On-Campus Elective Classes

On-Campus Elective Classes

These courses are taught on-campus and primarily during the daytime. Online students and non-MPA students are normally welcome to join! Expand on each title for information on credits, terms offered, faculty, sample syllabi, and course descriptions.

PUBA 635 Military Leadership and Public Service, 1.5 credits, spring

  • Faculty: Charles Szypszak
  • Sample Syllabus
  • Description: Leadership as taught and demonstrated in the military and how it translates to leadership in public service, including the interrelationship of the military and other public service and the transition of veterans to civilian leadership roles.

PUBA 730 Government and Nonprofit Accounting and Reporting - 3 credits, spring

  • Faculty: Greg Allison
  • Sample Syllabus
  • Description: Teaches the principles of accounting and financial reporting in governmental and not-for-profit environment. Provides skills for analyzing the financial condition of governments and the efficiency and effectiveness of governmental programs

PUBA 734 Community Revitalization Methods - 4.5 credits, fall

  • Faculty: Tyler Mulligan
  • Sample Syllabus
  • Description:  Graduate and professional students from varied backgrounds will learn key revitalization techniques and put them into practice by working directly on community economic development projects in NC.

PUBA 735 Community Revitalization Applied- 4.5 credits, spring

  • Faculty: Tyler Mulligan
  • Sample Syllabus
  • Description: Interdisciplinary teams of students in this workshop-style course will engage in intensive experiential learning while assisting NC communities to achieve their community and economic development goals.

PUBA 751 Local Government Management - 3 credits, fall

  • Faculty: Kim Nelson
  • Sample Syllabus
  • Description: Nature of city or county manager’s job: expectations of elected body, staff, public and professional peers. Examines contemporary issues in departmental operations that have significant effect on how manager’s performance is perceived.

PUBA 753 Performance Management - 3 credits, fall

  • Faculty: Bill Rivenbark
  • Sample Syllabus
  • Description: The purpose of Performance Management in Local Government is to introduce students to how local officials measure the inputs, outputs, and outcomes of service delivery and how they use these performance data for making management and policy decisions. The course also includes how local officials use other types of data to information decision-making, including content analysis, benchmarking, financial condition analysis, and benefit-cost analysis.

PUBA 756 Nonprofit Management - 3 credits, fall

  • Faculty: Teshanee Williams, Katie Loovis
  • Sample Syllabus
  • Description: Examination of the managerial challenges posed by nonprofit organizations and of techniques and practices used by managers of nonprofit organizations

PUBA 758 Navigating Nonprofit Local Government - 3 credits, spring

  • Faculty: Teshanee Williams
  • Sample Syllabus
  • Description: This course is designed for graduate students who are seeking professional positions in local government or nonprofits. The overall objectives are to exchange information about issues of mutual concern to both nonprofits and governments.

PUBA 771 Managing Economic Development- 3 credits, fall

  • Faculty: Jonathan Morgan
  • Sample Syllabus
  • Description: Emphasizes the practical application and implementation of various approaches to economic development. Students will apply tools/strategies by doing case studies and small group projects based on real-world scenarios faced by local practitioners

PUBA 787/PLAN 787/ENVR 787 Applied Environmental Finance - 3 credits, spring

  • Faculty: Erin Riggs
  • Sample Syllabus
  • Description: This applied course looks at the diverse tools and strategies environmental service providers use to pay for their programs. It also examines the policy implications of deciding how to pay for these services