Graduate Courses

The faculty has approval to offer the following courses in the academic years 2013–2014 and 2014–2015; however, not all courses are taught each semester or summer session. Students should consult the Course Schedule to determine which courses and topics will be offered during a particular semester or summer session. The Course Schedule may also reflect changes made to the course inventory after the publication of this catalog.

 

Public Affairs: P A

P A 280E. Gateway to Executive Leadership.

Restricted to students in the executive master's program in the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. Intensive gateway course that serves as a foundation for the executive master's program. Subjects include strategic thinking, global and intergovernmental factors affecting organizational leadership, and ethical leadership. Two lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

P A 280L, 380L. Topics in Public Policy and Law.

Various aspects of policy making, policy development, and communications at a variety of levels. For each semester hour of credit earned, one lecture hour a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

Topic 1: Policy Development and Law. Examines effective policy making at all levels of government, including consideration of the legal process which provides critical context; the policy development process and its relationship to the rule of law; and key elements of public policy development, including ethics, decision making, leadership, and policy implementation.
Topic 2: Policy and Law Placement. Thorough examination of ethical issues and professional responsibilities and development of written and oral communication skills that are preparatory for field placement in policy and law.
Topic 3: Law and Public Policy. Examines the interconnection of public policy and law and how the two disciplines approach related issues; how legal structures and precedent shape and constrain policy choices; and how public policy informs the work of the courts.

P A 680P. Policy Research Project.

Interdisciplinary research on a contemporary policy problem involving interaction with sponsoring organizations. Three lecture hours a week for two semesters, or as required by the topic. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: For 680PA, graduate standing and consent of instructor; for 680PB, Public Affairs 680PA.

P A 381E. Strategic Communications.

Restricted to students in the executive master's program in the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. Topics related to a leader's role in strategic and effective communications with governing boards, legislative bodies, the media, the public, and employees. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

P A 882D. Policy Research Project.

Interdisciplinary research on a contemporary policy problem involving interaction with an agency of government. Four lecture hours a week for two semesters. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: For 882DA, graduate standing and consent of instructor; for 882DB, Public Affairs 882DA.

P A 382E. Executive Analytics.

Restricted to students in the executive master's program in the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. Topics in the processes and analytical tools needed for decision-making by senior-level leaders. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

P A 682G. Policy Research Project on Global Policy Issues.

Interdisciplinary research on a contemporary global policy problem involving interaction with sponsoring organizations. Three lecture hours a week for two semesters, or as required by the topic. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: For 682GA, graduate standing and consent of instructor; for 682GB, Public Affairs 682GA.

P A 383C. Policy Development.

Introduction to how public policy is developed and adopted in government systems. Covers the role of politics and institutions in implementing and managing policy. Normally taken during the first year. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

P A 383D. Politics and Process.

Introduction to how public policy develops and is adopted in the American government system. Taught with a videoconference component. Normally taken during the first year. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

P A 383E. Executive Management.

Restricted to students in the executive master's program in the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. Topics in leadership strategy, decision-making, and information management; the understanding and leading of organizational change initiatives for senior-level executives. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Offered on the letter-grade basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.

P A 383G. Policymaking in a Global Age.

History, politics, and organization of how the United States makes and implements foreign policy decisions. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

P A 384C. Public Management.

Covers the development and implementation of policy within an organizational environment, including the role of political and institutional factors, organization and management concepts, and human information resource issues. Normally taken during the first year. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

P A 384D. Public Management.

Covers the development and implementation of policy within an organization environment, including the role of political and institutional factors, organization and management concepts, and human information resource issues. Normally taken during the first year. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May have a distance learning component. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

P A 387G. The Nature of the International System.

Introduces systematic analysis of global policy, factors that motivate foreign policies and private decisions, and instruments used in the conduct of international relations. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

P A 388D. Advanced Topics in Public Policy.

Typical topics include issues in political values and ethics and issues in transportation, health, environmental, international, regulatory, urban, and labor and human resources policy. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Some topics may be taught via Web-based instruction with no class meetings. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

Topic 1: Perspectives on Public Policy. Covers the art and science of policy formulation in the areas of economics, national security, monetary policy, science, technology, and trade. Examines the relationships among policy development processes at the federal, state, and local levels of government.
Topic 2: Politics and Policies in an Aging Population.
Topic 3: Texas Health Policy.

P A 188G. Topics in Global Policy Studies.

Three lecture hours a week for five weeks, or as required by the topic. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

P A 388K. Advanced Topics in Public Policy.

Typical topics include issues in political values and ethics and in natural resources, transportation, health, environmental, international, regulatory, urban, and labor and human resources policy. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Some topics may be taught via Web-based instruction with no class meetings. Some sections are offered on the letter-grade basis only. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

P A 388L. Advanced Topics in Management.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

P A 188S. Advanced Topics in Public Policy.

Three lecture hours a week for five weeks, or as required by the topic. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

P A 389. Conference Course in Policy Analysis.

Individual instruction related to selected aspects of professional theory and practice. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor and the graduate adviser.

P A 189C. Independent Study in Public Policy.

Individual instruction related to selected aspects of professional theory and practice. The equivalent of one lecture hour a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, consent of instructor and the graduate adviser.

P A 389E. Research Capstone.

Restricted to students in the executive master's program in the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. Integrative independent study organized around a project requiring students to draw upon previous studies, academic research, and practical applications. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit. Offered on the letter-grade basis only.

P A 390C. Advanced Research Methods.

Study of research methods, with a focus on those needed by doctoral students in public policy. Includes discussions of broad controversies in social science methodology and subjects not commonly covered in other first-year graduate courses. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

P A 390D, 690D, 990D. Dissertation Proposal Preparation.

Development and preparation of the dissertation proposal. Individual instruction. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, completion of all coursework, and consent of instructor.

P A 390E. Research Design.

Designed to provide a structured framework in which students can develop and apply methods training and produce a research paper. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

P A 190G. Writing for Global Policy Studies.

Instruction in the writing styles appropriate for professional careers in international settings. Three lecture hours a week for five weeks, or as required by the topic. May be repeated for credit, but only three semester hours may be counted toward the Master of Global Policy Studies degree. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

P A 391. Public Financial Management.

The budget process, budgetary methods, governmental accounting analysis of financial statements, government revenues, debt management, and other financial management techniques for public and nonprofit programs. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

P A 392C. Theory and Philosophy of Public Policy I.

Explores the theoretical foundations of public policy. Includes political philosophy concepts and various theoretical approaches to the policy-making process. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

P A 392D. Theory and Philosophy of Public Policy II.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, Public Affairs 392C, and consent of the graduate adviser.

P A 393G. Microeconomics.

Principles of markets and market failures relevant to global policy studies. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

P A 393H. International Economics.

Comparative advantage, international trade, international trade institutions, and agreements. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and Public Affairs 393G.

P A 393K. Applied Microeconomics for Policy Analysis.

The use of economic reasoning in the development and implementation of public policy. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

P A 393L. Advanced Policy Economics.

Advanced topics in the application of economic reasoning to the development and implementation of policy. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and Public Affairs 393K.

P A 095. Public Affairs Colloquium.

Guest lectures on topics to be announced. One lecture hour a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor and the graduate adviser.

P A 195C. Supervised Policy Research.

Supervised, individual policy research experience on a topic chosen by the supervising faculty member. Conference course. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in public affairs and approval of the research proposal by the supervising faculty member and the graduate adviser.

P A 195G. Global Policy Simulation.

Supervised role-playing exercises on global policy. The equivalent of one lecture hour a week for one semester; additional hours may be required. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

P A 196C. Supervised Public Service.

Supervised, individual practical public service experience in an area chosen by the supervising faculty member. Conference course. May not be counted toward the Master of Public Affairs degree. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in public affairs and approval of proposal by the supervising faculty member and the graduate adviser.

P A 396G. Internship in Global Policy Studies.

Supervised participation in and observation of international issues as a working member of the staff in an agency of government, a nonprofit organization, or a public policy-related unit in the private sector. At least 400 hours of work over one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, completion of one year in the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and consent of the associate dean.

P A 396K. Internship in Public Policy.

Supervised participation and observation as a working member of the staff in an agency of government, a nonprofit organization, or a public policy-related unit in the private sector. Students work full time for one summer session or long-session semester. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Completion of one year in the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs and consent of the associate dean.

P A 397. Introduction to Empirical Methods for Policy Analysis.

Survey of the application of a broad range of quantitative models to policy analysis and managerial decision-making: optimization techniques based on calculus and linear programming, probability theory and decision analysis, sampling theory and hypothesis testing, regression analysis, and forecasting. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; and either one semester each of college algebra, calculus, and statistics or a passing score on the validation exam offered before the beginning of the semester.

P A 397C. Advanced Empirical Methods for Policy Analysis.

Research methods, specialized empirical techniques, and data analysis as used in policy analysis and management. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Some topics may be taught via Web-based instruction with no class meetings. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and Public Affairs 397.

P A 397D. Applied Quantitative Analysis I.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Survey of the application of a broad range of quantitative models to policy analysis and managerial decision-making: optimization techniques based on calculus and linear programming, probability and theory and decision analysis, sampling theory and hypothesis testing, regression analysis, and forecasting. Prerequisite: Graduate standing; and either one semester each of college algebra, calculus, and statistics or a passing score on the validation exam offered before the beginning of the semester.

P A 397G. Analytical Methods for Global Policy Studies.

Descriptive statistics, inference, multivariate regression, qualitative methods, and case study methods applicable to global policy research. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, and an undergraduate statistics course or a passing score on the validation exam.

P A 098J. Joint Programs with Partner Institutions.

Certification course for students enrolled in Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs interdisciplinary joint degree programs. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

P A 398R. Master's Report.

Preparation of a report to fulfill the requirement for the master's degree under the report option. The equivalent of three lecture hours a week for one semester. Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in public affairs and consent of the graduate adviser.

P A 198T, 398T. Supervised Teaching in Public Affairs.

Group meetings with the instructor, individual consultations, and reports. Mandatory for students seeking teaching assistant positions. For each semester hour of credit earned, one lecture hour a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of the graduate adviser.

P A 399R, 699R, 999R. Dissertation.

Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree and consent of the graduate adviser in public affairs.

P A 399W, 699W, 999W. Dissertation.

Offered on the credit/no credit basis only. Prerequisite: Public Affairs 399R, 699R, or 999R.