PhD Course Descriptions

Foundations courses are required of students entering the PhD program without a related master's degree.

PA 8150 - Collaborative Governance (3 credits): Political, economic, and social context of government and public service; examines theories and models of new governance and implications for policy-making, public management, and public service delivery.; Sample Syllabus: PA 8150

PA 8160 - Organizational Dynamics and Leadership (3 credits): Focuses on understanding human action in administrative situations and on developing personal capacities for effective practices in varied and difficult organizational situations.; Sample Syllabus: PA 8160

PA 8170 - Public Policy Processes and Strategies (3 credits): Processes through which public demands are generated, converted into public policy, and implemented. Examines the intersection of politics, policy, and management, as well as the diverse strategies and tools of public action.; Sample Syllabus: PA 8170

PA 8181 - Research Methods & Inquiry in Public Affairs II: Advanced topics and applications in research methods for public affaiars. Topics include: multivariate analysis and other advanced quantitative techniques; evaluation of policy research products (Prerequisite: PA 8180); Sample Syllabus: PA 8180

PA 8190 - Economic Analysis for Public Affairs (3 credits): Application of tools of economic analysis to understand and interpret the behavior of government, consumers, and producers. Sources of economic inefficiency, including market failures and limitations, and policy solutions.; Sample Syllabus: PA 8190

PA 9150 - Governance and Public Affairs (3 credits): This seminar examines classical and contemporary theories of governance, the role of the state and other social institutions, and the intersection of policy making and management across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Other topics include administrative reform, the new public management, and the emergence of the multi-sector public service. International comparative dimensions emphasized.; Sample Syllabus: PA 9150

PA 9160 - Organization Studies in Public Affairs (3 credits): This course examines the major issues and perspectives in organizational dynamics and leadership in the public and nonprofit sectors. Topics covered will include: history and development of organization studies; contemporary perspectives in organization theory; individual and group behavior; leadership, power, and influence; organization design and structure; organizational culture.; Sample Syllabus: PA 9160

PA 9170 - Policy Theory (3 credits): This seminar examines the theories and current research on the policy process, institutions, and delegation of power that influence public policy. Topics covered may include agenda setting, policy design, implementation, legislative decision-making, state political institutions, and federalism.; Sample Syllabus: PA 9170

PA 9182 - Logics of Inquiry in Public Affairs (3 credits): This course examines the philosophical foundations of social inquiry. Topics include investigation of epistemological and methodological issues in development and use of social research, and exploration of the theoretical underpinnings of multiple paradigms in public affairs (public policy, planning, and organizational studies) and the social and behavioral sciences.; Sample Syllabus: PA 9182

PA 9183 - Public Affairs Research and Professional Development Seminar (1 credit): Research and professional development through participation in research seminars, colloquia, academic conferences, lectures, and professional workshops. Students required to register every spring semester while in residence.; Sample Syllabus: PA 9183

PA 9180 - Advanced Research Methods I (3 credits): The course focuses on multiple regression analysis, beginning with ordinary least squares estimation, and then considers the implications and treatment of serial correlation, heteroskedasticity, multicollinearity, specification error, and measurement error. Students will gain experience estimating models, and learn to recognize diagnostic information on model performance and to interpret and present findings.; Sample Syllabus: PA 9180

PA 9181 - Advanced Research Methods II (3 credits): This seminar will focus on a set of specialized statistical modeling tools for dealing with limited dependent variables and complex data situations, such as time-series cross-sectional data, clustered observations, and multilevel data. The course also provides an introduction to more advanced topics including simultaneous equations models and instrumental variables. Since many of the models rely on maximum-likelihood estimation, the basic ideas and techniques of maximization will be covered.; Sample Syllabus: PA 9181

PA 9000 - Directed Individual Study (3 credits): Supervised readings and research in area of doctoral specialization. Student must submit formal written proposal to doctoral adviser and supervising faculty member prior to registration. May repeat to a maximum of six (6) semester hours.

PA 9185 - Supervised Research (3 credits): Research experience directed by major professor designed to prepare doctoral students for independent scholarship in the area of specialization.

Other Courses: Students may select courses from outside the Truman School of Public Affairs in consultation with their advisor.; Course descriptions for the Truman School MPA program are available here.