College of Health and Human Services
Schools & Divisions
School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Courses
- SPEA-E 162 Environment and People (3 cr.) Environment and people is an introductory course that examines how humans interact with their environment. This course covers multiple topics, centered-around human-environment dimensions of environmental change. The overarching objective is to develop an understanding of our impact on the planet and possible solutions to environmental degradation.
- SPEA-E 272 Introduction to Environmental Science (3 cr.) Application of principles from the life and physical sciences to the scientific understanding and management of the environment. Emphasis will be placed on (1) the physical and biologic restraints on resource availability and use and (2) the technological and scientific options to solving contemporary environmental problem.
- SPEA-E 400 Topics in Environmental Studies (3 cr.) An interdisciplinary consideration of specific environmental topics.
- SPEA-H 316 Environmental Health Science (3 cr.) A study of human interaction with the environment and potential impacts of environmental agents on health and safety. Hazards from natural sources and human activities that contaminate our air, land, water, food, homes, neighborhoods, and workplaces are examined. Environmental control activities, including pollution control technology and policy, are also examined.
- SPEA-H 320 Health Systems Administration (3 cr.) An overview of the U.S. health care delivery system. It examines the organization, function, and role of the system; current system problems; and alternative systems or solutions.
- SPEA-H 322 Principles of Epidemiology (3 cr.) A basic overview of epidemiologic methodology and techniques. Both communicable and chronic disease risk factors will be discussed, along with data acquisition, analysis techniques, and current published epidemiological studies.
- SPEA-H 352 Healthcare Financial Management 1 (3 cr.) First of a two-course sequence on the financial management of healthcare organizations, introduces financial environment of providers and concepts of financial accounting critical to decision-making. Topics include financial statement analysis (specific emphasis on unique features of healthcare financial statements), accounting and managerial control of cash, accounts receivable, inventory, and budgeting.
- SPEA-H 371 Human Resources Management in Health Care Facilities (3 cr.) This course covers the function of management which is concerned with the acquisition, development, and use of human resources in the field of health care delivery. Labor relations relating to health care delivery are also included.
- SPEA-H 402 Hospital Administration (3 cr.) The study of organization, structure, function, and fiscal operations within hospitals. The role of the hospital in the community, relationship to official and voluntary health agencies, coordination of hospital departments, and managerial involvement will be examined.
- SPEA-H 411 Chronic and Long-Term Care Administration (3 cr.) Administering programs across the continuum of care including nursing homes, hospice, home health, and assisted living; Medicare and Medicaid financing; quality improvement: care management; and needs of special populations, particularly, vulnerable elders.
- SPEA-H 441 Legal Aspects of Health Care Administration (3 cr.) An overview of the liability and legal responsibility, as well as legal recourse that health care facilities may exercise. This course will discuss policies and standards relating to health facility administration. Included in this course is a discussion of financial aspects unique to the hospital/health care facility environment, such as third-party payments and federal assistance.
- SPEA-H 452 Health Disparities (3 cr.) Health Care Disparities is a course focusing on the determinants of personal health and health behavior, which affect an individual's use of and failure to use needed health services.
- SPEA-H 466 Public Health Field Experience (1 cr.) Supervised advanced training in professional and technical functions in public health functions. Individualized programs may be arranged to suit the student's area of concentration.
- SPEA-H 474 Health Administration Ethics Seminar (3 cr.) P: SPEA-H 320, SPEA-H 322, SPEA-H 441, SPEA-H 452 (Health Disparities) and senior standing or permission of instructor. This course examines healthcare ethical decision making challenges from managerial perspective and explores broader policy issues associated with ethical problems in healthcare institutions. It provides an overview of general theories of ethical challenges in everyday managerial activities.
- SPEA-H 514 Health Economics (3 cr.) Examines the principles and application of economic analysis in the health field and the economist's approach to health care issues; provides insights offered by economic analysis of specific health issues and problems.
- SPEA-H 515 Seminar in Health Policy: Special Topics (3 cr.) Exploration of health policy topics from economic, financial, sociological, political and psychological perspectives. Analytical paradigms are applied to organizational or macro-policy making issues that vary in response to changing environments.
- SPEA-H 516 Health Services Delivery and the Law (3 cr.) Medical-legal concepts related to hospitals and other health services organizations. Course provides an in-depth understanding of the relationships of the law and the legal processes affecting the health services system. Presentation of the elements of administrative and agency processes, torts, contracts, facilities, physicians, patients, and personnel.
- SPEA-H 601 Hospital Organization and Management (3 cr.) Study of the organization and management of hospital clinical, support, and administrative functions; examination of performance evaluation techniques for health managers; analysis of special operational problems; administrative ethics; requirements of the Joint Commission Accreditation of Hospitals emphasized.
- SPEA-H 602 Mental Health Services Organization and Management (3 cr.) Study of the organization and systems for delivery of mental health services; emphasis on the management and the financing of psychiatric services.
- SPEA-J 101 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 Safey in America (3 cr.) The protection of persons and property involves a number of public and private organizations. The course examines the roles that agencies working within fire service, 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.) This course examines the impact of sociological, psychological, biological, and economic theories of crime and the practice of criminal justice. Focus is upon 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 Research (3 cr.) 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 splatter and DNA, pathology, entomology, anthropology, and forensic science and the law.
- 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. 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. Overview 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 examines the influence of diversity issues such as race, ethnicity, class, and gender on crime and the treatment of the underrepresented groups throughout the American criminal justice system.
- SPEA-J 301 Substantive Criminal Law (3 cr.) The development, limitations, and application of substantive criminal law using the case-study method.
- SPEA-J 302 Procedural Criminal Law (3 cr.) Criminal law application and procedure from the initiation of police activity through the correctional process using the case-study method.
- SPEA-J 303 Evidence (3 cr.) 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.) Legal problems from conviction to release: presentence investigations, sentencing, probation and parole, incarceration, loss and restoration of civil rights.
- SPEA-J 305 Juvenile Justice (3 cr.) 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.) 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 selections, the conduct of trials, sentencing, and appeal.
- SPEA-J 310 Introduction to Administrative Processes (3 cr.) Introduction to principles of management and systems theory for the administration of criminal justice agencies. Credit not given for both SPEA J310 and V270.
- SPEA-J 320 Criminal Investigation (3 cr.) 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 This course will examine the history, evolution, and organization of policing in the United States. Emphasis is placed on such major contemporary issues as the police role, discretion, use of force, corruption, accountability, and community policing.
- SPEA-J 322 Introduction to Criminalistics (3 cr.) 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 331 Corrections (3 cr.) The course examines the historical development of the American Correctional system; 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.) An international review of select criminal justice perspectives and systems within the primary legal traditions of common, civil, Islamic, and social systems, as well as those that do not fit into established categories, such as Native American and African tribal justice.
- SPEA-J 370 Seminar in Criminal Justice (3 cr.) Selected contemporary topics in criminal justice. May be repeated for credit.
- SPEA-J 376 Principles of Public Safety (3 cr.) Examination of threats to public safety and 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 (3 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. Depending on the number of internship hours, a student may earn up to 6 credit hours. Course is graded S/F (Satisfactory/Fail). May be repeated for credit.
- SPEA-J 433 Institutional Corrections (3 cr.) 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: All criminal justice concentration courses, senior standing, and instructor consent. 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.) 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 Correction (3 cr.) 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.) 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 roles in seeking to reduce the incidence of crime.
- SPEA-J 470 Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice (3 cr.) Emphasizes current developments in legal, administrative, and operational aspects of the criminal justice system.
- SPEA-J 480 Research in Criminal Justice (1-6 cr.) Individual research under guidance of faculty member.
- SPEA-J 501 Criminological Thought and Policy (3 cr.) This course provides an intensive introduction to the theoretical literature on crime and delinquency. Its purpose is to develop students' ability to critically evaluate and compare theories of crime as they apply to public policy and the criminal justice system.
- SPEA-J 502 Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Public Affairs (3 cr.) This course examines research techniques necessary for systematic analysis of the criminal justice system, offenders' behavior, crime trends, and program effectiveness. The course requires that students actively pursue such techniques as conducting interviews, coding data, and designing studies.
- SPEA-J 550 Topics in Criminal Justice and Public Safety (3 cr.) Selected topics in criminal justice and public safety.
- SPEA-J 582 Criminal Justice Systems (3 cr.) Detailed examination of operations of police, courts, and correctional agencies. Study of management problems in systems response to criminal activity. Development of understanding of interrelationships among system components. Examination of major policy issues in criminal justice with emphasis on decision-making techniques.
- SPEA-J 587 Criminal Violation: Problems and Characteristics (3 cr.) Commonalities in criminal behavior. The criminal act: circumstances leading to commission and subsequent perceptions of them. Family, community, and other environments affecting criminal behavior. Behavioral consequences of crime control processes.
- SPEA-J 588 Law and Control in Society (3 cr.) The role of law versus other forms of social control. How social change and social institutions shape the law. Social factors influencing the administration of law.
- SPEA-J 666 Criminal Justice Policy and Evaluation (3 cr.) An empirical assessment of the foundations of contemporary and historical attempts to control or prevent crime. Major policies, programs, and strategies are reviewed and critically analyzed. Specific topics and policies will vary in this capstone seminar.
- SPEA-J 682 Planning and Management for Criminal Justice and Public Safety (3 cr.) Methods and procedures involved in criminal justice and public safety planning and management. Administration and implementation of public policies in policing, courts, corrections, emergency management and homeland security. Organization, decision making, evaluation and human resource issues of public policy.
- SPEA-K 300 Statistical Techniques (3 cr.) Introduction to statistics; nature of statistical data; ordering and manipulation of data; measures of central tendency and dispersion; elementary probability. Concepts of statistical inference and decision: estimation and hypothesis testing. Special topics include regression and correlation, analysis of variance, nonparametric methods.
- SPEA-V 100 Current Topics in Public Affairs (1-3 cr.) Readings and discussions of current public issues and problems. May be repeated for credit with different topics.
- SPEA-V 170 Introduction to Public Affairs (3 cr.) Broad coverage of public affairs through critical and analytical inquiry into policy making at national and international levels of government. Particular emphasis on intergovernmental relations as they affect policy in the federal system.
- SPEA-V 252 Career Development and Planning (3 cr.) Course highlights include identification of work values and personality preference, a career research assignment, networking assignments designed to prepare students for contact with employers, in-depth tutorial and feedback concerning how to craft a marketable resume and cover letter, and development of an overall career plan.
- SPEA-V 260 Topics in Public Affairs (3 cr.) Study of selected issues in public affairs. Topics vary from semester to semester.
- SPEA-V 261 Technology in Public Affairs (3 cr.) Course explores IT and computing in public affairs. Topics include basic IT concepts, project proposals, network and infrastructure design, security, ethics, data and document management, cloud computing, and IT futures. Applications include using office suites, website development, and building 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 local and metropolitan issues and policies, highlighting the roles of the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Topics include urban, suburban, and exurban government structure and cross-sector policy collaboration, the cultural and economic foundations and development of cities, demography of metropolitan areas, land-use planning, and other policy problems.
- SPEA-V 270 Survey of Administrative Techniques (3 cr.) Survey of management and policy processes within a government or public setting. Course is intended for associate degree candidates and includes some of the subject matter of senior core courses. Not recommended for students intending to pursue a bachelor's degree.
- 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 those problems for local government and administrators.
- SPEA-V 346 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 the use of financial administrators. The course deals primarily with municipal accounting.
- SPEA-V 348 Management Science (3 cr.) P: MATH-M 100. 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.
- SPEA-V 352 Personal Career Planning (1 cr.) Investigation of careers, the world of work, and the career planning process. The focal point is the student and his/her goals. Provides assistance in developing practical, meaningful, and realistic insight into the nature of making a public-career choice in today's world. Course is graded S/F (satisfactory/fail).
- SPEA-V 365 Urban Development and Planning (3 cr.) 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 those 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.) Application of analytical techniques to operating decisions in public sector management. 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 372 Government Finance and Budgets (3 cr.) Study of fiscal management in public agencies, including revenue administration, debt management, and public budgeting.
- SPEA-V 373 Human Resource 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 Emergency Services with special emphasis on emergency medical systems. Course studies evolution of Emergency Services in the U.S. on the federal, state, and local level.
- 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 major objective of the course 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.) An introduction to the American legal system, including the Constitution, courts system, and administrative law in federal and state agencies. Readings and discussion center on current issues affected by the legal process.
- SPEA-V 380 Internship in Public and Environmental Affairs (1-6 cr.) P: Permission of instructor. Students and faculty must complete appropriate paperwork prior to or during experience. Retroactive experiential credit will not be awarded. Students work 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.
- SPEA-V 390 Readings in Public and Environmental Affairs (1-3 cr.) P: Permission of instructor. Independent readings and research related to a topic of special interest to the student. Written report required.
- 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 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 442 Topics - Budgeting or Cost/Benefit (3 cr.) P: SPEA-V 372 or permission of instructor. Comprehensive study of techniques of public fiscal management, primarily at the state and local level, and discussion of current issues. May be repeated for different topics.
- 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 449 Senior Policy Seminar (3 cr.) 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. May be repeated for different topics.
- SPEA-V 472 Policy Processes in the U.S. (3 cr.) Intended as an integrative senior course, primarily for SPEA students. Course content includes analytic 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 473 Management Leadership and Policy (3 cr.) P: All public affairs core courses, senior standing and instructor consent. 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 452 Health Disparities (3 cr.) Health Care Disparities is a course focusing on the determinants of eprsonal health and health behaviors, which affect an individual's use of and failure to use needed health services.
- SPEA-V 490 Directed Research in Public and Environmental Affairs (1-3 cr.) P: permission of department chair. To be arranged with the individual instructor and approved by the chairperson of the undergraduate program.
- SPEA-V 500 Quantitative Tools for Public Affairs (3 cr.) A modular presentation of mathematical and statistical concepts designed to prepare students for SPEA-V 506. Representative module topics include basic algebraic concepts, basic statistical concepts, probability, computer use, and matrix algebra.
- SPEA-V 502 Public Management (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-V 504 Public Organizations (3 cr.) 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-V 506 Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making (3 cr.) P: SPEA-V 500 and mathematics and computing foundation. 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-V 507 Data Analysis and Modeling for Public Affairs (3 cr.) P: SPEA-V 506. Focus on analytical models and their use in solving problems and making decisions in the public sector. Discussion of standard approaches to modeling and estimation of parameters.
- SPEA-V 508 Topics in Quantitative Analysis (1-3 cr.) P: Consent of instructor. Study and application of selected quantitative methods of analysis. Additional topics that are not included in SPEA-V 506 or SPEA-V 507 may be presented, or more advanced examination of topics that are introduced in SPEA-V 506 and SPEA-V 507 may be undertaken.
- SPEA-V 509 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, policy making, morality, politics, and whistle blowing. Case studies and media material will be used to illustrate these and other such issues affecting the workplace.
- SPEA-V 512 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 arenas.
- SPEA-V 516 Public Management Information Systems (3 cr.) This course focuses on the application of information systems concepts and tools to challenges and opportunities in the public sector. Topics covered will include current trends in information systems; managerial use of information systems; hardware, software, and telecommunications; systems development processes and practices; and strategic and policy issues in IS.
- SPEA-V 517 Public Management Economics (3 cr.) Provides the student with the central core of economic theory as it relates to the public sector. The use of micro-economic skills at the managerial level in the public sector is emphasized. The course includes a unit on macro-economics to include monetary theory, fiscal theory, economic stabilization, national income accounts.
- SPEA-V 518 Intergovernmental Systems Management (3 cr.) Discussion of theories and approaches to systems management including responsibilities and tasks of public systems. Examination of intergovernmental relationships (such as national-state-local relationships) and interlocal 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-V 520 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-V 522 Human Resource Management in Nonprofits (3 cr.) This course provides an overview of the human resource management areas necessary for the productive functioning of nonprofit organizations. Theories of motivation applicable to the management of staff and volunteers, and personnel, topics of recruitment, selection, board-staff relations, compensation, training and development are covered.
- SPEA-V 525 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 upon U.S. organizations, but attention is given to the global nature of the sector.
- SPEA-V 526 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-V 539 Management Science for Public Affairs (3 cr.) Focus on management science methods applied to public policy analysis. Includes treatment of decision theory, constrained optimization and probability/simulation modeling.
- SPEA-V 540 Law and Public Affairs (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 citizen rights, among others.
- SPEA-V 543 Health Services Management (3 cr.) A course that integrates theory and application with respect to management of health service organizations. Emphasis on the role of managers and management within formal health service organizations. Current management and organizational theory are applied to an understanding of health care delivery settings.
- SPEA-V 545 The U.S. Health Care System (3 cr.) An analysis of delivery of health care in the United States from 1900 to the present. Major system components are defined and studied with emphasis on current health care policy. Topics include the organization of health care delivery on federal, state, and local levels, both in public and private sectors.
- SPEA-V 546 Health Services Utilization (3 cr.) An examination of problems of access to health care and the utilization of health services. The social, political, and individual factors associated with utilization are studied along with social change and control strategies. Special emphasis is given to power and the definition of power in the system.
- SPEA-V 550 Topics in Public Affairs (3 cr.) Selected research and discussion topics organized on a semester-by-semester basis, usually with significant student input in the course design.
- SPEA-V 554 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-V 556 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-V 560 Public Finance and Budgeting (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-V 561 Public Human Resources Management (3 cr.) Analysis of the structure, operation, and design of public personnel systems, including government agencies and public enterprise. Relationship between public policy and personnel concepts, values and operation considered.
- SPEA-V 562 Public Program Evaluation (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-V 563 The Planning Process (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 or planning techniques for achieving goals.
- SPEA-V 564 Urban Management (3 cr.) The course deals with 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-V 566 Executive Leadership (3 cr.) The course offers an in-depth examination of factors that contribute to successful executive leadership practice in a wide variety of organizational settings. Topics include: what leadership is; what impact leadership has; and how leaders use various approaches and powers to achieve their goals.
- SPEA-V 567 Public Financial Administration (3 cr.) P: SPEA-V 560 or consent of instructor. Problems of financial management in governmental units; alternative revenue sources, financial planning and control, cash debt management; survey of modern expenditure management, control and planning.
- SPEA-V 570 Public Sector Labor Relations (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-V 572 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-V 575 Comparative Public Management and Administration (3 cr.) Reading and discussion of case studies and comparative analyses of formal organizations with emphasis on governmental bureaucracies, public corporations, and international organizations. Topics include bureaucratic environment and culture, technology and organizations, program evaluation, communication and decision making, and administrative structure and process.
- SPEA-V 580 Readings in Public Affairs (1-3 cr.) P: permission of the department chair. Readings on selected topics in public affairs to be arranged with the individual instructor.
- SPEA-V 585 Practicum in Public Affairs (1-6 cr.) P: permission of the department chair. To be arranged with host agency and student on a case-by-case basis. The amount of credit must be approved before the beginning of the practicum. A product, such as a practicum report, an oral examination, or examples of materials produced in the practicum. Grading is on a satisfactory/ fail basis.
- SPEA-V 586 Public Safety in the U.S. (3 cr.) Overview of criminal justice and public safety. Definitions of public safety and identification of major components. Functional description of major public safety agencies. Discussion of basic issues in public safety. Management in public safety system.
- SPEA-V 590 Research in Public Affairs (1-3 cr.) P: permission of department chair. Research on selected topics in public affairs to be arranged with the individual instructor.
- SPEA-V 595 Managerial Decision Making (1-3 cr.) 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-V 600 Capstone in Public and Environmental Affairs (3 cr.) P: permission of department chair. Interdisciplinary course organized as faculty-coached class project on a management/policy topic determined by an external client. Course goals are professional preparation and integration of degree program knowledge.
- SPEA-V 601 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-V 610 Seminar in Government Budget and Program Analysis (1-6 cr.) P: SPEA-V 560. Advanced study of management aspects of budgetary process. Special cases are analyzed, and budget problem-solving exercises are utilized.
- SPEA-V 631 Health Planning (3 cr.) A workshop in analysis and use of health data in a planning context. Course deals with the planning process and methods with an emphasis on systems theory. Class project or plan is developed, presented, and defended in a simulated public-hearing format.
- SPEA-V 639 Managing Government Operations (3 cr.) This is an introductory survey of operations management. Emphasis is placed on the analysis, design, and management of operation systems using models from operations management. Readings, lectures, and structured exercises are used to present the models and demonstrate their application.
- SPEA-V 650 Topics in Public Personnel Management (1-3 cr.) Readings and research on selected topics in the public personnel field. Topics may include such subjects as affirmative action, occupational health and safety, manpower forecasting and planning, and approaches to position classification.
- SPEA-V 660 Cases and Problems in Fiscal Administration (3 cr.) P: SPEA-V 560 or consent of instructor. An advanced seminar in the management aspects of public finance that focuses on the budgetary process. Special cases are analyzed and budget problem-solving exercises are utilized.
- SPEA-V 665 Seminar in Policy and Administration (3 cr.) Politics of program development and management. Translation of plans into viable, administrable programs. Marshalling support, political process, strategies, constraints, tradeoffs, etc.
- SPEA-V 670 Topics in Public Sector Labor Relations (1-3 cr.) P: consent of instructor. Selected research and discussion topics in public sector labor relations arranged on a semester-by-semester basis. Possible topics are collective bargaining in the public sector and dispute settlement in public sector labor relations.
- SPEA-J 312 White Collar Crime (3 cr.) 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-V 521 The Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector (3 cr.) The theory, size, scope, and functions of the nonprofit and voluntary sectors are covered from multiple disciplinary perspectives including historical, political, economic, and social.
- SPEA-V 557 Proposal Development and Grant Administration (3 cr.) This course provides the opportunity for each student to develop a complete proposal through participation in the entire grant application process. The integration of case studies, visual media, printed materials, and class discussions provides students with practical knowledge for writing successful proposals.
- SPEA-V 558 Fund Development for Nonprofits (3 cr.) Important aspects of the fund raising process in nonprofit organizations are covered, including techniques and strategies for assessing potential sources of support; effective use of human resources; process management; theory to underlay practice; analysis of current practice; practice standards; and discussion of ethical problems.
- SPEA-V 602 Strategic Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations (3 cr.) Concepts, cases, and problem solving associated with the structure and process of strategic management in the public sector, broadly defined to include governmental and nongovernmental organizations.
- SPEA-V 501 Professional Development Practicum - Information Technology (1 cr.) Provides an introduction to information technology and computing software skills in a problem-solving context. One of a three-course set.
- SPEA-V 503 Professional Development Practicum - Writing and Presentation (1 cr.) Learn methods to develop professional level writing and oral communication skills: analyze a case study effectively, write policy memos, executive summaries, news releases, professional letters; critique presentations of outside professionals; assess personal and peer presentations. One of a three-course set.
- SPEA-V 505 Professional Development Practicum - Teamwork and Integrated Policy Project (1 cr.) Students integrate courses and knowledge through team-based case analyses of complex policy problems. Teamwork is practiced using structured team-building exercises and discussions. One of a three-course set.
- SPEA-J 510 Diversity in Criminal Justice (3 cr.) This course explores issues of diversity and multiculturalism in the U. S. criminal justice and public safety systems. The course provides an overview of racial, ethnic, class, and gender diversity and examines the different ways in which diversity becomes an obstacle in the pursuit of justice.