PAdm 701

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 – including its major public-benefits subcomponents – 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