PPS 101 | INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC POLICY | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This core course is designed to provide the student with an introduction to the field of public policy. The historical origins of policy analysis, definitions of what constitutes "public policy", various theoretical approaches developed to address policy problems, and contemporary policy debates on various substantive issues. By the end of the course each student has a solid background for further study of public policy and the social sciences. This course should be taken as one of the first courses in the major.
PPS 201 | PUBLIC POLICY AND URBAN ISSUES | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This core course is designed to introduce students to the study of urban areas, to some of the more exciting and difficult issues faced by cities, and finally, to some of the policies designed to address these issues. Readings assist students in exploring what makes cities function, how they have changed over time and what it was like to live through those changes, can show us how modern ways of seeing and modern ways of making sense came into being. If student is a PPS major, then students are encouraged to take PPS 101 prior to PPS 201.
PPS 203 | PUBLIC POLICY AND URBAN ISSUES | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This core course is designed to introduce students to the study of urban areas and to some of the policies designed to address issues such as land use planning, zoning, and urban development. The course discusses historical and contemporary issues in American urban land use policy (such as racist land use practices, feminist land use planning, and urban renewal). It further explores the relationship between specific zoning tools and development functions within a private property system. Cross-listed with GEO 203.
PPS 205 | PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This core course provides students a foundation of and some experience with the research methods used in public policy for collecting and conducting public policy analysis. This will include an overview of research designs and the variety of methods for conducting public policy analysis. Concepts of reliability and validity as well as the use of social scientific policy studies are used. The social science approach to conducting research on public policy is the focus.
PPS 208 | INTRODUCTION TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course introduces the most important skills needed to manage a nonprofit organization and gives students a chance to practice those skills using contemporary and historical case studies. Topics covered include the history, scope, and significance of the nonprofit sector, theories of the nonprofit sector, law and governance, fundraising, advocacy, volunteer management, social entrepreneurship, marketing, the nonprofit life cycle, competition and collaboration, and relationships with business and government. Guest speakers throughout the quarter provide professional context for class topics.
PPS 231 | ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
The purpose of this course is to provide students with a historical background on environmental justice (EJ) in the US and an understanding of the current EJ movement. Policy debates surrounding EJ are highlighted from recent studies on determining 'disproportionate impact' to local EJ communities. Students will explore the social, political, and economic processes influencing the spatial distribution of environmental amenities and harms across the U.S. urban landscape, with particular focus on the role of environmental justice struggles in shaping urban policy and the urban landscape. Cross-listed with GEO 205.
PPS 236 | QUANTITATIVE PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course provides an introduction to the use of quantitative methods in political science and in the social sciences more broadly. Students will learn to apply the logic of statistical analysis to measure and explain social phenomena. Students will also learn core concepts like Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), probability, and regression analysis. Cross-listed with SOC 279 and PSC 205.
PPS 250 | ISSUES IN HOUSING POLICY AND NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
A major focus of urban policy and grassroots action is the condition of city neighborhoods. This course examines trends in urban and housing policy as they have affected neighborhoods, neighborhood-grounded grassroots action, and local neighborhood development initiatives.
PPS 251 | URBAN POVERTY | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
Urban Poverty seeks to understand why poverty remains prevalent in the United States. The course examines poverty in urban environments as well as poverty's relationship to work, housing, and the suburbs. Finally, the course explores public policies aimed at alleviating poverty. This course is an Experiential Learning requirement and will allow students the first-hand discovery of knowledge through observation and participation in 25 hours of field-based work outside the classroom.
PPS 260 | CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course looks at the public policy responses to climate change in a variety of contexts. Beginning with a discussion of the unique, global nature of the problem, the course looks at how international, national, and subnational governments have developed policies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions as well as ways to build resilience in the face of changing climatic conditions. Special attention will be placed on the role of uncertainty and risk management in the policy making process with regard to climate adaptation. There is no prerequisite for this course.
PPS 278 | DISABILITY RIGHTS AND POLICY | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
Students use the tools of both justice studies and public policy studies to understand the different aspects that bring about changes in the lives of those affected by disabilities and the ways in which laws and policies can limit the freedom and basic rights of those living with disability. Students will explore a wide range of activism, policies and laws, including employment and public accommodations under the ADA, special education rights under the IDEA, guardianship, and substitute decision making, deinstitutionalization and conditions of confinement and treatment, housing and homelessness, and international disability rights and policy. Students will consider how disability is defined, which rights exist for people with disabilities, and review how the ADA has influenced the United Nations' disability rights laws. Cross-listed with PAX 278.
PPS 301 | PUBLIC POLICY AND POLITICS | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course examines the theories and models of public policy-making. It highlights how public policy is made and who participates in the process. It explores the important role of politics in public policy-making. American institutions and groups are highlighted as well as the unique role the media plays in the process. Students will also have a chance to analyze a public policy based on the diversity of public policy models.
PPS 318 | PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
Every nonprofit organization (NPO) should measure its progress in fulfilling its mission, its success in mobilizing its resources, and its staff's effectiveness on the job. What about a program implemented by an NPO works? How does it make a difference? Who benefits most? And in what context? Program Development and Evaluation is a course that will introduce students to practical program planning, implementation and evaluation skills applicable to nonprofit organizations engaged in a variety of policy areas including emergency relief, service delivery, and policy & rights advocacy. The topics include identifying the problem, planning, implementing and evaluating a program. The course will examine both formative and summative evaluation, and why these components are so critical to measure the real success of an NPO in achieving its mission.
PPS 319 | FUNDRAISING FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course teaches students the theories and techniques of resource development. We discuss the fundraising tradition in the U.S., principal donor types, theories of donor behavior, and the organizational, legal and ethical contexts of fundraising. Students learn basic fundraising tools, including planning, special events, major gifts, planned giving, and capital campaigns. Students work as volunteer consultants with nonprofit partners to analyze their current fundraising strategies and materials and help them develop new ones. Introduction to comparing and contrasting the difference between government grants and contracts is explored.
PPS 322 | FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course explores human resource issues facing employees with supervisory responsibilities in public service organizations, including those working in the volunteer, non-profit, religious, government, and education sectors. The course considers human resource planning, employee recruiting and selection, and the motivation and evaluation of staff personnel and managers both individually and in teams. Topics include recruiting and selecting employees and managers, fostering team development, managing employee stress, preventing workplace violence, and handling issues pertaining to termination, training, and development. The course also explores progressive discipline and, improving performance management of employees and volunteers.
PPS 329 | STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
Students learn how to apply strategic management and planning concepts and tools to public and nonprofit organizations to achieve goals and objectives in meeting service delivery missions, both domestically and internationally. The course focuses on analyzing the interaction of trends, market forces, stakeholders, and core competencies in developing visions and strategies for alternative scenarios.
PPS 330 | SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
Sustainable development has become a crucial concept in international initiatives worldwide. It attempts to foster policies that balance the need for economic development with practices that promote healthy communities and ecosystems. This course is based on the instructor's theoretical and practical experience gathered in developed and developing countries under market and command economies conditions. Special emphasis is placed on the role of institutions, both governmental and non-government, in shaping economic policies that are compatible with environmental health. The course pursues the objective of preparing students to understand main environmental problems and to generate solutions for these problems from a multidisciplinary perspective.
PPS 333 | GREEN CITIES | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course looks at public policies pertaining to urban sustainability. Low-carbon transportation, green building policies, locally produced renewable energy, and storm water management policies are among the topics discussed.
PPS 346 | ADVOCACY AND LOBBYING | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
Explores the roles of individuals and organizations in the public policy process, particularly as power arrangements facilitate or impede consensus building. Examines how legislation is written and how administrative rules are formed in government agencies. Special attention is paid to advocacy techniques such as lobbying, public education, and litigation.
PPS 353 | INEQUALITY AND PUBLIC POLICY | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
Many recent studies have detailed the significant growth in economic inequality in the United States, showing a level not seen since the 1920s. Others have focused on the consequences on significant inequality for a society and its politics. Often this inequality is seen as a necessary (and even desirable) consequence of a free market. This course focuses, however, on policy aspects of our current inequality: the public policies that have contributed to current levels of inequality, reasons for reducing inequality, and public policies that may reduce inequality. U.S. inequality and public policies will also be contrasted with those of similar nations, such as Germany and Nordic countries.
PPS 354 | PRINCIPLES OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
Examines the theory and practice of strategic and operational planning for emergency management planning and response. Surveys government, nonprofit, and private sector activities in emergency and crisis management and policy. Reviews the principles associated with evaluation of risk and the formulation of prevention programs. Identifies the issues and policy responses necessary to achieve coordination of agencies and collaboration with appropriate private resources. The course will be organized around case study examination and table top scenario activities in order to apply concepts in practice.
PPS 358 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN NONPROFIT STUDIES | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course provides an in-depth examination of various issues in nonprofit management. It may be taken multiple times, each on a different topic.
PPS 359 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN PUBLIC POLICY STUDIES | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course provides an in-depth examination of various public policy issues and be taken multiple times for each topic offered.
PPS 364 | PUBLIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION AND PLANNING | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course covers management strategies and selected analytic tools for the administration of public safety agencies. Management, planning and coordination issues will be addressed across different governmental structures (federal, state, county, local and sub-local); as well as different functional areas across public safety operations, such as staffing/personnel management; special event planning/operations; interagency coordination; effective community partnership planning; and public communications.
PPS 368 | COMPARATIVE INTERNATIONAL DISABILITY POLICIES | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This advanced course explores the classification, policies, and experiences of disability both globally and locally to understand what is universal and particular with access to rights and discrimination based on disability. Examination of legislation, inclusive practices, and social movements addressing the marginalization of people with disabilities are explored through the American perspective and various international models using case studies, narratives, and guest speakers. Cross-listed with MPS 568.
PPS 369 | CANNABIS POLICY IN THE USA | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course explores policies related to cannabis at the local, state, and federal levels in the United States. Topics include the policy design and implementation of cannabis legalization at state and local levels, and additional debates about cannabis policies.
PPS 374 | RENEWABLE AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY POLICY | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
This course takes a case study approach to look at policy innovation that supports efforts to decrease the carbon intensity in the energy sector. Focusing primarily on local, state, and subnational government actions, this course surveys key policy tools such as renewable portfolio standards, community choice aggregation, property assessed clean energy, distributed energy generation, and transportation decarbonization efforts.
PPS 376 | ENERGY POLICY AND THE ENVIRONMENT | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
Fluctuating energy prices and climate change concerns have kept the public's interest in energy and environmental issues over the years. Legislators have occasionally passed laws to encourage renewable and other green energy technologies, enhance future energy security, and reduce harmful pollutants that result from energy use. This course will provide a historical and broad perspective on energy policy, energy resources and use, environmental protection, energy regulation, renewable resource economics, CO2 emission reduction strategies, and other issues. The course is divided into three main sections that cover: 1) energy supply, including from oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, and renewable resources, 2) energy demand, including energy use by sector and conservation efforts to use energy resources more efficiently, and 3) environmental impacts from energy use.
PPS 378 | URBAN RESILIENCE AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION POLICY | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
With more than half the global population living in cities and climate models projecting significant global warming over the next decades, local officials will be at the forefront of adapting to new climatic realities. This course looks specifically at municipal policies adopted to address climate adaptation and responses to other environmental and health stressors such as global pandemics. The course takes a global view, exploring policies from both the Global North and Global South as well as international networks of policy diffusion that facilitate cooperation between urban policymakers around the world.
PPS 393 | CAPSTONE IN PUBLIC POLICY | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
The Public Policy Capstone Course provides students a culminating academic and intellectual experience through sustained interdisciplinary inquiry. The Capstone is intended for students to integrate concepts and techniques learned throughout their undergraduate coursework into a culminating project that draws on policy related learnings. As part of the Capstone each student will complete a research-based project that contributes to the public policy community of knowledge through aiming to solve a public policy problem. Throughout the course, students will work independently and collaboratively and advance their creativity, project-management skills, written and oral communication skills, and critical thinking.
Status as a Public Policy Studies major with Senior standing is a prerequisite for this class.
PPS 398 | INTERNSHIP | 4 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
The course combines academic study with practical experience obtained through work in an off-campus internship setting. The internship course requires academic output in the form of a research journal, paper, or other project.
PPS 399 | INDEPENDENT STUDY | 0.5-6 quarter hours
(Undergraduate)
Intensive study of a topic of special interest. Instructor-guided supervised reading and research. Variable credit.