Selected Graduate Courses Descriptions and Syllabi
Mississippi Valley State University
RP 503: Rural Policy Planning, Evaluation, and Analysis
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course explores a variety of theories of rural communities and their ability to explain the contemporary conditions and problems. The course also provides the basic techniques of rural policy analysis and the evaluation methods for the design and assessment of public policy programs.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course explores a variety of theories of rural communities and their ability to explain the contemporary conditions and problems. The course also provides the basic techniques of rural policy analysis and the evaluation methods for the design and assessment of public policy programs.
RP 504: Rural Community and Economic Development
CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course examines theory and contemporary practices for promoting the economic development of rural communities. This course will review alternative ways of understanding the dynamics of rural economic development and devise strategies that will benefit community residents. In addition, the course will examine the complex ways in which the concepts of community analysis and development are used and understood. Students will connect the concepts to issues, problems or policy alternatives affecting rural communities by participating in applied projects.
CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course examines theory and contemporary practices for promoting the economic development of rural communities. This course will review alternative ways of understanding the dynamics of rural economic development and devise strategies that will benefit community residents. In addition, the course will examine the complex ways in which the concepts of community analysis and development are used and understood. Students will connect the concepts to issues, problems or policy alternatives affecting rural communities by participating in applied projects.
RP 507: Research Methods for Public Policy
CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course helps students develop an understanding of how basic quantitative tools are used in public policy analysis. The major concepts discussed include modeling, optimization, sensitivity analysis, confidence levels, and estimation and prediction. These concepts are covered in the context of applications such as constrained decision making based on calculus and on linear programming; policy choices with probabilistic information; evaluating and updating information. The course also examines the need for research in developing sound decisions and policy. It explores the scope of policy research, scientific reasoning, problem identification, hypothesis formulation, planning for data analysis and sampling procedures.
EXPANDED COURSE DESCRIPTION
The goal of this course is to offer a comprehensive, systematic treatment of the scientific approach within the context of public policy. Emphasis will be put on the relationship between theory, research, and practice, and integrate research activities in an orderly framework so that students can more easily comprehend the nature of public policy research. The course will progress logically from the conceptual and theoretical building blocks of the research process to data analysis and computer applications, offering students a comprehensive and systematic foundation for comprehending the breadth and depth of policy research. Students should display such thinking in both class discussions and written assignments. Course content will be presented in lecture and discussion format.
Specifically, the course will accomplish the following objectives:
CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course helps students develop an understanding of how basic quantitative tools are used in public policy analysis. The major concepts discussed include modeling, optimization, sensitivity analysis, confidence levels, and estimation and prediction. These concepts are covered in the context of applications such as constrained decision making based on calculus and on linear programming; policy choices with probabilistic information; evaluating and updating information. The course also examines the need for research in developing sound decisions and policy. It explores the scope of policy research, scientific reasoning, problem identification, hypothesis formulation, planning for data analysis and sampling procedures.
EXPANDED COURSE DESCRIPTION
The goal of this course is to offer a comprehensive, systematic treatment of the scientific approach within the context of public policy. Emphasis will be put on the relationship between theory, research, and practice, and integrate research activities in an orderly framework so that students can more easily comprehend the nature of public policy research. The course will progress logically from the conceptual and theoretical building blocks of the research process to data analysis and computer applications, offering students a comprehensive and systematic foundation for comprehending the breadth and depth of policy research. Students should display such thinking in both class discussions and written assignments. Course content will be presented in lecture and discussion format.
Specifically, the course will accomplish the following objectives:
- To introduce the student to formal research methodologies such as the logic of inquiry, classification, scaling, observation, questionnaire construction, and other measurements.
- To develop the student's capability to examine critically various approaches to research design, as well as the analysis and interpretation of data.
- To provide students with beginning expertise in the definition of research problems, which have a direct bearing on public policy issues.
- To acquaint the student with the knowledge and skills which aid in the design and implementation of research projects such as theses, proposals for funds and responses to request for proposals.
- To introduce students to the use of SPSS in policy research and data analysis.
RP 508: Statistical Analysis
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides theoretical background and practical experience to statistics for social science research and covers a range of statistical analysis tools. Students gain an in-depth understanding of advanced statistical methods with an applied focus on estimation, inferences, and prediction of models. This course examines the fundamentals of measuring public policy data, especially agriculture policy, summarizing observations, and analyzing contingency tables. Topics include measures of central tendency, distributions, regression, analysis of variance, and chi-square tests. Statistical analyses are taught using IBM SPSS statistical software. This course adequately prepares students to understand statistics and the relevancy to be an informed citizen, as well as pursuing a career in agriculture policy or other similar social science fields.
EXTENDED COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course recognizes and addresses the needs and abilities of a broader range of students in approach and content. For this reason, the course emphasis is on the rationales, interpretations, and applications of the most commonly used statistical methods, rather than on their computational aspects. This approach has been dictated by the availability of computing hardware and software, a technological innovation that has a twofold consequence of (1) increasing the user base for statistical analysis, and (2) increasing the variety and power of readily available analytical techniques. Using statistical software will enable students to learn more statistical techniques and the instructor will become more efficient. This course uses the open-source software package R, which is a versatile data analysis and visualization tool.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course provides theoretical background and practical experience to statistics for social science research and covers a range of statistical analysis tools. Students gain an in-depth understanding of advanced statistical methods with an applied focus on estimation, inferences, and prediction of models. This course examines the fundamentals of measuring public policy data, especially agriculture policy, summarizing observations, and analyzing contingency tables. Topics include measures of central tendency, distributions, regression, analysis of variance, and chi-square tests. Statistical analyses are taught using IBM SPSS statistical software. This course adequately prepares students to understand statistics and the relevancy to be an informed citizen, as well as pursuing a career in agriculture policy or other similar social science fields.
EXTENDED COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course recognizes and addresses the needs and abilities of a broader range of students in approach and content. For this reason, the course emphasis is on the rationales, interpretations, and applications of the most commonly used statistical methods, rather than on their computational aspects. This approach has been dictated by the availability of computing hardware and software, a technological innovation that has a twofold consequence of (1) increasing the user base for statistical analysis, and (2) increasing the variety and power of readily available analytical techniques. Using statistical software will enable students to learn more statistical techniques and the instructor will become more efficient. This course uses the open-source software package R, which is a versatile data analysis and visualization tool.
RP 514: Special Topics in Public Policy
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course explores a variety of theories of rural communities and their ability to explain the contemporary conditions and problems. The course also provides the basic techniques of rural policy analysis and the evaluation methods for the design and assessment of public policy programs.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course explores a variety of theories of rural communities and their ability to explain the contemporary conditions and problems. The course also provides the basic techniques of rural policy analysis and the evaluation methods for the design and assessment of public policy programs.
RP 515: Seminar in Public Administration
CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course examines the literature, which focuses on the historical and ecological factors influencing the development of the discipline of Public Administration. Concomitantly, a look at contemporary trends will be emphasized. Thus, students will discuss issues such as privatization, third sector ethics and executive leadership. In addition, some effort will be given to providing a comparative analysis to the context of public administration.
CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course examines the literature, which focuses on the historical and ecological factors influencing the development of the discipline of Public Administration. Concomitantly, a look at contemporary trends will be emphasized. Thus, students will discuss issues such as privatization, third sector ethics and executive leadership. In addition, some effort will be given to providing a comparative analysis to the context of public administration.
