Public Policy (PLCY)

Courses

PLCY 5085. Internship in Public Policy. 3 Credit Hours.

Students in the MPP program must serve in an approved internship of approximately 10 hours per week during the fall or spring semester (or approximately 20 hours per week during a summer session). Students earn 3 credits for non-paying internships. The internship may be in a federal, state or local agency in the executive or legislative branches of government or in a private or non-profit firm that works closely with such an agency to fulfill the agency's mission.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Degree Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Degrees: Master of Public Policy.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Liberal Arts.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

Pre-requisites:
(PLCY 8119|Minimum Grade of C|May be taken concurrently
OR POLS 8119|Minimum Grade of C|May be taken concurrently)
AND (PLCY 8123|Minimum Grade of C|May be taken concurrently
OR POLS 8123|Minimum Grade of C|May be taken concurrently)

PLCY 8118. The Policy-Making Process. 3 Credit Hours.

This course explores the process through which federal and state governments in the United States formulate and implement public policies. Major political and institutional actors that influence policy-making are covered, including public opinion, interest groups, legislatures, bureaucracies and chief executives, and courts. The course covers how problems are recognized and get "framed" by advocates and policymakers and how they reach the agenda, how alternatives are formulated and adopted, the implementation and evaluation of policies and programs, and how the performance and structure of existing policies feed back into the process as policies undergo expansion, revision or termination.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Liberal Arts.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

PLCY 8119. Policy Analysis. 3 Credit Hours.

This course is an introduction to policy analysis for MPP students. Policy analysis involves collecting and analyzing information pertinent to public policy issues and solutions and communicating them clearly to a client, which is usually a policymaker or administrator of a program. Policymakers need analyses that clearly define and describe the nature and severity of an issue, assess the feasibility and estimate the costs and benefits of alternative solutions for addressing them, and (often) recommend one or more courses of action over others.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Liberal Arts.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

PLCY 8123. Bureaucracy and Public Management. 3 Credit Hours.

Bureaucracies and the public managers who inhabit them are of critical importance for the formulation, implementation and evaluation of public policies. This course provides students with an overview of bureaucratic agencies as key actors who shape public policy and performance. One focus of the course is how the institutional features of bureaucracies as large, complex organizations and of the broader political system in which they operate shape agencies' behavior. The other major focus is on how the leaders, managers and staff work together to shape bureaucratic cultures, missions and operating procedures and how these, in turn, determine whether the agency is capable of carrying out policies effectively and in accord with legislative mandates.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

PLCY 8127. Policy Analysis Project. 3 Credit Hours.

A semester-length project that students take in their last semester in the MPP program. They produce an original, full-length policy analysis for a client. Students attend a weekly seminar to report on their progress at each stage in the development of their policy analysis, receive feedback from other seminar participants, and provide advice to other students in the seminar.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Degree Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Degrees: Master of Public Policy.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites:
(POLS 8001|Minimum Grade of C|May not be taken concurrently)
AND (PLCY 8119|Minimum Grade of C|May not be taken concurrently
OR POLS 8119|Minimum Grade of C|May not be taken concurrently)

PLCY 8128. State and Local Budgeting. 3 Credit Hours.

Examines the economic and political aspects of the budgetary process in government, particularly at the state and local levels. Topics covered include the major sources and types of revenue, discretionary and non-discretionary spending, managing deficits and debt, forecasting fiscal conditions, capital budgeting, pension management, and other issues.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

PLCY 8131. Innovation in Government. 3 Credit Hours.

Innovation is considered a critical component of both private industry and the academic research community, but the concept is also highly relevant for government. While its outcomes may look differently in a government setting and focus more on efficiencies and social benefit rather than new products or services, innovation remains a critical part of any successful government. Without setting the stage for innovation and purposefully managing it, government lacks capacity for improving constituent services, engaging purposefully with its neighborhoods and residents, and developing more efficient and cost-effective internal processes.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites:
PLCY 8118|Minimum Grade of C|May be taken concurrently
OR PLCY 8123|Minimum Grade of C|May be taken concurrently.