MPAL6320 Leadership and Public Policy

Course Description

This course is a graduate course in policy formulation, evaluation, and analysis meant for mid-career professionals in diverse public service professions including policy analysts, planning, and management of public service employees. This course provides an in-depth study of the processes, theories, and institutions of public policymaking in the United States. Students should come away from this course with the tools and ability to evaluate contemporary public policies. More specifically, this includes understanding the theoretical and pragmatic approaches in a variety of public policy environments. As you will note in the course outline, the course is divided into two major sections. In the first section, we will examine basic concepts and components of the public policymaking process. In the second section, we will examine major policy areas and look at policy formulation and evaluation in these areas.

This course is ideal for students that are currently in or are looking for leadership roles in the public sector. This course will require attention to specific detail and a willingness to think about these concepts logically rather than dogmatically. This course uses rational choice theory to formulate, evaluate ,and analyze public policy.

Course Credits: 3

Prerequisites: Students in this course must have received acceptance to UTPB's Graduate College.

Student Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Explain how public policies are identified and specified.
  • Identify the various actors in the policymaking process.
  • Identify and explain the forces, pressures, and constraints that play on policymakers.
  • Identify the major actors in the budget implementation process, and what constraints those actors face.
  • Explain how government policies are implemented.
  • Explain how government policies are formally evaluated.
  • Evaluate how environmental policy in the American West is developed and implemented.
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