Course Descriptions

Core Courses
GAFL 589. Policy Development
GAFL 621. Economic Analysis in the Public Sector
GAFL 631. Politics, Policy, and Public Service
GAFL 703. Statistics for Public Leadership
GAFL 722. Budgeting and Financial Management for Public and Nonprofit Entities
GAFL 732. Public Management
GAFL 735. Performance Management
GAFL 783. Public Financial Management

Electives
GAFL 502. Public Speaking for Government and Nonprofit Leaders
GAFL 510. Ancient and Modern Constitutionmaking
GAFL 515. Public Investment Banking
GAFL 520. Nonprofits and Social Entrepreneurism
GAFL 521. Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations
GAFL 528. Marketing for Nonprofit and Government Organizations
GAFL 530. Leadership and Politics
GAFL 532. Big City Politics: How to Pass Municipal Legislation
GAFL 560. Women Leaders and Emerging Democracies
GAFL 561. Dealing with the Media
GAFL 569. (URBS451) The Politics of Housing and Urban Development
GAFL 625. Human Resources Management for Nonprofit and Government Organizations
GAFL 652. Auditing Government Performance
GAFL 710 Topics in Government
GAFL 713. Politics, Technology, and Economic Development
GAFL 716. State Elective Politics
GAFL 725. Development Projects in Cities
GAFL 726. Law and Urban Development
GAFL 727. Managing Public Funds: The Treasury Function
GAFL 729. Financial Management of Nonprofit Institutions
GAFL 748. Foundations and Grant Management
GAFL 749. Leading Nonprofit Organizations
GAFL 761. Government Relations (Lobbying)
GAFL 792. Contracting for Public Services

GAFL 502 Public Speaking for Government and Nonprofit Leaders
Summer, Spring
Benedict
Successful leaders must be able to convey their integrity and their ideas, their vision and their values clearly and convincingly in public settings. Students will analyze great or noteworthy political speeches, prepare and deliver different types of speeches, learn the fundamentals of persuasive public speaking, and gain skill and confidence in their speech writing and public speaking skills through practice, peer feedback, and extensive coaching. Class lectures and discussions will focus on persuasive strategies, delivery, and techniques for handling communications challenges such as community meetings, Q and A sessions, and interactions with the media. Speeches will be taped and analyzed.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 510 (CLST310) Ancient and Modern Constitutionmaking
Spring
Mulhern
This course looks to the constitutionmaking tradition as it developed from classical antiquity forward in an attempt to understand the causes of relative success. Students read representative Greek and Latin texts in translation and trace the influence of this tradition into modern times, ending with contemporary constitutionmaking efforts in Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 515 Public Finance Investment Banking
Spring
Genyk
The purpose of the course is to provide a detailed understanding of finance in the public sector with a focus on investment banking. The course provides students with a broad-based and technical overview of public finance and municipal bonds as well as a thorough understanding of the business aspects of public finance.
Sample Syllabus
*Fels is grateful to DBC Software for generously allowing students use of their financial analysis software*

GAFL 520 Nonprofits and Social Entrepreneurism
Fall
Guard
This course introduces students to the many layers of entrepreneurism involved in successfully running a nonprofit that aims to tackle new missions. Students will learn key lessons for starting or restructuring an organization, for funding the organization, and for impacting social, economic, and other ills in new and novel ways. They will also learn how to avoid common mistakes made by leaders of young, threatened, or restructuring organizations.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 521 Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations
Spring
Pearson
This course provides students with concepts and tools that can help nonprofit organizations better achieve their organizational objectives by securing the resources necessary to do so. Students will, for example, learn how to assess an organization's fundraising capabilities, conduct an annual fund drive, solicit grants from corporations and foundations, conduct prospect research, cultivate and secure major gifts, design planned giving instruments to meet the needs of donors, carry out a capital campaign, and set up information technologies to track fundraising efforts and assist you in the stewardship of gifts. The course is also designed as a study guide for taking (and passing) the examination required to become a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP).
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 528 Marketing for Nonprofit and Government Organizations
Fall
Pearson
This course provides students with the concepts and tools to help nonprofit and government organizations market their programs and services. The course emphasizes applications, and students will complete a marketing plan during the course. Students will learn how to conduct competitive analyses, benchmarking, market segmentation and client needs; explore opportunities for social research on client needs; explore opportunities for social entrepreneurship and product development; and design effective Web and direct marketing tactics as part of an overall promotion and packaging strategy.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 530 Leadership and Politics
Spring
Conti
This course will review leadership and politics through a study of modern Pennsylvanian government. Beginning with Governor Gifford Pinchot through current Governor Edward G. Rendell, we will study governors, elected officials and political leaders to try to understand how the state developed with such regional diversity. The historical review will take place in the context of the media of the time period. From newspapers, through radio and television, up to today’s internet and blogs, the class will measure the influence of the media on the course of events. Pennsylvania state government, with its numerous levels and strong local control will be studied and the policy issues of yesterday and today will be reviewed. Current and former elected officials, political operatives and Government relations experts will enhance the class as guest lecturers.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 532 Big City Politics: How to Pass Municipal Legislation
Fall
Kenney and Hawkins
This class explores how city administrators and legislatures have addressed the critical issues facing urban America today, including fighting urban blight and transforming neighborhoods, public school funding, public financing of sports stadiums, reducing the tax burden, public health issues like smoking bans, legislative redistricting, crime and safety issues, campaign finance reform, economic development issues like tax increment financing, race relations, welfare reform, public transportation, and how to reverse job and population losses. The overriding goal is to place in context the various ways that elected officials approach complex issues, towards a more realistic understanding of how to influence a proposal as it works its way through the process towards implementation.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 560 Women Leaders and Emerging Democracies
Fall, Spring
Margolies
This course explores ways to provide women with practical, real world skills—political and community organizing, communications, fundraising, advocacy and media experience—that will enable them to achieve meaningful political, economic, and civic participation in the life of their countries. Students may also be involved with an international trip with Women’s Campaign International. The course is designed to give the theoretical background and tools to put together an insightful international training to politically empower women.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 561 Dealing with the Media
Fall, Spring
Margolies
This course explores the role of media in politics and discusses strategies for using media resources for greatest effect. The design of the course allows for a flexible workshop format and includes guest lectures by media personalities and politicians as well as a trip to meet with media professionals in Washington. The course also provides regular opportunities for students to implement what they have learned through in-class media trainings, mock editorial board interviews, governing strategy scenarios, campaign strategy scenarios, and political advertisement assessments.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 569 (URBS451) The Politics of Housing and Urban Development
Fall
Kromer
This course offers an exploration of how legislative action, government policymaking, and citizen advocacy influence plans for the investment of public capital in distressed urban neighborhoods. This year, the class will evaluate the impacts of Philadelphia’s Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, implemented under former Mayor John Street, and assess the progress of policymaking and program development during the first year of Mayor Michael Nutter’s administration.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 589 Policy Development
Spring (F/T and Exec)
Kettl/Pearson
This course examines the policy development process including: the interaction of branches of government; policy analysis; information; constituencies; and management of a policy development office. The objective of this course is to provide an understanding of the development of governmental policy, both at the macro level and from the viewpoint of persons who are in supporting roles to the major actors in the process. The formula employed to achieve this objective consists of a combination of readings, lectures, discussions, and activities that are designed to blend conceptual and practical skills.
Sample Syllabus 001
Sample Syllabus 002

GAFL 621 Economic Analysis in the Public Sector
Fall (F/T), Summer (Exec and Certificate)
Madden/Perrins
This is course provides students with the knowledge required to understand government operations in relation to the market economy. In theory of supply and demand, students explore the pricing mechanism, price elasticity, and the effects of price controls on markets. Efficiency is examined in connection with competition and again in connection with equity, and market failure is considered as a reason for government intervention. Cost-benefit analysis is examined in the context of selecting among public investment alternatives. The course also assists students in addressing issues connected with local public goods and economic development.
Sample Syllabus 001
Sample Syllabus 910

GAFL 625 Human Resources Management for Nonprofit and Government Organizations
Spring
This course, taught by the human resources director for the Pennsylvania Hospital System, introduces students to the broad range of strategic and tactical processes and issues involved in managing a workforce. The course addresses issues common to all sectors (for profit, nonprofit and public), including strategic performance goal-setting, workforce planning, recruitment and hiring, compensation, performance management and talent development, as well as special topics applicable to particular sectors (e.g., public employee due process rights, collective bargaining agreements, the role of volunteers) among other issues critical to effective human resource management.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 631 Politics, Policy, and Public Service
Fall (F/T), Spring (Exec and Certificate)
Mulhern
This course is designed to orient students to the constraints that characterize leadership and management in the public service. The course traces the origins of these constraints, illustrates their durability, and suggests ways in which public agents may deal with them more effectively. Key historical documents and recent classics are examined for their bearing on contemporary views on topics such as public goods, the role of science in governing, individualism and the theory of rights, factions and interest groups. The main areas of inquiry are the environment of public service, policy analysis, politics, and political realism.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 652 Auditing Government Performance
Fall
Maurer
Topics covered include auditing principles, performance audits, and financial audits. Guest lecturers from the PA Department of the Auditor General visited the fall 2007 class.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 703 Statistics for Public Leadership
Fall (F/T), Spring (Exec)
Pearson/Perrins
This course will present students with the tools to use statistical information to analyze and measure the performance of public programs.
Sample Syllabus (fall)
Sample Syllabus (spring)

GAFL 710 Topics in Government
Fall
Rendell and Siskind
What does it take to get elected to office? What are the key elements of a successful political
campaign? What are the crucial issues guiding campaigns and elections in the U.S. at the
beginning of the 21st century? This class will address the process and results of electoral politics at the local, state, and federal levels. Each week we will be joined by guest speakers who are nationally recognized professionals with expertise in different areas of the campaign and election process.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 713 Politics, Technology, and Economic Development
Fall
Mulhern
This course is intended for conscientious practitioners with an interest in what governments and other organizations can do to encourage economic growth. Thus it focuses on understanding and measuring economic growth and on evaluating different approaches to promoting it, with special emphasis on state comparisons. Sources covered include classics of the economic-growth literature which have formed academic and agency thinking as well as current government and proprietary databases.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 716 State Elective Politics
Fall
Smith
This is a practical course designed to impart the elements of a successful political campaign for public office. It will focus on the local campaign and how it is planned, organized, executed, and funded. Local practitioners will augment course sessions to provide interaction between the student and those who have successfully run campaigns, raised funds, and been elected.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 722 Budgeting and Financial Management for Public & Nonprofit Entities
Fall (F/T), Spring (Certificate) and Summer (Exec)
Sedehi
Through budget theory which addresses all levels of government and a budget practicum focused on preparing a budget for a medium-sized city, students learn the how and why of public-sector budgeting. Along with the perennial topics of budget theory, the course introduces students to the new emphasis on service efforts and accomplishments in performance budgeting. In the practicum, students are coached in establishing expenditure and revenue history, developing projections and estimates, and presenting the completed budget to the legislature and the public.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 725 Development Projects in Cities
Spring
Hartling
This is a skill-based course, teaching students how to conduct market studies and to determine operational, physical, and financial feasibility of urban and economic development proposals. It gives specific attention to feasibility studies for retail, hotel, industrial, and office development projects.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 726 Law and Urban Development
Spring
Keene
This course introduces students to the role that the judicial system plays in shaping the behavior of state and local governments. The focus will be on government regulation of land development and land use. The course will explore the constitutional and legal problems such efforts encounter, such as the “takings” issue and the limitations on the use of the power of eminent domain as exemplified in the Kelo v. New London decision.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 727 Managing Public Funds: The Treasury Function
Fall
Olanipekun-Lewis
This course will focus on the theory and practice of managing public sector investment assets. The course will examine cash management, pension fund management, project and construction fund investment vehicles, longer-term asset management and other aspects of treasury management.
Sample Syllabus (part 1)
Sample Syllabus (part 2)

GAFL 729 Financial Management of Nonprofit Institutions
Spring
Harris
The course is designed to provide the student with an understanding of the primary financial management issues and decisions that confront senior management in nonprofits and government. Students will examine financial analysis techniques from both a practical and strategic perspective as they examine operating and capital decisions. The objective of the course is to allow the student to understand how managers integrate the various discrete financial decisions within a broader framework that allows them to analyze, develop and execute a coherent overall financial strategy.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 732 Public Management
Spring (F/T), Summer(Exec and Certificate)
DeSeve/Mulhern
In this course, students focus on bureaucracy and related institutional features of government. Differences in organizational culture are examined along with their implications for public managers. Students establish an understanding of leadership issues including incentives, performance, accountability, and program management. Four areas of inquiry are pursued: bureaucracy, centralization and decentralization, performance, and privatization.
Sample Syllabus (F/T)
Sample Syllabus (Executive and Certificate)

GAFL 735 Performance Management
Fall(Exec), Spring(F/T)
Kettl/Golda
How can leaders manage performance and make decisions that lead to desired outcomes such as less crime, better education, or lower unit costs? This course examines the various ways that public sector organizations can use data to plan strategically, manage risk, and monitor performance. Students will learn about the theory behind performance measurement and risk management, as well as the benefits, challenges, and limitations of performance management.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 748 Foundations and Grant Management
Summer
Burd
This course will provide students with the role of the foundation in philanthropy, what it does, how it does it, and what you need to know to be both an effective foundation manager and foundation grant seeker. From the foundation side, the course will include strategic planning, assessment of project results, and the responsibilities of the foundation grant program officer. From the grant seeker side, it will include identifying the appropriate foundations, making the connection to the foundation, grant writing, and relationship management.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 749 Leading Nonprofit Organizations
Fall, Spring
McKenna
An examination of the core organizational competencies that make a nonprofit organization successful in carrying out its mission: Governance, Strategic Planning, Resources Development, Resources Management, Marketing and Communications and Evaluation. Special emphasis will be placed on leadership and how nonprofits can construct meaningful alliances with the for profit and public sectors. Case studies of actual nonprofits will provide the context for the course. Contemporary challenges to the nonprofit sector will be explored.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 761 Government Relations (Lobbying)
Fall
Weinberg and Nixon
In a system of representative government, organizations and individuals with interests at stake often seek the support of a government relations professional. This course addresses government relations from the varying perspectives of the current or aspiring professional, the client, and the government official.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 783 Public Financial Management
Fall (Exec and Certificate), Spring (F/T)
Mullin
This course prepares students to manage cash and debt in the public sector through a study of theory and operations. Where public finance differs from corporate finance, the difference is highlighted. Students examine current financial management techniques from a strategic perspective and learn to identify the impacts on economic development of tax policies as well as of capital projects which may draw on both public and private sources of funds. The course focuses on five main areas of inquiry: public finance theory and practice; government finance functions; public pensions, enterprises and revenue analysis; municipal bonds; and special project financing.
Sample Syllabus

GAFL 792 Contracting for Public Services
Spring
Nadol and Neiderman
This course examines how different strategies of ownership affect the performance of programs. The course explores the different forms of privatization, including asset sales, deregulation, and public-sector contracting; ownership and managerial behavior; state-owned enterprises and mixed-ownership enterprises; US and overseas experience; and techniques and politics of privatization.
Sample Syllabus

Click here to view the MGA curriculum