The P.P.A. program combines a course-based core curriculum with a series of research seminars and an advanced KAM-based curriculum, which allows students to apply their learning to real-world challenges faced in today’s public policy and administration forums.
PPPA 8000 Foundations for Doctoral Study (4 cr.)
PPPA 8002 Writing a Quality KAM Demonstration (2 cr.)
PPPA 8105 Managing at the Boundaries: Creative Thinking for Social Change (6 cr.)
PPPA 8200 Intellectual Traditions of Public Policy and Public Administration (4 cr.)
PPPA 8305 Professional Leadership and Ethics (4 cr.)
PPPA 8400 Nonprofit and Governmental Budgeting and Finance (4 cr.)
PPPA 8500 Organizational Theory and Behavior (4 cr.)
PPPA 8600 Human Resource Management (4 cr.)
PPPA 8700 Policy Analysis (4 cr.)
PPPA 8800 Strategic Management of Information (4 cr.)
PPPA 8840 Independent Study (4 cr.)
SBSF 8417 Research Seminar I: Human Inquiry and Science (4 cr.)
PPPA 8427 Research Seminar II: Research Methods (5 cr.)
PPPA 8437 Research Seminar III: Data Analysis (5 cr.)
Walden’s unique curriculum allows students to focus on the areas most beneficial to their professional needs and goals. For example, students might concentrate on state and local government, public finance, or health administration while completing the following KAMs:
Specialized KAM V: Democratic Governance (12 cr.)
Breadth: PPPA 8510 Theories of Democratic Governance (4 cr.)
Depth: PPPA 8520 Contemporary Research and Issues in Democratic Governance (4 cr.)
Application: PPPA 8530 Professional Practice Application of Democratic Governance (4 cr.)
Specialized KAM VI: Organizational Leadership and Change (12 cr.)
Breadth: PPPA 8612 Classical and Emerging Paradigms of Leadership and Organizational Change (4 cr.)
Depth: PPPA 8622 Current Research on Leadership and Organizational Change (4 cr.)
Application: PPPA 8632 Professional Practice Application of a Theory of Leadership and Organizational Change (4 cr.)
Specialized KAM VII: Specialization Topics (12 cr.)
Breadth: PPPA 8710 Theories in Selected Specialization Topic (4 cr.)
Depth: PPPA 8720 Current Research in Specialization Topic (4 cr.)
Application: PPPA 8730 Professional Practice Application of Specialization Topic (4 cr.)
General Program (12 cr.)
Students may complete a General Program by taking any three specialization courses from any of the Public Policy and Administration specializations listed below.
Criminal Justice Specialization (12 cr.)
This specialization is designed for criminal justice professionals, including supervisors and managers in policing, courts, corrections, security, and associated support agencies, who aspire to move into management and administrative assignments. The coursework includes an in-depth review and discussion of contemporary decision-making models and issues confronting the American criminal justice system.
PPPA 8350 Historical and Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice (4 cr.)
PPPA 8351 Policy Analysis in the Criminal Justice System (4 cr.)
PPPA 8352 Leadership: Putting Theory Into Practice in Criminal Justice Administration* (4 cr.)
* This course will become available in December 2007.
Health Services Specialization (12 cr.)
Americans have seen radical changes in the health care industry over the past several years. They’ve watched it go from an independent structure to a collection of major business enterprises, which in turn has changed the way health care is delivered. As the health care environment changes, managers must quickly adapt to succeed. The Health Services specialization helps students gain valuable knowledge about health delivery systems, health policy, health administration, and health finance centers, so they can manage effectively and successfully in this unique environment.
PUBH 6130 Health Care Organization, Policy, and Administration (4 cr.)
PUBH 6250 U.S. and International Health Care Systems (4 cr.)
PUBH 6920 Health Services Financial Management (4 cr.)
Homeland Security Policy and Coordination Specialization (12 cr.)
Today’s complex public safety environment demands smart policy on emergency response strategies. This specialization prepares homeland security professionals to implement protective measures without compromising individual rights and freedoms. With this knowledge, students are equipped to effectively develop policy to protect individuals’ safety and freedom.
PPPA 8320 Public Policy Implications of Terrorism Legislation and Policies (4 cr.)
PPPA 8321 Terrorism: A Systemic Approach for Emergency Preparedness (4 cr.)
PPPA 8322 Critical Incident Planning and Leadership (4 cr.)
International Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOS) Specialization (12 cr.)
In an era of increasing globalization, it is important for leaders of nonprofit organizations and governmental departments at the local, state, and national levels to know how to operate in an international environment. This specialization explores how countries organize, regulate, and foster nongovernmental activities; how international intergovernmental organizations operate; and how representatives of these organizations can learn from, partner with, and work within organizations worldwide. By focusing on the effects of globalization and the cultures and sociopolitical environments of diverse nations and organizations, students in this specialization learn how to work effectively with nongovernmental organizations, voluntary organizations, and intergovernmental organizations around the world.
PPPA 8330 Holding Up the Mirror: Understanding Different Cultures and Increasing Global Consciousness (4 cr.)
PPPA 8331 Crossing Borders: U.S. and International NGO Organizational Cultures and Environments (4 cr.)
PPPA 8332 Placing NGOs in the Global Context (4 cr.)
Knowledge Management Specialization (12 cr.)
The Knowledge Management specialization prepares students to develop innovative solutions to their organizations’ most critical challenges—through the comprehensive creation, sharing, and use of knowledge and the effective education of adult learners. The curriculum is focused on organizational change (e.g., Total Quality, Six Sigma, re-engineering, Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award) and organizational learning, including the deployment of corporate universities.
AMDS 8335 Principles of Knowledge Management (4 cr.)
AMDS 8800 Epistemology and the Practice of Knowledge and Learning Management (4 cr.)
AMDS 8801 Principles of Learning Management (4 cr.)
Nonprofit Leadership and Management Specialization (12 cr.)
Investment in social capital is as important as investment in physical and human capital. Without constant attention to democratic and social institutions, a society and its individuals cannot prosper. Recently, considerable attention has been paid to the decline in social capital in the United States and to declining participation in many social institutions. The Nonprofit Leadership and Management specialization investigates these issues and prepares students to become knowledgeable social-change agents through scholarly inquiry, applied research, and effective participation in these nonprofit institutions.
PPPA 8340 Leadership for the Nonprofit Sector (4 cr.)
PPPA 8341 Fund Raising and Marketing in Nonprofit Organizations (4 cr.)
PPPA 8342 Nonprofit Management (4 cr.)
Public Management and Leadership Specialization (12 cr.)
Public services are being delivered through alternative nongovernmental institutions, and citizens and their elected officials are expecting more from those who manage public and nonprofit institutions. The Public Management and Leadership specialization prepares scholar-practitioners to lead reform in public administration.
PPPA 8390 Strategic Context of Public Management and Leadership (4 cr.)
PPPA 8391 Transformative Change in a Shared-Power World (4 cr.)
PPPA 8392 The Language of Leadership (4 cr.)
Public Policy Specialization (12 cr.)
Developing and implementing forward-thinking public policy and engaging citizens in the process are critical to the health of our society. Public and nonprofit administrators who are intimately involved in both executive and legislative/board policy- and decision-making play an important role in policy development and implementation. By allowing students to apply their research in practical ways, the Public Policy specialization prepares students not only to form and understand policies, but also to manage their implementation and acceptance.
PPPA 8380 Policy and Politics in American Political Institutions (4 cr.)
PPPA 8381 Program Public Policy and Evaluation (4 cr.)
PPPA 8382 Public Policy and Finance (4 cr.)
Public Safety Management Specialization (12 cr.)
The emergency situations of today’s complex environments call for a new leadership approach and effective collaboration among public safety professionals. The specialization in Public Safety Management offers emergency response professionals the skills to lead, manage, and motivate others during emergencies; to build confident and capable teams; and to address challenging ethical situations that may arise during the course of duty.
PPPA 8360 Public Safety Issues (4 cr.)
PPPA 8361 Managing Public Safety Organizations (4 cr.)
PPPA 8362 Ethics in Preserving Public Safety (4 cr.)
PPPA 9000 Dissertation (30 cr.)
