20.831.501.01 Introduction to Public Administration

Course Description

This graduate-level introductory course presents to students the theoretical, intellectual, historical, institutional, and constitutional foundations of public service and administration. Students will be exposed to the fundamentals of organizational theory and management, decision-making and leadership, program evaluation, diversity and inclusion, technology, values and ethics, and other critical topics for public and nonprofit administrators. 

The course covers a wide array of topics during the semester that will help students to think more critically as leaders in the public and nonprofit sector, as well as members of the community. Throughout the assignments and assessments of this course, students will explore and examine the unique role of public service, the intersection between administrative theory and practice, and the current challenges facing the public and nonprofit sectors.

Course Objectives

• With the comprehension of course materials and participation in discussions, students will understand, apply, and analyze the perspectives of diverse groups of public service stakeholders.
• In assignments and assessments, students will interpret, integrate, and evaluate key public service values and their common constraints and challenges in administration.
• Throughout all course activities, assignments, and assessments, students will develop and demonstrate creativity, communication, and critical thinking skills.