Professors Emeriti/ae
David F. Andersen, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Sue R. Faerman, Ph.D., University at Albany (Collins Fellow)
James J. Heaphey, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Joseph M. Heikoff, Ph.D., University of Chicago
Byron Hipple, M.A., Syracuse University
Irene Lurie, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Jeryl L. Mumpower, Ph.D., University of Colorado
Richard I. Nunez, Ph.D., Syracuse University
George P. Richardson, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Jeffrey D. Straussman, Ph.D., City University of New York
Frank Thompson, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Lewis Welch, Ph.D., Syracuse University
Professors
Mitchel Abolafia, Ph.D., Stony Brook University
Shawn Bushway, Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University
J. Ramon Gil-Garcia, Ph.D., University at Albany
Luis Felipe Luna-Reyes, Ph.D., University at Albany
Erika Martin, Ph.D., M.P.H., Yale University
Associate Professors Emeriti/ae
Helen Desfosses, Ph.D., Boston University (Collins Fellow)
Sharon Dawes, Ph.D., University at Albany
James W. Fossett, Ph.D., University of Michigan
Judith Saidel, Ph.D., University at Albany
Associate Professors
Susan Appe, Ph.D., University at Albany
Gang Chen, Ph.D., University of Nebraska at Omaha
Jennifer Dodge, Ph.D., New York University
Bryan Early, Ph.D., University of Georgia
Ashley Fox, Ph.D., Columbia University
Stephen Holt, Ph.D., American University
Ellen Rubin, Ph.D., University of Georgia
Edmund Stazyk, Ph.D., University of Kansas (Chair)
Patricia Strach, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin
Lucy Sorensen, Ph.D., Duke University
Assistant Professors
Mikhail Ivonchyk, Ph.D., University of Georgia
Hongseok Lee, Ph.D., Indiana University
Bo Li, Ph.D., Georgia State University
Kayla Schwoerer, Ph.D., Rutgers University
Research Professors
Ik Jae Chung, Ph.D., University at Albany
Mila Gasco-Hernandez, Ph.D., Rovira i Virgili University
Theresa Pardo, Ph.D., University at Albany
Public Service Professors
Michael Breslin, M.S., University of Toledo Law School
Kevin Bronner, Ph.D., University at Albany
Paul Castellani, Ph.D., Syracuse University
Michael Christakis, Ph.D., University at Albany
Peter C. Finn, M.P.A., University at Albany
David Liebschutz, M.A., J.D., Duke University
Rick Mathews, M.S., Indiana State University
Frank Mauro, M.P.A., Syracuse University
Eugene Monaco, M.S., University at Albany
Philip Morris, B.A., Hamilton College
Fredric David Sheppard, M.A., The United States Army War College
James Steiner, Ph.D., Georgetown University
Public administration and public policy are concerned with the formulation and implementation of governmental policies and programs. The approach of the Department of Public Administration and Policy is interdisciplinary, drawing on various social and behavioral sciences. The courses focus on such topics as the role of bureaucracy in society, management of finances in the public sector, organizational theory and development, the political and legal environment of administration, and public policy research and analysis.
The Department of Public Administration and Policy offers a 54 credit combined major and minor as well as a 36 credit stand-alone major in Public Policy and Management and a stand-alone minor in Public Policy.
The 36 credit B.A. program in Public Policy and Management is focused on the development of the analytic skills needed in today's complex policy environment. The interdisciplinary nature of the Public Policy and Management program is reflected in the six required core courses that expose students to statistics, economics, the policy-making process and public management. The student then extends and deepens this interdisciplinary perspective through two capstones (including an internship), and the choice of two courses in Management & Politics and Quantitative Methods & Policy Analysis areas. For the 54 credit combined major/minor program, students would complete the same requirements listed for the 36 credit stand-alone major as well as 18 credits in one or two concentrations. The purpose of the concentrations is to match students' interdisciplinary policy analysis and management skills with depth in a particular area(s). Students are expected to work with their advisor to construct a coherent plan of study across the concentrations.
The majors require that students complete an internship, typically with an agency of New York State government. According to University policy, enrollment in an internship requires a minimum 2.00 GPA. Students with a GPA below 2.00 will not be allowed to complete this requirement for the majors.
The B.A. Program expects that students will have taken mathematics at the level of A MAT 100 or A MAT 101.
General Program B.A.: The stand-alone major requires a minimum of 36 credits as follows:
The combined major/minor requires a minimum of 54 credits: the requirements of the 36 credit major must be completed in addition to 18 credits in one Concentration or 9 credits in each of two Concentrations.
Approved Concentrations:
The Honors Program in Public Policy and Management combines recognition of general academic excellence with demonstrated achievement in specific area of public policy.
Administration
The Director of Undergraduate Studies administers the Honors Program, advises students, and helps students in selecting thesis advisers. The thesis is discussed in a forum involving the adviser, the Honors Director, and other faculty members selected by the student and the adviser upon its completion in the senior year.
Selection and Evaluation
Student must have declared Public Policy and Management as either a stand-alone major or as a combined major/minor and have completed at least 12 credits of coursework in the major. Student must have an overall grade point average not lower than 3.25, and a grade point average of 3.50 in the core subjects in public policy and management for admission to the Honors Program. Students may apply to the Honors Program during their sophomore year or during the first semester of their junior year.
Upon satisfactory completion of the honors curriculum and of courses required of all majors, students will be recommended by the Director of Undergraduate Studies to graduate with honors in Public Policy and Management. Students must maintain at least the same grade point average overall and the same average in the major as were required for admission to the Honors Program to graduate with honors.
Requirements
Students in the Honors Programs in Public Policy and Management must complete the same coursework requirements as specified for the non-honors majors, including the completion of an honors thesis.
Thesis: each student must complete a 30 to 40 page honors thesis. This paper should involve original research on a topic related to public policy. It should have a clearly defined thesis statement, a review of the existing literature on the chosen topic, original evidence offered to support the thesis, consideration of alternative rival hypothesis, and a conclusion of the consequence for public policy research of these findings. The paper is to be created in conjunction with a faculty mentor approved by the Director of the Undergraduate Public Policy and Management program (and the paper may be co-authored with the chosen faculty mentor). The paper is to be submitted to the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Completion of the thesis requires enrolling in two research courses, R PAD 494 and R PAD 496, in which the student works one-on-one with a faculty advisor to conduct the required research and write the thesis. R PAD 494 may be counted towards the Area of Management and Politics, and R PAD 496 may be counted towards the Area of Quantitative Methods and Policy Analysis. Students are encouraged to identify their thesis question and advisor before the end of their junior year.
Students majoring in Public Policy and Management may be eligible to apply for the combined B.A./M.P.A. program. This program provides an opportunity for students of recognized academic ability and educational maturity to earn both a B.A. and the graduate M.P.A. degree within 11 semesters.
The combined program requires a minimum of 144 credits, of which at least 36 must be graduate credits. In qualifying for the B.A., students must meet all University and school requirements, including the requirements of either the major/minor or the major described previously, the minimum 90 credit liberal arts and sciences requirement, general education requirements, minor requirement (if doing the stand-alone major) and residency requirements. In qualifying for the M.P.A., students must meet all University and school requirements as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin, including completion of approximately 36 graduate credits and any other conditions such as a professional experience requirement. Up to 12 graduate credits may be applied simultaneously to both the B.A. and M.P.A. programs.
Students may apply to the combined degree program at the end of their junior year. A cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher, completion of 56 credits toward towards the B.A., and three letters of recommendation from faculty are required for consideration. Evidence of ability in quantitative coursework, particularly in statistics and economics, is required for admission to the B.A./M.P.A. program.
The combined B.A./M.I.A. program is highly competitive and allows students to complete their bachelor's degree in Political Science while simultaneously working on a master’s degree in International Affairs. Students enroll in graduate courses during their senior year that concurrently count towards both the B.A. and the M.I.A. degrees.
The combined program requires a minimum of 151 credits, of which at least 43 must be graduate credits. In qualifying for the B.A., students must meet all University and school requirements, including the requirements for the major described previously, the minor requirement, the minimum 90 credit liberal arts and sciences requirement, general education requirements, and residency requirements. In qualifying for the M.I.A., students must meet all University and school requirements as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin, including completion of 24 graduate credits in the core, 5 elective courses, a capstone project and other conditions such as professional internship or career experience, professional development module and residency requirements. Up to 12 graduate credits may be applied simultaneously to both the B.A. and M.I.A. programs.
Students may apply to the combined degree program in Political Science/International Affairs at the beginning of their junior year or after the successful completion of 56 credits. To be eligible for consideration for admission, the student must have completed at least one semester in residency at this University. The student must also have completed at least 6 credits of coursework in political science at this University. Additional requirements for admissions into this program are: a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher; a grade point average of 3.20 or higher in course work completed at Albany; a grade of B or higher in two quantitative courses; and two supportive letters of recommendation from faculty. The Graduate Record Exam is not required. Of the 36 credits required for the B.A. degree in Political Science, at least 18 credits must be from courses taken in political science on this campus.