Academic Resources

F560     Public Finance and Budgeting (Spring 2025)

The fiscal role of government in a mixed economy; sources of public revenue and credit; administrative, political, and institutional aspects of the budget and the budgetary process; problems and trends in intergovernmental fiscal relations.

V506     Statistical Analysis for Effective Decision Making   (Spring 2025)

Noncalculus survey of concepts in probability, estimation, and hypothesis testing. Applications of contingency table analysis and analysis of variance, regression, and other statistical techniques. Computer processing of data emphasized.

V517     Public Management Economics (Fall 2024)

This course focuses on applications of the principles and concepts of intermediate microeconomic theory and managerial economics to public-sector management decisions and policy analysis. The course utilizes case studies with the goal of giving students opportunities to recognize the economic dimensions inherent in the public policy problems and to develop an analytical problem-solving orientation.

V535     Managing and Leading in Public Affairs  (Spring 2025)

This course allows students to develop skills and competencies to become effective managers and leaders in public organizations as well as non-profit and for-profit organizations pursing the public interest. Grounded in the public management literature, the course draws extensively from organization theory and organizational behavior, leadership, political science, and nonprofit management for insight into the critical role of management and leadership in governance. The pedagogical approach combines readings and lectures with case studies, group assignments, and simulations aimed at applying concepts and theories to develop management and leadership skills.

V532     Social Equity and Justice in Public Affairs (Spring 2025)

This course will explore concepts of social equity and justice as a value and a tool, as well as a measure of policy effectiveness. Topics focus on the role of public policy and institutions (e.g., legislatures, courts, and agencies) in addressing issues like structural racism and inequality. 

V536     Rights and Responsibilities: How Laws Shape Public Affairs (Spring 2025)

Explanation of law in society and its influence on public-sector operations. Examination of central legal principles shaping American governance including the rule of law, supremacy and preemption, due process and equal protection, statutory interpretation, and judicial review of administrative agency action, among others.

V537     Designing and Managing Complex Projects (Spring 2025) 

This course covers foundational to advanced concepts and specific skills development in critical project management areas, including supervising project scope, time, cost, human resources and communication. This team-based course will focus on case studies and include an academic foundation with an emphasis on the use of real-world skills. 

538     Comparative & International Policy Process (Spring 2025)

This seminar is an overview of the literature in public policy and policy-making process using a comparative and international perspective. It is designed to give the student a substantive overview of the field by focusing the policy process across several contexts: USA, developed, developing and transition economies. 

V550     Evidence-Based Decision Making (Fall 2023)

This course is designed to teach students about and provide them with practice with gathering information and evidence, and presenting the evidence compellingly and ethically in a way that informs decision-making. 

F526     Financial Managementnt for Nonprofit Organizations (Fall 2024)

This course emphasizes a thorough understanding of the language and key concepts of nonprofit financial management. A working knowledge of the basic analytical tools used in financial decision making for nonprofit organizations will be examined through the use of computer software. 

F542     Governmental Financial Accounting and Reporting (Spring 2024)

An introduction to the fundamentals of accounting in business, nonprofit, and public sectors. Intended only for students without previous accounting courses. Primary emphasis is on municipal entity fund accounting, including the development and use of financial statements.

F609     Seminar in Revenue Theory and Administration

This seminar examines the basic objectives and the political and economic aspects of tax administration. In the course of an examination of the interrelationships of tax policy, tax laws, and tax administration, the course reviews the major economic issues raised by types of taxes and user changes. The seminar also examines the fundamentals of tax legislation. Major emphasis is on state and local administration, although some federal problems will be covered. 

F610     Seminar in Governmentnt Budget and Program Analysis

This is an advanced case-study-based course on the theory and practice of budgeting and financial management in modern governments. The practical dimension of budgeting process and procedure is examined in a more explicit way than in F560, including: application of basic principles and concepts; budgeting procedures, format and structure; their effects on outcomes; projecting revenues; multi-year fiscal planning; budget preparation and development; justification; analysis of capital budgets; and debt management

F667     Seminar in Public Capital and Debt Theory

This seminar examines the options open to governments, especially state and local, and why they resort to debt finance. The issues raised by the alternatives are examined in detail. Among the topics are public authority debt, revenue bonds, methods of placement, lease-purchase finance, and maturity choice. In addition, management of idle cash balances will be considered.

BUKD-C 580     Introduction to Operations and Supply Chain Management

BUKD-K 520     Quantitative Analysis

BUKD-X 574     Career Discovery and Design

H525     Health Economics for Policy and Management

H526     Healthcare Finance

H549     Health Policy

H585     Practicum 1 in Healthcare Leadership (Grudi) (Fall 2024)

H585     Practicum 1 in Healthcare Leadership (Newton) (Fall 2024)

H586     Practicum 2 in Healthcare Leadership (Grudi)

*For additional O'Neill syllabi, see the other accordion tabs under the "Course Syllabi" section

 I516     Public Management Information Systems

This course focuses on the application of information systems concepts and tools to challenges and opportunities in the public sector. Topics covered will include current trends in information systems; managerial use of information systems; hardware, software, and telecommunications; systems development processes and practices; and strategic and policy issues in IS.

L560     Local Budgeting and Finance (Fall 2023) 

The fiscal role of government in a mixed economy; sources of public revenue and credit; administrative, political, and institutional aspects of the budget and the budgetary process; problems and trends in intergovernmental fiscal relations. 

L563     Planning and Community Development

Course designed to familiarize students with planning and community development ramifications at local governments. The emphasis of course is to use critical thinking and problems solving techniques in a project management type setting. Local government topics such as, housing, redevelopment, public finance and others will vary by semester.

L568     Management of Local Government Services  (Spring 2024)

 This course covers the professional management of local communities, with particular attention to delivering core services. Readings and case studies will focus on local government management relating to leadership, planning, and operations. 

M561     Public Human Resources Management

A strategic approach to human resource management that considers all managers human resource managers—all managers need to be concerned with the concepts and techniques needed to carry out the people or personnel aspects of one's management job. This course attempts to provide a theoretical and strategic framework for understanding the management and operation of personnel systems in public work environments.

M652     Managing Work Force Diversity in Public Organizations (Spring 2024)

Explores and applies theoretical and empirical research from a management perspective on workforce diversity. Topics include theories and constructs pertaining to diversity in work organizations, organizational postures toward workplace diversity, the interface between heterogeneity, work processes, and management practice; and the effects of heterogeneity on work-related outcomes. 

M575     Comparative Public Management

This course seeks to provide an overview of different administrative reforms adopted by countries in order to improve their government performance. The course also highlights the world reform-adoption patterns, actors (domestic and/or international), sources, and mechanisms involved in the adoption of such reforms. 

M602     Strategic Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations

Concepts, cases, and problem solving associated with the structure and process of strategic management in the public sector, broadly defined to include governmental and nongovernmental organizations. Concepts, cases, and problem solving associated with the structure and process of strategic management in the public sector, broadly defined to include governmental and nongovernmental organizations.

M654     Public Program Management and Contracting

An examination of theories, concepts, and processes concerning multi-actor program implementation and alternative forms of service delivery. Focus will be on the problems and challenges public managers face in designing and managing contractual relationships, networks, and other complex implementation structures.

N521     Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector

The theory, size, scope, and functions of the nonprofit and voluntary sector are covered from multiple disciplinary perspectives including historical, political, economic, and social.

N522     Human Resource Managementent in Nonprofit Organizations

This course provides an overview of the human resource management areas necessary for the productive functioning of nonprofit organizations. Theories of motivation applicable to the management of staff and volunteers, and personnel topics of recruitment, selection, board-staff relations, compensation, training, and development are covered.

N525     Management in the Nonprofit Sector (Spring 2024)

An examination of nonprofit organizations and their role in society. Management issues and public policy affecting these organizations are discussed. Primary emphasis is upon U.S. organizations, but attention is given to the global nature of the sector.

N534     International NGO Management

This course takes an interdisciplinary, comparative perspective to achieve its primary goal: To help students engage in critical comparative analysis of the external environments in which NGOs function across different regions of the world in order to better “fit” internal organizational management processes to external constraints and opportunities.

N557     Proposal Developmentnt and Grant Administration (Fall 2024)

This course provides the opportunity for each student to develop a complete proposal through participation in the entire grant application process. The integration of case studies, visual media, printed materials, and class discussions provides students with practical knowledge for writing successful proposals.

N558     Fund Development for Nonprofits

Important aspects of the fund raising process in nonprofit organizations are covered, including techniques and strategies for assessing potential sources of support; effective use of human resources; process management; theory to underlay practice; analysis of current practice; practice standards; and discussion of ethical problems.

P507     Data Analysis and Modeling for Public Affairs (Spring 2025)

Focus on analytical models and their use in solving problems and making decisions in the public sector. Discussion of standard approaches to modeling and estimation of parameters.

P541     Benefit-Cost Analysis (Fall 2024)

A course applying benefit-cost analysis to public and environmental policies. The first part of the course develops the foundation of benefit-cost analysis. The second part of the course consists of case studies applying benefit-cost analysis to actual policy decisions.

P562     Public Program Evaluation (Fall 2024)

Examination of how the programs of public agencies are proposed, established, operated, and evaluated. Discussion of the role and conduct of research in the program evaluation process. In addition, techniques of effective evaluation and analysis are discussed.

V512     Public Policy Process  (Fall 2023)

An examination of the role of public affairs professionals in policy processes. Focuses on relationships with political actors in various policy areas.

V550     Communications for Public and Nonprofit Sectors

This course is dedicated to strategic communications and public affairs. You will navigate the theoretical predicament of the human condition of communication and persuasion. You will be provided with readings that contain a breadth of examples of organizations who have achieved successes and failures with their target audiences. These readings will provide criteria for successful communication strategies, including press releases and analysis of contemporary communication channels. 

V550     Environmental Policy  (Fall 2024)

This course will allow students to become environmental policy generalists. They will become familiar with a range of environmental concerns, policies, and theories, and practice using this knowledge to analyze problems and cases. Second, students will apply their newly acquired general knowledge to gain targeted expertise in a self-selected policy area relevant to their profession, community, or other interests.

V550     Global Governance in the 21st Century (Fall 2024)

Global Governance in the 21st Century is designed to familiarize students with the processes by which governments, international organizations, NGOs and other non-state actors join hands to find solutions to these problems. Among other themes the course will focus on the historical evolution of global governance, theoretical and institutional foundations of global governance, the role of states, intergovernmental organizations, international laws and regimes, NGOs, and other non-state actors in global governance. 

V550     Global Security in the 21st Century

This course exposes students to the dynamics of war or armed conflict as the primary threat to international security. Focus on non-traditional sources of insecurity such as terrorism, poverty, climate change, transnational criminal gangs, illegal arms trafficking, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and recent outbreak of Ebola in West Africa. Globalization has substantially neutralized the protections previously provided by geographical barriers against distant threats to the security of nations. Therefore, the course is expected to help students to gain strong appreciation for the intersection on national and international security in the 21^st century.

V550     Marketing Management for the Public and Nonprofit Sectors

Marketing Management for Nonprofit Organizations has been structured in three parts. In the first students explore the concept of marketing and the extent to which it might be appropriate to the nonprofit context. The second stage of the course has been designed to reflect the structure of a typical marketing plan. Students study the information requirements for a plan and the range of methodologies that may be employed to capture this information. The course concludes with a consideration of a number of specific nonprofit contexts, such as; social marketing, arts marketing, fundraising, education and healthcare marketing.

V550     Program Planning, Design, and Implementation (Hybrid)

This class will be taught from a nonprofit and public management perspective. Its purpose is to help students understand the importance of agency capacity, program design, theory of change, and evaluation to the implementation of effective programs.  Students will learn concepts and practices related to context analysis, program design, and evaluation planning.

V550     Research Concepts for Public Affairs

This course will focus on research concepts that are necessary for conducting or understanding how data may be used (or mis-used) to make program and/or policy decisions. Even though public and nonprofit managers may not actually conduct research projects, the concepts and elements of rigor that are required for research should be applied to any circumstance in which data is used to draw conclusions. In addition, this course conceptualizes data broadly, including qualitative and multiple data sources, which are often applicable for public and nonprofit management.

V550     Risk, Trust, Credibility and Public Participation (Hybrid)

The goal of this course is to develop an appreciation regarding the critical nature of risk communication and public involvement by managers in the public/nonprofit sectors and introduce students to skills crucial to communicating as professionals. 

V550     O'Neill Online Week (Hybrid)

O'Neill Online Week offers a client-based consulting opportunity. Students develop innovative solutions for issues unique to an organization. After completing this course, students will know how to work productively on a complex project as part of a diverse group, requiring students with very different backgrounds and skills to work together in a collaborative learning format. Students also improve and enhance project management skills and understand how to coordinate complex project elements and deliverables across multiple groups. 

V550     US Foreign Policy & African Development

The course will address diverse dimensions of US-African relations, with particular attention devoted to African Command (AFRICOM), the role of African countries in the US-led Global War on Terror (GWOT), and a major dilemma of US foreign policy toward Africa/the Global South. The course will pay particular attention to Washington’s political friendship (patron-client relations) with African regimes whose conducts are in conflict with American democratic ideals.

V550     Social Equity and Justice 

This course will explore concepts of social equity and justice as a value and a tool, as well as a measure of policy effectiveness. Topics focus on the role of public policy and institutions (e.g., legislatures, courts, and agencies) in addressing issues like structural racism and inequality.

V550     Climate Change Policy

This course examines public policies to reduce GHG emissions, focusing on policies that are leading to a fast and just transition to clean energy. Using the best available cross-disciplinary evidence, the course analyzes and compares dozens of general approaches, and hundreds of specific emission reduction policies of national, state, and local governments. The course explores policies’ cost-effectiveness, equity, and capacity to accelerate policy diffusion, as well as their acceptability given communities’ energy portfolios and regulatory, administrative, and political contexts. 

V550     Designing Studies to Address Public Program (Spring 2025)

Selected research and discussion topics organized on a semester-by-semester basis, usually with significant student input in the course design.

V580     Readings in Public Affairs

Readings on selected topics in public affairs.

V590     Research in Public Affairs

You’ll consult with a faculty member to create a research project related to your interests.