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Capstone
Course Descriptions
PAFF 501 - Introduction to Professional Writing
Basic skills of written communication for public administration including: memoranda, report writing, creating written summaries. Appropriate use of the American Psychological Association format. Emphasis on skill development through practice. Admission on faculty recommendation only. More than one section possible.
PAFF 502 - Basic Computer Skills
Introduction to computing. Word processing, basic statistical packages and introduction to computer use in administration. Emphasis on skill development through practice. Admission on faculty recommendation only.
PAFF 503 - Introduction to Administrative Systems
Basic institutions of American government and administration. Essential concepts of American governance and bureaucracy.
PAFF 510 - The Logic of Inquiry for Public Policy
Individuals in public administration and public affairs initiate systematic inquiry into issues of public policy; write requests for proposals (RFP); evaluate responses to requests for proposals; or consume critically the works of others pertaining to issues of public policy.
PAFF 513 - Survey Research and Design
Development of skills necessary for the design and implementation of survey research. Prerequisites: PAFF 510.
PAFF 514 - Proposal Preparation & Grant Management
Development of skills necessary for the preparation and submission of funding proposals to government agencies and private foundations. Techniques for grant implementation, operation and closing.
PAFF 515 - Evaluation
Focuses on basic concepts, challenges, and methods in program evaluation. Primary objectives are to develop an understanding of the role of evaluation in the policy-making process; an ability to critically analyze various approaches and methods; an ability to craft an evaluation for an existing public or non-profit program.
PAFF 518 - Advanced Topics in Research Methods
Provides an in-depth examination of research issues pertaining to public administration. Topics covered may include post-positivist research methods or advanced qualitative/quantitative techniques applied to topics in public administration. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: PAFF 510 or the equivalent.
PAFF 519 - Workshop in Public Administration Research Methods
Addresses skills, issues or problems concerned with the theory and practice of public administration methods. Concentrates on new topics in quantitative or qualitative research methods.
PAFF 521 - Public Management/Public Administration
Concepts and issues of American public organizations and their administration, such as critical thinking and writing, decision-making, public planning, budgeting, human resources, and information management. Also includes political and environmental contexts and an introduction to international and comparative public administration; administrative practices in other countries.
PAFF 522 - Policy Process
Examines the policy process from agenda setting through policy adoption, implementation, and evaluation. Focus will be placed on the many actors and loci of policymaking in the U.S. in comparison to other policymaking systems.
PAFF 523 - Introduction to Policy Analysis
Concepts and tools used in the craft of policy analysis including problem definition, development and analysis of policy alternatives and requirements of reporting the results of analyses. Introduction to economic and political criteria for evaluating policy alternatives. The roles of policy analysis in democratic governance and decision-making are emphasized. Prerequisites: PAFF 521, PAFF 510.
PAFF 525 - Public Ethics and Democratic Government
Focuses on the basic ethical concepts and challenges facing public administrators. The course will examine two fundamental questions: (1) What are the leading ethical issues that arise in the practice of public administration; (2) Where should the administrator look for guidance in dealing with these issues? The lectures, readings, and class discussion will be used to identify principles that might guide ethical choice and to show the practical ramifications of these principles.
PAFF 527 - Public and Not-for-Profit Finance
Introduction to modeling and problem solving from an economic perspective. Analysis of types of taxes used by local and national governments and the major attributes and consequences of each. Discussion of international financial institutions and market forces influencing the financial systems of not-for-profit organizations. Prerequisites: PAFF 521, PAFF 510.
PAFF 530 - Budgeting for Public and Not-for-Profit
The politics and practice of budgeting. Principal components of budget systems including formulation, adoption, execution, and evaluation of organizational budgets. Requirements of performance budgeting. Legal requirements for public and nonprofit organizations in New York State . Prerequisites: PAFF 521, PAFF 510.
PAFF 531 - Administrative Law
This course will emphasize how judicial proceedings, including past court decisions, affect public administration. It will examine the legal principles and practical doctrines involved in the work of administrative agencies, vested with quasi-legislative or quasi-judicial powers. Particular attention will be paid to administrative rulemaking.
PAFF 533 - Intergovernmental Relations
An examination of federalism and intergovernmental relations in theory and practice; political, fiscal, and administrative aspects of intergovernmental relations; intergovernmental policymaking and state responses to federal devolution of authority; includes case studies. Focuses on the level of government most appropriate for addressing various policy issues and carrying out government programs and delivering goods and services.
PAFF 534 - Personnel Administration
This course will examine procedures and problems of governmental and not-for-profit personnel administration. Included in the topics are classification, performance appraisal, hiring practices, affirmative action, and pay equity. Studies of governmental agencies are employed to give the students first-hand knowledge of personnel administration.
PAFF 535 - Organizational Theory
Approaches organizational theory through individual, organization, systems and institutional levels of analysis. Focus will be placed on choosing the appropriate level of analysis to address current issues in the administration of public and not-for-profit agencies. Discussion of the development of key organizational theory concepts as well as current literature in the field.
PAFF 537 - Organizational Behavior
Provides an overview of the development of key concepts in the field of organizational behavior: leadership, motivation, group behavior, work environment, power and organizational change. In-depth discussion of how these concepts are developed in theory and in the practice of public administration.
PAFF 538 - Seminar in Public Administration Management
An in-depth examination of issues or problems concerned with the theory and practice of public administration management. Topics vary; may be repeated for credit.
PAFF 539 - Workshop in Public Administration
Addresses skills, issues or problems concerned with the theory and practice of public administration management.
PAFF 541 - Health Policy I
Addresses structural issues of the U.S. health care system-both public and private components-and the profound changes that have occurred in that system over the past decade. Included are the roles of hospitals, physicians, and other health care providers; issues surrounding managed care and health maintenance organizations; Medicaid and Medicare; an assessment of the adequacy of third party reimbursements, and the critical issue of the medically uninsured and underinsured. Attention is also given to the increasing role of marketing, public relations, and the media in health care. While the marketing-media focus will be on hospital-based health care, the concepts will be applicable to all professionals who work with and seek to influence the media and consumers.
PAFF 542 - Health Policy II
Addresses critical issues of the U.S. health care system-both public and private components-and the profound changes that have transpired in that "system" since the mid 1980's. Included are the changing roles of hospitals, of physicians and allied health care providers, managed care and health maintenance organizations, Medicaid and Medicare, adequacy or inadequacy of third-party reimbursements to providers, and the persistence of the under-insured and the un-insured. Attention is given to the increasing role of marketing, public and governmental relations and the media in the health care industry.
PAFF 548 - Special Topics Seminar in Public Administration Management
An in-depth examination of issues or problems concerned with the theory and practice of health policy/health administration. Topics vary; may be repeated for credit.
PAFF 549 - Workshop in Public Administration
Addresses skills, issues or problems concerned with the theory and practice of health policy/health administration.
PAFF 551 - Introduction to Management and Leadership in Not-for-Profit Organizations
An overview of management in not-for-profit organizations, with an emphasis on the role of leadership and styles of leadership. Topics include techniques for board development, strategic planning, marketing and other aspects of not-for-profit management.
PAFF 552 - Issues in Not-for-Profit Administration
Addresses the changing role/environment of not-for-profit organizations. Issues may include competition for financial and human resources, advancements in technology, increased mobility in a global environment, and the changing nature of public-private partnerships.
PAFF 558 - Special Topics Seminar in Not-for-Profit Management
An in-depth examination of issues or problems concerned with the theory and practice of not-for-profit management. Topics vary; may be repeated for credit.
PAFF 559 - Workshop in Not-for-Profit Management
Addresses skills, issues or problems concerned with the theory and practice of not-for-profit management.
PAFF 561 - Comparative Public Administration and Policy
A study of political institutions across various national settings and the means by which public policies are planned, implemented and changed. Also considers the effects of public administration systems/arrangements on policy outcomes. Places domestic issues in the larger, global political economy context. Covers countries from several geographic zones.
PAFF 562 - International Governance
The study of supranational governing systems and their effects, and how domestic public administration/policy responds to a new political order and global economy. Topics include NGOs, security arrangements, trade, environmental and labor agreements, international treaties/organizations/governing bodies such as WTO, Kyoto , UN, NAFTA, EU.
PAFF 568 - Advanced Seminar in Comparative Policy/Administration
In-depth examination/analysis of new and current specific issues/problems/developments/theories in the field of comparative policy and administration. Topics vary (institutions, public policies in various contexts). May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Instructor's permission.
PAFF 569 - Workshop in Comparative Policy/Administration
A workshop discussing specific skills, issues, problems, or developments in the field of comparative public policy and administration. Topics vary. Prerequisite: Instructor's permission.
PAFF 571 - Environmental Policy
Introduction to the identification, formulation, implementation, and evaluation of environmental policy. Consideration of actors involved in, and institutional and political constraints influencing, those processes. Also includes an examination of the historical development of the environmental movement and the role of values in environmental policymaking.
PAFF 572 - State and Local Environmental Policy
An in-depth comparative examination of the structures and processes of state and local governments as they relate to the formulation and implementation of environmental policy. Includes a discussion of local issues in other nations.
PAFF 578 - Advanced Seminar in Environmental Policy/Administration
In-depth examination of new, current, and specific issues/problems/developments/theories/policies in the field of environmental policy and administration. Topics vary. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Instructor's permission.
PAFF 579 - Workshop in Environmental Policy/Administration
A workshop discussing specific skills, issues, problems, or developments in the field of environmental policy and administration. Topics vary. Prerequisite: Instructor's permission.
PAFF 591 - Internship
Internship in public or private non-profit agency in area of student's specialization. Practical application and experience; academic analysis of subject area. Prerequisites: 24 credits in the MPA program.
PAFF 592 - Practicum: Problems in Administration
Exploration of problems in contemporary administration from the perspective of the practitioner.
PAFF 593 - International Project/Study Abroad
International experience. Prior faculty approval required.
PAFF 595 - Capstone Seminar
Final project for the MPA program. A synthesis of all previous coursework and professional and/or internship experience directed toward the production of a professional administrative or policy analysis paper. Prerequisites: The MPA core curriculum.
