This course will present an overview of selective aspects of both human physical and psychological development with emphasis on how individuals are programmed by parents and extended family as well as how behavior can be modified. Emphasis will be placed on adult development. The influence of culture, ethnic background, and environment on individuals and groups will be three (3) of the primary discussion areas. Special emphasis will be placed on how individuals can improve and prepare themselves during life changing events. Additional topics that will be explored are gender roles; the influence of family, peers, and the employment of the individual and the effects of change on individuals and society.

Fee: $30.00

Credits: 3

Offered: Every Summer

Notes: Book Requirement

The course is designed for each student to identify, research, write, and present a selected community issue. The pictorial method of problem solving and presentation is emphasized. The development of a formal public program is part of the expectation and requirement of the class. Since community issues cannot be successfully addressed in isolation, the student will develop an understanding of how community problems are identified and resolved. Such factors as community, social, and ethical values, laws and regulations, governmental sources of revenue/taxing power, budgeting, development and use of personnel, shared government, and private sector cooperation are among the issues that will be discussed.

Fee: $30.00

Credits: 3

Offered: Every Fall

Notes: Book Requirement

The course presents organizational behavior through the framework of four perspectives derived from nearly 100 years of theory and research on organizational functioning. The structural, human resource, political, and symbolic frames each have their own set of concepts and challenges, but when these multiple lenses are put together students are able to make sense of, and strategically plan for, change. The four frames are, therefore, tools of diagnosis, change, and leadership in public service organizations. To clarify the issues and complexities of organizations, the student needs to understand the corresponding problems of control, commitment, influence, and legitimacy that all types of organizations face. Understanding implies application and action, so ultimately this course aims to alter the way students see organizational functioning and respond to its challenges and opportunities.

Fee: $30.00

Credits: 3

Offered: Every Summer

Notes: Book Requirement

Public organizations desperately need people who care enough about the communities they serve to be change agents who empower others to tackle tough issues. This course examines the leader’s role as a conflict negotiator, peacemaker, and change initiator using Heifetz theory of Adaptive Leadership. We will look at leadership practice in a variety of settings while staying rooted in public service organizations and students’ experience. The learning methods of this course include group discussion, case study analysis, in-class simulations, reflection on readings, and short lectures to provoke further thought and application. Out of class assignments are designed to be practical and transformational experiences focused on analysis of personal approaches to conflict and reflection on a “change initiative” of his or her choice. The goal is to increase students’ capacity for leadership by exposing them to different options and strategies for engaging conflict as leaders and followers personally and professionally.

Fee: $30.00

Credits: 3

Offered: Every Spring

Notes: Book Requirement

The course reviews the community’s health and human service needs and how non-profit organizations provide services to build a healthier community, and meet those needs, through effective problem-solving strategies. Interviews with agencies and written summations will be used to acquaint the individual and the class with agency services. Agencies reviewed will be those identified as probable resources for specific areas that students serve.

Fee: $30.00

Credits: 3

Offered: Every Spring

Notes: Book Requirement

The course identifies how individuals make choices and decisions guided by ethical frames of reference. Through readings, class discussions, and written assignments, the course will explore some of the ethical frameworks which guide both personal and professional decisions. Specifically, a selected group of contemporary ethical issues will be examined from the perspective of duty-based ethics, consequential ethics, and virtue theory. Attention will be given to the relationship between personal and professional ethics and the implications of this relationship for the workplace.

Fee: $30.00

Credits: 1

Offered: Every Fall

Notes: Book Requirement

The course begins with the premise that American and global societies are built by people from diverse cultural backgrounds. This requires citizens to develop an understanding about a wide range of values, beliefs, and actions. The course seeks to develop an awareness and sensitivity toward others by examining some of the stereotypes which hinder the understanding of diverse people and groups, including those which shape our attitudes and actions toward racial and ethnic minorities, gender and age-based groups, and those with alternative lifestyles. Certain class sessions will be devoted to exploring the stereotypes which shape behavior toward a specific group.

Fee: $30.00

Credits: 1

Offered: Every Fall

Notes: Book Requirement

The course focuses on defining personal and organizational communication in a broad-based manner and on aiding the public service manager to examine, analyze, and use a variety of communication forms including verbal, non-verbal, and written. Both individual and group exercises are part of the course. Focus activists include developing communication team building exercises; sharing defining moment exercises; acquiring and using data; developing written materials such as house organs, press releases, resumes, communication trees, electronic mail pieces, as well as writing descriptive narrative. Further the class introduces the graduate student to methods of collecting data, writing, and presenting research.

Fee: $30.00

Credits: 3

Offered: Every Fall

Notes: Book Requirement

The course will begin with the fundamentals of how the law has evolved and its importance in society. Attention will be given to the Tennessee and the Federal court systems as well as petit and grand juries and the anatomy of the trial itself. The second phase and the majority of the course will focus on legal issues in the workplace and employment law such as racial, sexual, religious, and national origin discrimination and harassment, violence in the workplace, the employment-at-will doctrine, workplace drug and privacy issues and agency relationships between employees and employers. Additional topics to be discussed concern negligent hiring, supervision and retention, the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and business torts.

Fee: $30.00

Credits: 3

Offered: Every Fall

Notes: Book Requirement

The course addresses contemporary issues and trends facing public service professionals in the area of human resource management. Included in the course will be sessions on personnel selection; training and development; appraising, evaluating and improving employee performances; employee rights and discipline; and employee compensation, pay-for-performance and incentive rewards, employee benefits, and dealing with unions and labor issues. Actual case studies concerning real human resource issues will be examined.

Fee: $30.00

Credits: 3

Offered: Every Spring

Notes: Book Requirement

This course examines historical and current topics of governing and governance focusing primarily on state and local political entities. A variety of governmental models are examined. Contracts between the public and not-for-profit sectors are explored. Other topic areas include budgeting, current governmental issues, developing public policy, duties of elected and appointed public officials, interagency coordination and cooperation, personnel hierarchy and management, role(s) of public officials, as well as taxation policies and procedures. Focus is placed on historical and current public administrators and their leadership styles. A research project and paper are required.

Fee: $30.00

Credits: 3

Offered: Every Fall

Notes: Book Requirement

The course gives the student a theoretical understanding of new media and associated communication methods. The class emphasized theory, production, and application of new media knowledge while incorporating digital and telecommunications technologies. Students develop a strategic communications strategy, aimed at publicizing a product, service, idea, or issue that uses a variety of traditional and non-traditional publicity tools and techniques guided by sound messages and directed to create specific realistic outcomes. This course is designed to provide specialized skills in public relations and promotional communication.

Fee: $30.00

Credits: 1

Offered: Every Summer

Notes: Book Requirement

This course will examine the anatomy of both a civil lawsuit, with emphasis on the tactical, strategic, and ethical decisions made by judges, attorneys, victims and defendants in the lawsuit throughout the process. The seminar also discusses current questions concerning the legal profession; the public image of lawyers and the law; the rights of defendants and victims of crimes; race, money, and the relationship to the justice process; trial by television; and criticisms of the jury system. Students will gain knowledge of the judicial process from the occurrence of an event through the final adjudication of the corresponding legal actions arising from the event. Included will be discussion of the jurisdiction of the course, the appellate structure, both procedural and evidentiary rules of the courts, and demonstration of particular trial skills exercised by the attorneys.

Fee: $30.00

Credits: 1

Offered: Every Spring

Notes: Book Requirement

The course is a broad overview of current environmental issues affecting the community and how public service officials develop policy to manage these concerns for the good of both the citizens and the community. Students will conduct research projects dealing with current issues related to environmental problems. This class is a mixture of regular classroom and distance instruction.

Fee: $30.00

Credits: 1

Offered: Every Summer

Notes: Book Requirement

Research conceptualization and methodology are emphasized in this course. Of particular importance is the ability to create, develop, conduct, analyze, evaluate, and communicate research. Students will have ample opportunity to increase their competence as research developers and practitioners in the public service arena through hands-on experiences. Issues involving ethical and multicultural aspects of research are also addressed.

Fee: $30.00

Credits: 3

Offered: Every Fall

Notes: Book Requirement

The course focuses on the understanding and use of concepts and statistical methods in public service. Students will review and interpret descriptive statistics as well as graphical representations. Principles and methods of probability, inferential statistics including hypothesis testing, categorical data analysis including chi-square, and both simple and multiple linear regressions are topics included in the course. Excel (with the statistical analysis toolpak add-in) is the software used in the course.

Fee: $30.00

Credits: 3

Offered: Every Spring

Notes: Book Requirement

This course is designed to be an individualized student learning experience focusing on one of the three learning components of the program: human relations, management, or research. A syllabus, specific objectives, and learning outcomes will be developed in consultation with the student, officials from the employing organization, and representatives from the University. The student is expected to integrate material across courses to address an identified need or issue within the collaborating organization. A formal written report/work project and oral presentation before agency officials and university faculty is a minimum course requirement. The practicum experience may not be substituted for a required class for graduation.

Fee: $30.00

Credits: 3

Offered: Every Semester

Notes: Book Requirement