Courses

This course covers various advanced, multivariate statistical techniques used in public administration and policy research. It begins with regression models for limited dependent variables, i.e., models for nominal outcomes, ordered outcomes, and count outcomes, using maximum likelihood estimation techniques. The course then introduces panel data analyses and multilevel data analysis. Throughout, students will be given hand-on training in the use of statistical software, the interpretation of results from real data, and the translation of results into useful summaries through tables and figures. Students are encouraged to apply the methods learned to their own datasets, including data from their ongoing projects or dissertation research.

This course examines how nonprofit organizations develop effective resource development strategies to support their important work in our society. The course reviews the theoretical rationales and practical considerations in managing particular sources of income, including charitable donations, government support, earned income, and investment income. It also discusses strategies and best practices in designing appropriate revenue portfolios to achieve financial health and sustainability. 

This course provides an examination of selected issues and problems in public sector administration and management. Students should check with the department to determine the precise curriculum to be offered in a given semester.

Service-learning Internship I is designed to provide students field experiences with community agencies to link academic work with meaningful community service that will benefit both the agency and the student. Agencies will benefit with the infusion of enthusiastic students to assist in the delivery of services to their clients and students will develop a deeper understanding of their role as leaders in their communities as well as increase their civic and citizenship skills. The director of the undergraduate major will work in conjunction with the Career Development Center of Rutgers University–Newark and other campus units to place students in a viable internship.

Service-learning Internship II is designed to provide students field experiences with community agencies to link academic work with meaningful community service that will benefit both the agency and the student. Agencies will benefit with the infusion of enthusiastic students to assist in the delivery of services to their clients and students will develop a deeper understanding of their role as leaders in their communities as well as increase their civic and citizenship skills. The director of the undergraduate major will work in conjunction with the Career Development Center of Rutgers University–Newark and other campus units to place students in a viable internship.

Special Topics Education in Newark examines the history of education in Newark, New Jersey from the 1950s to the present in the larger context of the history, sociology and politics of urban education and urban educational policy and reform in the United States, New Jersey and Newark. Among the topics to be discussed are the limits and possibilities of urban educational reform; the relationship between poverty and schooling; and a number of policies and reforms that have affected education in Newark. These include: 1. Deindustrialization, white flight, housing policies and the decline of Newark in the 1950s; 2. The decline of the Newark Public Schools in the 1960s; 3.The 1987 State Takeover Law and state takeover in 1995; 4. School Finance Reform: Robinson v. Cahill and Abbott v. Burke; 5. The Effects of a Superintendent: Clifford Janey (2008-2011) and Cami Anderson (2011-2015); 6. The $100 million gift from Mark Zuckerberg, and its processes and effects; 7.  The rise of the charter school sector in Newark: are they more effective?; 8. Postsecondary education and the attempt to raise college attendance and graduation of Newark High School graduates; 9. The return to local control (2017-2018): has the district made progress? Through readings of books, journal articles, and research reports and guest lectures by a number of individuals who have been a major part of the history of education in Newark, students will understand what has happened to education in Newark over the last 70 years and the limits and possibilities of educational reforms in the city. 

This course examines strategic management as a central leadership function in public and nonprofit organizations. Students learn how mission-driven organizations assess their environments, set strategic direction, align resources, implement priorities, and evaluate performance in politically and institutionally complex settings. The course emphasizes strategic thinking, cross-sector governance, performance alignment, and adaptive leadership. Through applied exercises and case analysis, students develop practical tools to guide public and nonprofit organizations in dynamic policy environments.

This course covers such topics as public sector organization theory and behavior at the micro and macro levels, networking, and interorganizational relations.

Technology and Public Administration explores the implications of information management technologies for public and nonprofit managers, including: the role of eGovernment, citizen engagement through Web 2.0 and social media, digital service delivery, cyber security awareness, the exploration of how policy and technology intersect, and how technology can be best managed through various governance models.

 Government and private organizations are recognizing the benefits of data driven decision making. As such, all business and strategic operations of this era are deploying technologies to improve data integrity in order to better serve its constituency. The course introduces various technologies public organizations may use to collect, manage, and disseminate information used to inform and administer public services.