Coursework

“The public affairs program provides new ways to identify, analyze and solve issues that are unique to the public sector; using the latest tools and techniques.” – Public Affairs student 

Coursework in the public affairs major encourages students to explore diverse perspectives, apply problem-solving skills, and engage in practical experiences that enable graduates to undertake important leadership responsibilities and challenging work in the public and nonprofit sectors. Several policy pathways are available to students, allowing the students to shape their studies according to their interests and concerns. This degree is also excellent preparation for graduate or professional school.

Course Descriptions

PUBA 201 Foundations of Public Administration - Provides an overview of the practice of public administration, including key current and future issues, basic concepts, and intellectual history. This course addresses a variety of topics such as the changing scope and role of governments in American society, cross-national comparisons of political cultures, leadership roles of administrators in government, administrative responsiveness and accountability, and ethical analysis. Student should take this course within the first year of declaring the major. Required.

PUBA 215 Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector - This course offers an introduction to the nonprofit sector including history, sub-sectors, skill areas and job functions.  Students will explore the meaning of mission, vision, values and organizing principles of nonprofit organizations and the role of networks, partnership and collaborative activity in achieving organizational missions. Students will identify and study current issues and trends facing the nonprofit sector. Satisfies Nonprofit Leadership Policy Pathway option. 

PUBA 250 Introduction to Urban Planning - This course is a survey of the activity and profession of urban planning as it evolved in the United States since the early 1800s.  As a response to the challenges of growing urban areas, planning seeks remedies for physical, social, and economic problems.  Course topics will provide an overview of how past events have shaped contemporary practice of directing land use, community, and comprehensive planning of our urban environment, and the political framework that directs the procedures and processes of the profession. Satisfies Urban Studies Policy Pathway option.  

PUBA 309 State and Local Policy - Examination of structures and functions of political Institutions at local, state, county, and special district levels, especially legislative, executive, and judicial systems. Required.  

PUBA 316 Nonprofit Service and Engagement - This course will introduce students to nonprofit service and community engagement within the framework of an empowerment model.  Students will learn how community and organizational partnerships affect social change; and, influence and shape public policy through strategies such as public education, policy research, community organizing, lobbying and litigation. Students will receive direct exposure to nonprofit organizations through community service and service learning. Satisfies Nonprofit Leadership Policy Pathway option. 

PUBA 317 Nonprofit Leadership - This course will provide strategies for effective leadership/management practices. Students will explore: leadership theories, issues of supervision and human resource management, the role of nonprofit boards and executives as agents of and for social change and social justice, and how to form and maintain high performance teams. Students will apply skills in nonprofit leadership through field experiences and experiential learning. $85.00 course fee. (Retreat required). Satisfies Nonprofit Leadership Policy Pathway option. 

 

PUBA 355 Community Design Workshop - Service learning course that integrates planning methods and practice of community building through a quarter-long project. Students analyze and develop strategies and recommendations in an urban development or design plan. Satisfies Urban Studies Policy Pathway option. 

PUBA 411 Understanding Organizations - Reviews classical and emerging perspectives from organizational theory; focuses on improving student’s effectiveness in public and nonprofit organizations. Develops capacities to understand and address issues concerning organizational values, assumptions about human nature, and organizational structure, culture, politics, psychology, and learning. Required.

PUBA 418 Resource Development and Stewardship - This course will explore the science of generosity and philanthropy along with current fund raising practices.  Many of us want to make in a difference in our communities, both at home and around the world.  But how do we do it?  And how do fund raising practices connect with donors to create a sense of joy and provide benefits, both to the organization and the donor?  This course will explore fund raising from the donor perspective as well as from the roles and responsibilities of the fund raiser.  Topics will include generosity, the ethics of fund raising, individual based fund raising programs, corporate and foundation giving, sponsorships and stewardship. Satisfies Nonprofit Leadership Policy Pathway option.  

PUBA 419 Global Citizenship: Be the Change - Natural disasters, civil and sectarian conflict, HIV/AIDS, absolute poverty: international nonprofit organizations (NGOs) face dizzying challenges around the globe. Discover leading issues and trends in the international aid and development arena, review global management issues, and learn about career and volunteer opportunities in the field. Satisfies Nonprofit Leadership Policy Pathway option.  

PUBA 430 Management Analysis and Control - Examines primary concepts and purposes of management control in public and nonprofit organizations; defines terminology and addresses principles of financial accounting. Concepts include responsibility and program structure, audit responsibility, analysis of financial statements, cost accounting, and pricing. Emphasis is upon student analysis of management systems within contemporary organizations. Required. Prerequisite: Econ 272.

PUBA 440 Policy and Program Research - This course provides an overview of the research methodologies used for public decision-making. Concepts include specification of questions to guide inquiry, basis for causal inference, acquisition of quantitative data, reliability and validity issues, descriptive statistics, and the logic of statistics. This course provides students with an opportunity to build skills in designing, conducting, and analyzing research. Required. Prerequisite: Math 107 or above.

PUBA 441 Policy Analysis - This course addresses the systematic analysis of policies that are under consideration or, after having been implemented, are under review. Emphasizes logical and prescriptive techniques for analyzing public policies and making decisions regarding policy change. Emphasis is on conceptualization, interpretation, and analysis of selected policies. Required.

PUBA 480 Asian American Experience: Culture, History, and Community - A survey course on the Asian and Pacific American experience that looks at history, transplanting of cultural values in a new land, expressing community values in social organizations, and physical form. Satisfies Core Interdisciplinary requirement and Urban Studies Policy Pathway option.

PUBA 481 Exploring the American City: Urban Design and Community Development - The development of American cities and urban planning. This class explores the roles and relationships between society and the built environment. Topics include land use, growth management strategies, transportation, housing, urban decline and revitalization. Satisfies Core Interdisciplinary requirement and Urban Studies Policy Pathway option.

PUBA 482 Housing Design and the Sustainable Community - This survey course examines housing and the creation of the “American dream.” Course material is approached through an historic profile of design, style, and urban development. Class explores the role of public policy and the relationship of housing to the popular media, advertising, physical design, and societal interests. Satisfies Core Interdisciplinary and Urban Studies Policy Pathway option.

 

 PUBA 483 Sustainable Development in the Tropics - The objectives of this course are to provide an overview of the environmental and socio-economic characteristics that make the tropics unique; examine the different perspectives on sustainable development; and consider the pros and cons of different strategies to conserve the environment and promote development.  The course focuses on the livelihood and development challenges and opportunities that come into play in trying to manage ecosystems and conserve biodiversity in the tropics. Satisfies Core Interdisciplinary, Environmental Studies, and Nonprofit Leadership Policy Pathway option.

PUBA 490 Prospectives in Public Affairs - The Senior Synthesis (SS) or “capstone” experience that provides students with an opportunity to connect the learning habits acquired in the Core (e.g. thinking, writing, speaking, listening, and analyzing) to the public affairs major (e.g. community building, public policy, collaboration) and mission of Seattle University. The course utilizes Academic Service-Learning (ASL) to explore a real policy issue or management problem a government or nonprofit agency is experiencing. Required. Prerequisites: PUBA 440, PUBA 441 and senior standing.  

PUBA 495 Internship - Students will gain practical experience with an appropriate governmental, nonprofit, or public sector organization. Internships must be approved by the program director prior to start. Required. Prerequisite: 3 PUBA Area IV courses.