling (3 cr.) P: SPEA-K 300 or equivalent This course will introduce the student to the basic methods, issues, analytical techniques, and ethical considerations of evaluation research.
  • SPEA-V 371 Financing Public Affairs (3 cr.) P: SPEA-V 170, ECON-E 201, and E 202 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-V 372 Government Finance and Budgets (3 cr.) P: SPEA-V 170, ECON-E 201 or E 202 Study of fiscal management in public agencies, including revenue administration, debt management, and public budgeting.
  • SPEA-V 373 Human Resources 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-V 375 Emergency Services Administration (3 cr.) An overview of management principles and functional components of EMS systems.
  • SPEA-V 376 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-V 377 Legal Process and Contemporary Issues in America (3 cr.) P: SPEA-V 376 An introduction to the American legal system, including the Constitution, courts system, and administrative law in federal and state agencies. Readings and discussion center around current issues affected by the legal process.
  • SPEA-V 378 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-V 379 Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation (3 cr.) This course provides an overview of program evaluation as it relates to public affairs, criminal justice, health policy, and environmental science, with particular emphasis on measuring program outcomes. The course is designed for students who envision themselves working in management, policy making, or research roles.
  • SPEA-V 380 Internship in Public and Environmental Affairs (0-6 cr.) P: Consent of instructor Open to interested students upon approval of the faculty. Students are placed with public agencies or governmental units for assignment to a defined task relevant to their educational interests in public affairs. Tasks may involve staff work or research. Full-time participants may earn up to 6 credit hours. Course is graded S/F. This course may be repeated for credit.
  • SPEA-V 381 Professional Experience (1-6 cr.) Students will be required to fulfill a minimum of 120 hours of relevant professional work.
  • SPEA-V 382 Political Action and Civic Engagement (3 cr.) Examines citizen efforts to effect social change, with an emphasis upon political movements and parties as mechanisms for achieving that change.
  • SPEA-V 386 Case Studies for Policy Analysis (3 cr.) This course focuses on analyzing case studies of public policies using a variety of disciplinary perspectives, including application of the principles and concepts of intermediate microeconomic theory.
  • SPEA-V 390 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. This course may be repeated for credit.
  • SPEA-V 391 Honors Readings in Public and Environmental Affairs (1-3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor and honors advisor Restricted to students in SPEA Honors Program. This course may be repeated for credit.
  • SPEA-V 401 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 net present value calculation, net annual worth, public and private decision criteria, and market data adjustment for taxes, rents, and other market distortions.
  • SPEA-V 405 Public Law and the Legislative Process (3 cr.) This course focuses on Congress as a policy-making body in the United States public law system. It covers the constitutional framework for congressional operations as well as technical aspects of the legislative process such as bill drafting and analysis, the role of leadership, and the prerogatives of individual members.
  • SPEA-V 406 Public Law and the Electoral Process (3 cr.) The purpose of this course is to facilitate understanding of the interaction of electoral politics and policy. It covers the legal framework of the evolution of the “right” to vote, the impact of the judiciary on the structure of elections, limitations on campaign practices, and the importance of legislative districting and its control.
  • SPEA-V 408 Individual Rights, Common Goods and Public Policies (3 cr.) Considers the tension between individual and majoritarian rights in our constitutional system, and the effects of that tension on the formulation of public policy.
  • SPEA-V 412 Leadership and Ethics (3 cr.) This course is designed to examine the complex leadership issues and challenges facing communities and explore how citizens and government can work together to address these challenges. This includes exploration of how the problems, conflicts, and dilemmas encountered by leaders when making decisions must be considered within an ethical framework.
  • SPEA-V 419 Sustainable Community Development (3 cr.) This course examines the challenges of achieving sustainable community development and explores how community planning, zoning, regulation, legislation, economic policy, transportation strategy, energy policy, and stakeholder engagement can work together to minimize long-term costs and maximize long-term benefits to a community's ecosystem, economy, culture, and public health.
  • SPEA-V 421 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-V 422 Transportation Policy Analysis (3 cr.) This course examines current issues in transportation to identify the key analytic and management issues that must be considered in developing effective public policy. Particular emphasis will be placed on examining the rationale for and actual impact of existing government policies, and on analyzing the likely impacts of policy alternatives.
  • SPEA-V 423 Sustainable Urban Environments (3 cr.) An introduction to the policy issues facing urban government in creating sustainable policies. The course investigates the social, fiscal, economic, physical, and political aspects of sustainable policies applied to the urban setting.
  • SPEA-V 432 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-V 435 Negotiation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (1-4 cr.) This course introduces students to the theories and techniques of alternative dispute resolution. The course covers interest-based negotiation, mediation, arbitration, fact finding, early neutral evaluation, and other techniques used in business, labor relations, environmental disputes, family relations, and international affairs.
  • SPEA-V 436 Communication for Government and Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.) This course will develop an appreciation regarding the critical nature of communication by managers in the public and nonprofit sector. It will introduce students to the skills critical to effective communication as professionals.
  • SPEA-V 438 Mass Media and Public Affairs (3 cr.) Course will analyze the role of the media in the formation of public policy, including the responsibility of journalists, legal and ethical constraints, business pressures and their effects, impact of technology, and similar issues.
  • SPEA-V 441 Topics in Financial Management and Policy (3 cr.) P: SPEA-V 372 Various topics focusing on financial management and policy are examined in state and local settings. This course may be repeated for credit.
  • SPEA-V 442 Topics in Budgeting or Cost/Benefit (3 cr.) P: SPEA-V 372 Various topics in budgeting or cost/benefit analysis are examined. This course may be repeated for credit.
  • SPEA-V 443 Managing Workforce Diversity (3 cr.) The composition and nature of the work force is changing. Managers must decide how to accommodate real differences among the members of their organizations. This course seeks to provide information for practitioners who hope to integrate an understanding of workforce diversity into their management style and professional behavior.
  • SPEA-V 444 Public Administrative Organization (3 cr.) A review of research findings and analysis of the operation of public agencies and their performance.
  • SPEA-V 447 Federal Budget Policy (3 cr.) Examination of the institutions and processes involved in putting together the annual federal budget, with emphasis on the role of the Appropriations and Budget Committees in Congress and on the White House and the Office of Management and Budget in the executive branch. Selected major policy areas will be considered.
  • SPEA-V 449 Policy Senior Seminar (3 cr.) P: V348. Discussion of the role of policy analysts in government. Applications of analytical tools to substantive policy areas such as transportation, community development, education, poverty, manpower, and health.
  • SPEA-V 450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs (1-3 cr.) Extensive analysis of selected contemporary issues in public affairs. Topics vary from semester to semester. This course may be repeated for credit.
  • SPEA-V 451 Social Policy and the Aging (3 cr.) A focused examination of government and the elderly. Public policy and administration of income, health, housing, employment, and social service programs, as well as analysis of the context of aging policy.
  • SPEA-V 456 Topics in Public Law (3 cr.) Extensive analysis of selected contemporary issues in public law. Topics vary from semester to semester. This course may be repeated for credit.
  • SPEA-V 457 Management Science in the Public Sector (3 cr.) P: V348, CSCI C211, and K300. An intermediate treatment of management science methods with primary application to public managerial decision support. Topics include network analysis, queuing, simulation, and others. Computer-based analysis is emphasized.
  • SPEA-V 458 Fund Development for Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.) Course builds an understanding of the practice, philosophy, law, and theory of fundraising. Students establish an organization’s value base and mission, prepare funding appeals, evaluate readiness for a campaign, assess funding sources, implement fundraising vehicles, evaluate effectiveness, and discuss stewardship of contributions.
  • SPEA-V 460 Intergovernmental Relations (3 cr.) Overview of the dynamics of multiorganizational governance in the United States. Examination of federal and other systems. Structure and operations of intergovernmental programs and the role of managers within these systems.
  • SPEA-V 461 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-V 462 Community Development (3 cr.) The process and outcomes of local citizen-based efforts to improve social, economic, and cultural conditions. Interaction of public and nonprofit sectors in community revitalization. Experiences, cases, and problems involving both rural and urban settings.
  • SPEA-V 463 Interpersonal Relations in the Workplace (1-4 cr.) Key interpersonal skills will be modeled through a variety of media and experiences. Students will practice these skills and receive feedback. Students will be expected to participate in structured experiences designed to give them insight into their behavior and how it will affect their ability to achieve personal and professional objectives.
  • SPEA-V 465 Geographic Information Systems for Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.) P: V261 and V369. Students will learn the concepts, methodologies, and perspectives essential for using geographic information systems (GIS) to address critical public affairs issues. Through course projects, students will learn how to use desktop and Internet-based GIS applications and will develop complementary skills related to designing and implementing GIS applications for public-sector organizations.
  • SPEA-V 470 Community Development Workshop (3 cr.) This course will be conducted as an undergraduate research workshop. The focus will be on community development problems, such as long-range planning, the delivery of government services, or local economic development. The research topic of the course will change each year and will be announced the preceding semester.
  • SPEA-V 471 Urban Management Systems (3 cr.) P: V348 and senior standing. This course is designed to extend the student’s skill in applying a variety of qualitative and quantitative methods to the problems of urban government planning and management.
  • SPEA-V 473 Management, Leadership, and Policy (3 cr.) P: SPEA-K 300 and V 370 This course seeks to integrate learning across the public affairs curriculum. Students will review and reflect about their learning in management, leadership, and policy. Experiential methods—service learning, projects, cases, and exercises—will be used to help students apply theory, concepts, and skills.
  • SPEA-V 475 Database Management Systems (3 cr.) P: SPEA-V 261, V 369 or equivalent Students learn contemporary theories and methodologies regarding design, use, and management of database systems among public-sector organizations. The course provides hands-on experience with tools such as entity-relationship diagrams, query languages, database management software; and an understanding of critical database management issues such as security, backup, and recovery.
  • SPEA-V 490 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. This course may be repeated for credit.
  • SPEA-V 491 Honors Research in Public and Environmental Affairs (1-3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor and honors advisor Restricted to students in the SPEA Honors Program. This course may be repeated for credit.
  • SPEA-V 499 Honors Thesis (3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor and honors advisor Research and paper to be arranged with individual instructor and approved by the campus SPEA Honors Program director. This course may be repeated for credit.