PAdm 701: Public and Nonprofit Governance

3 Credit Hours

Prerequisites:
None

Course Objectives:

  • An understanding of the governmental and political institutions that underlie the practice of public administration at the state and local levels
  • An understanding of the nonprofit sector and its role in the public administration environment
  • Recognition of the challenges facing both public and nonprofit managers in the complex environment within which public and nonprofit organizations operate
  • A working awareness of the structure and function of state and local government and of the nonprofit sector including constitutional authority, board governance, legislative process, intergovernmental relations, government-nonprofit relations, interest groups and stakeholders

Course Description:
Designed to help students develop an understanding of: a) the governmental and political complexities within which public administration operates; b) the nonprofit sector 鈥 including its major public-benefits subcomponents 鈥 and its role in the public administration environment; and c) challenges facing both public and non-governmental actors. Students should develop a working awareness of the significant concepts and components of the governance, politics, and institutions, that enables them to analyze forces of change in this challenging environment.

Major Topics Covered:

  • Federalism
  • Constitutions
  • Political parties and political culture
  • Interest groups and the media
  • Legislatures and nonprofit boards
  • Governors/chief executives
  • Courts
  • Bureaucracy and organizational culture
  • Intergovernmental relations/government-nonprofit relations
  • Public and nonprofit finance
  • Future trends/e-government
  • Government and governance