Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) Major in Public Administration (Thesis Option)

PA 5199B. Thesis.

This course represents a student’s continuing enrollment during the thesis development and completion phase. The course provides an academic framework for sustained faculty supervision as students revise, analyze, and complete an approved thesis project. Students engage in continued literature review, data analysis or interpretation, and refinement of theoretical and methodological approaches consistent with disciplinary standards in political science. Emphasis is placed on evaluating research findings, incorporating faculty feedback, and preparing the final manuscript in accordance with institutional and departmental requirements. Enrollment continues until the thesis has been completed and submitted, ensuring ongoing academic oversight and alignment with degree completion policies.

PA 5299B. Thesis.

This course represents a student’s continuing enrollment during the thesis development and completion phase. The course provides an academic framework for sustained faculty supervision as students revise, analyze, and complete an approved thesis project. Students engage in continued literature review, data analysis or interpretation, and refinement of theoretical and methodological approaches consistent with disciplinary standards in political science. Emphasis is placed on evaluating research findings, incorporating faculty feedback, and preparing the final manuscript in accordance with institutional and departmental requirements. Enrollment continues until the thesis has been completed and submitted, ensuring ongoing academic oversight and alignment with degree completion policies.

PA 5300. Introduction to Public Policy and Administration.

This course analyzes public administration and public policy in the United States through systematic study of governance structures and administrative practice. Students examine public institutions, decision‑making processes, and organizational arrangements involved in policy formulation and implementation. The course evaluates democratic governance by analyzing accountability mechanisms, administrative procedures, and intergovernmental relationships. Using academic literature, case studies, and empirical analysis, students assess how public policies are administered in practice. The course emphasizes analytical inquiry, methodological rigor, and objective evaluation of public sector operations.

PA 5310. Public Finance Administration.

This course analyzes public finance practices with a focus on budgeting and financial analysis in public sector organizations. Students examine operating and capital budgets, revenue forecasting, and financial planning within administrative decision making contexts. The course evaluates cost benefit analysis, life cycle costing, and other analytical methods used to assess public expenditures. Instruction incorporates applied examples to examine approaches to budget justification, presentation, and implementation. Emphasis is placed on evaluating budgetary tools and techniques using evidence based financial analysis and established public finance frameworks.

PA 5311. Introduction to Statistical Analysis.

This course analyzes quantitative methods used in public administration to support organizational analysis and management decisions. Students examine the use of descriptive and inferential statistics in evaluating public sector operations and administrative performance. The course evaluates data collection procedures, statistical analysis techniques, and interpretation of results within public management contexts. Instruction incorporates applied exercises, empirical datasets, and analytical frameworks drawn from scholarly literature. Emphasis is placed on developing analytical skills necessary for evaluating administrative data and informing decision making processes in public organizations.

PA 5312. Program Evaluation and Administrative Statistical Analysis.

This course examines advanced quantitative methods used in the evaluation of public policies and programs. Students analyze statistical techniques for assessing policy outcomes and program performance within administrative and managerial contexts. The course evaluates data sources, research designs, and analytical models commonly applied in public sector evaluation. Instruction emphasizes empirical analysis, methodological rigor, and interpretation of quantitative evidence using applied examples and scholarly literature. Students develop analytical skills to assess public policies and programs using systematic, evidence based approaches. Prerequisite: PA 5311 with a grade of "B" or better.

PA 5313. Public Sector Economics.

This course examines foundational economic concepts as they apply to the public sector. Students analyze principles of economics used in public policy analysis and public management, with attention to collective action, public choice, resource allocation, and service delivery. The course evaluates how economic frameworks are applied to understand government decision making and administrative outcomes. Using analytical models, empirical examples, and scholarly literature, students assess economic factors influencing public sector performance. The course also examines the structure and financing of national, state, and local governments to support systematic analysis of public sector activities.

PA 5314. Public Administration and Information Technology.

This course analyzes the role of information technology in public administration and governance. Students examine institutional and organizational uses of digital tools, including e governance platforms, enterprise architecture, public management information systems, and electronic procurement systems. The course evaluates how information technology influences administrative coordination, service delivery, and internal management processes. Using scholarly literature and applied case analysis, students assess technological frameworks and their administrative implications. Emphasis is placed on systematic inquiry into how public organizations adopt and manage information technologies within existing institutional and regulatory contexts.

PA 5315. Public Performance Management.

This course analyzes the principles and practices of performance management and measurement in the public sector. Students examine the use of quantitative and qualitative performance indicators in strategic planning, resource allocation, and internal organizational processes. The course evaluates accountability mechanisms, managerial assessment, and formal evaluation methods through analysis of empirical research and applied examples. Emphasis is placed on understanding how performance information is generated, interpreted, and utilized within public organizations. Instruction integrates analytical frameworks and case studies to support systematic evaluation of administrative performance systems.

PA 5320. Organizational Theory, Change, and Behavior.

This course examines classic and contemporary literature on organizational theory and behavior in the public sector. It analyzes the historical development of organizational theory and key concepts such as organizational culture, power, structure, and change. Through critical reading and comparative analysis, the course evaluates how different theoretical frameworks explain organizational behavior and institutional dynamics. Attention is given to the application of organizational theories in the study of governance and public administration. Students engage with scholarly sources to assess how organizational concepts are used to analyze public sector organizations and their roles within broader governance systems.

PA 5330. Public Personnel Administration.

This course examines public personnel functions from a managerial perspective within government organizations. It analyzes core topics such as recruitment and selection, performance evaluation, discipline, collective bargaining, classification, and compensation. Using case studies, policy analysis, and administrative examples, the course evaluates how personnel systems are designed and managed in the public sector. Emphasis is placed on understanding managerial roles, legal and institutional constraints, and organizational processes that shape public workforce administration. Students develop analytical skills to assess personnel management practices and their implications for organizational performance and administrative effectiveness.

PA 5331. Labor Management Relations.

This course examines the historical development of public employee unions and the evolution of collective bargaining in the public sector. It analyzes the effects of collective bargaining agreements on personnel policy development within government organizations. The course evaluates public laws governing collective bargaining procedures and the institutional frameworks shaping labor–management relations. Through analysis of legal materials, policy documents, and applied examples, students assess how collective bargaining influences administrative decision‑making and personnel system design. Emphasis is placed on understanding the roles of public managers and institutional constraints in managing labor relations within governmental contexts.

PA 5332. Management Practices in Public Personnel Administration.

This course examines selected topics in public personnel administration, including job analysis, position classification, test construction, performance appraisal, succession planning, and affirmative action policy. Students analyze the institutional functions of personnel offices within public organizations and evaluate their roles in recruitment, workforce planning, and performance management. Through case analysis, policy review, and seminar discussion, students examine administrative practices and assess theoretical approaches to public sector human resource management.

PA 5340. Introduction to Public Law.

This course examines the regulatory environment and legal requirements that shape public administration practice. It analyzes statutory, regulatory, and judicial constraints affecting public officials as they carry out administrative duties. Using online legal research tools, students examine administrative materials such as statutes, regulations, and agency guidance to evaluate public law issues. Emphasis is placed on developing analytical skills for interpreting legal authorities and assessing their implications for administrative decision making. The course prepares students to systematically analyze public law problems within governmental contexts.

PA 5341. Texas Water Law & Policy.

This course examines how state and local agencies in Texas administer groundwater and surface‑water legal regimes. Students analyze the legal, regulatory, and institutional frameworks governing water allocation, use, and management. The course evaluates statutory authorities, administrative processes, and judicial interpretations shaping water governance in Texas. Emphasis is placed on understanding the interaction between state law, local implementation, and agency discretion. Through case analysis and review of administrative practices, students assess how legal structures influence policy outcomes and operational decision‑making in water management. The course develops analytical skills in legal interpretation and public administration within a jurisdiction‑specific context.

PA 5350. Public Policy Processes.

This course examines the public policymaking process with emphasis on policy formulation and implementation. Students analyze institutional structures, governmental and nongovernmental actors, and the political environment in which policy decisions occur. The course evaluates how political, administrative, and contextual factors shape policy development and execution. Through analytical frameworks and case‑based inquiry, students assess the interaction among stakeholders and institutions across different stages of the policy process. The course emphasizes understanding policy processes rather than advocating particular outcomes, and it develops analytical skills relevant to public policy and political science.

PA 5351. Urban Planning and Environmental Planning Frameworks.

This course examines urban transportation systems and land use policy within the context of public planning and urban governance. Students analyze the historical development of urban policy frameworks and evaluate relationships between transportation infrastructure and land use patterns. The course examines policy approaches associated with sustainability as they relate to planning decisions and regulatory frameworks. Through case studies, policy analysis, and seminar discussion, students assess interactions among transportation planning, land development, and public policy across urban jurisdictions.

PA 5352. Comparative Public Administration.

This course examines differences among national administrative systems and the role of international organizations in public governance. Students analyze how institutional structures, administrative traditions, and political contexts shape policy processes across countries. Using comparative case studies, the course evaluates how governments and international bodies address policy areas such as poverty, human rights, health care, and environmental regulation. Emphasis is placed on systematic comparison, institutional analysis, and evidence‑based evaluation. By applying analytical frameworks from public administration and comparative politics, students develop the ability to assess how administrative systems influence policy design and implementation across diverse national contexts.

PA 5353. Politics and Policy of Environmental Management.

This course examines public policy approaches to environmental issues related to air, water, waste management, energy use, natural resources, and global environmental governance. Students analyze the historical development of environmental policy and evaluate how political, economic, and institutional factors shape policy design and implementation. Using case studies and policy analysis frameworks, the course examines regulatory mechanisms, implementation strategies, and compliance processes. Emphasis is placed on understanding how environmental policies are formulated, administered, and evaluated across different contexts. The course develops analytical skills relevant to environmental policy, public administration, and regulatory governance.

PA 5355. Environmental Policy.

This course examines the public policy process with emphasis on U.S. environmental policy and administration. Students analyze how political institutions, administrative agencies, and legal frameworks shape policy development and implementation. Using case studies and policy analysis methods, the course evaluates policy approaches to air and water quality, solid and hazardous waste, energy use, natural resource management, climate change, and global environmental governance. Emphasis is placed on understanding regulatory mechanisms, implementation strategies, and administrative capacity. Through systematic inquiry, students develop analytical skills for evaluating environmental policies within domestic and international governance contexts.

PA 5361. Introduction to the Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector.

This course examines the history, scope, and functions of the American nonprofit and voluntary sector. Students analyze the development of nonprofit organizations and evaluate their institutional roles within political, economic, and social systems. Using conceptual and theoretical frameworks, the course examines how nonprofit and voluntary organizations interact with government and influence public policy processes. Emphasis is placed on historical analysis, institutional comparison, and evidence based assessment. Through systematic inquiry, students develop analytical skills for evaluating the role and impact of nonprofit organizations within broader governance and policy contexts.

PA 5362. Alternative Public Service Delivery Systems.

This course examines alternative approaches to the delivery of public services within modern governance systems. Students analyze the use of market mechanisms, contracting, and privatization as policy tools for service provision. Using frameworks from public administration and public policy, the course evaluates how these approaches affect service design, implementation, and accountability. Case studies are used to examine institutional arrangements across policy sectors and levels of government. Emphasis is placed on comparative analysis and evidence‑based evaluation of administrative capacity and performance. Students develop analytical skills for assessing alternative service delivery models in public sector contexts.

PA 5370. Public Management and Ethics.

This course analyzes ethical issues in the public sector with attention to institutional contexts and decision‑making processes. Students examine theories of ethics and morality relevant to public administration and evaluate how concepts such as administrative discretion, public interest, democratic values, and dissent are addressed in practice. Through case studies and structured analytical frameworks, the course explores ethical reasoning within public organizations. Emphasis is placed on critical inquiry and comparative evaluation rather than moral advocacy. Students develop analytical skills for examining ethical dimensions of public sector actions and institutional behavior.

PA 5380B. Environmental Litigation.

This course examines the legal processes involved in researching, filing, and litigating claims under federal and state environmental statutes. Students analyze the statutory frameworks and regulatory structures that govern environmental litigation and evaluate how procedural requirements shape legal strategies. Using case law analysis and statutory interpretation, the course examines how environmental litigation differs from other forms of civil litigation. Emphasis is placed on legal research methods, administrative records, jurisdictional issues, and standards of review. Through systematic inquiry, students develop analytical skills relevant to litigation practice and environmental law.

PA 5387. Research Practicum.

This course uses structured group research to examine a contemporary issue in public policy, public management, or public administration. Students work as part of a faculty‑led research team to analyze the issue using discipline‑appropriate methods, including literature review, data collection, and analytical assessment. Emphasis is placed on evaluating organizational, administrative, or policy contexts and synthesizing findings into a comprehensive written report. The course focuses on collaborative research processes, analytical reasoning, and professional documentation. Students demonstrate their ability to integrate theory and evidence in a team‑based research environment. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

PA 5388. Directed Reading and Research.

This course provides an opportunity for advanced, directed reading and research in public policy and public administration under the supervision of a graduate faculty member. Students examine selected topics through independent study, scholarly literature review, and focused research activities tailored to individual academic interests. Emphasis is placed on analyzing theoretical frameworks, policy processes, and administrative structures using discipline‑appropriate methods. Students evaluate relevant research questions and produce written work demonstrating analytical rigor and academic synthesis. Course content and emphasis are determined in consultation with the supervising faculty member. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

PA 5389. Internship in Government.

This course examines the role of experiential learning in public service through supervised internship placement. Students integrate classroom concepts with practical responsibilities in governmental or public service organizations. The course emphasizes observation, documentation, and analysis of organizational structures, administrative processes, and professional roles. Students evaluate how theoretical frameworks relate to real‑world practice through regular reporting and faculty‑guided reflection. The internship requirement is designed for students seeking applied experience in public service settings, particularly those with limited prior professional exposure. The course may be repeated once for additional academic credit, allowing for engagement in different organizational contexts. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

PA 5390. Applied Research Methodology.

This course introduces students to applied research methods used in public sector analysis. Students examine the principles of the scientific method, research design, measurement, sampling, and qualitative inquiry. The course emphasizes analyzing methodological choices and evaluating their suitability for public sector research questions. Students explore data collection techniques, including survey research, content analysis, and secondary data analysis, to assess their strengths and limitations. Through examples and applied exercises, students develop the ability to design research studies and interpret empirical findings relevant to public administration and policy contexts.

PA 5397. Research Design and Proposal Development for Public Administration.

This course introduces students to academic and professional writing practices used in public administration research. Students examine how to identify and define a public problem, analyze relevant scholarly literature, and develop a clear research purpose statement. The course emphasizes the use of conceptual frameworks to organize and evaluate existing research. Through structured writing assignments, students apply disciplinary conventions and analytical methods to written work. The course prepares students for subsequent applied research by strengthening research design, literature analysis, and formal academic writing skills required for the Applied Research Project. Prerequisite: PS 5390 with a grade of "B" or better and instructor approval.

PA 5398. Applied Research Project.

This course serves as the capstone experience for students in the Master of Public Administration program. Students examine applied research methods through the completion of an original, empirical Applied Research Project (ARP). The course emphasizes the formulation of research questions, selection of appropriate methodologies, data collection and analysis, and interpretation of findings relevant to public administration. Students evaluate research outcomes through an oral defense and revise their work in accordance with disciplinary standards for professional and scholarly communication. The course integrates faculty guidance and independent inquiry to support rigorous analysis and effective presentation of applied research. Prerequisite: PA 5397 with a grade of "B" or better and instructor approval.

PA 5399A. Thesis.

This course serves as the initial enrollment for students undertaking a thesis in public administration. It introduces the expectations, structure, and procedures associated with independent thesis research. Students examine the stages of thesis development, including topic refinement, research design, literature review, and methodological planning. The course emphasizes analytical inquiry, scholarly standards, and faculty supervision as central components of the thesis process. Students evaluate research questions and assess appropriate qualitative or quantitative methods relevant to public administration. No thesis credit is awarded through this enrollment; credit is conferred upon successful completion and approval of the final thesis.

PA 5399B. Thesis.

This course represents a student’s continuing enrollment during the thesis development and completion phase. The course provides an academic framework for sustained faculty supervision as students revise, analyze, and complete an approved thesis project. Students engage in continued literature review, data analysis or interpretation, and refinement of theoretical and methodological approaches consistent with disciplinary standards in political science. Emphasis is placed on evaluating research findings, incorporating faculty feedback, and preparing the final manuscript in accordance with institutional and departmental requirements. Enrollment continues until the thesis has been completed and submitted, ensuring ongoing academic oversight and alignment with degree completion policies.

PA 5599B. Thesis.

This course represents a student’s continuing enrollment during the thesis development and completion phase. The course provides an academic framework for sustained faculty supervision as students revise, analyze, and complete an approved thesis project. Students engage in continued literature review, data analysis or interpretation, and refinement of theoretical and methodological approaches consistent with disciplinary standards in political science. Emphasis is placed on evaluating research findings, incorporating faculty feedback, and preparing the final manuscript in accordance with institutional and departmental requirements. Enrollment continues until the thesis has been completed and submitted, ensuring ongoing academic oversight and alignment with degree completion policies.

PA 5999B. Thesis.

This course represents a student’s continuing enrollment during the thesis development and completion phase. The course provides an academic framework for sustained faculty supervision as students revise, analyze, and complete an approved thesis project. Students engage in continued literature review, data analysis or interpretation, and refinement of theoretical and methodological approaches consistent with disciplinary standards in political science. Emphasis is placed on evaluating research findings, incorporating faculty feedback, and preparing the final manuscript in accordance with institutional and departmental requirements. Enrollment continues until the thesis has been completed and submitted, ensuring ongoing academic oversight and alignment with degree completion policies.