May 05, 2024  
2016-2017 Graduate Catalog (as of 08-31-16) 
    
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2016-2017 Graduate Catalog (as of 08-31-16) [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions

 

Teaching, Learning, and Advocacy
  

  • MTLA 605 Instructional Foundations and Assessments of Early Literacies Learners (3)

    This course extends students’ understanding of teaching and assessing Pre-K-Grade 3 foundational and new literacies related to reading, writing, listening, speaking, viewing and designing. Students will explore current theories, research, instructional practices, and assessments for teaching and learning with print and non-print texts, tools, and practices significant to early childhood literacies development.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • MTLA 606 Teacher as a Member of the Professional Community (3)

    Candidates explore the role of teacher leadership in effecting change. They explore change theory and develop strategies needed to change agents at multiple levels, e.g., building on sound instructional practices, collaboration, teamwork, peer coaching, and mentoring. They learn to strengthen community and family partnerships and communicate across diverse spheres.
    Prerequisite(s): Admission to graduate program Learning and Advocacy
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • MTLA 607 Teachers as Advocates for Children and Youth (3)

    This course explores the effect of policy on the lives and learning of children and youth. It turns this understanding toward advocating for better school and classroom experiences for children and youth. Candidates examine their own practice as well as policies and procedures through the lens of advocacy.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • MTLA 648 Teaching Content Area and Disciplinary Literacies (3)

    A course focusing on the theories, research, and instructional practices of teaching literacies within disciplines and across disciplines. This course provides in-depth examinations of language and literacies development across age spans and connects instructional tools and strategies for print-based and multimodal literacies.
    Course Frequency: Every Other Fall
  

  • MTLA 663 Texts and Tools for Consuming and Producing Literacies (3)

    Students will explore children’s and adolescents’ print-based, visual, oral and digital texts and contexts that support literacies learning. Students will draw upon these texts as models for writing and designing. A variety of popular and academic genre, formats and online tools relevant to interdisciplinary curriculum and instruction will be included.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • MTLA 665 Literacies, Identities, and Pop Culture (3)

    This course examines relations between literacies, pop culture, and identities in education. Topics include definitions and uses of pop culture (including digital media) and theories of identities and connections to mass media, cultural studies, media literacy education and to critical literacies. Strategies for culturally relevant pedagogy using literacies standards will be covered.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • MTLA 667 Issues and Trends in Literacies Education and Advocacy (3)

    This course traces US historical developments of foundational and contemporary literacies. It examines literacies theories that impact definitions of texts and of literacy practices. It explores recurring themes in literacies education and advocacy through politics, major advocates of literacies education, and policies that impact assessments and instructional locally, nationally, and globally.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • MTLA 668 Curriculum: Foundations, Principles, Issues and Applications (3)

    The course explores the theories, issues, and practices of curriculum studies highlighting economic, historical, political, and social forces and debates that influence contemporary issues in curriculum. It involves a critical exploration of educational phenomena within and beyond the scope of schools, with a focus on power relations and social justice issues.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • MTLA 671 Introduction to Project-Based Learning (3)

    This course is designed to introduce students to the theory behind Project Based Learning (PBL) and the basics of designing, delivering, and assessing PBL that supports student attainment of core academic content. The course demonstrates 21st century skill necessary for success including personal agency, critical/analytical thinking, collaboration, communication, and technological proficiency.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • MTLA 672 Applications of Project-Based Learning in Curriculum and Instruction (3)

    This course is designed to give teachers the experiences required to plan, create, and integrate instructional methodologies and technology within PBL units that supports the achievement of students with diverse needs. Teachers will design and integrate activities that promote critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration.
    Prerequisite(s): MTLA 671  
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • MTLA 674 Practicum in Project-Based Learning (3)

    This practicum course is designed to provide teacher/practitioners with opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge, skills, and dispositions for implementing PBL into the regular classroom setting. The course will consist of four, monthly on-campus seminars, some online instruction, and at least two field-based observations of teaching/PBL implementation.
    Prerequisite(s): MTLA 671 , MTLA 672  
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • MTLA 678 Instruction and Assessment of Older Literacies Learners (3)

    Examination of all processes involved in literacy, speaking, listening, reading, writing, viewing and thinking. Specifically, this course is designed to push your thinking to analyze critically how older learners are and become “literate” in traditional and non-traditional educational settings. This course views literacy as a life-long process.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • MTLA 702 Research and Development Project (3)

    An in-depth study of an individually chosen topic, which is planned and completed under the guidance of the student’s advisor and submitted for review by the graduate faculty.
    Course Frequency: Fall and Spring
  

  • MTLA 706 Special Topics in Education (3)

    Study of a particular subject or theme in education applicable to teaching, learning, or advocacy. Special topics courses may include on-campus courses, study abroad experiences, and domestic internships outside of conventional P-12 classrooms.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
    Repeatable: For up to 12 credit hours.
  

  • MTLA 711 Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners in P-12 Schools and Classrooms (3)

    This course is designed to improve general and special educators’ ability to teach all students within schools (P-12) that are increasingly more diverse in regards to race, class, gender, home language, sexuality, and ability. This course addresses the root causes of the persistence of achievement gaps between groups of students (racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, linguistic, exceptionalities) and provides opportunities for teachers to deepen their understanding of the students they teach, learn new strategies for culturally relevant and inclusive pedagogy, and develop skills to work with systems and policies that affect children and youth.
    Course Frequency: Occasional

Theatre
  

  • THRE 610 Theatre for Youth Literature (3)

    This course will survey appropriate theatre literature for use in the K-12 classroom, with students creating a catalog of production/performance information/analysis for future reference. The course will also include the history, literature, theory, and current practices in the field.
    Prerequisite(s): Two semesters of undergraduate coursework in theatre literature or permission of instructor.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • THRE 611 Design with Schools in Mind (3)

    This course will expose students to advanced principles and give practical experience in both design and construction within the K12 school theatre setting with emphasis on safety and organization of student workers and volunteers. Lecture and laboratory work on departmental productions and fieldwork will be a part of the course.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • THRE 612 Advanced Acting and Directing Techniques for the K12 Teacher (3)

    Advanced concepts of the acting/directing process, including script analysis, staging practices, director/designer communications, production organization, and rehearsal techniques. The semester will culminate in a program of student-directed projects.
    Prerequisite(s): Two semesters of acting and one semester of directing at the undergraduate level or permission of instructor.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • THRE 690 Independent Study in Theatre (1-3)

    To provide in-depth, individualized study in an area of theatre appropriate to the needs and degree plan of the graduate student.
    Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
    Repeatable: For up to 6 credit hours.
  

  • THRE 704 Trends and Issues in Performing Arts Education: Theatre (3)

    A review of current critical issues and trends in performing arts education as these relate to local, state, and national education agencies and the education of children and youth in PK-12 public schools.
    Prerequisite(s): Admission into the Performing Arts, M.A.T. program or an undergraduate degree in a relevant field (dance, art, music, theatre) and permission of the instructor.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • THRE 710 Foundations Preschool and Elementary Theatre Education Methods (3)

    This course will introduce content, organization and management skills of preschool and elementary theatre programs and teaching methodologies appropriate to Preschool/K5. Course content will include fieldwork.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • THRE 711 Middle and Secondary Theatre Education Methods (3)

    Organization and management of repertoire, programming considerations, and teaching methodology appropriate to Middle School/Junior High/High School students. Course content will include fieldwork.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • THRE 712 Community and the Theatrical Classroom (3)

    This course will explore ways theatre can be extended into the community through applied theatre techniques connecting diverse programs, ages and cultures. Course content will include projects within the community.
    Course Frequency: Occasional

Public Administration
  

  • PUBA 502 Special Topics in Public Affairs Seminars (1-3)

    Covers current issues such as problem solving and public decisions; benefit-cost analysis; citizenship participation in public decision; and application of statistical techniques to public decisions. This course ranges from one to three credits. Students may take multiple PUBA 502 courses as long as the subject of the courses differ.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
    Repeatable: May be repeated for credit when course content varies.
  

  • PUBA 512 Females and Minorities in Public Administration (3)

    This course explores the historical and legal foundations for equal opportunity in employment and education. The social and political aspects of class/gender stratification are discussed. The concepts of equal opportunity, affirmative action, cultural diversity and harassment are addressed.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • PUBA 600 Public Service Roles and Responsibilities (3)

    This course explores the evolution and current status of the public sector in the United States. Students will study the ethical, legal, political, and professional dimensions of public service.
    Course Frequency: Fall
  

  • PUBA 601 Research and Quantitative Methods for Public Administration (3)

    This course examines the various aspects of collecting and processing primary and secondary data utilized by public organizations for decision-making and program evaluation. Students will learn basic qualitative and quantitative methods for developing a valid research design, how to create and implement surveys, and basic statistical analysis techniques.
    Course Frequency: Fall and Spring
  

  • PUBA 602 Public Policy (3)

    This course examines the activities of individuals, groups, and institutions that define or ignore public problems, participate or fail to participate in political struggles over these problems and confront or avoid opportunities to develop and implement solutions. The implications of these complexities for public employees and public management are emphasized.
    Course Frequency: Fall
    Cross-Listing: EVSS 602 
  

  • PUBA 603 Managing Public Organizations (3)

    This course provides students with an understanding of the challenges of managing public organizations. Topics of study include leadership, motivation, group behavior, culture, decision making, accountability and organizational change and development.
    Course Frequency: Spring
  

  • PUBA 604 Managing Human Resources (3)

    This course considers the context and practice of effective human resource management, with special emphasis on the political, legal, historical, and ethical dimensions of public employment. Students will apply personnel management theories and techniques to contemporary organizational challenges to investigate the tensions inherent to balancing competing values and demands.
    Course Frequency: Fall
  

  • PUBA 605 Managing Financial Resources (3)

    This course examines the organization and techniques of governmental financial management, budgetary theories and intergovernmental financial relations.
    Course Frequency: Spring
  

  • PUBA 611 Urban Policy (3)

    This course will introduce students to the field of urban policy and will train students to critically analyze policy debates that directly impact city life. The course traces the major ideological shifts in urban policy over the past century, analyzes their historical and philosophical foundations and explores the relationship between urban change and policy formulation.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • PUBA 612 History and Theory of American Urban Planning (3)

    This course provides a critical evaluation of the field of planning. The class focuses on the origins and evolution of the discipline, tools of planning practice, and the interrelated planning elements of economic development, social justice and environmental protection.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
    Cross-Listing: EVSS 633  
  

  • PUBA 613 Planning Law (3)

    This course examines the application and administration of planning law at the local level. The tension between constitutionally protected rights and governmental regulation will be explored as it emerges in decisions regarding land use, environmental protection and growth management.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • PUBA 614 Urban Applications of Geographic Information Systems (3)

    This course provides an overview of geographic information systems applied to the study of cities and urban policy issues. It introduces students to foundational concepts and applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and it asks students to use this software to explore and solve real-world urban problems.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • PUBA 615 Urban and Regional Development (3)

    This course is designed to provide the basic toolkit required to think critically and coherently about processes of urban and regional economic development. Major themes include the spatial distribution and location of economic activity, the concentration of economic activities, how globalization affects these processes and the impact of regional differences.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • PUBA 616 Local and Regional Economic Development: Policy and Practice (3)

    This course examines the forces that drive regional growth and change and assesses the policies and practices that are commonly used in pursuit of economic growth, including industrial targeting, incentives, and human capital development.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • PUBA 617 Urban Transportation: Problems and Prospects (3)

    Foundational urban transportation concepts, theories, and policies are analyzed in applied contexts. Students explore contemporary problems, and prepare solutions to these problems. The transportation planning process is reviewed and critiqued, including the political and ethical implications surrounding this process. The role of Geographic Information Sciences in transportation planning is examined.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • PUBA 620 Local Government Politics and Administration (3)

    This course examines the role of local government administrators as leaders and service providers. The course explores an understanding of local political environments and develops an understanding of what they mean in terms of democratic institutions and theory.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • PUBA 622 Intergovernmental Relations (3)

    This course provides an understanding of the nature and dynamics of the American federal system of government: the functions, powers and service delivery capacities of county, municipal and special purpose district governments, the creation of new jurisdictions, the reciprocal influences of local, state, and federal bureaucracies, the grant-in-aid system and revenue sharing among different units of government. A special emphasis is placed on the complex nature of state-local and inter-local relations in an urban setting.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • PUBA 623 South Carolina Government and Policy (3)

    This course will allow those students who intend to pursue administrative careers (either local government or state government) in South Carolina to become familiar with the state’s political and policy processes.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • PUBA 630 Natural Resources Law and Policy (3)

    This course examines the laws and policy that regulate and affect the use of natural resources. The course includes an introduction to the administrative law of federal agencies that regulate the use of public lands and resources.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
    Cross-Listing: EVSS 630  
  

  • PUBA 631 Administrative Law (3)

    This course studies the legislative, adjudicatory and general policy-making powers of administrative agencies and regulatory commissions, and the scope of judicial review of administrative action. The course is directed primarily toward an analysis of the political nature of bureaucracy, and secondarily toward the procedural requirements for administrative policy-making.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
    Cross-Listing: EVSS 607 
  

  • PUBA 634 Environmental Law and Regulatory and Policy (3)

    This course examines the development of environmental law and regulatory policy in the United States. It provides an overview of the scope and substance of environmental law and the various regulatory techniques they employ. Both criminal and civil litigation surrounding the implementation of environmental law are examined.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
    Cross-Listing: EVSS 605  
  

  • PUBA 635 Land Use Law (3)

    This course examines zoning and land use control in the United States and incorporates illustrations and cases from South Carolina in particular. It focuses on enabling legislation for local governments, regulation, the process of development, eminent domain, contract and conditional zoning and enforcement and violation of land use regulations.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
    Cross-Listing: EVSS 635  
  

  • PUBA 637 Wetlands Policy (3)

    This course is intended to provide the student with a broad understanding of the social origins, philosophies, and political, economic and cultural impacts of wetlands protection in the United States. Topics address the goals of and policymakers’ approaches to wetlands protection.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
    Cross-Listing: EVSS 637 
  

  • PUBA 640 Leadership and Decision Making (3)

    This course examines leadership and decision making by identifying the environment of decision making, the techniques and characteristics of leadership styles and decision making approaches.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • PUBA 650 Essential Elements of Nonprofit Administration (3)

    This course orients students to the history, values, and issues of the third sector in American society; and to the leadership and management challenges peculiar to the administration of non-profit organizations. The latter includes board relations, fundraising, program advocacy and lobbying, legal frameworks, human resource management in volunteer settings, financial management and grants administration.
    Prerequisite(s): Completion of one semester in the M.P.A. program preferred.
    Course Frequency: Fall
  

  • PUBA 654 Human Resource Management for Non-Profit Organizations (3)

    This course examines the human resource development issues for non-profit organizations. Personnel play a vital role in the non-profit sector. Distinctively, this sector is dependent not only upon a core group of salaried employees, but upon a voluminous network of volunteers. There are specific issues including training, development, and leadership, which take on unique characteristics in the non-profit sector. The course will center on the executive director’s role in the success of shaping, managing and leading the organization.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • PUBA 655 Nonprofit Capacity Building (3)

    The course will examine the current research on capacity building for nonprofits and its applicability. Students will investigate the components that contribute to an organization’s effectiveness and sustainability over time and tools and approaches utilized by nonprofits to adapt and thrive in the midst of a rapidly changing environment.
    Course Frequency: Spring
  

  • PUBA 656 Fundraising and Marketing for Nonprofits (3)

    This course examines the development cycle and how nonprofits structure their giving and marketing programs. In addition to annual, major, and planned giving, the class will look at capital campaigns, the roles of boards and volunteers, grant writing, corporate and foundation giving, using technology and ethics and accountability.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • PUBA 660 Contemporary Perspectives on Arts Management (3)

    This course will focus on the role of non-profit arts and cultural institutions, and the artists and managers that lead them. By examining the rapid changes occurring in the performing and visual arts management field, as well as the humanities, and analyzing the impact of these changes within the public domain, the course also seeks to encourage interested students to pursue careers in this dynamic profession.
    Course Frequency: Fall
  

  • PUBA 661 Advanced Arts Management (3)

    This course will involve students in the examination, analysis and involvement in applied experiences with non-profit arts and cultural organizations. Students will produce case studies in a variety of topical areas in arts administration that examine the resources, leadership, collaboration, skills, critical issues and practices of managers of select non-profit arts and cultural organizations in Charleston and the Tri-County region.
    Course Frequency: Spring
  

  • PUBA 662 Cultural Administration and Applied Research At the Avery (3)

    This course is the first course of its kind that uses the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture as a laboratory to expose the students to what the Center does to serve the needs of a diverse market and constituency base. Through practical and service learning experiences, students will examine issues germane to public administration and education, arts administration and cultural management.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • PUBA 663 Arts and Technology (3)

    Artists have always experimented with emerging technologies, but in recent decades the field of Arts & Technology has emerged as a dynamic and historically significant artistic practice. Discover the opportunities new technologies offer to arts managers; initiatives at the convergence of art and technology and the impact of technology and the arts on culture. Examine and conceptualize the themes of new media, sound art, moving images, the media artist, cyber culture and intellectual property issues.
    Course Frequency: Fall
  

  • PUBA 664 Arts Education (3)

    This course will examine current trends in arts education. Dealing primarily from an administrative viewpoint, the course will focus on government funding (local, state, and national), arts education organizations, specific pilot programs and individual teaching situations. Although developed initially for the administrator, the course should prove equally valuable to the educator.
    Course Frequency: Spring
  

  • PUBA 701 Capstone Seminar (3)

    The capstone seminar is designed to be a culminating experience that helps the student integrate knowledge and skills acquired throughout the program. Students engage in applied research.
    Prerequisite(s): Completion of all M.P.A. core courses and at least 30 semester hours or permission of the instructor or M.P.A. director.
    Course Frequency: Fall and Spring
  

  • PUBA 705 Managing Public/Private Partnerships (3)

    A shift in the social sector demands a reliance on private partnerships to provide public and nonprofit services. This course will provide an overview of these partnerships, study organizational models, and examine both public and nonprofit success stories leaving the student with a fresher perspective on public and nonprofit management.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • PUBA 706 Economic Theory for Policy Analysis (3)

    This course develops and applies microeconomic models and theories to the analysis of contemporary public sector issues. Attention is given to the conceptual and practical problems associated with resource allocation decisions given conflicts between efficiency and equity and limited information.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
    Cross-Listing: EVSS 601 
  

  • PUBA 710 Thesis (3)

    In order to complete the thesis requirement a student must have a core MPA faculty member as their advisor along with a committee of three other faculty. In order to register for thesis hours, the student must develop an independent study contract with their advisor containing an agreed upon research proposal and timeline. The final thesis must adhere to all the guidelines set forth in the Graduate School’s Thesis Manual.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
    Repeatable: For up to 6 credit hours.
  

  • PUBA 711 Independent Study (1-3)

    Individual study of an agreed-upon topic under the direction of a core MPA faculty member, following a course of reading and other requirements proposed by the student and established by negotiation with the graduate faculty member.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
    Repeatable: For up to 6 credit hours.
  

  • PUBA 720 The Practice of Public Administration (3)

    The world of the practicing manager is complex. Making decisions with often severe limits on resources and time means that managers must consider various aspects of management - personnel, legal accountability, resource management and ethics - in rapidly changing contexts. This seminar addresses these complexities by exploring particular cases in depth.
    Prerequisite(s): Completion of 15 hours of core courses or permission of the instructor.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • PUBA 777 Internship (3)

    A supervised field experience in which the student observes and participates in the functioning of a public sector or other nonprofit organization for at least 15 weeks. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.
    Prerequisite(s): At least 15 credits earned in the M.P.A. program. Permission of the M.P.A. director required.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
  

  • PUBA 900 Continuous Research Enrollment (1-9)

    Students who are nearing the end of their coursework for their degree and who have begun work on their master’s thesis topic may need to utilize the Continuous Research Enrollment course to maintain a suitable level of enrollment for their programs. Linked directly to students’ research on a thesis topic and must be considered as a progress report toward that end when graded by the thesis advisor. The course will be graded on a pass-fail basis.
    Prerequisite(s): Form submission and program approval.
    Course Frequency: Occasional
    Repeatable: May be repeated when taken within the program’s time limit requirements.
    Restriction: Continuous Research Enrollment hours cannot be used as part of a program of study towards a degree. Continuous Research Enrollment hours may not be taken in lieu of thesis hours, but may be taken in combination with thesis hours, if no additional hours are available or necessary.
 

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