Public Affairs: P A

Lower-Division Courses

P A X01. Foundations of Public Affairs.

Explore key concepts and debates in the study of public policy. Review foundational historical texts, influential theoretical writings, and important case studies. Discover a range of policy issues, both domestic and international.

P A X05. Analysis of Policy Adoption and Implementation.

Examine how US policymakers and staff in local, state, and federal government formulate and manage public policy, including the processes for creating and adopting public policy and the processes for implementing and governing public policy.

P A X09. Introductory Topics in Policy.

Survey various introductory topics in public affairs and policy.

P A X09.1. Introduction to International Development Policy.

Explore the ideational landscape of international development, including the main "schools of thought" in development over time, as well how the beliefs and assumptions within these schools inform particular policy solutions. Analyze the institutional landscape with respect to the actors, organizations, and transnational communities that shape how global development has been practiced at the local, national and international levels. Examine the indicator landscape concerning how data on development can be found, interpreted and used to pursue evidence-based analysis and decision making in this space. Survey contemporary development policy issues.

P A X09.2. Introduction to National Security.

Explore the actors, processes, and current challenges of U.S. national security. Examine policy formulation, the instruments of national security and their integration, and legal and ethical tensions. Learn about the array of current state and non-state actors threatening national and global security.

P A X11L. Qualitative Methods for Public Affairs.

Survey a variety of qualitative empirical methods, drawn from the fields of history, anthropology, political science, and sociology, that are essential for making and evaluating public policies and programs.

P A X11N. Quantitative Methods for Public Affairs.

Survey a variety of quantitative empirical methods, drawn from the fields of data science and management science, that are essential for making and evaluating public policies and programs.

P A X15. Economic Analysis for Public Affairs.

Use the tools of microeconomics to analyze the public policymaking role of governments. Examine rationales for policy interventions including addressing market failures, distributional goals, generating revenue, among other objectives. Explore specific policy interventions and topics relevant to contemporary public policy debates such as taxation, health, social welfare, energy and the environment, and income inequality.

P A X19S. Topics in Public Affairs.

This course is used to record credit the student earns while enrolled at another institution in a program administered by the University's Study Abroad Office. Credit is recorded as assigned by the study abroad adviser in the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. University credit is awarded for work in an exchange program; it may be counted as coursework taken in residence. Transfer credit is awarded for work in an affiliated studies program.

P A X80L. Topics in Public Policy and Law.

Various aspects of policy making, policy development, and communications at a variety of levels.

P A X80L.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.

P A X80L.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.

P A X80L.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 X90D. Dissertation Proposal Preparation.

Development and preparation of the dissertation proposal.

P A X98T. Supervised Teaching in Public Affairs.

Group meetings with the instructor, individual consultations, and reports. Mandatory for students seeking teaching assistant positions.

Upper-Division Courses

P A X20. Communication for Public Affairs.

Develop strategies to engage with policy audiences outside of academic circles by practicing clear concise communication. Evaluate and practice various genres of policy communication with an emphasis on learning by doing.

P A X25. Topics in Policy.

Survey various topics in public affairs and policy.

P A X29S. Topics in Public Affairs.

This course is used to record credit the student earns while enrolled at another institution in a program administered by the University's Study Abroad Office. Credit is recorded as assigned by the study abroad adviser in the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. University credit is awarded for work in an exchange program; it may be counted as coursework taken in residence. Transfer credit is awarded for work in an affiliated studies program.

P A X36. Professional Development.

Practice entering the professional realm of policymaking through a series of workshops that focus on different aspects of professional development such as resume-writing, mock job interviews, drafting cover letters for jobs and internships, and professional networking.

P A X37. Leadership Laboratory.

Discover the basic skills of effective public and nonprofit leadership that promote well-being and strengthen civil society. Determine the characteristics of good leaders, including personal and social responsibility, inclusivity, and ethics. Develop and refine a guiding personal philosophy of leadership for navigating real world applications to advance social and policy change.

P A X45. Advanced Topics in Policy.

Examine various advanced topics in public affairs and policy.

P A X55. Advanced Topics in Policy Analysis Skills and Methods.

Explore advanced qualitative or quantitative methods to better shape and evaluate public policies.

P A X59. Public Affairs Internship.

Participate in fieldwork at an organization focused on public affairs.

P A X59R. Topics in Public Policy Issues.

Current issues in public policy.

P A X59R.1. UT Energy Symposium.

P A X65W. Topics in Policymaking in Washington, DC.

Explore various topics about the practice of policymaking by United States federal institutions, international organizations, and non-state actors in Washington, DC.

P A X68. Policy Simulation.

Apply principles of policy analysis and development, as well as skills in policy communication and leadership, to tackle a contemporary policy problem.

P A X70. Independent Study in Public Affairs.

Undertake supervised individual research on a special topic in the field of public affairs.

P A X80L. Topics in Public Policy and Law.

Various aspects of policy making, policy development, and communications at a variety of levels.

P A X80L.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.

P A X80L.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.

P A X80L.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 X90D. Dissertation Proposal Preparation.

Development and preparation of the dissertation proposal.

P A X98T. Supervised Teaching in Public Affairs.

Group meetings with the instructor, individual consultations, and reports. Mandatory for students seeking teaching assistant positions.

Graduate Courses

P A X80L. Topics in Public Policy and Law.

Various aspects of policy making, policy development, and communications at a variety of levels.

P A X80L.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.

P A X80L.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.

P A X80L.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 X80P. Policy Research Project.

Interdisciplinary research on a contemporary policy problem involving interaction with sponsoring organizations.

P A X80W. Apprenticeship in Public Policy.

P A X81W. Topics in the Foundations of Policymaking.

P A X82D. Policy Research Project.

Interdisciplinary research on a contemporary policy problem involving interaction with an agency of government.

P A X82G. Policy Research Project on Global Policy Issues.

Interdisciplinary research on a contemporary global policy problem involving interaction with sponsoring organizations.

P A X82W. Topics in Policy Analysis: Seminar.

P A X83C. Topics in 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.

P A X83D. Politics and Process.

Introduction to how public policy develops and is adopted in the American government system.

P A X83G. Policymaking in a Global Age.

History, politics, and organization of how the United States makes and implements foreign policy decisions.

P A X84D. 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.

P A X85C. Topics In Public Management.

Develop and implement policy within an organizational environment in the public and nonprofit sectors including the role of political and institutional actors, organization and management concepts, and human resource information issues.

P A X85D. Advanced Topics in Public Management.

Explore various advanced public management topics related to the development and implementation of policy within an organizational environment in the public and nonprofit sectors including the role of political and institutional actors, organization and management concepts, and human resource information issues.

P A X87G. 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.

P A X87K. Advanced Topics in Public Policy.

Issues in political values and ethics and in natural resources, transportation, health, environmental, international, regulatory, urban, and labor and human resources policy.

P A X87W. Writing For Global Policy.

P A X88D. 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.

P A X88D.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.

P A X88D.2. Politics and Policies in an Aging Population.

P A X88D.3. Texas Health Policy.

P A X88F. Topics in Policy and Practice.

P A X88G. Topics in Global Policy Studies.

P A X88J. Writing for Policy.

P A X88K. 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.

P A X88K.10. Nonprofit Management and Strategy.

P A X88K.11. Qualitative Methods for the Social Sciences.

P A X88K.7. International Development.

P A X88K.8. Introduction to Geographic Information Systems.

P A X88K.9. Nongovernmental Organizations in Developing Worlds.

P A X88L. Advanced Topics in Management.

P A X88N. Invisible Global Market.

P A X88S. Advanced Topics in Public Policy.

P A X88W. Advanced Topics In Public Policy.

P A X89. Conference Course in Policy Analysis.

Individual instruction related to selected aspects of professional theory and practice.

P A X89C. Independent Study in Public Policy.

Individual instruction related to selected aspects of professional theory and practice.

P A X89D. Communications.

P A X89W. Policy Portfolio Internship.

Integrative portfolio course organized around a project incorporating previous studies, academic research and practical application of work in a professional internship.

P A X90C. 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.

P A X90D. Dissertation Proposal Preparation.

Development and preparation of the dissertation proposal.

P A X90E. Research Design.

Designed to provide a structured framework in which students can develop and apply methods training and produce a research paper.

P A X90G. Writing for Global Policy Studies.

Instruction in the writing styles appropriate for professional careers in international settings.

P A X91. 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.

P A X91G. Advanced Topics In Public Financial Management.

Explore various advanced public financial management topics that may include budgetary methods, government accounting analysis of financial statements, government revenues, debt management, and other financial management techniques for public and nonprofit programs.

P A X92C. 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.

P A X92D. Theory and Philosophy of Public Policy II.

P A X93C. Foundations of Public Policy.

P A X93G. Microeconomics.

Principles of markets and market failures relevant to global policy studies.

P A X93H. International Economics.

Comparative advantage, international trade, international trade institutions, and agreements.

P A X93J. Topics in International Economics.

Comparative advantage, international trade, international trade institutions, and agreements.

P A X93K. Applied Microeconomics for Policy Analysis.

The use of economic reasoning in the development and implementation of public policy.

P A X93L. Topics in Advanced Policy Economics.

Advanced topics in the application of economic reasoning to the development and implementation of policy.

P A X94C. Research Design and Methods I.

Introduction to research and design methods in public affairs/policy.

P A X95. Public Affairs Colloquium.

Guest lectures on topics to be announced.

P A X95C. Supervised Policy Research.

Supervised, individual policy research experience on a topic chosen by the supervising faculty member.

P A X95D. Research Design and Methods II.

Continuing study of research and design methods for students at the doctoral level.

P A X95G. Global Policy Simulation.

Supervised role-playing exercises on global policy.

P A X95W. Policy Simulation.

Supervised role-playing exercises on public policy.

P A X96C. Supervised Public Service.

Supervised, individual practical public service experience in an area chosen by the supervising faculty member.

P A X96G. 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.

P A X96K. 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.

P A X97. 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.

P A X97C. Topics in Advanced Empirical Methods for Policy Analysis.

Research methods, specialized empirical techniques, and data analysis as used in policy analysis and management.

P A X97D. Applied Quantitative Analysis I.

P A X97G. Analytical Methods for Global Policy Studies.

Descriptive statistics, inference, multivariate regression, qualitative methods, and case study methods applicable to global policy research.

P A X98J. Joint Programs with Partner Institutions.

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

P A X98R. Master's Report.

Preparation of a report to fulfill the requirement for the master's degree under the report option.

P A X98T. Supervised Teaching in Public Affairs.

Group meetings with the instructor, individual consultations, and reports. Mandatory for students seeking teaching assistant positions.

P A X99W. Dissertation.

Professional Courses

P A X80L. Topics in Public Policy and Law.

Various aspects of policy making, policy development, and communications at a variety of levels.

P A X80L.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.

P A X80L.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.

P A X80L.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 X90D. Dissertation Proposal Preparation.

Development and preparation of the dissertation proposal.

P A X98T. Supervised Teaching in Public Affairs.

Group meetings with the instructor, individual consultations, and reports. Mandatory for students seeking teaching assistant positions.