Public Administration (PADM)
Subject-area course lists indicate courses currently active for offering at the University of Louisville. Not all courses are scheduled in any given academic term. For class offerings in a specific semester, refer to the Schedule of Classes.
500-level courses generally are included in both the undergraduate- and graduate-level course listings; however, specific course/section offerings may vary between semesters. Students are responsible for ensuring that they enroll in courses that are applicable to their particular academic programs.
Course Fees
Some courses may carry fees beyond the standard tuition costs to cover additional support or materials. Program-, subject- and course-specific fee information can be found on the Office of the Bursar website.
PADM 507. Planning Theory & History3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: This course will introduce the historic foundation of modern urban planning, and investigate the central themes in planning theory, using both historical and contemporary contexts to assist in the understanding of its role in shaping planning thought and practice.
Note: Cross-listed with PLAN 511, PLAN 601, PADM 607, UPA 684.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 600. Foundations of Public Administration3 Units
Description: Using the classic writings in the field of public administration for the past 150 years, the course explores the theoretical foundations of public administration and applies the theories to current practice in public administration.
Note: Cross-listed with POLS 625, PLAN 613, & UPA 661.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 601. Applied Research Methods3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Description: This course is designed to provide students with the basic analytic tools that are commonly used by professional planners and policy analysis in their daily practice, with a special emphasis on techniques for population and economic analysis. The course will instruct students in foundational statistical methods and techniques, as well as additional analytical tools, including the assumptions underlying the tools and methods and strengths and weaknesses of the tools and methods.
Note: Cross-listed with PLAN 604 and URBS 504.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 603. Program Evaluation3 Units
Description: This course will cover the key concepts and issues in program evaluation, including performance measurement, threats to validity, data sources and measurement issues, and research design. The primary objective of this course is for the student to understand the professional practice of program evaluation and the ethical considerations that guide the professional evaluator.
Note: Cross-listed with UPA 621.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 604. Public Budgeting and Finance3 Units
Description: Examines public budgeting and finance from economics, political, and institutional perspectives. Topics include: budget process, approaches and techniques of budgeting, ethics, intergovernmental fiscal relations, revenue-raising, capital budgeting, debt administration and risk management.
Note: Cross-listed with UPA 647 and PLAN 609.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 605. Public Management3 Units
Description: An applied course focusing on developing the knowledge base and skill set one needs to effectively manage a public organization. Special emphasis on leadership models for the public sector.
Note: Cross-listed with UPA 672 and PLAN 610.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 606. Urban Policy Analysis3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): PADM 601 or permission of instructor.
Description: An introduction to basic issues in urban policy analysis, with an emphasis on the urban context. The course describes policy formulation of alternative policy options, analytical tools commonly used to evaluate policies, the correspondence between research and policy analysis, and the practical implications of policy analysis.
Note: Cross-listed with UPA 650.
Note: Course fee.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 607. Planning Theory and History3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: This course will introduce the historic foundation of modern urban planning, and will investigate the central themes in planning theory, using both historical and contemporary contexts to assist in the understanding of its role in shaping planning thought and practice.
Note: Cross-listed with PLAN 511, PLAN 601, PADM 507, UPA 684.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 609. Nonprofit Management3 Units
Description: Management of nonprofit organizations is a graduate seminar in the Masters of Public Administration program. Its purpose is to apply management theories and concepts to nonprofit organizations. As such, the emphasis of this seminar will be relating how nonprofits are managed in a time of scarce resources. Furthermore, students will understand challenges faced by managers as they seek to meet mission objectives, attract public and private support, work with and motivate volunteers, collaborate with other sectors, and meet the challenges of meeting performance objectives.
Note: Cross-listed with POLS 605.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 610. Administrative Law and Process3 Units
Description: Study of processes of law-making and application by governmental executive departments. Encompasses substantive issues facing agencies in designing and implementing effective regulation and court efforts to interpret and control agencies' activities.
Note: Cross-listed with POLS 615/UPA 662.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 611. Financial Management of Nonprofits3 Units
Description: Examines accounting and financial management for managers of not-for-profit organizations.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 612. Grantsmanship and Fundraising3 Units
Description: A critical examination of methods and tools for developing grant proposals and raising funds for organizations.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 615. Leadership and Community Engagement3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: Focus on leadership approaches, theories and principles in the public and nonprofit sectors to improve performance, meet citizen expectations, and restore trust. Students learn effective leadership and community engagement practices for transforming organizations and communities.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 621. Urban Demography and GIS3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: This course will introduce students to geographic information systems (GIS) as an analytical tool with which to study urban demographic issues. The material will be geared towards students in the urban planning, public administration, and urban studies programs, with a focus on demographic data and issues frequently encountered by planners, policymakers, and policy analysts. Topics that will be covered include migration, housing and neighborhood development, segregation, and land use.
Note: Cross-listed with SUST 518, PLAN 618, URBS 518.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 624. Ethics in Public Administration3 Units
Description: Analyzes and explains the role of ethics for the practice of public administration. The development of ethical codes is traced from moral and constitutional roots. Course will include case studies and legal precedents.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 625. Organizational Behavior3 Units
Description: Concepts and theories from the behavioral sciences that describe human behavior in public organizations. Special emphasis on organizational culture and group dynamics.
Note: Cross-listed with UPA 660.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 626. Housing and Community Development3 Units
Description: Examines issues in housing and community development.
Note: Cross-listed with UPA 648 and PLAN 617.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 627. Environmental Policy3 Units
Description: Survey of environmental issues and policies designed to address these issues.
Note: Cross-listed with PLAN 620, UPA 679, POLS 627.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 628. Historic Preservation & Sustainable Practice3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: This course is a graduate level course on historic preservation, examining sustainable practices in Louisville and other regions. The course examines architecture and the built environment as it relates to historic preservation, urban revitalization, and the contributions of other disciplines such as urban planning, economics, and political science to the principles and practice of preservation.
Note: Cross-listed with PLAN 625 and UPA 651.
Note: Course fee.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 640. Urban Economics3 Units
Prerequisite(s): PLAN 500, ECON 500, or consent of instructor.
Description: Application of economic theory to urban policy issues including metropolitan development and job creation, poverty, crime, transportation, environment, spatial structure, and other issues.
Note: Cross-listed with ECON 605, UPA 603 and PLAN 603.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 642. Human Resources Management3 Units
Description: Basic theories, public policies, laws, regulations, problems, and prospects of human resource development and management within the context of the public sector.
Note: Cross-listed with UPA 667 and PLAN 611.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 645. Economic Development3 Units
Description: The course provides an introduction to the many facets of economic development, including the context, theory, process and practice of economic development planning and policy.
Note: Cross-listed with PLAN 626, UPA 640, POLS 603.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 648. Mediation and Dispute Resolution3 Units
Description: Designed principally for incipient practitioners of the mediation process. Class participation, serving as a mediator in cases presented to the class, and a short paper depicting mediating in process are the course requirements.
Note: Cross-listed with POLS 628, PLAN 612.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 663. Social Equity and the Public Sector3 Units
Description: This course will provide a comprehensive review of social equity in American public administration.
Note: Cross-listed with PLAN 663 and UPA 663.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 664. Cultural Competency and Action3 Units
Description: This course primarily focuses on the professional development of public administrators. It seeks to improve their knowledge about diverse issues of discrimination and prejudice in the public sector. It provides a framework for examining factors related to discrimination as well as racism, sexism, and heterosexism in terms of political history, power, stereotyped perceptions and practices across society, groups and among individuals.
Note: Cross-listed with PADM 664 and UPA 664.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 670. Sustainable Development & Planning3 Units
Description: The course is designed to address institutions and governance in sustainable development, and will take an interdisclipinary approach. The course will be open to graduate students in any program at UofL.
Note: Cross-listed with PLAN 670 and UPA 670.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 675. Introduction to Sustainability3 Units
Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing.
Description: It is a graduate survey course of theory, issues and challenges in the area of sustainability. Open to any graduate student at UofL.
Note: Cross-listed with PLAN 675, UPA 675.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 676. Sustainable Social-Ecological Systems3 Units
Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing.
Description: The course is designed to address the social and ecological frameworks for understanding and applying sustainability concepts in both theory and practice. The course will be open to all graduate students in any program at UofL.
Note: Cross-listed with PLAN 676, UPA 676.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 680. Independent Research in Public Administration1-3 Units
Prerequisite(s): Permission of coordinator.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 682. Practicum/Internship1-6 Units
Prerequisite(s): Permission of internship-practicum coordinator.
Course Attribute(s): CBL - This course includes Community-Based Learning (CBL). Students will engage in a community experience or project with an external partner in order to enhance understanding and application of academic content.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 683. Topical Seminar in Public Administration1-3 Units
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor.
Description: Exploration of a specific topic or problem area in administration.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 688. Land Use and Planning Law3 Units
Description: Examination of pertinent legal issues, including ordinances, state and federal legislation, and court rulings, impinging on planning and land use activities.
Note: Cross-listed with PLAN 605 and UPA 678.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
PADM 695. Thesis1-6 Units
Prerequisite(s): Permission of internship-practicum coordinator.
Description: Thesis research/preparation.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
