Public Affairs Area of Studies Guidelines for Students Matriculated On or After September 7, 2021
Sponsor: |
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences |
|---|---|
Contact: |
Department Chair, Social Science and Public Affairs |
Category: |
Academic |
Number: |
100.164 |
Effective Date: |
2021/09/07 |
Review Date: |
2024/09/01 |
Keywords: |
public service, civic engagement, politics, government careers, public communications, non-profit service, Public Administration, Public Policy, Homeland Security, Emergency Management |
Definitions
Statements
Public Affairs is an interdisciplinary field devoted to the study of organizations and individuals that operate in what is considered the public interest, including social issues and problems. The area of study is designed for those who are interested in serving and bettering society through public service, civic engagement, political and government careers, public communications or non-profit service. The Public Affairs Area of Study is commonly pursued with the aim of advancing careers in Public Administration, Public Policy, Homeland Security, and Emergency Management to name a few.
Students with a degree in Public Affairs should demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the nine foundations listed below. These foundations may be met through transcript credit; college-level knowledge demonstrated through individual prior learning assessment (iPLA), professional learning evaluations (PLE), or credit by examination; or individual courses, a series of courses, or components within individual courses with Empire State College. The student’s Degree Plan Rationale Essay should clearly explain how the degree plan meets each of the foundations in the concentration, what will be learned, and how the student will build on these foundations to meet personal, academic, or career goals.
Foundation #1: Theoretical and Philosophical Concepts
Learning outcome: Students will be able to define fundamental concepts and theories related to government, public administration, and/or public policy.
Course mapping:
- PAFF 2132 Introduction to Public Policy
- PAFF 2122 Introduction to Public Administration
- POLI 3005 America’s Founding Ideas
- POLI 2005 New York State and Local Government
- PAFF 2010 Introduction to Public Affairs in the Public Sector
- PAFF 3127 Public Policy
- SOCI 1005 Exploring Society
- LEST 1005 Theories of Law and Justice
- EMGT 2005 Introduction to Emergency Management
Foundation #2: Comparative Perspectives
Learning outcome: Students will be able to compare ideologies and practices that define public sector organizations.
Learning outcome: Students will be able to discuss how public institutions vary across time, place and culture.
Course mapping:
- POLI 2005 New York State and Local Government
- POLI 3020 Comparative Politics
- POLI 3070 Modern Africa
- POLI 3065 International Politics and Relations
- ANTH 3122 Sex and Gender in Global Perspective
Foundation #3: Historical Perspectives
Learning outcome: Students will be able to examine the historical origins of U.S. public institutions.
Course mapping:
- POLI 3115 The United States Constitution
- POLI 3105 The American Presidency
- POLI 3110 The United States Congress
- HIST 2025 and HIST 2030 American History I and II
- POLI 3010 American Political Thought from Jackson to Obama
- POLI 3005 America's Founding Ideas
Foundation #4: Social Contexts of Power and Privilege
Learning Outcome: Students will be able to explain perspectives on power and privilege using concepts and theories from the Social Sciences.
Learning Outcome: Students will be able to analyze social institutions and their influence on systems of power and privilege.
Course Mapping:
- CRJS 4030 Women, Crime and Criminology
- CRJS 3065 Race, Crime and Justice
- ANTH 3122 Sex and Gender in Global Perspective
- SOCI 1005 Exploring Society
- SOCI 2010 Introduction to Race Class and Gender
- SOCI 3010 Aging and Society
- SOCI 3015 Analyzing Race, Class and Gender
- SOCI 3025 Contemporary Global Social Issues
- SOCI 3040 Deviance and Social Control
- SOCI 3045 Disaster and Society
- SOCI 3055 Family and Society
- SOCI 3090 Social Movements
- SOCI 3095 Sociology of Education
- SOCI 4030 Power and Privilege
- GSST 2005 Introduction to LGBTQ+ Studies
- POLI 4015 Race, Law, and Politics
- CUST/GSST 3152 Queering American Culture
Foundation #5: Legal Environment
Learning Outcome: Students will be able to discuss practical issues of law, rulemaking, and judicial decisions that influence public affairs theory and practice in the U.S.
Learning Outcome: Students will be able to assess how constitutional dynamics affect policy-making processes across the public sector.
Course Mapping:
- PAFF 4132 Legal and Ethical Foundations of Public Service
- POLI 3115 The United States Constitution
- LEST 3015 Mental Health and the Law
- LEST 4025 Women and the Law,
- LEST 4005 Constitutional Law I
- LEST 4010 Constitutional Law II
- PAFF 3127 Public Policy
Foundation #6: Economic, Financial or Budgetary Issues
Learning outcome: Students will be able to analyze the economic and financial environments in which public institutions operate.
Learning Outcome: Students will be able to explain how budgeting and financial practices affect public policy processes and procedures, and shape fiscal outcomes.
Course mapping:
- ECON 2020 Microeconomics
- ECON 2015 Macroeconomics
- ECON 2005 Introductory Economics
- PAFF 4122 Public Finance and Budgeting
- ECON 3100 Public Finance
- ECON 3105 Public Finance and Economics
Foundation #7: Ethics and Values
Learning outcome: Students will be able to analyze ethical issues related to the values – good, bad, or indifferent -- that society places on the development of public policy.
Course mapping:
- PAFF 3122 Ethics and the Public Sector
- PAFF 4132 Legal and Ethical Foundations of Public Service
Foundation #8: Research Skills and Information Analysis
Learning outcome: Students will be able to summarize tools and methods used in social scientific research.
Learning outcome: Students will be able to apply quantitative, qualitative, or other relevant research skills.
Course mapping:
- SOSC 3025 Social Science Research Methods
- SOSC 3020 Qualitative Social Science Research Methods
- SOSC 2010 Statistics for the Social Sciences
- PAFF 4127 Public Administration Capstone
Foundation #9: Technical Knowledge
Learning outcome: Students will be able to apply specific technical or scientific knowledge and skills relevant to their concentration or professional goals.
Course mapping:
- GSCI 3200 Geographic Information Systems
- BUSN 3122 Management Information Systems
- HSCI 3200 Health Informatics
- HSCI 4200 Epidemiology
- EMGT 3050 Risk Analysis and Hazard Mitigation
- COMW 2010 Grant Writing
- SOSC 2010 Statistics for the Social Sciences
- ACCT 2005 Introductory Accounting
- BUSN 2015 Computer Applications in Business Management and Economics
- INFT 2015 Introduction to Business Analytics
- PAFF 3003 Security Implications of Global Climate Change
- SOSC 3025 Social Science Research Methods
- SOSC 3020 Qualitative Social Science Research Methods
- PAFF 4127 Public Administration Capstone