Faculty
Professors Emeriti/ae
Mitchel Abolafia, Ph.D., Stony Brook University
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
Susan Appe, Ph.D., University at Albany
Shawn Bushway, Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University
Bryan Early, Ph.D., University of Georgia
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
Patricia Strach, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin
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
Gang Chen, Ph.D., University of Nebraska at Omaha
Jennifer Dodge, Ph.D., New York University
Mila Gasco-Hernandez, Ph.D., Rovira i Virgili University
Ashley Fox, Ph.D., Columbia University
Stephen Holt, Ph.D., American University
Hongseok Lee, Ph.D., Indiana University
Ellen Rubin, Ph.D., University of Georgia
Assistant Professors
Alvin Christian Ph.D., University of Michigan
Mikhail Ivonchyk, Ph.D., University of Georgia
Bo Li, Ph.D., Georgia State University
Research Professors
Ik Jae Chung, Ph.D., University at Albany
Theresa Pardo, Ph.D., University at Albany
Kayla Schwoerer, Ph.D., Rutgers University
Lucy Sorensen, Ph.D., Duke University
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
Eugene Monaco, M.S., University at Albany
Philip Morris, B.A., Hamilton College
Fredric David Sheppard, M.A., The United States Army War College
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.
B.A. in Public Policy and Management
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. It also offers 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 (18 credits) that expose students to statistics, economics, the policy-making process and public management. Twelve credits of major elective options are selected. The student then extends and deepens this interdisciplinary perspective through two capstones (including an internship). 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 AMAT 100 or AMAT 101.
Degree Requirements for the Major in Public Policy and Management
General Program B.A.:
The stand-alone major requires a minimum of 36 credits as follows:
- 18 credits of foundational coursework: AECO 110, RPAD 140, RPAD 204, RPAD 302, RPAD 316, and RPOS 101
- 12 credits of coursework counting towards the major electives selected from RPAD 303, RPAD 305, RPAD 310, RPAD 312, RPAD/RPOS 321, RPAD/RPOS 322, RPAD/RPOS 325, RPAD 328, RPAD 329, RPAD 335, RPAD/CEHC 344, RPAD 345, RPAD 350, RPAD 354, RPAD 355, RPAD 360, RPAD 364/RPOS 366, RPAD 366, RPAD 370, RPAD/RCRJ 385, RPAD/BFIN 435, RPAD 436, RPAD 438, BFIN 439, RPAD 441, RPAD 450, RPAD/CEHC 469, RPAD470, RPAD/CEHC 472, RPAD 475, RPOS 303, RPOS 320.
- 6 credits of coursework counting towards the Area of Quantitative Methods and Policy Analysis. At least one must come from: R PAD 204, R PAD 305, R PAD 324, R PAD 337, R PAD/R POS 343, R PAD 345, R PAD 354 or R PAD 438, R PAD 355, R PAD 360, R PAD/R CRJ 385, R PAD/C EHC 445, R PAD/C EHC/C YBR 449, R PAD 453, R PAD/C EHC 457, R PAD 470, R POS 387, A ECO 300, A ECO 320, A ECO 355. The second course may also come from A ECO 405, A ECO 410, A MAT 214, A MAT 308, A MAT 362, A GOG 496 or A USP 456
- 6 credits of capstone coursework: RPAD 498 and RPAD 499. RPAD 498 requires the completion of an internship
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 nine credits in each of two Concentrations.
Approved Concentrations:
- Data Analytics and Public Finance: AECO 111, AECO 300, AECO 301, AECO 320, AECO 350, AECO 351, AECO 355, AECO 356, AECO 381, AECO 401, AECO 405, AECO 410, AECO 420/420W/420Z, AECO 455, AECO 466, AECO 474, AGOG 496, AMAT 106, AMAT 111, AMAT 112, AMAT 113, AMAT 214, AMAT 220, AMAT 308, AMAT 362, AMAT 367, AMAT 372, APHI 210, APHI 218, APSY 211, APSY 341, ICSI 213, RPAD/RPOS 321, RPAD 345, RPAD 355, RPAD 438
- Environmental Policy and Politics: AANT 211, AATM 100 or AATM 101 or AATM 102, AATM 103, AATM 107, AATM 200, AATM 304, ABIO 131, ABIO 130, AECO 385, AENV 105, AENV 250, AGOG 101, AGOG 201, AGOG 304, AGOG/AUSP 430, AGOG/AUSP 460, AHIS 329, ASOC 320, AUSP 201, AUSP 432, AUSP 456, AUSP 457, HSPH 321, RPAD 366, RPAD 370, RPAD 475
- Gender, Race, and Policy: AAFS 213, AAFS 219, AAFS 240, AAFS 311, AAFS 333, AAFS 400, AHIS 256, AHIS 322, AHIS 325, ALCS 201, ALCS 375, ALCS 465, APHI 350, ASOC 260, ASOC 282, ASOC 326, ASOC 344, AWSS 220, AWSS 240, AWSS 260, AWSS 262, AWSS 333, AWSS 360, AWSS 433 or RPOS 433Z, RPAD 335, RPAD 370
- Law and Policy: AAFS 213, AAFS 400, AECO 383, AHIS 220, AHIS 259, AHIS 310, AHIS 313, AHIS 325, AHIS 327, AHIS 328, APHI 325, ASOC 203, ASOC 385, AWSS/RPOS 333, RPOS 317, RPOS 326, RPOS 335, RPOS 336, RPOS 363/RCRJ 353, RPOS 380, RPOS 426Z, RPOS 428Z, RPOS 437Z
- Politics and Policy: AAFS 430, AGOG 440, AHIS 101, ALCS 375, ALCS 465, APSY 270, ASOC 255, RPAD 304, RPAD 321, RPAD 325, RPAD 329, RPAD 453, RPAD/CEHC 455, RPAD 475, RPAD/RPOS 488, RPOS 301, RPOS 302, RPOS 314, RPOS 319, RPOS 320, RPOS 331, RPOS 332, RPOS 334, RPOS 337, RPOS 365, RPOS 424
- Public Services and Civil Society: AAFS 213, AECO 130, AECO 330, AGLO 320, AGLO 447, AGOG/AUSP 125, AGOG/AUSP 225, AGOG/AUSP 460, AHIS 325, APSY 341, ASOC 342, AWSS 100X, AWSS 260, AWSS 433/RPOS 433Z, ECPY 360, RPAD 305, RPAD 312, RPAD/RPOS 321, RPAD/RPOS 325, RPAD 328, RPAD 329, RPAD 335, RPAD 355, RPAD 441, RPAD/CEHC 472, RPOS 304, RPOS 362, RPOS 375, RPOS 386, RPOS 395, RPOS 424Z, RPOS 437Z, RSSW 210
- Social Policy: AANT 364, AECO 111, AECO 370, AECO 381, AECO 371, AECO 457, AHIS 316, AHIS 331, APHI 338, APHI 417, APSY 101, APSY 270, APSY 329, APSY 341, APSY 389, ASOC 115, ASOC 180, ASOC 283, ASOC 342, A OC 346, ASOC 357, ASOC 359, ASOC 370, ASOC 384, AWSS 109X, AWSS 433/RPOS 433Z, EEEPL 300, EEPL 301, EEPL 400, ETAP 212, ETAP 403, ESPE 460, HSPH 342, RCRJ 202, RCRJ 404, RCRJ 405, RCRJ 408, RCRJ 450Z, RCRJ 452Z, RPAD 312, RPAD 335, RPAD 337, RPAD 345, RPAD 360, RPAD 453, RPAD/CEHC 472, RPOS 474, RSSW 409
- State and Local Government: AECO 341, AECO 356/365W, AHIS 220, AHIS 259, AHIS 313, AUSP 201, AUSP 315, AUSP 425, AUSP 432, AUSP 475, AUSP/AGOG 443, AUSP 449, AUSP/AGOG 460, AWSS/RPOS 333, RPOS 304, RPAD/RPOS 321, RPAD/RPOS 322, RPAD/RPOS 325, RPAD 329, RPAD 450, RPOS 335, RPOS 336, RPOS 424
- Technology, Artificial Intelligence, and Governance: AHIS 276, AWSS 241, CINF 100X, CINF 108, CINF 135, CINF 201, CINF 202, CINF 301, CINF 302, ICSI 300, RPAD 305, RPAD 310, RPAD/C EHC 445, RPAD/CEHC/CYBR 449, RPAD 450, RPAD/CEHC 469, RPAD 470, RPOS 368
- World Affairs: AAFS 150, AAFS/AHIS 286, AAFS/AHIS 287, AAFS 311, AECO 111, AECO 130, AECO 330, AECO 360, AECO 361, AECO 362, AECO 371, AHIS 130, AHIS131, AHIS 250, AHIS 271, AHIS 312, AHIS 456, ALCS 100, ALCS 102, ALCS 150, ALCS 357, ALCS 359, ALCS 374, APHI 214, APHI 355, AWSS 451, RPAD 364/RPOS 366, RPAD 453, RPAD 470, RPOS 102, RPOS 351, RPOS 357, RPOS 362, RPOS 364, RPOS 367, RPOS 370, RPOS 371, RPOS 373, RPOS 375, RPOS 380, RPOS 383, RPOS 386, RPOS 395, RPOS 398, RPOS 473Z, RPOS 474Z
Honors Program in Public Policy and Management
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
Students 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. Students 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, as well as 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, RPAD 494 and RPAD 496, in which the student works one-on-one with a faculty advisor to conduct the required research and write the thesis. Students are encouraged to identify their thesis question and advisor before the end of their junior year.
Combined B.A. in Public Policy and Management/M.P.A. in Public Administration
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., a grade of B or higher in two quantitative courses, and two letters of recommendation from faculty are required for consideration.
Combined B.A. in Public Policy and Management/M.I.A. in International Affairs
The combined B.A./M.I.A. program is highly competitive and allows students to complete their bachelor's degree in Public Policy and Management 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 Public Policy and Management/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. 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.