This course explores the nature of city or county manager’s job: expectations of elected body, staff, public and professional peers. It examines contemporary issues in departmental operations that have significant effect on how manager’s performance is perceived.

This course examines the managerial challenges posed by nonprofit organizations and techniques and practices used by nonprofit managers to help their organizations succeed.

This course introduces a process for systematically thinking about decisions and valuable techniques for analyzing decisions. Students learn how to construct models for decision making and how to use these models to analyze decisions.

How do concepts learned in the classroom translate into real-world practice? The Carolina MPA Immersion Experience offers both online and on-campus students the opportunity to make this connection and learn from MPA faculty with expertise in government and non-profit administration. Held at the UNC School of Government, the course allows students and faculty to come together for three days to focus on a relevant topic in the field of public administration.

Graduate and professional students from varied backgrounds will learn key revitalization techniques and put them into practice by working directly on community economic development projects in North Carolina.

Interdisciplinary teams of students in this workshop-style course will engage in intensive experiential learning while assisting North Carolina communities to achieve their community and economic development goals.

Students gain knowledge of the behaviors and practices of human resource management, as well as an overview of diversity and inclusion in public sector workforces. Class learning is both theoretical and experiential.

This course introduces students to the basic principles of public finance and covers the fundamental areas of public financial management, including the operating and capital budgeting processes used to obtain and allocate public resources, the role of public debt, and the issuance of annual financial statements.

This course introduces basic law subjects likely to be encountered in public administration.  Topics include constitutional foundations, due process and equal protection, and First Amendment rights;  property, contracts, employment, torts, criminal law, administrative law, and public ethics laws; and basic legal research, managing litigation, and working with lawyers.

Students learn about their leadership style and values, as well as strengths and weaknesses, with regard to public leadership at the personal, interpersonal, organizational, and community levels. Readings, assignments, and class activities focus on developing knowledge and skills necessary to successfully lead in public service settings.