Tracks

Students must complete 15 credit hours from the course list below.

• GEG 691 - Geographic Information Systems I

  An introduction to fundamental concepts in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and related geographic technologies. Students are exposed to leading GIS software tools used in the industry.

  Credit Hours: 3

• GEG 693 - Geographic Information Systems II

  An introduction to spatial analysis, which consists of techniques for analyzing patterns of and interrelationships between spatial data. Topics include vector polygon editing and topology, integration of raster and vector data, surface analysis and 30 analysis, suitability mapping, spatial modeling and multi-criteria evaluations.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 616 - Experiments in Political Science

  Examines experimental method of hypothesis testing, with specific examples in the study of politics.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 617 - Introductory Statistical Methods in Political Science

  The tools needed to manipulate and analyze quantitative data rigorously so you may answer questions of political interest.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 618 - Advanced Statistical Methods in Political Science

  The maximum likelihood framework for statistical inference in the study of politics. Second in a two-course sequence.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 619 - Introduction to Game Theory for Political Science

  The rudiments of non-cooperative game theory. Mainly intended for political science students, but presents applications from other academic disciplines such as economics, business administration, sociology, and psychology.

  Credit Hours: 3

• *New Course TBD - Cost-Benefit Analysis and Public Policy

  The goals of this course include learning (1) how to read, or judge, a cost-benefit analysis; (2) how to incorporate elements of cost-benefit analysis into policy work; and (3) when CBA is a good tool to use and when it isn’t. This class also presents an opportunity to reflect on big picture issues of how to treat uncertainty and risk; discount costs and benefits received in the future; value lives saved; and manage other difficult matters. In brief, this class offers a comprehensive treatment of the cost benefit analysis methodology, with attention devoted to the microeconomic underpinnings of the technique as well as applications drawn from many areas, including health, the environment, and public goods.

• SOC 613 - Qualitative Research Methods

  In-depth introduction to qualitative, inductive methods, with emphases on grounded theory and action research. Focus on qualitative interviewing (including focus groups) and participant observation for the collection of data in naturalistic social settings, with simultaneous data analysis; qualitative methods in mixed-methods research introduced. Covers ties between methods and theory, additional basic methods used in qualitative research, and typical analytic approaches; touch on more esoteric methods; study current issues and debates relevant to this set of approaches to generating knowledge.

  Credit Hours: 3

Students must complete 15 credit hours from the course list below.

• IGS 644 - Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability

  The concepts of environmental sustainability and energy security will be explored. The importance of energy and the mitigation of climate change in formulation of country strategies, advancement of national interests and shaping of the international system will be stressed.

  Credit Hours: 3

• MES 616 - Ocean Policy and Development and Sustainability

  Ocean policy development and analysis of issues such as: offshore oil drilling, fisheries resource conflicts, marine mammal protection, ocean dumping and incineration, multiple use conflicts in marine protected areas, pollution from land based sources, and oil spill contingency planning.

  Credit Hours: 3

• MES 620 - Environmental Law

  This course will provide an overview of environmental law and its practical applications at the federal, state, and local level. The course will also include an introduction to the United States legal system, the administrative state, environmental regulations, and current issues in environmental law and policy. Finally, the course will focus on environmental themes that are of particular importance to marine professionals, such as marine mammal protection, marine protected areas, coastal wetland regulation, water pollution litigation, and environmental justice.

  Credit Hours: 3

• MES 720 - Coastal Law and Policy

  Course examines the authority of different levels and agencies of government to make decisions affecting the coastal zone. Course also explores the coastal problems of shoreline use and development, uses of water areas and the seabed, and the related questions of environmental protection.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 631 - Global Environmental Politics

  Examination of the environment within the context of economic globalization. Contrasts the international trading regime and those regimes designed to protect the environment, with specific attention to the issues of global warming and biodiversity.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 645 - Environmental Policy Making

  Examination of different ethical approaches to the environment; the federal government's management of natural resources; selected environmental policies; international environmental policy issues. Topics include federal management of national grazing lands, national forests, and minerals in the public domain. Analyzes environmental policies such as air, water, toxic wastes, energy, and environmentally-related issues in international trade and national security.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 653 - The Environmental Movement: Groups, Beliefs, and Values

  Exploration of the origins and political impact of environmentalism in the United States and, to a lesser extent, in the global context. Impact of democratic participation on environmental politics.

  Credit Hours: 3

• RSM 620 - Climate and Society

  This course is designed to provide students from different disciplinary backgrounds with an overview of physical processes, general concepts and policy debates surrounding climate issues.

  Credit Hours: 3

Students must complete 15 credit hours from the course list below.

• POL 630 - Intelligence and National Security

  This course will study the US national security community structure and decision making process. The course will look at the National Security Council, the principal national security agencies (such as the CIA, Defense Department, and State Department), how they interact, and their roles in dividing and executing policy. We will also examine the role and function of senior policy decision makers such as the President. We will study recent policy challenges such as Iraq and Afghanistan as examples of National Security policy.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 644 - Chinese Public Policy

  International relations of the People's Republic of China, in theory and in practice. Structure and context of foreign policy decision-making; domestic influences on the foreign policy making process. China as a global and regional actor.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 661 - Ending Wars and Building Peace

  Examines how local and international actors build sustainable peace strategically through peace-keeping, peace accords, reconciliation, education, human rights, international law, and state-building.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 677 - Security in South Asia

  The security system of South Asia's northern reaches and the current conflict involving Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India: considerations of sovereignty and the role of frontiers in world politics.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 691 - International Security

  Analysis and evaluation of approaches to international conflict, resolution, reduction and stabilization such as international organization, law, collective security, balance of power, functionalism, world government, morality, and conscience. Special emphasis on recent problems and efforts at institutionalizing social control.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 693 - International Relations in the Middle East

  Regional and inter-regional analysis of the foreign relations of Middle Eastern nations, domestic and geopolitical factors.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 694 - European Security

  Examines regional security in Europe, focusing on NATO expansion, EU expansion, Russian foreign policy and related issues.

  Credit Hours: 3

• *New Course TBD - Global Trade

  Topics: the theory of comparative advantage. Trade, foreign policy, and development. Arguments for and against trade protection. History and development of trade agreements. Trade dispute resolution. Domestic politics of trade, including mitigating the costs of trade dislocation. Use of sanctions as a tool of foreign policy.

Students must complete 15 credit hours from the course list below.

• ACC 665 - Healthcare Managerial and Financial Accounting

  This course covers managerial and financial accounting concepts applied to health care organizations. Topics include cost allocation and management control systems.

  Credit Hours: 2-3

• HMP 601 - Essentials of Healthcare Administration

  The goal of this course is to develop an understanding of the basic elements of the health services industry in the United States. A systems approach will be used utilizing a historical perspective as a basis and moving on to current and potential future system dynamics. This course will allow the student to understand the health care system, including physician services, hospital and hospital systems, long-term care providers, mental health services, and pharmaceutical services. 

  Credit Hours: 1-4

• HMP 655 - Public Policy and Health

  Role of public and private institution in health promotion, health care delivery, and health insurance. Explains how and why government and society attempt to influence health-related behaviors and the resulting effects on individuals’ lives.

  Credit Hours: 1-4

• HMP 684 - Analysis of Healthcare Delivery and Policy

  All societies must deal with the allocation of scarce resources. In our society, primary reliance is placed on markets and prices. Since most students are unfamiliar with the methods of decision-making from a manager’s perspective, we will discuss criteria to evaluate the allocation of resources and analyze the behavior of two of the principal actors – consumers and firms. 

  Credit Hours: 2-3

• INS 672 - Global Public Health Policy and Ethics

  National, regional and global health policies with special consideration to ethical and human rights issues; policies and the moral considerations that shape public health policy.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 605 - Comparative Family Policies: Sex, Babies, and the State

  Examines policies on reproduction, work, and the family in a variety of national, with specific emphasis on Latin America.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 636 - U.S. Healthcare Crisis: Politics and Policies

  This seminar will explore the politics and policies of healthcare in the United States. Our examination of the current crisis in cost and coverage will draw on experience from the debates on comprehensive and incremental reform over the past decade.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 655 - Public Policy and Health

  Development of public policy at the federal, state and local level. Policy process, models of policy analysis, policy development in several government service areas, and plans for policy change. Special emphasis on health policy formulation, implementation and the use of epidemiological tools in health policy analysis.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 669 - LGBTQI Politics

  Describes and explains global variance in government policies of interest to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex citizens including sodomy laws, anti-discrimination ordinances, same-sex marriage and adoption, military service, and the right to change one’s sex or identify as neither male nor female.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 682 - Political Economy of Development

  Overview of the principal theoretical paradigms of the development process Comparative analysis of issues such as the role of the state, strategies of industrialization, changes in social structure, basic needs and the trade-offs between growth and equity.

  Credit Hours: 3

Students must complete 15 credit hours from the course list below.

• COS 630 - Conflict Management

  This course provides an understanding of conflict dynamics and strategies for constructive conflict management.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 606 - Organizational Dynamics and Management

  A seminar on organizational dynamics and management in public and non-profit organizations. Focus on organizational theories, leadership, behavior, goals, effectiveness, and change, with an emphasis on the distinctiveness of public organizations, public-private partnerships, new public management, and digital governance.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 624 - Nonprofit Organizations: Law, Policy, and Management

  This course teaches students the essential requirements for creation and operation of tax-exempt nonprofit organization in accordance with state and federal law. The course covers a wide range of relevant topics including guidelines for charitable giving and charitable solicitation, pitfalls that can result in personal liability for officers and directors, and statutory constraints on legislative lobbying and political activities.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 626 - Administrative Law

  Administrative law is the study of the legal relationship of government agencies to legislatures, courts, and private parties. The course examines the legal dimensions of bureaucratic power and procedures as well as constitutional and statutory constraints on regulators and administrators.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 647 - Human Resource Management in Public Service

  Topics include human resource management in public service: job analysis and design, evaluation and appraisal, recruitment and interviewing, training and development, wages and benefits, and health and safety. Unionization, regulation of wages, hours and working conditions, financial security for workers, manpower planning and job anti-discrimination legislation are considered.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 651 - Productivity Improvement in the Public Sector

  Definitions and measures of productivity. Evaluation of government programs, and methods of productivity improvement.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 657 - Ethical and Managerial Issues in Government, Business, and Nonprofit Organizations

  Governments at all levels in this country--national, state, and local--have encountered scandals involving ethical wrongdoing. Businesses and nonprofit organizations have faced similar problems. Countless visible examples of unethical and ethical behavior occur in organizations daily. This course examines the causes and consequences of such actions and the managerial strategies and competencies needed to effectively cope with the ethical issues confronting individuals and organizations.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 658 - From Electronic Government to Digital Governance

  Graduate and advanced undergraduate seminar explores the transition from electronic government (e-gov) to digital or d-governance, emphasizing political participation, citizen-centric public administration and the proliferation of global information technologies and social media.

  Credit Hours: 3

• POL 659 - International Organizations

  Examines international organizations which, in addition to contributing to the solution of international problems, also help to provide rules and structures to manage state-to-state relationships.

  Credit Hours: 3

• STC 623 - Crisis Communication and Management

  This course introduces the student to crisis communication and management from a strategies, theory-based approach steeped in case research from historical cases and business case studies.

  Credit Hours: 3