Course Descriptions

POLS 500. Research Methods. 3 Credits.

A statistics course or consent of instructor. This course will first focus on various approaches to analyzing political phenomena with the goal of developing students' ability to think analytically and to distinguish between empirical and normative analysis. The course will then introduce techniques of empirical research including research design, measurement, data gathering, and data analysis. Prerequisite: A statistics course or consent of instructor.

POLS 501. Political and Public Policy Analysis. 3 Credits.

This course focuses on the use of empirical data both to develop empirical theory and to make policy choices. Topics to be discussed include hypothesis testing, public choice, and policy evaluation. Students will be required to complete an original research project. Prerequisite: POLS 500 or consent of instructor.

POLS 502. Problems in State and Local Governments. 3 Credits.

Directed in-depth inquiry into contemporary structural and policy problems of state and local governments. During the course, each student will prepare a research paper relevant to a current problem suitable for publication and distribution to an identifiable body of public officials and citizens for problem-solving purposes. On demand.

POLS 503. Government and Business. 3 Credits.

This course is designed to make students aware of the interrelationship of business and government in our society and the importance of this interrelationship in an era of globalization. It introduces public and business administration students to the role of government in advancing, as well as regulating, business. Further it discusses ways that business can and does influence government decisions. It also looks at the ethical responsibilities of business and government in our society. A component of the course involves travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with political officials, e.g., the Congressional delegation; Legislative staff; government regulatory agencies, e.g., the Federal Communications Commission; government advocacy agencies, e.g., Department of Commerce; and national and international business representatives, e.g., Cargill.

POLS 508. Legislative and Executive Processes. 3 Credits.

Description, analysis, and evaluation of the structures, processes, procedures, and positions of the legislative and executive offices in government. On demand.

POLS 531. Foundations of Public Administration. 3 Credits.

An extensive overview of Public Administration stressing the basic concepts and trends in the discipline as well as the classic scholars. F.

POLS 532. Public Policy. 3 Credits.

A discussion of the initiation, formulation, adoption, implementation, and evaluation of American public policy. Various policy areas such as agriculture, education, environment, and welfare will be analyzed.

POLS 533. Administrative Ethics in the Public Sector. 3 Credits.

This course examines the challenges faced by public administrators in establishing personal standards of conduct in the administrative environment. Issues such as moral versus political accountability, social justice and whistle blowing are among the topics that will be explored in this course.

POLS 535. Public Organizations. 3 Credits.

This course focuses on understanding the distinctive purposes, characteristics, and responsibilities of public organizations and how to facilitate successful outcomes within them. Special emphasis will be placed on comprehending the systemic and organizational environment for effective governance and leadership; determining how to plan, prioritize, and allocate organizational resources; and developing the practical knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes to manage and lead public agencies or similar organizations in the public, private, and not-for-profit sectors. F,S.

POLS 536. Public Personnel Administration. 3 Credits.

This course is designed to help managers in all positions of an organization to understand the fundamental nature of public personnel administration, also known as human resource management. Topics to be covered include basic functions such as position classification, wage and salary administration, and performance appraisal. Attention will be given to contemporary issues such as sexual harassment, affirmative action, privacy, and unionization.

POLS 537. Program Evaluation. 3 Credits.

This course introduces students to the theories and concepts of program evaluation used to analyze the effectiveness of public programs and enhance decision-making. Students will be introduced to the principal theories and techniques in the field and develop understanding of the benefits and trade-offs of each. In addition, students will develop practical skills through the development of a detailed evaluation design and plan for implementation. S.

POLS 538. Public Budgeting and Financial Administration. 3 Credits.

This course will encompass the normative and descriptive budgetary questions in public administration. Orthodox, prevailing, and alternative budget theories are presented in generalized and applied settings.

POLS 539. Administrative Law. 3 Credits.

Study of the legal dimension of public administration. Study of requirements for rule making and adjudication and of judicial review of administrative decisions.

POLS 551. Health Administration and Organization. 3 Credits.

The evolution of health systems and their organizational challenges of administration from human resources to management in times of scarce resources are explored. Specific attention is devoted to Financial Management, Managerial and Fund Accounting, Medicare, Medicaid, Fiscal Intermediaries and Managed Care, and Organizations in Decline.

POLS 552. Health Policy. 3 Credits.

This course examines historic and contemporary trends in health care delivery in the United States. Emphasis is placed on addressing health care cost-containment issues; access to health care and, recent efforts to invoke broadly based systemic reforms of the U.S. health care system.

POLS 561. Creation and Management of Social Enterprises. 3 Credits.

This course provides an overview of social entrepreneurship and social enterprises, including nonprofit. The course covers methods and techniques of social entrepreneurship, including organizational strategy, design, management, strategic planning, and leadership for social enterprises; legal foundations of social enterprises in the U.S.; and methods of social enterprise program evaluation. F, odd years.

POLS 562. Political Advocacy and Social Entrepreneurship. 3 Credits.

This course examines the use of social enterprises, including nonprofit, to achieve political, economic, and social change. Course coverage includes the use of social enterprises as vehicles for social transformation, development and execution of advocacy campaigns for social enterprises, the role of social enterprises within democracies, and the potential for social enterprises to address and overcome problems of collective action. S, even years.

POLS 570. MPA Capstone. 3 Credits.

The MPA Capstone is a case-based class that requires students to apply what they have learned in the program and to bring this knowledge to bear on analyzing and finding solutions to real problems. Aspects of the cases and case-related activities will map to each of the NASPAA universal competencies as well as to select UND MPA mission-supported skills and competencies. Students must complete the course with an earned grade of B or better; may be repeated once with approval of MPA Program Director if student received a grade of C, D or F for the course. Prerequisite: POLS 531 or instructor consent. Repeatable to 3.00 credits. S.

POLS 580. Administrative Internship. 1-3 Credits.

Prior approval of instructor required before enrollment. Students are employed on full-time or part-time basis in onthe-job learning situations in federal, state, or local government. Students are required to make an analytical report on some facet of their work. Prerequisite: Instructor consent.

POLS 591. Readings in Political Science and Public Administration. 1-3 Credits.

Prior approval of instructor required before enrollment. Selected readings with oral and written reports. Prerequisite: Prior approval of instructor required before enrollment. Repeatable to 3.00 credits.

POLS 593. Problems in Political Science and Public Administration. 1-3 Credits.

Prior approval of instructor required before enrollment. Students study special topics under the direction and supervision of a member of the staff. Prerequisite: Prior approval of instructor required before enrollment. Repeatable to 6.00 credits.

POLS 997. Independent Study. 3 Credits.

Seminar course that assists students in the process of developing, researching, composing, and presenting an Independent Study or Policy Paper on a public administration or public policy topic of their choosing, in consultation with one or more faculty advisors. Focused on familiarizing students with the craft of research writing and presentation and enabling them to communicate these findings clearly and effectively to a variety of audiences, orally and in writing. At the conclusion of the course, students will have completed and formally presented a full Policy Paper proposal and will have submitted a plan and timeline for project completion. Prerequisite: POLS 500 and POLS 501 or instructor consent; may be repeated once with approval of MPA Program Director if student received a grade of D or F for the course. Repeatable to 3.00 credits. F.

ECON 575. Advanced Special Topics. 1-3 Credits.

Topics of course will change from semester to semester but will typically emphasize an important aspect of economic theory or a significant issue in economic policy. Repeatable to 6 credits with different topics. Repeatable to 6.00 credits.