Spring 2026 Public Administration

PA 401

Foundations of Public Service

3 OR 4 hours. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Previously listed as PA 400. Prerequisite(s): Master of Public Administration or Master of Public Policy or Master of Science in Civic Analytics program or consent of the instructor. Not intended for Non-Degree. Departmental Approval Required

PA 402

Introduction to Data Management and Analysis

0 TO 4 hours. Meets 12-Jan-26 - 06-Mar-26. 3 undergraduate hours; 4 graduate hours. Previously listed as PA 407. Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or above Admission to the MPA, MPP, or MSCA program; or consent of the instructor. Restricted to Urban Planning &Public Affairs. Restricted to Graduate Online - Chicago. Restricted to students in the Pub Policy, Mgmt, & Analytics department.

PA 403

Economics for Management and Policy

3 OR 4 hours. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Previously listed as PA 410. Prerequisite(s): Master of Public Administration or consent of the instructor. Not intended for Non-Degree.

PA 422

Project Management

4 hours. Meets 09-Mar-26 - 01-May-26. Previously listed as PA 462.

PA 431

Civic Technology

3 OR 4 hours. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Previously listed as PA 463. Admission to the Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Policy, or Master of Science in Civic Analytics program or consent of the instructor. Restricted to Urban Planning &Public Affairs.

Online

PA 434

Intermediate Data Management and Analysis

3 OR 4 hours. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Extensive computer use required. Meets eight weeks of the semester. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Policy, or Master of Science in Civic Analytics program or consent of the instructor. Restricted to Urban Planning &Public Affairs.

PA 453

Freshwater Lab in Practice: Environmental Research, Projects, and Internships

3 OR 4 hours. Same as ENGL 453 and UPP 453. 3 undergraduate hours; 4 graduate hours. This course offers an internship placement opportunity. Depending on placement/start date, students may begin internship work during the second half of the semester or during the summer. Prerequisite(s): ENGL 160 and ENGL 161.

PA 467

Civic Engagement

3 OR 4 hours. Same as PPOL 467. 3 undergraduate hours; 4 graduate hours. Previously listed as PA 564. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy or Urban Studies; or admission to the Master of Public Administration or Master of Public Policy or Master of Science in Civic Analytics program; or consent of instructor. Restricted to students in the Pub Policy, Mgmt, & Analytics department.

PA 470

AI & Machine Learning

3 OR 4 hours. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): PA 402 or PA 434; and admission to the Master of Public Administration or Master of Public Policy or Master of Science in Civic Analytics program or consent of the instructor. Restricted to Urban Planning &Public Affairs.

PA 490

Field Experience in Public Policy and Administration

4 hours. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. A maximum of 4 hours of credit may be applied to the Master of Public Administration program. Field work required. Students who have no prior work experience in the public or non-profit sectors are strongly recommended to register for this course. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Master of Public Administration or Master of Public Policy or Master of Science in Civic Analytics, Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy, or Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies program; or consent of the instructor. Departmental Approval Required

PA 494

Special Topics in Public Administration

3 OR 4 hours. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Policy, or Master of Science in Civic Analytics program or consent of the instructor. Restricted to Urban Planning &Public Affairs.

PA 504

Principles of Financial Management and Budgeting

4 hours. Meets 12-Jan-26 - 06-Mar-26. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Policy, or Master of Science in Civic Analytics program or consent of the instructor. Restricted to Urban Planning &Public Affairs. Restricted to Graduate Online - Chicago.

PA 505

Public Management Practices

4 hours. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the MPA program or consent of instructor; Must be taken within first 3 semesters in program .

PA 506

Public Policy Development and Process

4 hours. Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or better in PA 402; and Grade of C or better in PA 403 and admission to the Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Policy, or Master of Science in Civic Analytics program or consent of the instructor.

PA 515

Bureaucracy and the Policy Process

4 hours. Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Ph.D. in Public Administration program or approval of the program director.

PA 541

Advanced Data Analysis I

4 hours. Prerequisite(s): PA 402; and PA 434 and admission to the Master of Public Administration or Master of Public Policy or Master of Science in Civic Analytics or PhD in Public Administration program or consent of the instructor.

PA 546

Research Topics in Public Administration II

2 hours. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. Prerequisite(s): PA 545 and admission to the PhD program in Public Administration or consent of the instructor. Restricted to Public Administration major(s). Restricted to Doctor of Philosophy. Instructor Approval Required

PA 550

Advanced Topics in Financial Analysis and Management

4 hours. Meets 09-Mar-26 - 01-May-26. Prerequisite(s): PA 504; and graduate or professional standing; and admission to the Master of Public Administration or Master of Public Policy or Master of Science in Civic Analytics program or consent of the instructor.

PA 553

State and Local Public Finance

4 hours. Prerequisite(s): PA 504 and graduate or professional standing; and admission to the Master of Public Administration or Master of Public Policy or Master of Science in Civic Analytics program or consent of the instructor.

PA 561

Intergovernmental Management

4 hours. Previously listed as PA 523. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing; and admission to the Master of Public Administration or Master of Public Policy or Master of Science in Civic Analytics program or consent of the instructor.

PA 590

Capstone and Portfolio in Public Policy, Management, and Analytics

4 hours. Extensive collaboration required among group members outside of class time. Students should expect significant field work at their assigned organizations. Students are responsible to the course professor and to the project supervisor in their assigned organizations. Because the coursework is team-based, students are not allowed to drop this course once teams are created. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor and admission to the Master of Public Administration or Master of Public Policy or Master of Science in Civic Analytics program. Course must be taken in the last two semesters in the program or consent of the instructor.

PA 593

Independent Research in Public Policy, Management, and Analytics

1 TO 8 hours. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Approval of the director of graduate studies and consent of the instructor.

PA 596

Independent Research in Public Policy, Management, and Analytics

1 TO 4 hours. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing; and consent of the instructor. Instructor Approval Required

PA 599

Ph.D. Thesis Research

0 TO 16 hours. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Prerequisite(s): Open only to degree candidates, upon approval of topic by dissertation committee. Instructor Approval Required