Department of Political Science

PS 500    Workshops in Public Administration    1.5 Hour (repeatable max of 6 hrs)

Emphasizes important and changing topics relevant to people working in the public, not-for-profit and private sectors. The course will make use of practitioners in a variety of settings (local, state, federal) to bring important information to students who can apply what they have learned in their own job settings. Course topics will vary by semester and will include grant writing, strategic planning, lobbying, and others.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022

PS 501    Research Methods in Public Administration    3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)

Analysis and description of the logic and procedures necessary for valid political inquiry.

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2023

PS 510    Problems in National Government    3 Hours

Research, reports, and discussion of selected aspects of national government.

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

PS 511    Seminar in State and Local US Government    3 Hours

Selected problems of state governments and their sub-units.

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2023

PS 512    Kentucky Government and Politics    3 Hours

This course will trace the role and influence of various political and social institutions in the state's political development and their implications for the current political and governmental situation.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022

PS 520    Elements of Public Administration    3 Hours

Introductory survey of governmental administration; emphasizes relationships between political issues and the practice of administration in all areas of the public sector.

Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2022; winter 2023; winter 2024

PS 524    Administrative Law    3 Hours

A study of the development of and trends in administrative law with emphasis on the problems caused by the exercise of quasi legislative and quasi judicial powers by administrative agencies.

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

PS 526    Local Government Administration    3 Hours

Provides a foundation and understanding of local government administration for students and future practitioners in public administration.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2023; spring 2024

PS 528    Civic Engagement and E-Governance    3 Hours

Provides a foundation and understanding of civic engagement and e-governance for students and future practitioners in public administration.

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

PS 530    Public Sector Organizations    3 Hours

Analysis of behavior and problems of public organizations in democratic environments. Links societal values to administrative structure and behavior.

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2024

PS 538    Public Service Ethics    3 Hours

Examines the ethical side of public decision making and the values or ends the American political system is designed to promote and protect.

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022; fall 2024

PS 541    Human Resources Management in Public Administration    3 Hours

A systematic survey of public personnel administration in the U.S. Discusses the development of modern personnel systems in the public sector and emphasizes contemporary trends at the state and local level as well as the national level of government.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2024

PS 542    Public & Nonprofit Budgeting    3 Hours

A study of the financial administration process of government with emphasis on local government. Subjects covered range from budgeting to risk management.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2023

PS 543    Politics/Administration/Rural Communities    3 Hours

A study of political and administrative institutions, processes, and issues associated with local governments in rural communities.

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

PS 549    Special Problems in Public Administration    3 Hours

Seminar approach to contemporary problems in public organizations reflecting political/managerial developments; topics reflect both student and professional needs.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2023

PS 550    Cultural Competencies for Public Administrators    3 Hours

Provides a specific set of skills so that practitioners in public administration can communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry; course will focus specifically on developing an understanding of different cultures and provide needed skills to administer policy and deliver services for the communities practitioners serve.

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2023

PS 554    Cross-Sector Collaboration & Conflict    3 Hours

Course explores the importance of intersectoral relationships (between the public, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors) to good public governance.

Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2022; summer 2023; fall 2024

PS 560    Public Policy Theory    3 Hours

Theoretical approaches to the analysis of public policy, policy-making, and policy implementation and to such topics as health and welfare, poverty, education, and urban affairs.

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2023

PS 562    Public Policy Implementation & Evaluation    3 Hours

Seminar examining the various approaches and techniques for evaluating public programs.

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2024

PS 564    Nonprofits & Public Policy    3 Hours

Exploration of the connections between nonprofit organizations and public policy; course examines ways nonprofits make policy, are affected by policy, influence policy, and are subject to policy.

Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022

PS 566    Environmental Politics & Public Policy    3 Hours

Course explores the politics surrounding the creation, implementation, and evaluation of environmental policy.

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

PS 580    Independent Directed Study    3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)

Faculty guidance of student research in one or more selected fields of political science.

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

PS 590    Capstone in Public Administration    3 Hours

This course serves as the culminating event for the Master of Public Administration degree. Incorporating the comprehensive exam, creation of an e-portfolio, and completion of an applied research/internship project, the capstone experience gives students the opportunity to relate the many different elements of the MPA program to one another and to reinforce the practical applications of the different concepts and perspectives learned.

Prerequisite(s): (PS 501 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D and PS 530 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D and PS 538 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D and PS 541 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D and PS 542 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D) and (PS 560 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D or PS 562 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D)

Restriction(s): Enrollment is limited to students in Public Administration (051)

Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; spring 2023; spring 2024

PS 595    Washington Internship and Seminar    3 Hours

An individualized internship and/or seminar experience in Washington, D.C. tailored to the student's area of interest. Placement is determined by the department academic advisor in collaboration with Washington professionals..

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

PS 597    Professional Seminar in Public Administration    3 Hours

Principles and techniques in the practice of public administration. Case studies and contact with field professionals will be emphasized.

Recent Term(s) Offered: None

PS 598    Internship in Public Administration    3 Hours

Work experience in a public sector or non-profit agency combined with faculty direction.

Recent Term(s) Offered: None