PA 871 Public Program Evaluation

Public Program Evaluation presents strategies for evaluating the efficacy of public programs, as well as strategies for addressing the challenges of applying program evaluation methods in “real world” policy settings. Topics include evaluation ethics, logic model development, experimental and quasi-experimental methods, outcome measurement, and communicating evaluation results. Learning is applied to a client-sponsored evaluation project.

PA 880 Microeconomic Policy Analysis

The tools and techniques used in the economic approach to policy analysis. Emphasis is on applying these methodological tools to evaluating existing public policies and policy alternatives, as well as providing a deeper understanding of how the economy operates.

PA 881 Cost-Benefit Analysis

This course will present the welfare economics underpinnings for evaluating the social benefits and costs of government activities. Issues such as uncertainty, the social discount rate, and welfare weights will be discussed; case studies from the environmental, social policy, and agricultural areas will be studied.

PA 885 Advanced Public Management

Examines how managers in public and not-for-profit agencies can secure and utilize legal authority, human resources, and funds to accomplish organizational goals. Includes strategies for establishing and maintaining effective external relations, and for working through other organizations to accomplish objectives.