POLICY SCIENCES
Dr. George R. LaNoue
Room 719, Administration Bldg.
UMBC
Baltimore, Maryland 21228
(410) 455-3201
UMBC, School of Arts and Sciences Policy Sciences Graduate Program
(POSI)
George R. LaNoue, Graduate Program Director
Professors
Brehm , Henry P.
Brennan, Timothy J.
Gill, Derek G.
Goldfarb, Marsha G.
Greenberg, David H.
Jeffries, John W.
LaNoue, George R.
Miller, Nicholas R.
Sorkin, Alan L.
Yarmolinsky, Adam
Associate Professors
Argersinger, JoAnn E.
Barner-Barry, Carol
Boyan, Stephen A.
Cohen, Jere M.
Hewitt, Christopher J.
Johnson, Arthur T.
Mandell, Marvin B.
Miller, Cheryl M.
Morgan, Leslie A.
Norris, Donald F.
Trela, James E.
Assistant Professors
Adler, Marina A.
Lottes, Ilsa L.
McConnell, Virginia D.
Meyers, Roy T.
Oliver, Thomas R.
Degrees Offered: UMBC offers the degrees of Master of Policy
Sciences and Doctor of
Philosophy as well as five different graduate certificates.
Program Description: Policy sciences is a fast-growing field of
study that combines interdisciplinary education in the social
sciences with training in policy-making and administration. The
objective is to provide students with a broad understanding of the
social, economic, and political forces that affect the policy-making
process, and some basic analytical and administrative skills that
can be applied to a wide variety of policy problems.
The Ph.D. program serves a group of students who are carefully
selected for their ability to pursue advanced studies in furtherance
of careers in research or teaching, or in preparation for especially
demanding positions in policy analysis, planning, and evaluation.
Most students are part-time and most courses are offered in the
evening or on weekends. An increasing number of students are full-
time (some in co-op programs) and schedules combining day and
evening courses can be planned.
Brochures that describe the degree and certificate programs in
detail are available from the policy sciences office.
Program Specialties: Students may concentrate in a particular
discipline (economics, history, political science, or sociology) or in
a particular policy (aging, education, evaluation, fiscal,
health, human services, legal, managerial, mental health, regulation,
or urban).
The graduate certificates are offered in theory and ethics of public
policy, administrative practice, American public policy, health and
public policy, and American education policy. A student must master
four courses in the specialized area of the certificate in addition to
POSI 601, 602, or 603 for a total of 15 credits.
Programs leading to both the J.D. and the Ph.D. degrees are offered by
the University of Maryland Law School or the University of Baltimore
Law School, and the Policy Sciences
Graduate Program. Holders of both degrees may expect to find their
training useful in positions that have relation to the policy-making
process in federal, state, or local government, and in business and
other nongovernmental organizations. A J.D./M.P.S. program has been
worked out with the University of Maryland Law School. Policy
sciences also has a joint master's program with Baltimore Hebrew
University and an articulated M.P.A./Ph.D. program with the
University of Baltimore.
Program Admission and Degree Requirements: Admission
requirements are those of the
Graduate School, including three letters from teachers or
supervisors well acquainted with the applicant's academic abilities
and work experience. A standardized test (GRE, GMAT, or
LSAT) is usually required for admission.
The M.P.S. program requires completion of 36 credit hours, passage
of a comprehensive examination, and, for pre-career students,
completion of a supervised internship. Students take five
interdisciplinary core courses: planning theory (POSI 603), research
and quantitative methods (POSI 600 and 604), politics and
bureaucracy (POLI 612), and budgeting (POLI 623).
One course in each of the foundation disciplines (economics,
political science, and sociology) is required. Students complete
their studies by taking four other courses in a discipline or in a
particular policy. The masters program is accredited by the
National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and
Administration.
A thesis is optional. If a thesis is written, it replaces six credits of
required course work. If a thesis is not written, one analytical
paper is required.
The Ph.D. degree requires passing comprehensive and field
examinations and writing and
defending a dissertation. Each Ph.D. student's curriculum is planned
individually with his or her advisor and the amount of course work
needed to complete the requirements will vary depending
on previous study and professional experience. Typically students
without recent and relevant master's degrees take about 48 hours of
course work plus 12 hours of dissertation research. Students with
appropriate previous training may complete their course work with
fewer credits required.
Candidates for the joint J.D./M.P.S. or J.D./Ph.D. programs must apply
for admission to each school and must meet each school's admission
criteria. Students may enter the joint program
after enrolling in one of the schools. Policy sciences students may
enter a law school program no later than after completion of the
second year in the M.P.S. or Ph.D. program but are urged to do so
following the first year. For the J.D./Ph.D. degree, the law schools
have agreed to accept nine credits from the policy sciences Ph.D.
program; the Graduate School, through the policy sciences program,
has agreed to accept up to 24 credits from the law schools.
However, in order to pass existing policy sciences examination
requirements, it is unlikely more than 12 to 15 credits would
actually transfer. M.P.S./J.D. students not in a joint program are
normally required to complete 36 and 84 credit hours for the
degrees, respectively. However, requirements for
graduation for students admitted to the joint program are only 30
hours in policy sciences courses and 75 hours in law school courses.
Each student's schedule must be approved by the advisor for the
joint program at the law school and by an advisor designated by the
policy sciences graduate program.
Facilities and Special Resources: Students may have the opportunity
of assisting in policy-related research projects of the Maryland
Institute for Policy Analysis and Research, the Center on Drugs and
Public Policy, and the Center on Health Policy, each of which has an
association with the policy sciences program.
Financial Assistance: A limited number of graduate teaching and
research assistantships are available through the department.
University fellowships may also be obtained.
COURSES
POSI 600 Research Methodology
Credits: 3
A course designed to advance graduate students' knowledge of the
field of scientific modes of inquiry and analysis and to familiarize
them with research methods and techniques. Also listed as SOCY
600.
Prerequisites: Evidence of undergraduate level of understanding of
research methods, permission of instructor. This required POSI and
SOCY course must be completed one semester before the final
semester in the program.
POSI 601 Political and Social Context of the Policy Process
Credits: 3
An interdisciplinary framework of analysis for understanding the
relationship among policy origins in social systems, formal
decision-making models and policy formulation, implementation, and
bureaucratic behavior. The primary objective is to develop a sense
of
system in understanding the policy process across public and private
organizations in order better to grasp policy analytic perspectives.
(Course is required for most M.P.S. students.)
POSI 602 Public Policy-making in the United States
Credits: 3
An intensive examination of the socioeconomic and political forces
that led to the contemporary democratic state and its public policy
roles. The political structure, institutions, and processes that
shape policy in the American state are compared with those of other
industrialized democracies. Current policy issues including those
caused by the "era of limits" are studied in relation to alternative
theories of policy formation and administration. This course is
intended for Ph.D. students or others who have strong backgrounds in
the policy-making process.
Students should consult with their advisors or the instructor to
determine whether to take 601 or 602.
POSI 603 Planning Theory and Policy Formation
Credits: 3
An overview of the basic principles and elements of policy analysis.
The course focuses on the activities and elements of policy analysts.
In addition, the relationship between policy analysis and policy-
making along with emerging professional and ethical issues will be
addressed.
POSI 604 Statistical Analysis
Credits: 3
An introduction to the concepts and methods of descriptive and
inferential statistics. Bivariate and multivariate statistical
techniques will be discussed. Also listed as SOCY 604.
Prerequisites: POSI/SOCY 600 or its equivalent and passing an
algebraic competency screening test; permission of instructor.
(Test is given to enrollees in POSI/SOCY 600 or in the SOCY office
for those not enrolled in POSI/SOCY 600.) This required POSI and
SOCY course must be completed one semester before the final
semester in the program.
POSI 605 Advanced Research and Evaluation Techniques
Credits: 3
Components in research design and strategy; problems in and
approaches to the application of research and statistics to program
evaluation; policy decision making based on research data. Also
listed as SOCY 605.
Prerequisites: POSI/SOCY 600 and 604 or their equivalents;
permission of instructor. Required SOCY course.
POSI 606 The Politics and Administration of Program Evaluation
Credits: 3
An examination of the political and organizational processes
affecting the conduct of program evaluation and the impact of
evaluation on decision making. Means of increasing the use of
evaluation in decision making are analyzed.
POSI 607 Statistical Applications in Evaluation Research
Credits: 3
Advanced course in the analysis and interpretation of evaluation
data. Focuses on statistical procedures for assessing the impact of
programs and policies based on a variety of experimental and quasi-
experimental designs, including true experiments, non-equivalent
control group
designs, and interrupted time-series designs.
POSI 609 Social Science Approaches to Policy Analysis
Credits: 3
A methodological examination of the contributions,
complementarities, and conflicts among the economic, political
science, and sociological approaches to policy analysis. Focuses on
the nature of questions each discipline can and cannot answer, by
looking at their methods and limitations. Fundamental assumptions,
theories, perspectives, and policy recommendations will be
discussed.
POSI 610 Special Topics in Policy Sciences
Credits: 3
Topics selected on the basis of the background and interests of the
faculty member and students.
POSI 612 Ethics and Public Policy
Credits: 3
Moral issues facing people individually and collectively in their
professional or public roles,
such as government officials, corporate managers, scientists,
doctors, and citizens. Clarification of value concepts such as
freedom, equality, justice, the public interest, and community.
Exposition of these values as they pertain to actual cases of
decision making and policy debates. Issue areas examined include
personal integrity in public and private organizations, corporate
social responsibility, government regulation of technology, and the
ethics of income redistribution.
POSI 614 Quantitative Methods for Management
Credits: 3
An examination of the application of management science concepts
and techniques such as
decision analysis and linear programming to problems in the public
and nonprofit sectors. Students will acquire a theoretical
understanding of the use and limits of these techniques and a hands-
on knowledge of their application, including the use of relevant
computer software. Examples are drawn from a variety of
substantive areas including health, social services, public safety,
and energy.
POSI 615 Managerial Leadership and Communication Skills
Credits: 3
A survey of the current and classic literature on leadership will be
followed by a workshop during which the students will become
actively involved in projects designed to develop their skills in
management and communication.
POSI 616 Regulatory Policy
Credits: 3
Surveys the problems faced by regulators and the methods to
address them. Discusses the
regulatory process, rate-of-return, methods, service pricing,
antitrust, risk regulation, liability, law, and environmental policy.
Compares private action and public regulation and examines the
relationships between economics, political decision making, and
rights. Examples from
industries such as airlines and telecommunications illustrate
regulatory principles and conflicts.
POSI 617 The Economics of Law
Credits: 3
Applies economic theory and reasoning to the classification and
evaluation of legal doctrines and practices. Primary areas include
property, torts, liability, and contracts. We will look at the
economics of the legal process, including selection of cases for
trial, rules of evidence, criminal procedure, and plea bargaining. The
course will cover policy areas such as zoning, public utilities,
environmental law, copyright, and the First Amendment. Critical
appraisal of efficiency as a legal standard is emphasized.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing in policy sciences, admission to the
University of Maryland
School of Law, or permission of the instructor. Prior exposure to
microeconomics would be helpful but is not necessary.
POSI 620 Science, Technology, and Public Policy
Credits: 3
The impact of science and technology on American public policy,
with special emphasis on the changes in communication,
government-sponsored research, and the role of "experts" in policy
formulation.
POSI 650 Policy Sciences Internship
Credits: 3
Students are placed in public sector agencies and not-for-profit
organizations. The internship
includes a supervised reading program and a seminar with other
interns.
POSI 700 Doctoral Research Seminar
Credits: 3
This seminar will provide training in policy analysis for students
working collectively and individually on research problems.
POSI 701 Individual Study in Policy Sciences
Credits: 1-3
Independent reading for master's students, supervised by a member
of the policy sciences faculty. Intended for students who desire to
study independently an aspect of policy sciences that is not covered
by the regular course offerings. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor stating number of credits
sought.
Note: A particular faculty member must agree to supervise the study
before a student may
register for this course.
POSI 799 Master's Thesis Research
Credits: 1-6
Six semester hours are required of students selecting the thesis
option.
POSI 801 Individual Study in Policy Sciences
Credits: 1-3
Independent reading for doctoral students, supervised by a member
of the policy sciences
faculty. Intended for students who desire to study independently an
aspect of policy sciences that is not covered by the regular course
offerings.
Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor stating number of credits
sought.
Note: A particular faculty member must agree to supervise the study
before a student may
register for this course. May be repeated for credit.
POSI 899 Doctoral Dissertation Research
Credits: 1-3
Research on doctoral dissertation under direction of faculty advisor.
A minimum of twelve semester hours is required for Ph.D. degree.
Course DescriptionsSocial Science Disciplines
The following courses are offered for policy sciences students and
may be used to fulfill disciplinary core and track requirements. See
the M.P.S. and Ph.D. guides for particular rules.
A. Economics
Special requirements for admission into the economics
concentration are a one-year course on
the principles of economics and a demonstrated knowledge of
intermediate economic analysis. For the economics concentration,
ECON 601, 602, 612 and one or two other courses in
economics are required. Unless stated otherwise, ECON 600 is the
prerequisite for all other 600-level economics courses.
ECON 600 Policy Consequences of Economic Analysis
Credits: 3
A course in political economy dealing with the implications and
consequences for policy outcomes of different models of economic
analysis and including an introduction to microeconomic theory. May
not be counted toward the economics concentration.
ECON 601 Microeconomic Analysis
Credits: 3
A course in microeconomic theory. The first part presents theories
of optimization, consumer choice, production and cost, and the
performance of competitive markets. These are used to
define and analyze market failures and public policies deriving from
monopoly, externalities, and imperfect information.
ECON 602 Macroeconomic Analysis
Credits: 3
A course in macroeconomic theory. Topics include aggregate demand
and consumption, money
and inflation, rational expectations, wage rigidity and
unemployment, budget deficits, investment
and economic growth, and international trade. Static and dynamic
models are applied to fiscal, monetary, and tax policy.
ECON 611 Analytical Methods in Economics
Credits: 3
A study of analytical methods and their application to economic
problems. Topics include linear, integer, and dynamic programming,
input-output analysis, and other techniques.
ECON 612 Econometric Methods
Credits: 3
An introduction to statistical methods and their application to
economics. Topics include simple and multiple regressions, special
techniques pertaining to time-series and cross-section studies,
identification, estimation, and analysis of simultaneous equations
models.
ECON 615 Economic Theory of Organizations
Credits: 3
An economic analysis of the organization of resources for production
in the private and public sectors of the economy. Neoclassical and
revisionist theories of the firm and the bureau as the basic decision
making units of each sector are examined. Particular emphasis is
given to the effects on the decision making processes of the
existence of markets and through theories of property rights
(capital valuation, ownership, managerial control) and of the
political environment (appropriations funding, consumer preferences
exhibited through a system of representative government).
ECON 641 Economics of Government Policy Toward Business
Credits: 3
A study of government regulation of the business sector. Topics
include pollution controls,
regulation of public utilities, antitrust laws and regulation, and
other governmental regulation of business.
ECON 651 Economics of Human Resources Policy
Credits: 3
A study of human resources in a broad sense. Topics include human
capital and rates of return, economics of education, manpower
economics, labor relations, and the economics of poverty and
discrimination.
ECON 652 Economics of Health
Credits: 3
This course is a general survey of the field of health economics.
Topics to be covered include medical care price indices, analysis of
the markets for insurance, physician services, hospital care and
nurses, and discussion of current policy debates involving increased
regulation versus increased competition to contain cost inflation.
ECON 661 Microeconomics of Public Finance
Credits: 3
A study of the microeconomics of the public sector. Topics include
the theory and the policy applications of federal, state, and local
public finance and expenditures.
ECON 671 Macroeconomics of Government Policy
Credits: 3
A study of monetary and fiscal policy from a macroeconomic
perspective. Topics include
money and capital markets, central banking, monetary theory,
monetary policy, and fiscal policy.
Prerequisite: ECON 602 or equivalent.
ECON 681 Economics of International Commercial Policy
Credits: 3
A study of the economics of international trade, commerce, and
finance. Topics include international trade theory and policy,
international monetary arrangements, and analysis of customs
unions.
Prerequisites: ECON 601 and ECON 602, or equivalents.
ECON 691 Selected Topics in Economic Policy
Credits: 3
Topics selected on the basis of the background and interests of the
faculty member and students.
ECON 701 Individual Study in Economics
Credits: 1-3
An independent reading course for master's level students.
ECON 801 Individual Study in Economics
Credits: 1-3
An independent reading course for doctoral students.
B. Political Science
The political science concentration requires four or five courses in
political science, including at least one of POLI 610, 612, and 615.
POLI 610 American Political Institutions and Public Policy
Credits: 3
An examination of the public policy roles of political institutions.
Special attention will be paid to the historic evolution of these
roles, the current roles played, the public policy capacities of
political institutions, and policy conflicts among institutions.
POLI 611 Maryland Politics and Intergovernmental Relations
Credits: 3
A review of the intergovernmental policy process and the patterns
of cooperation and conflict among national, state, and local
governments. Emphasis will be placed upon the origin, production,
and implementation of public policies within a federal system and
the fashion in
which this reflects basic political values.
POLI 612 Politics and Bureaucracy
Credits: 3
This course analyzes the role of modern bureaucracies in creating
public policy. It examines the controversy about the size and
accountability of these bureaucracies and explores their
relationships to political executives, legislatures, judicial agencies,
parties, and pressure groups. Among the topics discussed are
representativeness, merit systems, affirmative action, collective
bargaining, and bureaucratic reform.
POLI 613 Developmental Administration
Credits: 3
This course will consider how policy objectives and administrative
structures interact with and adapt to cross-cultural situations.
Cross-cultural situations are defined both in domestic
American and foreign cultural terms.
POLI 614 Selected Topics in Public Policy
Credits: 3
Topics selected on the basis of the background and interest of the
faculty member and students.
POLI 615 The American Political Arena
Credits: 3
This course examines the ways in which individual citizens interact
with each other, and with interest groups, political parties, and
governmental institutions, in order to achieve their goals. Special
emphasis will be placed on the nature of American electoral
institutions and their consequences for political behavior and public
policy.
POLI 620 Community and Politics
Credits: 3
This course is designed to sensitize administrators to community
effects of their actions, patterns of community participation, new
trends in community organization and action, and the citizen
advisory functions of recent federal law. The basic aim is training
in evaluating citizen input and citizen consequences for
administrative action.
POLI 621 The Legal Context of Administration
Credits: 3
Concepts, constraints, opportunities, and impact of the law relevant
to administrators. Legal analysis, for non-lawyers, of public law
and/or private law problems of administrators. The intended and
actual social and political impact of administrators' law-related
actions. Evaluations of the administrative process.
POLI 622 Dynamics of Personnel Administration
Credits: 3
The course will emphasize labor-management relations and
techniques middle managers employ
in motivating subordinates. Special attention will be given to RIFs,
collective bargaining in the public sector, and obligations of public
employers toward their employees.
POLI 623 Governmental Budgeting
Credits: 3
The budget as a means of financial control, management, and policy-
making. The politics of the budgetary process.
POLI 624 Administrative Planning Theory and Forecasting
Credits: 3
An in-depth examination of methods employed in planning a variety
of governmental functions including health, education, and
transportation.
POLI 625 Theories of Public Administration
Credits: 3
An examination of the classic and contemporary literature on public
administration. Some consideration of foreign models of public
administration will be included.
POLI 626 American Judiciary and Public Policy
Credits: 3
This course will illuminate the role of law and the potential or
actual uses of the judicial process in sharing policy outcomes. It
will also examine the increasing use of social science data and
analytical tools by the courts. Case studies will examine the legal
strategies government agencies and interest groups employ and the
characteristics of judicial policy-making and management.
POLI 631 Constitutional Foundations
Credits: 3
Examination of the critical constitutional doctrines of separation of
powers, federalism, fiscal and commerce power and judicial review
as interpreted by the Supreme Court.
POLI 632 Civil Rights
Credits: 3
The civil rights of United States citizens. Problems of federalism
and the applicability of the Bill of Rights to the states. Analysis of
the meaning of the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause in
relation to discrimination.
POLI 633 First Amendment Freedoms
Credits: 3
The freedoms of speech, press, religion, and assembly, as defined in
important Supreme Court decisions. The problem of liberty vs.
authority in a democratic regime. The competing theories
of proper First Amendment interpretation by courts.
POLI 634 Judicial Process
Credits: 3
Courts, judges, and politics. Attention will be focused on the
elements of the judicial system: access to, and demands upon, the
courts; processes of judicial decision making; judicial output;
feedback; and the problem of judicial review in a democracy.
POLI 640 Health Law
Credits: 3
An overview of the major legal issues confronting health
professionals and policymakers. Subjects include liability, business
associations, Medicare/Medicaid fraud and abuse, payment systems,
antitrust, joint ventures, hospital privileges, and certificate of
need.
POLI 643 Management of Health Institutions
Credits: 3
An analysis of the special management problems of health
institutions including political and regulatory contexts, financing,
personnel, and ethical issues.
POLI 645 American Politics and Education
Credits: 3
Examination of the way in which the political process creates and
implements educational policy.
Topics include school integration, students' rights and academic
freedom, religion and education, federal legislation and regulation,
politics of higher education, school finance, collective bargaining,
urban school governance, and school decentralization.
POLI 646 The Politics of Poverty
Credits: 3
Study of liberal, conservative, and radical views of the welfare
state. How politics in Congress, the bureaucracy, interest groups,
and federal-state relations affect the formulation and
implementation of social welfare policies. Comparisons of
American policies and politics with those of other nations.
POLI 648 Urban Politics
Credits: 3
This is a survey course about urban and metropolitan politics. It
will address such issues as urbanization and suburbanization, power
and bias in urban America, structural issues of urban government,
urban policies and policy-making, the management of urban areas,
financing urban governments, and various contemporary urban
political, social, economic, and environmental topics. The course is
designed to provide students with a broad theoretical and practical
understanding of urban politics, policy-making, and issues.
POLI 652 Politics of Health
Credits: 3
An introduction to the context and processes of health policy in the
United States, as well as to the dominant policy issues. Special
attention will be devoted to the issues of health care financing and
cost containment. Students will analyze the policy alternatives and
decision making context of specific health issues of their own
choice.
POLI 701 Individual Study in Political Science
Credits: 1-3
Independent reading for doctoral students, supervised by a member
of the political science faculty. Intended for students who desire to
study independently an aspect of political science that is not
covered by the regular course offerings.
POLI 801 Individual Study in Political Science
Credits: 1-3
Independent reading for doctoral students, supervised by a member
of the political science faculty. Intended for students who desire to
study independently an aspect of political science not covered by the
regular course offerings.
C. Sociology
For the sociology concentration, SOCY 601 or 602 or 606 and two or
three other courses in sociology are required.
SOCY 601 Formal Organization Theory
Credits: 3
Theory and methods in the study of formal organizations, models of
internal structure, decision making and the policy process,
organizational interrelations and the larger society.
SOCY 602 Power and Policy Formation
Credits: 3
This course examines the relationship between power and policy
formation. It analyzes how
power is manifested in dimensions of the social structure including
social classes, class segments, and organizations; and how political
coalitions emerge to exercise power and influence policy formation.
SOCY 603 The Management of Formal Organizations
Credits: 3
This course is an examination of the internal structure of large
private, public, and nonprofit organizations. Variations in structure
are analyzed for their causes and consequences for organizational
functioning. The role of management in designing organizational
structures to achieve organizational goals is stressed.
SOCY 606 Social Inequality and Social Policy
Credits: 3
This course will examine poverty and inequality in modern society.
The focus will be on
describing the extent of poverty and inequality, examining the
theories that attempt to explain these phenomena, and discussing
the policies that have been employed to mitigate them. In addition
to class inequality the course will consider racial and sexual
inequality.
SOCY 613 Community Organizational Systems
Credits: 3
Community as an organizational network, role of public and private
organizations in the community and its policy system, role of
organizations in urban community action and urban redevelopment,
organizational networks and changing community structure in the
metropolitan environment, evaluation of policies and programs for
community improvement and
development.
SOCY 616 Selected Topics in Organizational Systems
Credits: 3
Topics selected on the basis of the background and interests of the
faculty member and students. See SOCIOLOGY, APPLIED program for
more graduate courses in sociology.