56:834:501Foundations of Policy Analysis (3) The logic of action, decision making, and belief; epistemological issues underlying scientific and policy research; causality, probability, statistics, and public policy; the role of problem definition, description, theory, model building, explanation, and prediction in policy research and decision making. Reviews major substantive theories of public choice and public policy making and critically examines them from a logical and theoretical perspective. |
56:834:503Law and Public Policy (3) The place of law in the formulation, articulation, and enforcement of public policy; legal sources, such as constitutions, statutes, cases, administrative rulings, and agency practices; federal, state, and local sources and materials examined for policy inconsistencies, contradictions, and overlap; the effectiveness of fees, taxes, licenses, labeling, injunctions, and other legal sanctions. |
56:834:505Organizational Behavior (3) Examines organization behavior-of individuals and groups/ teams-and the organization context in which that behavior takes place. Organization theories as well as behavior theories and approaches discussed, including seminal historical works and more current treatments. |
56:834:515Introduction to Public Budgeting and Finance (3) Combines readings with the development of a budget for a hypothetical city to demonstrate budget formats, the politics of budgeting, and methods of projecting expenditures and revenues. Administration and criteria for selecting taxes. |
56:834:520Health Care Financial Management (3) Overview of financial management of health care organizations, including macro financing of the health care delivery system by patients, governments, insurance carriers, corporations, and other third-party payers, as well as prospective changes in health financing. Key financial management issues such as capital financing and budgeting, cash flow management, third-party reimbursement, and health cost accounting addressed. |
56:834:521Directed Study (3) Requires a public policy paper or written administrative analysis. May be substituted for Research Workshop when, for good cause, a student is unable to attend the workshop. The topic and an outline of the paper must be filed with the chairperson by the end of the third week of the student`s final term. Prerequisites: Approval of M.P.A. chairperson, permission of instructor. |
56:834:525Public Management (3) Contemporary management approaches, techniques, and skills for managing various kinds of public organizations. Decision making, administrative leadership, planning, implementation, evaluation, ethics, and budgeting are key topics. |
56:834:530Analytical Methods for Health Services (3) Survey of methods to support effective service delivery and evaluation. Topics include appropriate statistics as well as health system data and analysis issues. |
56:834:535Research Methods (3) Research as a practical skill for public administrators. Topics include research design, descriptive and differential statistics, multiple regression, and qualitative research. Use of a computer statistical package. Pre- or corequisite: Introductory statistics course. |
56:834:536Public Information Systems (3) Management-oriented computer methods including personal productivity systems and office automation; database management; and the analysis, supervision, and coordination of the management information systems department within the larger organizational culture. |
56:834:538Health Care Information Systems (3) Information needs of health care organizations for making decisions about strategic direction; financial, capital, operational, and regulatory planning; patient care; human resources management; and service evaluation. Design, implementation, and assessment of computerized and noncomputerized information systems along with key political, security, legal, and other issues relevant to information management. |
56:834:541,542Internship I,II (3,3) Direct experience with public agencies; individual internships, under faculty supervision, in policymaking agencies. Prerequisite: 56:834:501 or permission of instructor. |
56:834:543 Educational Policy and Leadership Internship I (6) For students in the educational policy and leadership concentration and required for principal certification. The following will be covered: curriculum leadership, supervision of instruction, pupil personnel service, personnel management, community relations, technical administrative skills, and student services. Interns work in schools in direct coordination with school principals in all phases of the internship. |
56:834:544Educational Policy and Leadership Internship II (3) For students in the educational policy and leadership concentration and required for principal certification. The following will be covered: facilities management, school finance, and school law. Interns work in schools in direct coordination with school principals in all phases of the internship. |
56:834:552Health Care Management (3) Introduces theory, history, and organization of the health care delivery system. Key ethical, legal, technological, financial, and organizational issues that confront health care organizations addressed. Introduction to key managerial functions of health care administrators: planning and strategy making, organizing, quality and administrative control, financial management, and human resources management. Emphasis on external trends and forces affecting health care organizations. |
56:834:553Financial Management of Public Programs (3) Examines budgetary processes, municipal bonds, cash management, and intergovernmental fiscal relations as they apply to financial management of public programs. Topics include cost-benefit, cost-revenue, and cost-effectiveness analyses, as well as contemporary issues such as privatization and liability insurance. Prerequisite: 56:834:515. |
56:834:556International Community Development (3) Introductory analysis of current community development theory and practice and examination of its application to developing world situations and U.S. communities. Introduction and application of community development and project management tools and approaches. Requires a minimum of four hours of community service weekly. Primarily for international public service and development students. To be completed over two terms. |
56:834:557Human Resources Management (3) The relationship between employers, employees, and their labor relations organizations in government, health and human services, the nonprofit sector; leadership and direction of employees; impact of collective negotiations on critical issues of public policy; civil service organizations. |
56:834:558Executive Leadership and Communication Skills (3) Strengths and limitations of various leadership theories. Awareness of personal learning, leadership, influence, and communication styles. Develops leadership skills through interpersonal exercises and through course projects involving current managerial and political issues. Communication skills involving writing, speaking, meetings, media relations, and strategic planning emphasized. |
56:834:559Ethics in Government (3) Study of the federal, state, and local laws governing the conduct of public officials, and of ethical standards beyond the boundaries of law. Relates professional standards of public administration to ethical problems in government. |
56:834:560Managerial Survival Skills (3) Conceptual and practical approach to acquiring and refining managerial skills. Coping with organizational politics, managing job stress, managing limited time, delegating effectively, and building and managing a professional career. Readings, lectures, hands-on skill practice, and evaluation of performance. |
56:834:561Ethical Issues in Health Care Delivery (3) Exploration of ethical perspectives that can be applied to leading ethical issues in health, such as allocation of scarce and expensive medical resources, patient rights and organizational responsibilities, implications of health technology, and issues surrounding death. |
56:834:570Labor-Management Relations in the Private and Public Sectors (3) Analysis of the structure and development of labor-management relationships in the United States and abroad, focusing on both private industry and governmental organizations. Explores history and the surrounding law while focusing on the negotiation and administration of collective bargaining agreements, related micro- and macroeconomic problems, and issues that accompany the growth of the nonunion sector in both private and public sectors. |
56:834:601,602,603,604,606,607Colloquium in Public Policy and Administration I,II,III,IV,V,VI (3,3,3,3,3,3) Intensive examination of a specific area of public-policy concern or of specific trends in public-policy analysis; individual research. Specific seminar topics include health administration, transportation, housing policy, productivity, energy policy, judicial management, international management, international financial management, administrative communication, environmental policy, community leadership, and comparative public policy. |
56:834:605Nongovernmental Organization Management and Development (3) Examines conceptual and analytic issues related to managing nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) both in the United States and abroad, and how these issues are addressed. Develops skills in the use of several basic management techniques and tools particularly relevant to NGO strategic management, fund-raising, and governance. |
56:834:608Seminar: Social and Policy Contexts of Health Care (3) Examines social and policy forces that shape health and health care in the United States. Assists health care professionals in understanding the larger context of health care, which professionals help shape and which, in turn, shapes their daily activities and outcomes. Responds to contemporary trends and issues. Topics may include the nature, definition, and measurement of health and illness; sociological and political perspectives on patterns of health and disease; the illness experience; the nature and role of health care providers; characteristics of and trends in the U.S. health care system; and forces shaping the health care system. |
56:834:609Research Seminar in Health Care Management and Policy (3) Students will conduct an in-depth study of an issue, problem, or topic of their choice in health management or policy. This course will be an intensive structured research experience in which peer review processes will be an integral element and research will proceed in a series of clearly delineated steps. Students will submit a written report and make a class presentation of their research. To be eligible to enroll in this course, students must have completed at least 21 credit hours, including Foundations of Policy Analysis, Principles of Health Care Management (or Principles of Public Management), Organizational Behavior, and Research Methods (or an approved substitute). In rare cases, students with a compelling need may petition the program coordinator of the health care management and policy concentration for permission to enroll with fewer than 21 hours, but not less than 15 completed credits. |
56:834:611Evaluation Research Seminar (3) Nature, logic, and the role of evaluation research in the policy-analysis and policy-research process; evaluation design, criteria, units of measurement, and ways of devising appropriate social indicators and measures; strategies for implementing research designs; logical problems of analysis. Prerequisite: 56:834:535. |
56:834:612,613Colloquium in Educational Policy and Leadership (3,3) Open to students in the educational policy and leadership concentration. Courses will cover various areas of study in educational policy and administration. |
24:601:614Health Law (3) Examines health law, focusing on such issues as the separate health care system for the poor; financing of health services; patients` rights; quality-care standards; the role of the physician; physician-patient relations; Medicaid; claims review; the impact of health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and other prepayment mechanisms; national health insurance; health planning; and the political economy of the health care system. Offered by the Rutgers School of Law-Camden. |
56:834:650Special Problems in Public Policy and Administration (3) Available in lieu of internships and conducted by arrangement with specific instructor. Prerequisites: Completion of core examination and approval of M.P.A. chairperson. |
56:834:675Research Workshop (3) Guides students in formulating, researching and writing a capstone research paper. Integrates the skills and concepts from the core courses as students use quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze a selected policy or administrative problem. Students must have completed 21 M.P.A. credits. Prerequisites: 56:834:501, 505, 525, 535, and permission of instructor. |
56:834:676International Public Service Internship and Directed Study (3) Guides, integrates, and assesses the lessons of the overseas field placement through a system of advising, e-discussions, and written reports which require students to document and assess their international experiences. This web-based course enhances proficiency through the analysis of a specific project, program, or policy relevant to the international placement. It offers the opportunity to apply program management tools in "real life" situations. Covers topics such as needs assessment; stakeholder analysis; participatory strategies; feasibility studies; SWOT analysis; program/project design including objectives and logical framework; implementation strategies; monitoring and evaluation; lessons learned; and recommendations for program or policy change. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. |
56:834:800Matriculation Continued (0) Continuous registration may be accomplished by enrolling for at least 3 credits in standard course offerings, including research courses, or by enrolling in this course for 0 credits. Students actively engaged in study toward their degree who are using university facilities and faculty time are expected to enroll for the appropriate credits. |
56:834:866Graduate Assistantship (E-BA) |
