Graduate Certificate in Public Management - Course Descriptions

CPM Curriculum

                                                                          Credits

PA 518 Leading Public Organizations                             3

PA 540 Administrative Theory & Behavior                     3

PA 533 Public Policy: Origins & Processes                     3

PA 536 Strategic Planning                                            3

PA 582 Public Budgeting                                              3

PA 590 Human Resource Mgmt. in the Public Sector       3

PA 512 Reflective Practice & Case Analysis                   3

Total                                                                         21

PA 518 Leading Public Organizations

Course seeks to develop an understanding of the essential ingredients of leading public organizations, including creating a vision, developing support for the vision, and transforming the vision into an organizational legacy. It focuses on the distinctive role responsibilities of the leader as an agent of the organization within the larger community setting, thus distinguishing the course from other leadership classes that focus on either an individual or organizational perspective. As part of this larger external focus, participants acquire the knowledge and skills to undertake inter-jurisdictional and strategic planning, conflict management, to work with the media, and to develop and implement collaborative agreements.

PA 540 Administrative Theory & Behavior

Managing organizational systems to accomplish purposeful outcomes. Attention is given to how formal structures and informal processes influence organizational goals in public and nonprofit environments. This includes theories of organizational, group, and individual behavior, such as organizational design, power and authority, leadership, teamwork, communications, work design, and motiviation. Emphasis is on managers and managing in public purpose organizations by reviewing major theories and their application and effective use.

PA 533 Public Policy: Origins and Processes

Drawing on the general concept of the policy cycle, this course explores the central actors, processes, and issues associated with the formation of public policy. The course gives particular weight to interaction among the three branches of government, interest groups, and the private sector. Tensions between technocratic and political approaches to policy development also receive attention, as do intergovernmental concerns.

PA 536 Strategic Planning

Provides an overview of the application of planning systems to public sector functions and
explores newer “stakeholder” theories of planning, planning models, and the step-by-step
process for initiating and engaging in strategic planning processes at various levels of government. Through the use of case studies and hands-on exercises, students are exposed to
practical applications of strategic planning approaches and techniques.

PA 582 Public Budgeting

Focuses on the major dimensions of public sector budgetary systems. Major emphasis will be
devoted to the local budget processes. Topics will include basic concepts of public budgeting, the budget cycle, budget strategy, planning and presentation, alternative budgeting systems, the budget as a political and management tool.

PA 590 Human Resource Management in the Public Sector

Administration and management of human resource systems in public sector and nonprofit
organizations. Focus is on the underlying values of human resource management, related public policies, structural patterns, and the functional areas of HRM systems. Specific attention will be directed to the strategic roles of human resource management in day-to-day operations, merit system concepts and practices, position and wage classification systems, methods of securing a qualified labor force, and labor relations. Legal requirements in each of these areas will be examined. Emphasis will be on learning by doing through use of skill-building exercises, simulation and analysis of case materials, review of relevant case law, administrative rulemaking, and current literature.

PA 512 Reflective Practice & Case Analysis 

This course is designed to provide mid-career students with administrative experience an opportunity to develop skills in the areas of reflective practice, administrative problem solving,
consulting, and coaching. Students will be required to present a case problem they developed
as the basis of an exercise in administrative problem solving and coaching for their fellow
students.