Courses in Public Policy & Management

R PUB 140 (= R POS 140; formerly R PUB/R POS 240) Introduction to Public Policy (3)
Introduction to theories of how democracies make public policy. Describes the roles of government institutions, the media, and interest groups in the policy process. Reviews current theories of how problems are identified and how policies are formulated, enacted, and implemented to address public problems. Only one version of R PUB 140 may be taken for credit.

R PUB 300 Public Administration and Policy (1)
For Honors students, R PUB credit used to designate an existing 300 level PUB or PAD course as taken for honors credit and entailing an additional research and writing component to be determined by course instructor. Must be taken three separate occasions in at least three separate 300 level or above PUB or PAD classes to meet Honors requirements. Prerequisite(s): must accompany enrollment in PUB or PAD 300 level course.
 
R PUB 301 The Philosophy of Public Policy (3)
Examination of the various theoretical approaches to the study of public policy and of the ethical, epistemological, ideological, and logical problems encountered in an examination of the claims of contemporary policy science. Prerequisite(s): R POS 101 and R POS/R PUB 140.

R PUB 302 (= R PAD 302; formerly R PUB/R PAD 201) Understanding Public Organizations (3)
The major objective of this course is to provide students with an opportunity to explore basic ideas about how people work in large (work) organizations, and the processes and structures that operate day to day in such organizations. The course examines how people act and interact within organizations and attempt to change those organizations, and how organizations react to the individuals who comprise the organization. The course uses multiple perspectives or frames as a way of understanding of individual and organizational behavior in work organizations. Only one version of R PAD 302 may be taken for credit.

R PUB 316 (= R POS 316) Methodological Tools for Public Policy (3)
Introduction to research design, statistics, and computer usage in public policy with an emphasis on the interpretation of results. Students examine experimental, quasi-experimental and nonexperimental research designs, summarize and present univariate distributions, perform bivariate and multivariate analyses including simple cross-tabulations and multiple regression analysis, and learn to use a computer to perform statistical and data management operations. Required for public affairs majors. Only one version of R PUB 316 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): R PAD 204.

R PUB 321 (= R POS 321; formerly R PUB 205) State and Local Government (3)
Course focus is on intergovernmental relations; the interdependent roles of governors, legislatures, and courts in policymaking and implementation; the organization, functions, and jurisdiction of local governments; interaction of political parties and interest groups with formal institutions and processes; and problems in selected functional areas. Emphasis will be placed upon socio-economic trends leading to change in state and local governments, consequent issues raised, and proposals made in response to such issues. Only one version of R PUB 321 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): R POS 101.

R PUB 325 (= R POS 325) The Government and Politics of New York State (3)
Introduction to the major political governmental institutions in New York. Examines the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government; the nature of parties and election, and of selected policy questions. Only one version of R PUB 325 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): R PUB/R POS 321.

R PUB 328 (= R POS 328) Law and Policy (3)
Examination of the role of the courts in the public policy process and in substantive policy fields; integrates the literature of law and policy and applies it to such areas as mental health care, corrections, human resources, education, and housing policy. Prerequisite(s): R PUB/R POS 140, or junior or senior standing.

R PUB 330 (= R PAD 330) Topics in American Public Policy History (3)
The course will introduce students to the field of public policy history. The specific issues covered will vary by semester, but they will include the history of key domestic programs since the New Deal as well as the evolution of central policymaking institutions such as the U.S. Congress.

R PUB 340 (= R POS 340) Introduction to Policy Analysis (3)
Policy analysis involves advising policy makers about political, technical, and implementation feasibility of their options. This course will introduce students to different roles played by analysts, techniques of analysis, and to the range of generic policy implements. Only one version of R PUB 340 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): R POS 101.

R PUB 341 (= R POS  341) Washington in Perspective (3)
A course using current government and politics to evaluate political science treatments of the process. Offered as part of the spring Washington Semester program. Admission by application. Enrollment limited. Preference given PUB Honors students. For information and applications, see Department of Political Science office or website. Deadlines and interviews in the early fall. Prerequisites: R POS 101, one 300 level course in American government, junior class standing. Corequisite(s): R POS/R PUB 342, and R POS 495Z or R PUB 490Z.

R PUB 342 (= R POS 342) Washington Internship (9)
This is the internship component of the department's spring Washington Semester program. Admission by application. Enrollment limited. Preference to PUB Honors students. For information and applications, see Department of Political Science office or website. Deadlines and interviews in early fall. Does not count toward a Public Policy and Management major or minor. Prerequisite(s): R POS 101, one 300 level course in American government, junior standing. Corequisite(s): R POS/R PUB 341, and R POS 495Z or R PUB 490Z. S/U grading.

R PUB 350 (= R POS 350) Comparative Public Policy (3)
Comparison of the processes, content, and impact of public policy in both developed and underdeveloped, socialist and nonsocialist countries. Only one version of R PUB 350 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): R POS 101 or R PUB/R POS 140, or junior or senior standing.

R PUB 395 (= R POS 395) International Political Economy (3)
Examines world trade conflicts and impact of economic nationalism on global economy. Emphasizes U.S. policy formulation in recent decades, trade protection, and economic nationalism as exercised in U.S. domestic and foreign policy. Only one version of R PUB 395 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): R POS 101 or R PUB/R POS 140, or junior or senior standing.

R PUB 396 (= R POS 396) Energy Policy, Domestic and International (3)
Analyzes present and future shortfall of energy supplies, availability of fuel sources to replace imported oil or U.S. energy production, and conflicts between OPEC, OECD consumers, and U.S. government. Projects future conflict over energy controls within and between nation states. Only one version of R PUB 396 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): R POS 101 or R PUB/R POS 140, or junior or senior standing.

R PUB 398 (= R POS 398) Comparative National Security Policy (3)
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the major theoretical explanations for the foundation and implementation of national security policy. The course will focus of two central questions. First, what determines the basic security strategy of different states? Second, once this strategy is mapped, how do different states translate strategy into particular defense policies? A variety of historical cases will be used to determine which theories best answer these questions. Only one version of R PUB 398 may be taken for credit.

R PUB 399 (= R POS 399) Selected Topics (3)
Investigation of selected topics in political science and/or public policy. Specific topics selected and announced by the instructor when offered. May be repeated for credit if content varies. Prerequisite(s): R POS 101 and 102, and permission of instructor.

R PUB 406Z (= R POS 406Z) Implementation and Impact (3)
Examination of the process by which policies are put into effect and alterations during that process; effects, intended and unintended; and feedback into further policy making. Implementation and impact of legislative, administrative, and judicial policies, in particular policy areas. Only one version of R PUB 406Z may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): R POS 101 and R PUB/R POS 140.

R PUB 410Z (= R POS 410Z) Minorities and the Politico-Legal System (3)
Selected minority problems that appear in connection with the politico-legal system. Considers legislative, administrative, and judicial responses and explores alternative public policy options. Only one version of R PUB 410Z may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): R POS 101, or junior or senior standing.

R PUB 414 (= R PAD 414) Policy Analysis in Public Administration (3)
Overview of operations and techniques used in systems analysis. Examples are used to demonstrate how these analytical methods can be employed to make more informed policy decisions. Only one version of R PUB 414 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing.

R PUB 465 (= R PAD 465) Hudson River Watershed: Environment, Society, and Policy (3)
Interdisciplinary consideration of Hudson River and its watershed from environmental perspective: history, political, social, economic, geographic and demographic factors; urban development; ecology; geologic origins; living resources; pollution; environmentalism and cultural forces leading to environmentalism; environmental policy, governmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions. Only one version of R PUB 465 may be taken for credit.

R PUB 490Z (= R POS 495Z) Research and Writing in Washington (3)
This is the research and writing component of the department's spring Washington Semester program. Admission by application. Enrollment limited. Preference to PUB Honors students. For information and applications, see Department of Political Science office or website. Deadlines and interviews in early fall. Prerequisite(s): R POS 101, one 300 course in American government, junior class standing. Corequisite(s): R POS/RPUB 341, 342.

R PUB 494 Honors Research (3-6)
To be taken in the fall of the senior year or the spring of the junior year. Student will engage in guided research mentored by a faculty member designated by student and approved by the Director of Undergraduate Public Policy Program in order to generate the research necessary to complete their honors thesis. Prerequisite(s): PUB Honors standing.

R PUB 495 Honors Seminar (3)
To be taken in the fall of the senior year or the spring of the junior year. A seminar designed to explain the nature of research, including developing a thesis, applying a research design, and collecting data to support hypotheses. The seminar develops these skills while highlighting the dominant intellectual arguments occurring currently in the area of public policy research. Prerequisite(s): PUB Honors standing.

R PUB 496 Honors Thesis (3-6)
To be taken in the fall or spring of the senior year. Each student must complete a 25 to 30 page honors thesis. This paper should involve original research on a topic related to public policy. It should have a clearly defined thesis statement, a review of the existing literature on the chosen topic, original evidence offered to support the thesis, consideration of alternative rival hypothesis, and a conclusion of the consequence for public policy research of these findings. The paper is to be created in conjunction with a faculty mentor approved by the Director of Public Policy (and the paper may be co-authored with the chosen faculty mentor). Prerequisite(s): PUB Honors standing.

R PUB 497 Independent Study (1-6)
Reading or research under the direction of appropriate faculty. Prerequisite(s): R PUB/R POS 140, or junior or senior standing; and permission of instructor and department chair.

R PUB 498 Internship in Public Affairs (3)
Complements the selected core concentration of the public affairs major. By participating with specific learning objectives in an agency or organization, the student is afforded an opportunity to test—in a nonacademic setting—the concepts and theoretical orientations examined in the classroom. Students are expected to take advantage of the internship opportunity to relate their experience to the generalized literature in the field. Limited to students in the public affairs major and is normally taken in the last year of the program. Internships are open only to qualified juniors and seniors who have an overall grade point average of 2.50 or higher. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor. S/U graded.

R PUB 499W Senior Seminar in Public Affairs (3)
Intensive examination of selected problems in public affairs. Students are expected to write a substantial research paper demonstrating analytic sophistication and knowledge of the relevant scholarly literature. Specific topics are designated by arrangement with the instructor. Limited to public affairs majors. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor.