PA 502 Gender, Communication & Culture (3) This course combines cognitive and experiential approaches to gender and culture as they relate to interpersonal communication, group and organizational communication public communication and mass media. Students will analyze gender conflict and identity, as well as develop a critical perspective of gender presentations in culture. No prereq.

PA 601 Organizational Behavior (3)  A study of individual, groups, and organizational factors influencing the operation of government agencies and nonprofit organizations. No prerequisite. No prereq.

PA 603 Technology Issues in Public Administration (3) Addresses policy, security, organizational and decision-making issues created by the increasingly sophisticated information and communication technologies used by public and nonprofit managers. The goal of this course is to improve the manager’s ability to use information technology resources to improve organizational productivity. A basic overview of computer tools will be provided along with an overview of emerging technologies. No prereq.

PA 606 Public Personnel Administration (3) The purpose of this course is to examine public personnel issues. Specifically, issues related to personnel/human resource management, employee motivation, evaluation, promotion/demotion, training, benefits, wages and salaries, as well as disciplinary policies and various legal aspects relating to public sector employment. No prereq.

PA 609 Budgeting (3)  An examination of the budget process in government agencies and nonprofit organizations. No prereq.

PA 611 Leadership Skills in Public Administration (3) An examination of leadership skills relevant to the management of government agencies and non-profit organizations. No prereq.

PA 612X Connect with Southern Indiana (3) The purpose of the Connect with Southern Indiana (CSI) program is to nurture citizenship and critical thinking skills among its participants. Program participants attend nine half- to full-day seminars that focus on community overviews, critical thinking skills, program management, project planning, and other leadership skills associated with public sector management. Students are admitted to the CSI program through a competitive selection process.

PA 614 Interpersonal Communications within Organizations (3) This course provides a review of the research and applied approaches to organizational communications. This course includes an examination of the process of selecting appropriate communication channels, a consideration of the ways in which meaning, both verbal and nonverbal, is conveyed, and an exploration of ways in which communication can help alleviate typical interpersonal problems within organizations. No prerequisite. No prereq.

PA 615 Legal Aspects of Public Administration (3) The purpose of this course is to examine legal issues relating to Public Administration. Many legal topics will be addressed in depth, such as public sector affirmative action, implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, whistle-blowing protections, public employee privacy and free speech in the workplace. More generally, this course will look at legal aspects and legal challenges to agency, regulations, policy implementation, and laws pertaining to the public sector. No prereq.

PA 618 Research Methods in Public Administration (3) An examination of social science research methodologies relevant to the management of government agencies and non-profit organizations. No prereq.

In this course, students will examine a variety of social science research methodologies relevant to the management of governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations. Over the course of the semester, students will discuss the various types of experimental, quasi-experimental, and reflexive research designs that are used to conduct program evaluations. The students will also learn how to collect data using surveys and focus groups, how to do a standard cost-benefit analysis, how to use emerging analytical techniques such as social return on investment (SROI), and how to evaluate and interpret data. By the end of the semester, each student will be able to apply these methods to a “real world” program evaluation project.

PA 631 Fundraising and Volunteer Administration (3)  Analysis of fundraising strategies and the management of volunteers in government agencies and nonprofit organizations. No prereq.

Students in this course will examine the concepts, strategies and techniques of financial and human resource development in the public and nonprofit sector. During this semester, each student will gain practical experience in the following: developing organizational needs assessments, preparing capacity studies, writing fundraising proposals, developing volunteer management plans, and conducting outcomes evaluation.

PA 632 Public Administration (3)  Analysis of administrative procedures and policy issues in government agencies and nonprofit organizations. No prereq.

PA 644 Process Analysis in the Public Sector (3) An examination of strategic management in government agencies and non-profit organizations. No prereq.

PA 653 Ethics in Public Administration (3)  Examination of the ethical problems and conflicts encountered by government officials, nonprofit administrators, and other public administrators. Students in this course will contemplate a variety of topics including values and ethics, situational ethics, and individual and organizational ethics. No prereq.

PA 695 Internship in Public Agency (3) This course provides an internship experience in the public or not-for-profit sector through a minimum of 150 hours of supervised, professional work. Prereq: Successful completion of 12 hours in the MPA program OR permission of instructor.

Internship Goals:

1. The student will improve his or her knowledge of the internal dynamics of the public or nonprofit agency including the laws, rules, norms, and traditions that shape the internal structure, efficiency, and innovativeness of the organization.

2. The student will achieve praxis. That is, the student will synthesize academic theories of public administration with his or her newly developed understanding of the professional practices that occur in a real world setting.

3. The student will develop a mentoring relationship with a practitioner in the field and will have started developing a nascent networking relationship with other area professionals.