Planning, Public Policy and Management
Richard D. Margerum, School Director
541-346-3635
147B Hendricks Hall
1209 University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon 97403-1209
Mission Statement
The School of Planning, Public Policy and Management is nationally known for academic rigor, intellectual leadership, stellar evidence-based, innovative applied instruction and its inclusive and equitable climate. The school's faculty and administration is dedicated to
- a core curriculum and specialized courses that address inequities related to race and ethnicity
- diversity in the composition of faculty, students and professionals
- an environment that is open and welcoming, striving in particular to be inclusive to those traditionally marginalized in society
- informed theory and empirical evidence
- engaging the civic community—public, private, and nonprofit—in democratic processes addressing economic, environmental, and social issues
- seeking good ideas and approaches from around the world and testing their transferability from one area of the globe to another
- ecological, social, and economic sustainability
Faculty
Lisa Abia-Smith, senior instructor (art and special populations, art and museum education, arts in health care); director, educational outreach, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. BA, 1989, St. Mary’s College of California; MA, 1992, John F. Kennedy. (1997)
John Arroyo, assistant professor (urban studies, community development, inclusive urbanism). BA, 2002, Southern California; MCP, 2010, Cornell; PhD, 2018, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (2018)
Doug Blandy, professor (art and community service, art and special populations). BS, 1974, Ohio; MA, 1979, PhD, 1983, Ohio State. (1987)
Anne Brown, assistant professor (transportation planning, mobility). BA, 2010, Macalester; MURP, 2014, California, Los Angeles. (2018)
Robert J. Choquette, senior instructor (strategic planning, project management); graduate programs coordinator. BS, 1982, MUP, 1991, Oregon. (1991)
Ben Clark, associate professor (public management, crowdsourcing, local government management). BA, 1999, Indiana, Bloomington; MPA, 2000, Syracuse; PhD, 2009, Georgia. (2016)
Renee A. Irvin, associate professor (nonprofit and philanthropic sector economics, wealth policy). BA, 1984, Oregon; MA, 1991, PhD, 1998, Washington (Seattle). (2001)
Grant Jacobsen, associate professor (environmental economics and policy, energy efficiency, renewable energy). BA, 2005, College of William and Mary; MA, 2006, PhD, 2010, California, Santa Barbara. (2010)
Patricia Lambert, professor (performing arts, cultural policy). BM, 1990, Indiana; MA, 1997, Webster; MAS, 1998, International Center for Culture and Management; PhD, 2004, Ohio State. (2003)
Laura Leete, associate professor (poverty and social policy, work-force policy, nonprofit economics). BA, 1982, California, Berkeley; MA, 1988, PhD, 1992, Harvard. (2007)
Rebecca C. Lewis, associate professor (land-use policy, sustainable development, state and local finance). BA, 2006, Kentucky; MPP, 2008, PhD, 2011, Maryland, College Park. (2013)
Richard D. Margerum, professor (environmental planning and management, planning processes, conflict management). BA, 1987, Wittenberg; MCP, 1989, Cincinnati; MS, 1992, PhD, 1995, Wisconsin, Madison. (2001)
Dyana Mason, assistant professor (nonprofit management, charitable giving, public management). BA, 1993, Southern California; MBA, 2010, William and Mary; PhD, 2014, Southern California. (2014)
Jessica Matthiesen, senior instructor (nonprofit management, program development, public service); director, undergraduate program and internship. BS, 1997, MPA, 2009, Oregon. (2012)
José Meléndez, assistant professor (civic engagement, designing participatory processes, Latino immigrants). BA, 2001, Oberlin; MEd, 2009; PhD, 2016, Illinois, Chicago. (2018)
Nicole S. Ngo, assistant professor (health economics, environmental policy, urban sustainability). BA, BS, 2006, California, Irvine; MA, 2010, PhD, 2013, Columbia. (2013)
Eleonora Redaelli, associate professor. Laurea, 1997, Università degli Studi di Milano; DMA, 2000, Conservatorio di Musica Giuseppi Verdi; PhD, 2008, Ohio State. (2014)
Gerardo Sandoval, associate professor (economic and community development, urban revitalization, immigrant neighborhoods). BS, 2000, California, Davis; MCP, 2002, PhD, 2007, California, Berkeley. (2010)
Marc Schlossberg, professor (geographic information systems, social planning, transportation planning). BBA, 1987, Texas, Austin; MUP, 1995, San Jose State; PhD, 2001, Michigan. (2001)
Julie Voelker-Morris, senior instructor. BA, 1996, Augustana College; MS, 2002, Oregon. (2014)
Yizhao Yang, associate professor (environmental planning, sustainable living design and analysis, geographic information systems). BArch, 1995, Tianjin; MS, 1998, Tsinghua; MRP, 2001, PhD, 2007, Cornell. (2006)
Courtesy
Donald G. Holtgrieve, adjunct assistant professor (local government planning). See Geography.
Cassandra Moseley, courtesy assistant professor (natural resource policy, community-based conservation). BA, 1990, Cornell; MA, 1993, MPhil, 1994, PhD, 1999, Yale. (2002)
Emeriti
Gaylene Carpenter, associate professor emerita. BA, 1965, MS, 1973, California State, Long Beach; EdD, 1980, Temple. (1983)
Rogena M. Degge, professor emerita. BA, 1964, Fresno State; MS, 1972, PhD, 1975, Oregon. (1979)
Bryan T. Downes, professor emeritus. BS, 1962, MS, 1963, Oregon; PhD, 1966, Washington (St. Louis). (1976)
Linda F. Ettinger, associate professor emerita. BFA, Southwest Missouri State; MS, 1973, Illinois State; PhD, 1983, Oregon. (1982)
Maradel K. Gale, associate professor emerita. BA, 1961, Washington State; MA, 1967, Michigan State; JD, 1974, Oregon. (1974)
Jane Gehring, associate professor emerita. BS, 1940, Michigan State Teachers; MS, 1960, Oregon. (1958)
Judith H. Hibbard, professor emerita. BS, 1974, California State, Northridge; MPH, 1975, California, Los Angeles; DrPH, 1982, California, Berkeley. (1982)
Michael Hibbard, professor emeritus. BS, 1968, California Polytechnic; MSW, 1971, San Diego State; PhD, 1980, California, Los Angeles. (1980)
Carl J. Hosticka, associate professor emeritus. BA, 1965, Brown; PhD, 1976, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (1977)
Beverly J. Jones, associate professor emerita. BS, 1967, Oregon College of Education; MS, 1976, PhD, 1977, Oregon. (1977)
Robert E. Keith, planning consultant emeritus. BS, 1944, Kansas State; MArch, 1950, Oregon. (1963)
David C. Povey, professor emeritus. BS, 1963, Lewis and Clark; MUP, 1969, PhD, 1972, Cornell. (1973)
Jean Stockard, professor emerita. BA, 1969, MA, 1972, PhD, 1974, Oregon. (1974)
Kenneth C. Tollenaar, director emeritus. BA, 1950, Reed; MA, 1953, Minnesota. (1966)
Edward C. Weeks, associate professor emeritus. BA, 1973, PhD, 1978, California, Irvine. (1978)
The date in parentheses at the end of each entry is the first year on the University of Oregon faculty.
Participating
Nico Larco, architecture
Robert G. Ribe, landscape architecture
Anita M. Weiss, international studies
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Science
- Planning, Public Policy and Management Minor
- Nonprofit Administration Minor
Undergraduate Studies
The undergraduate program provides an interdisciplinary liberal arts education that prepares students for work in the fields of planning, policy, and public and nonprofit administration. Through course work that integrates theory and practice, the curriculum focuses on the ways governments, nonprofit organizations, and other institutions solve public problems. Students explore the economic, social, and environmental characteristics of communities and systems of governance to determine effective ways to advance the public’s goals. The curriculum helps students develop knowledge of core issues related to planning and public policy as well as more in-depth knowledge in a chosen field of interest. Academic coursework and learning opportunities such as internships and applied courses create a hands-on educational climate that is both exciting and challenging.
Preparation
A broad liberal arts background, the development of communication and analytical skills, and college-level community volunteer and leadership experiences are excellent preparation for the PPPM major. When selecting courses to meet UO Core Education Requirements, pre-PPPM majors might consider public speaking, economics, political science, sociology, computer science, mathematics, and international studies.
Careers
The bachelor of arts (BA) or bachelor of science (BS) degree in planning, public policy and management prepares graduates for entry-level positions in government agencies and nonprofit organizations. In addition, the degree provides a broad interdisciplinary, professional background and a sound basis for graduate study in fields such as urban planning, public policy and management, business, law, journalism, and nonprofit administration.
Admission Requirements
Students must apply to the major before earning 30 credits in PPPM major courses. Students are encouraged to apply for admission once they have completed the majority of their UO Core Education Requirements, typically the term prior to achieving junior class standing (90–105 credits).Preference in admission is given to applicants who have:
- a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better
- some college-level experience—paid or volunteer—in public service
- fulfilled a majority of the university core education requirements
The school strongly encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds, regardless of race, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or ability, and recognizes that affirmative action and equal opportunity begin with the development of professionals who represent a broad array of ideas and cultures.
Prior to applying for admission to the major, students must take Introduction to Economic Analysis: Microeconomics (EC 201) and at least one of the following three courses: Introduction to Public Policy (PPPM 201), Introduction to City Planning (PPPM 205) or Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector (PPPM 280).
Students are encouraged to declare the pre-PPPM major to receive correspondence about upcoming courses and opportunities, advising services, and access to courses with reserved spaces for PPPM students.
Admission Procedures
The school accepts applications for admission to the major fall, winter, and spring terms. Admission to the major is effective the following term. The deadline to apply falls on the Monday of the fourth week. To be considered for admission, students must submit the following materials:
- Completed application form, available as a Qualtrics survey on the school website
- Brief résumé of college-level education, employment and volunteer history
- Personal statement describing interest in public service, career goals, and how the major in PPPM will help achieve those goals. This statement should be limited to two typed, double-spaced pages
- Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Core Courses 1 | ||
PPPM 201 | Introduction to Public Policy | 4 |
PPPM 205 | Introduction to City Planning | 4 |
PPPM 280 | Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector | 4 |
PPPM 413 | Quantitative Methods | 4 |
PPPM 415 | Policy and Planning Analysis 2 | 4 |
PPPM 434 | Urban Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
PPPM 494 | Practice of Leadership and Change | 4 |
Field of Interest | ||
PPPM electives 3 | 32 | |
Total Credits | 60 |
1 | PPPM majors must take core courses for letter grades and pass them with grades of C– or better. |
2 | |
3 | Up to 12 credits of Internship: [Topic] (PPPM 404) may count toward fulfilling this requirement. A maximum of 4 credits of lower-division courses may count toward fulfilling this requirement. All additional electives must be upper division. |
Bachelor of Science Degree Requirements
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Core Courses 1 | ||
PPPM 201 | Introduction to Public Policy | 4 |
PPPM 205 | Introduction to City Planning | 4 |
PPPM 280 | Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector | 4 |
PPPM 413 | Quantitative Methods | 4 |
PPPM 415 | Policy and Planning Analysis 2 | 4 |
PPPM 434 | Urban Geographic Information Systems | 4 |
PPPM 494 | Practice of Leadership and Change | 4 |
Field of Interest | ||
PPPM electives 3 | 32 | |
Total Credits | 60 |
1 | PPPM majors must take core courses for letter grades and pass them with grades of C– or better. |
2 | |
3 | Up to 12 credits of Internship: [Topic] (PPPM 404) may count toward fulfilling this requirement. A maximum of 4 credits of lower-division courses may count toward fulfilling this requirement. All additional electives must be upper division. |
Students should expect extensive writing, analysis, and collaborative projects as part of their education in PPPM. For more information, contact the PPPM undergraduate advisor.
Fields of Interest
Students are encouraged to work with an undergraduate academic advisor to identify electives in one or more fields of interest.
Fields of interest may include the following:
- arts and cultural leadership
- environment and sustainability
- equity and social justice
- global sustainability and development
- nonprofit administration
- public leadership and management
- social and health policy
- urban planning and development
Internship
Internships are optional but highly recommended for all PPPM students as a way to explore and clarify their interests and career goals, apply academic learning, develop new skills, and network with professionals. These career-building experiences help prepare students for fellowships, professional positions, or further academic stud. Students interested in the PPPM Internship Program should enroll in PPPM 412 Internship and Professional Development and meet with the PPPM Undergraduate Internship Director. More information is on the School website.
Thesis and Honors Program
Students may pursue an undergraduate thesis in PPPM if they are accepted in the honors program, or if they are enrolled in the Clark Honors College. Students may not pursue the thesis option without prior approval; interested students should contact the PPPM Undergraduate Director by the end of their sophomore year for more information. Students must have a 3.75 GPA to be considered for the honors program; a thesis is required.
Minors
Planning, Public Policy and Management Minor
The planning, public policy and management minor complements majors in the humanities or social sciences—anthropology, geography, political science, or economics, for example. It provides a professional context in which to apply the knowledge, theories, and methods of the student’s major discipline. Students pursuing the minor are introduced to a broad overview of issues in urban and regional planning, public policy and public management, and nonprofit administration. The minor enhances any student’s undergraduate education with preparation for a variety of professional occupations and graduate study.
Students may declare the minor in planning, public policy and management at any time by meeting with the PPPM undergraduate advisor. Materials for declaring the minor are available in the school office and on the website.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PPPM 201 | Introduction to Public Policy 1 | 4 |
PPPM 205 | Introduction to City Planning 1 | 4 |
PPPM 280 | Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector 1 | 4 |
PPPM 415 | Policy and Planning Analysis 1, 2 | 4 |
PPPM electives 3 | 12 | |
Total Credits | 28 |
1 | Must be taken for letter grades and passed with grades of C– or better. |
2 | |
3 | As much as 8 credits of Internship: [Topic] (PPPM 404) may be used toward fulfilling this requirement. A maximum of 4 credits of lower-division courses may count toward fulfilling this requirement. All additional electives must be upper division. |
Nonprofit Administration Minor
The School of Planning, Public Policy and Management offers a minor of special value to students interested in a career in the nonprofit sector. Through the minor, students can enhance their undergraduate education to include preparation for occupations and graduate study in nonprofit administration. The nonprofit sector is one of the fastest-growing employment sectors in the country, creating a high demand for graduates with specialized skills to work for these diverse and exciting organizations.
Students may declare the minor in nonprofit administration at any time by meeting with a PPPM undergraduate advisor. Materials for declaring the minor are available in the school office or on the website. Core courses must be taken for letter grades and passed with grades of C– or better, unless offered pass/no pass only.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PPPM 280 | Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector | 4 |
PPPM 422 | Grant Proposal Writing | 1 |
PPPM 480 | Nonprofit Management | 4 |
PPPM 481 | Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations | 4 |
PPPM 484 | Public and Nonprofit Financial Management | 4 |
Upper-division electives 1 | 8 | |
Total Credits | 25 |
1 | A list of approved courses are available in the school office. Only preapproved elective courses satisfy this requirement. See a PPPM undergraduate advisor for more information. |
Four-Year Degree Plan
The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best path for them.
Bachelor of Arts in Planning, Public Policy and Management
First Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
WR 121 | College Composition I | 4 | |
First term of first-year second-language sequence | 4 | ||
General-education arts and letters group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
Multicultural course | 4 | ||
Must Maintain 3.00 GPA for admission into PPPM major | |||
Credits | 16 | ||
Winter | |||
WR 122 | College Composition II | 4 | |
Second term of first-year second-language sequence | 4 | ||
General-education arts and letters group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
Multicultural course | 4 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Spring | |||
Third term of first-year second-language sequence | 4 | ||
General-education arts and letters group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
General-education social science group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
General-education science group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Total Credits | 48 |
Second Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
PPPM 280 | Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector | 4 | |
EC 201 | Introduction to Economic Analysis: Microeconomics | 4 | |
First term of second-year second language sequence | Gain experience in paid or volunteer public service. | 4 | |
General-education science group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Winter | |||
PPPM 201 | Introduction to Public Policy | 4 | |
Second term of second-year second-language sequence | Gain experience in paid or volunteer public service. | 4 | |
General education social science group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
General education science group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Spring | |||
PPPM 205 | Introduction to City Planning | 4 | |
Third term of second-year second-language sequence | Gain experience in paid or volunteer public service. | 4 | |
General-education science group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
General-education arts and letters group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Total Credits | 48 |
Third Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
PPPM 413 | Quantitative Methods | 4 | |
PPPM elective courses | 8 | ||
Elective course | 4 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Winter | |||
PPPM 415 | Policy and Planning Analysis | 4 | |
PPPM 434 | Urban Geographic Information Systems | 4 | |
PPPM elective course | 4 | ||
Elective course | 4 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Spring | |||
PPPM elective courses | 8 | ||
Elective courses | 8 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Total Credits | 48 |
Fourth Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
PPPM 494 | Practice of Leadership and Change | 4 | |
PPPM elective course | 4 | ||
Elective course | 4 | ||
Credits | 12 | ||
Winter | |||
PPPM elective course | 4 | ||
Elective courses | 8 | ||
Credits | 12 | ||
Spring | |||
PPPM elective course | 4 | ||
Elective courses | 8 | ||
Credits | 12 | ||
Total Credits | 36 |
Bachelor of Science in Planning, Public Policy and Management
First Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
WR 121 | College Composition I | 4 | |
Mathematics course | 4 | ||
General-education arts and letters group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
Multicultural course in international cultures | 4 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Winter | |||
WR 122 | College Composition II | 4 | |
Mathematics course | 4 | ||
General-education arts and letters group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
Multicultural course in American cultures | 4 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Spring | |||
Mathematics course | 4 | ||
General education arts and letters group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
General-education social science group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
General-education science group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Total Credits | 48 |
Second Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
PPPM 280 | Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector | 4 | |
General-education arts and letters group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
EC 201 | Introduction to Economic Analysis: Microeconomics | 4 | |
General-education science group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Winter | |||
PPPM 201 | Introduction to Public Policy | 4 | |
Elective course | Gain experience in paid or volunteer public service. | 4 | |
General-education social science group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
General-education science group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Spring | |||
PPPM 205 | Introduction to City Planning | 4 | |
Elective courses | Gain experience in paid or volunteer public service. | 8 | |
General-education science group-satisfying course | 4 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Total Credits | 48 |
Third Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
PPPM 413 | Quantitative Methods | 4 | |
PPPM elective courses | 8 | ||
Elective course | 4 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Winter | |||
PPPM 415 | Policy and Planning Analysis | 4 | |
PPPM 434 | Urban Geographic Information Systems | 4 | |
PPPM elective course | 4 | ||
Elective course | 4 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Spring | |||
PPPM elective courses | 8 | ||
Elective courses | 8 | ||
Credits | 16 | ||
Total Credits | 48 |
Fourth Year | |||
---|---|---|---|
Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
PPPM 494 | Practice of Leadership and Change | 4 | |
PPPM elective course | 4 | ||
Elective course | 4 | ||
Credits | 12 | ||
Winter | |||
PPPM elective course | 4 | ||
Elective courses | 8 | ||
Credits | 12 | ||
Spring | |||
PPPM elective course | 4 | ||
Elective courses | 8 | ||
Credits | 12 | ||
Total Credits | 36 |
- Master of Community and Regional Planning
- Master of Nonprofit Management
- Master of Public Administration
- PhD in Planning and Public Affairs
- Graduate Certificate in Arts Management
- Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management
Graduate Studies
Programs for the School's master of community and regional planning (MCRP) degree, the master of nonprofit management (MNM), and the master of public administration (MPA) require two years for completion. The MCRP degree is accredited nationally by the Planning Accreditation Board. The MPA is accredited nationally by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration. The department also offers a 24-credit graduate certificate in nonprofit management.
The interdisciplinary and eclectic fields of planning, public policy, and public and nonprofit management are concerned with systematically shaping the future. Professionals in the field are involved in analysis, preparation of recommendations, and implementation of policies and programs that affect public facilities and services and the quality of community life. These professionals assume responsibility for planning, policy, and management in community and regional development, natural resources, economic development, social sciences, land use, transportation, arts, and other fields.
Planning, public policy, and public and nonprofit management graduates have a comprehensive understanding of economic, environmental, fiscal, physical, political, and social characteristics of a community. Graduates are expected to provide leadership and to otherwise participate effectively in efforts to enhance the capacity of communities to deal creatively with change.
Financial Aid
Approximately 40 percent of the school's students receive some financial assistance (e.g., graduate employment, work-study assistance, or research stipends). Graduate employment positions (GE) are offered to approximately 20 students each year. Each GE position includes a stipend and a waiver of tuition and fees for one or more terms. Graduate students may also work on planning and public policy projects through the Institute for Policy Research and Engagement (IPRE) and Sustainable Cities Institute's Sustainable City Year Origran. Each year, IPRE supports 5-10 students through paid internship positions. Students who participate in Community Planning Workshop in their first year are eligible to apply for GE positions as CPW project managers in their second year.
Applicants to PPPM programs are strongly urged to complete and submit the FAFSA as soon as they complete their application for admission to be eligible for financial assistance including work-study and other assistance offered through the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships.
Community and Regional Planning
The master of community and regional planning (MCRP) program trains policy-oriented planners for leadership positions in planning and planning-related organizations. The field of planning is concerned with rational and sensitive guidance of community and regional change. Planners are responsible for identifying and clarifying the nature and effect of planning problems, formulating potential solutions to these problems, and assisting in the implementation of alternative policies.
To realize these objectives, the planner must draw on the skills and insights of many professions and disciplines. The planner must have a basic understanding of the cultural, economic, social, political, and physical characteristics of a community.
Entering students should be prepared to become involved in and committed to resolving important social, economic, environmental, political, and cultural problems. Courses in and outside the school provide students with an integrated understanding of planning, public policy, and public management as well as specific skills needed for a chosen professional area.
Oregon is an especially fruitful location in which to study planning. The state has an international reputation as a source of innovative approaches to addressing planning issues.
Students select a set of courses in consultation with their advisors that focus their elective work on an area of special interest. The program has exceptional strengths in sustainable cities and transportation, land use and built environment, access and equity (community development) and environmental planning. In addition, the school's strengths in nonprofit management, local government management, and budget and finance are of interest to many students in the field of planning.
The program has strong ties with other programs on campus. Students often pursue concurrent degrees in planning and environmental studies, landscape architecture, business, economics, geography, international studies, or public administration. See Concurrent Master’s Degrees in this section.
Preparation
Students are strongly encouraged to complete a thorough social science undergraduate program including courses in economics, sociology, geography, and history. Work experience, particularly if related to planning, is valuable, as are writing and public speaking skills. Courses in the natural sciences, policy sciences, environmental design, or analytic methods are helpful as background for advanced graduate work in a concentration area of interest to the student.
Students must complete either an advanced undergraduate or a graduate-level introductory course in statistics as a pre- or corequisite to Planning Analysis I (PPPM 613). No credit toward the MCRP degree is allowed for the statistics course. The requirement is waived for students with equivalent courses or work experience. Entering students are urged to satisfy this requirement before enrolling in the program.
Students may file petitions to transfer up to 15 graduate credits taken prior to admission to the planning program. Such petitions must be submitted during the first term in the program.
Juniors and seniors who anticipate applying for admission are encouraged to seek advice at the school's office.
Careers
Graduates with an MCRP degree find employment in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Graduates work in the public sector at the local, state, regional and federal levels. In the private sector, graduates are typically employed by consulting firms, private developers, and other firms requiring research and analysis skills. Graduates are also employed by such nonprofit organizations as environmental and advocacy groups, community development organizations, and research firms. Positions span a broad variety of sectors including: land use, housing, social services, parks, transportation, economic development and natural resources.
Application Procedures
Importance is placed on the student’s preference for and ability to undertake self-directed educational activity.
The admissions committee emphasizes the selection of candidates who present clear and specific reasons for choosing to pursue their graduate work in planning at the University of Oregon.
Application Materials
Interested applicants begin the application process by creating an account at https://gradweb.uoregon.edu/online_app/application/guidelines1.asp. The application process include submission of each of the following components:
- A résumé
- A statement, prepared by the applicant, explaining why admission to the UO planning program is sought and what the applicant’s expectations are from the field
- At least three letters of recommendation from people familiar with the applicant’s ability to pursue graduate-level studies in planning unofficial transcripts from all prior undergraduate and graduate institutions in your online application.
- You must have official transcripts from all colleges or universities where you received a bachelor's degree and all subsequent degrees. Find more information at https://gradschool.uoregon.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/transcripts. Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores are optional. If submitted, they are considered along with other application materials.
- Demonstration of English language proficiency. International students should visit https://gradschool.uoregon.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/english-proficiency to review the options to demonstrate proficiency.
Applications are accepted beginning September 15 for admission the following fall term.. The deadline for receipt of the application to the program is February 1. Applicants are notified of admission decisions early in March. For more information, call or email the school.
The Planning Curriculum
A total of 72 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree is required for the MCRP degree. Core courses must be taken for letter grades, unless offered pass/no pass only.
Students are expected to enroll for six terms with an average course load of 12 credits a term. During the summer, students are encouraged to engage in planning work through external and internal internships. Students who have successfully completed the two-term Community Planning Workshop are eligible to apply for paid internships with the Institute for Policy Research and Engagement. Successful applicants will continue to provide support for planning projects across the state, gaining valuable experience and professional connections. Many students also purse internships outside of PPPM (with governments, nonprofits and private planning firms). Internships are not required as part of curricular requirements for MCRP students.
Master of Community and Regional Planning Requirements
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
CORE COURSES (35 credits) | ||
PPPM 611 | Introduction to Planning Practice | 4 |
PPPM 612 | Legal Issues in Planning | 4 |
PPPM 613 | Planning Analysis I | 5 |
PPPM 616 | Planning Theory and Ethics | 4 |
PPPM 617 | Human Settlements | 4 |
PPPM 620 | Planning and Management Research Skills | 2 |
LAND USE REQUIREMENT (choose one): | 4 | |
Land Use Planning and Policy | ||
Planning for Growth Management | ||
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENT (choose one): | 4 | |
Public Participation in Diverse Communities | ||
Collaboration | ||
Experimental Course: [Topic] (Community Organizing) | ||
GIS REQUIREMENT (choose one): | 4 | |
Urban Geographic Information Systems | ||
Advanced Urban Geographic Information Systems | ||
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING (12 credits) | 12 | |
Professional Development | ||
Professional Development II | ||
Community Planning Workshop | ||
Community Planning Workshop | ||
FIELD OF INTEREST (25 credits) | 25 | |
Total Credits | 72 |
Community Planning Workshop
A distinctive feature of the planning graduate curriculum is the Community Planning Workshop, an applied research and service program that is required for first-year students. Students work on six month planning projects in small teams supervised by program faculty members and second year graduate students in planning. Clients have included federal, state, county, and local governments as well as nonprofit organizations.
Projects typically focus on issues of immediate environmental, social, and economic importance to the client group and the general public. Recent project topics include
- Citizen involvement in planning process
- Housing needs analysis
- Land-use planning
- Natural hazards mitigation
- Program evaluation
- Strategic plans for communities and regions
- Tourism and recreational development
- Watershed planning
Each year, first-year graduate students enrolled in Community Planning Workshop (PPPM 625) and Community Planning Workshop (PPPM 626) complete five to 10 planning projects. Final written reports, prepared by each student team, provide evidence of the students’ expertise and ability to conduct planning research and to prepare and present high-quality professional reports. After completing Community Planning Workshop (PPPM 625) and Community Planning Workshop (PPPM 626), selected students may continue to engage in planning research projects for compensation. The popularity of the program with students—and with government and private-sector clients—has enabled the Community Planning Workshop to provide research support for five to 15 students a year.
Federal grants and support from a variety of state agencies have helped the Community Planning Workshop become one of the most successful community planning assistance programs in the nation. Projects have received numerous state and national awards.
Nonprofit Management
The master of nonprofit management (MNM) is a professional degree designed to train students to lead nonprofit organizations. Due to the growth of the nonprofit sector over the past three decades in the US and the growth of nongovernmental organizations internationally, the sector has professionalized. People currently working in the nonprofit sector and others seeking to switch to or enter the nonprofit sector now seek master’s-level training to advance their careers, specializing specifically in the administration of nonprofit organizations.
Critical skills for nonprofit administration are common to all nonprofit fields, including handling financial management challenges and tax-exempt reporting structures, raising funds from individual donors and institutions, and managing a mission-oriented workforce.
Unique Aspects of the Program
The program melds relevant best-practice elements from the business and government sectors with the management imperatives of the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. Woven into the course work are opportunities to obtain practical experience at nonprofit organizations, so that participants in the program have significant administrative experience upon graduating. Examples include the review and consultation portion of the Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations (PPPM 581) course, the nine-month board membership required for the Nonprofit Board Governance (PPPM 687) course, and the projects student teams complete for nonprofit organizations in the Nonprofit Consultancy (PPPM 688) course.
Students may combine the master of nonprofit management with another graduate degree from within the department or from other academic units across campus. In most cases, a student is able to obtain two master’s degrees within three years. The normal time to completion for the master of nonprofit management degree is six terms (two years).
Application Procedures
To be eligible for the master of nonprofit management, an applicant must hold a bachelor’s degree. The department strongly encourages applications from people of all backgrounds, and is dedicated to fostering a diverse academic environment.
Applications for admission are due February 1 for students entering the program in the following fall. In certain cases, students may be admitted at other times of the year. The online application requires the following (please follow the detailed checklist available on the department website):
- Official transcripts from undergraduate college or university, and from graduate study, if applicable
- GRE or GMAT scores (optional)
- TOEFL or IELTS scores for nonnative English speakers
- A personal statement, two to three pages in length, describing your motivation and preparation for entering or furthering a career in the nonprofit sector, and providing a hypothetical blueprint for the next twenty years of your career
- Comprehensive employment and education résumé
- Three recommendation letters, with one or more of the letters by a faculty member
- University of Oregon online graduate admission application
Nonprofit Curriculum
After completion of the core curriculum (33 credits focusing on financial, management, and revenue-development skills), students complete an internship and 20 credits of concentration electives. Students complete a management-based capstone sequence that culminates in successful completion of a consulting project for a nonprofit organization. The two-year program takes 70 credits to complete.
Master of Nonprofit Management Requirements
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
CORE COURSES (31 credits) | ||
PPPM 522 | Grant Proposal Writing | 1 |
PPPM 581 | Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations | 4 |
PPPM 586 | Philanthropy and Grant Making | 2 |
PPPM 618 | Public Sector Theory | 4 |
PPPM 620 | Planning and Management Research Skills | 2 |
PPPM 623 | Professional Development | 1 |
PPPM 656 | Quantitative Methods | 5 |
PPPM 680 | Managing Nonprofit Organizations | 4 |
PPPM 684 | Public and Nonprofit Financial Management | 4 |
PPPM 686 | Nonprofit 48-Hour Charrette | 1 |
PPPM 687 | Nonprofit Board Governance (three-term sequence, one credit per term) | 3 |
FIELD of INTEREST ELECTIVES + NONPROFIT INTERNSHIP (23 credits) | ||
PPPM 604 | Internship: [Topic] 1 | 3 |
Plus 20 credits from courses focused on a specific field of interest 2 | 20 | |
MANAGEMENT SEQUENCE: 16 Credits | ||
PPPM 688 | Nonprofit Consultancy | 4 |
Plus 12 credits from the following (can also serve as electives): | 12 | |
Seminar: [Topic] (Strategic Communications; Public Sector Leadership; Advocacy/Lobbying Seminar) | ||
Experimental Course: [Topic] (Community Organizing; Museum Practice; Event Management) | ||
Introduction to Public Law | ||
Project Management | ||
Strategic Planning for Management | ||
Justice and Urban Revitalization | ||
Collaboration | ||
Public Participation in Diverse Communities | ||
Program Evaluation | ||
The Arts in Society | ||
Creative Placemaking | ||
Cultural Programming | ||
Performing Arts Management | ||
Volunteer Resource Management | ||
Impact Philanthropy | ||
Nonprofit Legal Issues | ||
Public Management | ||
Social Enterprise | ||
Seminar: [Topic] (Issues in Arts and Cultural Leadership) | ||
Experimental Course: [Topic] (Visual Communications) | ||
Cultural Administration | ||
Community Planning Workshop | ||
Community Planning Workshop | ||
Experimental Course: [Topic] (Nonprofit Law/Management Clinic) | ||
Managing Conflict in Organizations | ||
Negotiation | ||
New Venture Planning | ||
Opportunity Recognition | ||
Aid to Developing Countries | ||
Other course (with MNM faculty advisor approval) | ||
Total Credits | 70 |
1 | Completing a nonprofit internship (3 credits) is highly recommended for all MNM students, and required for those with fewer than two years of relevant professional experience. |
2 | Courses must be approved by an advisor and should focus on a specific field of interest such as policy, community development planning, environmental sustainability, international development, marketing and development, arts management, public advocacy, and education and social services. More options for course work may be found online. |
Accelerated Master's of Nonprofit Management
This 5-year Accelerated Master’s degree program enables students who graduate with a Major in PPPM or Minor in Nonprofit Administration to add one additional year of coursework to earn a Master’s of Nonprofit Management degree. University of Oregon is one of the few universities in the world with a master’s degree fully dedicated to professional training for executive leadership of nonprofit organizations. Graduates are in high demand, and pursue remunerative and rewarding careers.
Many of our undergraduates choose to pursue graduate work in nonprofit management, but often not at the UO since there is a significant amount of course overlap between our undergraduate and graduate offerings. This program will allow highly qualified and motivated undergraduates to stay with us for one additional year and earn a Master’s degree.
This is a 4+1 program as envisioned by much the materials and guidance for an accelerated master's program. Students will take 15 credits in master's-level coursework their senior year. They will take an additional 45 minimum graduate study credits (500+ courses) for graduate students seeking a master’s degree in their 5th year.
Public Administration
The master of public administration (MPA) is a two-year program for people interested in public service careers that address the critical social, economic, and environmental issues of our time. The curriculum is designed to provide a combination of academic theory, analytic skills, and real-world applications so that students become effective and creative leaders in public service.
A central focus of the program is to prepare students to become evidence-based policymakers, analysts, and managers. Evidence-based policy making—the idea that the formulation of policy and its implementation should be based on evidence of effectiveness—has gained widespread acceptance in the policy community, both in the United States and abroad, and requires a closer connection between research and practice. It requires that researchers ask policy-relevant questions and conduct meaningful and timely analyses that support the decision-making process; conversely, it requires that policymakers, managers, and leaders think critically about research and integrate appropriate evidence in the implementation and formulation of policy and practice.
Recent graduates work as advisors, policy analysts, and strategic planners in all levels of government, in Oregon, throughout the US, and around the globe. Their work addresses the full range of social issues, from improving health-care access, increasing government efficiency, and responsiveness to creating new governmental structures in developing democracies. Graduates also work in a broad range of nonprofit organizations, for instance, as executive staff members in social service, arts, and environmental organizations.
The State of Oregon is an exciting place to study public administration. As a "laboratory of democracy," it has a long and distinguished record of policy innovation. Most recently, Oregon has been on the forefront of advances in land-use, health-care, and environmental policy.
Unique Aspects of the Program
The size of the program means that master's students at the University of Oregon receive a tremendous amount of individual attention, particularly in the second year when they conduct a team-based policy research project. The close, collegial working relationships between students and instructors means that faculty members are often able to help students attain relevant alumni contacts, internships, and job opportunities.
Since the department also houses a master’s degree program in community and regional planning (MCRP), master of public administration students benefit from additional faculty and planning-related course offerings. In particular, students are invited in their first year to enroll in a two-term, field-based course—Community Planning Workshop (PPPM 625)—in which students consult on a topical issue for a local government or nonprofit agency in Oregon.
Students interested in a career in nonprofits can earn a certificate in nonprofit management concurrently with their master of public administration. The certificate program offers innovative courses including one on board governance, in which students serve on a nonprofit board, and another on philanthropy, in which students award a $15,000 grant to a local agency. As an alternate, students may complete both the MPA and MNM degrees concurrently. See a member of the department staff for application procedures for concurrent programs.
Oregon is known for its progressive policy making, from the Bottle Bill, to vote-by-mail, to current efforts in health-care reform. Students find policymakers and public managers unusually accessible for consultation in Oregon.
The program prepares participants to become effective, creative leaders in the public and nonprofit sectors. The curriculum provides a combination of substantive knowledge, analytic skills, and professional experience that primes students for careers as evidence-based policymakers, analysts, or managers.
Application Procedures
To be eligible for the graduate program in public administration, an applicant must hold a bachelor’s degree.
Submit the following documents, which must be received by February 1:
- Graduate Admission Application, available online—follow the instructions on the department’s website
- Comprehensive employment and education résumé
- A two-page, typed statement of purpose that clearly describes the applicant’s reasons for pursuing graduate study in the program at Oregon, his or her professional goals and objectives, and professional work experience
- Transcripts of grades in courses taken for the bachelor’s degree and of any other college-level work. They should be sent directly by the institution that awarded the course credits
- Three letters of recommendation
- The Graduate Record Examination is optional for admission
- Applicants whose native language is not English must supply results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination. The minimum acceptable TOEFL score for admission is 575 (paper-based test) or 88 (Internet-based test); the minimum acceptable IELTS exam score is 7.0. The results of the examination should be sent to the Office of Admissions, 1217 University of Oregon, Eugene OR 97403-1217
Students are selected for the program based on a combination of their undergraduate academic performance, intellectual aptitude, commitment to public service, and written statement. The deadline for receipt of fall term admission is February 1. Applications received after the deadline will be considered on a rolling basis as space allows.
The department strongly encourages applications from people of all backgrounds, and is dedicated to fostering a diverse academic environment. This, we believe, will help prepare better future public leaders.
Master of Public Administration Requirements
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
CORE COURSES (33 credits) 1 | ||
PPPM 618 | Public Sector Theory | 4 |
PPPM 628 | Public Sector Economics | 4 |
PPPM 629 | Public Budget Administration | 4 |
PPPM 633 | Public Management | 4 |
PPPM 636 | Public Policy Analysis | 4 |
PPPM 656 | Quantitative Methods | 5 |
PPPM 657 | Research Methods in Public Policy and Management | 4 |
PPPM 684 | Public and Nonprofit Financial Management | 4 |
FIELD OF INTEREST (28 credits minimum) | ||
plus 24 credits from elective courses focused on a specific field of interest 2 | 24 | |
PPPM 623 | Professional Development | 1 |
PPPM 604 | Internship: [Topic] 3 | 3 |
APPLIED RESEARCH PROJECT (11 credits) | ||
PPPM 637 | MPA Policy Analysis Project | 1 |
PPPM 638 | MPA Capstone Applied Research Project I | 5 |
PPPM 639 | MPA Capstone Applied Research Project II | 5 |
Total Credits | 72 |
1 | Must be taken for letter grades. |
2 | Interest areas may include: policy, public management, nonprofit management, planning, environmental policy, or other field of interest. A list of potential courses for each field of interest is available on the department’s website. Students who would like to develop their own field of interest are able to do so in consultation with a faculty advisor. Recent graduates have created customized fields of interest in food sufficiency, health policy, and international development. |
3 | Completing an internship (3 credits) is highly recommended for all MPA students, and required for those with fewer than two years of relevant professional experience. |
The master of public administration (MPA) program provides students with two key opportunities to synthesize classroom learning and apply their research skills to current policy and management issues. At the start of the second year, students engage in a policy project intended to simulate the real-world environment where analysts and managers are given short time frames to research a topic that they know little or nothing about. Over forty-eight hours, students read relevant policy and research documents, write a memo detailing the evidence base and key issues, and give an oral presentation. The project takes place the week before fall courses begin, and incoming first-year students have the opportunity to view the presentations as part of their orientation to the program. This component of the curriculum is a signature event and rite of passage each fall.
Students also enroll in a two-term project sequence that serves as the synthesizing capstone of the curriculum. Over winter and spring terms of the second year of study, students work on real-world or simulated real-world projects that require conducting in-depth needs assessments, evaluations, cost-benefit analyses, or other applied research. A faculty member works closely with student groups on these projects over the two terms. Past projects have included a survey for a state commission to gauge attitudes among key shareholders on potential policy change, an analysis of administrative data on the impact of a post-policy implementation on Oregonians, and an examination of three potential communities for a nonprofit’s expansion.
Graduate Certificate in Arts Management
The 24-credit graduate certificate in arts management is available to graduate students enrolled in the School of Planning, Public Policy and Management as well as other master’s and doctoral students across campus, and as a standalone graduate certificate program. Arts management typically refers to the business and programmatic management of arts organizations in the nonprofit or public sectors, including orchestras, opera companies, presenting organizations, museums, theaters, dance companies, arts councils, and service organizations. Arts managers may also be found in for-profit organizations in such areas as artist management, recording, art galleries, film, and television.
The program of study is designed to develop students’ knowledge and competencies in cultural policy, cultural planning, and arts management in an individualized program of study. Additional credits are drawn from other specialized course offerings related to the student’s area of interest in arts management, selected from courses offered through the PPPM school as well as from other academic units on campus. The graduate certificate in arts management is suitable for students from a range of fields, including art history, art, anthropology, music, nonprofit management, planning, public policy, theater arts, dance, and folklore.
Of the 24 credits total required for the program, 16 are from four required core courses:
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
PPPM 570 | The Arts in Society | 4 |
PPPM 571 | Cultural Policy | 4 |
PPPM 572 | Creative Placemaking | 4 |
PPPM 573 | Cultural Programming | 4 |
Electives 1 | ||
Select 8 credits of course work from the following: | 8 | |
Experimental Course: [Topic] (Event Management) | ||
Experimental Course: [Topic] (Museum Education) | ||
Experimental Course: [Topic] (Museum Practice) | ||
The Arts in Society | ||
Performing Arts Management | ||
Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations |
1 | This is a list of sample courses. With program director approval, elective credits for the certificate may also be taken in other departments. |
Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management
The graduate certificate in nonprofit management prepares students for leadership in the nonprofit sector. The focused curriculum develops specific skills that are critical for success in managing nonprofit organizations.
Phenomenal growth in assets and activities of the nonprofit sector over the past two decades have led to career opportunities in the many areas of the nonprofit sector, including cultural and arts organizations, education, health care, human services, international development, and advocacy organizations. Nonprofit enterprise has broadened with developing sources of funding, and the complexities of its management require professional skills specific to the nonprofit sector.
Requirements
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Core Courses | ||
PPPM 522 | Grant Proposal Writing | 1 |
PPPM 581 | Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations | 4 |
PPPM 680 | Managing Nonprofit Organizations | 4 |
PPPM 681 | Nonprofit Financial Management | 4 |
Internship and Electives 1 | ||
Select three or more credits of elective course work from the following: | 5 | |
Project Management | ||
Strategic Planning for Management | ||
Program Evaluation | ||
Volunteer Resource Management | ||
Philanthropy and Grant Making | ||
Impact Philanthropy | ||
Nonprofit Legal Issues | ||
Experimental Course: [Topic] | ||
Cultural Administration | ||
Social Enterprise | ||
Nonprofit 48-Hour Charrette | ||
Nonprofit Board Governance | ||
Nonprofit Consultancy | ||
PPPM 604 | Internship: [Topic] 2 | 6 |
Total Credits | 24 |
1 | Elective credits may be taken in other departments. Information about the many nonprofit elective courses or waiver of required courses is available from the program director. |
2 | Students wishing to complete the certificate must complete an internship and 5 elective credits or take 11 credits of nonprofit-relevant elective courses. Students who have no significant work experience in the nonprofit sector are strongly recommended to complete an internship by enrolling in 6 credits of Internship: [Topic] (PPPM 604). |
Core courses must be taken for letter grades unless offered P/N only.
Admission
Graduate students from any UO department may apply for admission and add the certificate to their degree programs. Students who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university may apply to complete the certificate as a standalone program. Applications are reviewed for admission four times a year. Complete information about admission to the program is available on the nonprofit management certificate section of the department’s website.
Concurrent Master’s Degrees
Students may participate in a concurrent master’s degree program. The fields of planning, public policy administration, and nonprofit management draw on knowledge and expertise from other areas such as business, law, economics, political science, environmental studies, geography, landscape architecture, and architecture. Through the concurrent degree program, students enroll in two master’s programs simultaneously in order to complete requirements for both degrees with three years of course work. Students interested in this option should seek program advice from a member of the faculty. Students must be admitted to both programs and make special arrangements with both program directors.
PhD in Planning and Public Affairs
The UO PhD program in Planning and Public Affairs trains students to conduct rigorous, original research to inform scholarship, policy, and practice. Students must have a Masters degree in a related field to be admitted to the program;. Key aspects of our program include:
• Innovative: Focused around research groups working to address key societal issues with a high potential for academic employment
• Interdisciplinary: Flexible structure allows students to access a range of disciplines across our School and the University
• Engaged: Draws upon our international reputation of engaged teaching and scholarship in collaboration with agencies, cities, and communities
• Inclusive: Builds on our dedication to equity and inclusion and our diverse faculty
Each admitted student must choose a primary disciplinary track, which can be fulfilled with a previous graduate degree or coursework at Oregon.
1.Community and regional planning
2. Nonprofit management
3. Public administration and public policy
The program focuses on three, cutting-edge research areas that are strengths among the PPPM faculty. Students work with advisors based in these research groups, and may also engage with other faculty across campus:
• Sustainable Cities and Transportation: Analyzing the emerging trends related to technology and cities such as: land use, urban form, street design, new mobility, active transport, micromobility, public policy, and public budgeting/finance.
• Access and Equity: Issues of access, equity, social justice, representation, and power for under-represented and under-served communities. This work crosses planning, community engagement, community development, urban design, non-profit management, and public policy disciplines
• Nonprofit, Philanthropic and Social Enterprise: Innovative trends related to management, arts and cultural leadership, philanthropy and social enterprise. This work focuses in particular on issues such as social entrepreneurship, high impact philanthropy and the economics of nonprofit organizations
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Methods Plan 1 | 16 | |
Disciplinary Track and Concentration 2 | 36 | |
Career Development 3 | 3 | |
Seminar: [Topic] | ||
Internship: [Topic] | ||
Dissertation | 18 | |
Total Credits | 73 |
1 | Approved by the student's Pre-Dissertation Advisory Committee based on field of study. |
2 | Disciplinary Track coursework must be approved by the student's Pre-Dissertation Advisory Committee. Concentration coursework is determined by the student in consultation with their advisor. |
3 | Academic Career Development: may also substitute PS 602/608 teaching and professionalization seminars (or equivalent class with approval) |
Institute for Policy Research and Engagement
The Institute for Policy Research and Engagement (formerly the Community Service Center) at the University of Oregon is an interdisciplinary institute that assists Oregon communities by providing planning and technical assistance to help solve local issues and improve the quality of life for Oregon residents. The role of the institute is to link the skills, expertise, and innovation of higher education with the economic development and environmental needs of communities and regions in the state, thereby providing service to Oregon and learning opportunities to the students involved.
Through the institute's programs, students gain important service and professional experience by helping to solve community and regional problems in addition to establishing relationships and strengthening partnerships between faculty members and students, community representatives, state and local agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
The institute oversees several programs:
· Community Planning Workshop
· Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps Program
· Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience
· Economic Development Administration University Center
The Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) AmeriCorps Program
The RARE AmeriCorps Program offers a unique opportunity to connect the community and economic development needs of rural Oregon communities with the personal and professional development aspirations of the next generation. Using a tried-and-true model for engagement, we provide a topnotch service-learning experience while delivering resources, expertise, and critical capacity to rural Oregon. Our goal is to ensure a mutually beneficial experience for our RARE AmeriCorps members and rural communities we serve.
RARE AmeriCorps members serve all over the state, from coast to valley to mountain towns to the high desert. A portion of our community partners change each year, helping to ensure we meet the most pressing needs of rural Oregon. Regardless of where they are placed, RARE AmeriCorps members gain hands-on experience in systems thinking, project management and planning, develop technical skills, and build a strong statewide network of professionals, all while creating meaningful change in rural Oregon. Members assist with various levels of planning and implementation of critical projects across Oregon on a wide range of topics, including community and economic development, food systems, and environmental and sustainability planning.
The Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience (OPDR)
The partnership promotes risk reduction and mitigation activities around the state through local plan development support, research and technical resource development, training, and capacity building, offering service-learning opportunities to graduate students in planning, policy, environmental studies, and other university programs. The partnership coordinates three program areas: the Oregon Predisaster Mitigation Program; the Disaster-Resilient University Program, including the UO Integrated Emergency Management Program; and the Long-Term Postdisaster Recovery Planning initiative.
Courses

PPPM 101. Advocacy and Social Change. 4 Credits.
Explorations of how policy change occurs, how people and organizations create social and policy change, and how individuals can make a difference in their communities.

PPPM 199. Special Studies: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.

PPPM 201. Introduction to Public Policy. 4 Credits.
Overview of professional public service and the planning and management of public issues. Focuses on the goals of public services within their economic, social, and political contexts.

PPPM 202. Healthy Communities. 4 Credits.
Historical relationships of public policy, planning, and public health; how public policies can promote health; relationship of planning and policies to inequalities in health outcomes.

PPPM 205. Introduction to City Planning. 4 Credits.
Introduction to planning, using urban issues as lenses to explore transportation, housing, environment, and social equity as critical elements shaping where and how people live.

PPPM 250. Arts and Human Values. 4 Credits.
Addresses fundamental aesthetic theory and practice questions resulting from viewing art as a powerful communicator of social and cultural values. Values, rights, and responsibilities of the contemporary visual environment. Institutional structures advancing the arts and culture in society will be examined.

PPPM 280. Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector. 4 Credits.
Overview of the nonprofit sector includes its origin, growth, oversight, and varied elements. Examines theory and research into the effectiveness of nonprofit strategies and structures.

PPPM 321. Inclusive Urbanism. 4 Credits.
Investigates the relationship between social-economic inclusion and the physical form of cities.

PPPM 325. Community Leadership and Change. 4 Credits.
Explores sustainable change at the community level by examining local systems and institutions: transportation, social influences, environment, housing, and the economy.

PPPM 331. Environmental Management. 4 Credits.
Introduction to environmental management. Focuses on solutions to problems in managing population, pollution, and resources.

PPPM 340. Climate-Change Policy. 4 Credits.
Overview of climate-change policy; topics include cap and trade, carbon tax, fuel efficiency standards, biofuel standards, and renewable portfolio standards.

PPPM 360. International Public Policy. 4 Credits.
Introduces international dimensions of public policy making by comparing national systems and institutions of governance, public policy making processes, and public policy decisions. Investigates concepts, theories, and approaches to compare public policies in economic, welfare, educational, health, and environmental sectors.

PPPM 370. Global Sustainable Development and Policy. 4 Credits.
Sustainable Development seeks to reconcile the economic, social, and environmental problems we face in a world with constrained resources. To have a broader perspective of what sustainability means, we examine problems through an interdisciplinary lens and investigate how these issues form and possible policy solutions.

PPPM 399. Special Studies: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.

PPPM 401. Research: [Topic]. 1-21 Credits.
Repeatable.

PPPM 403. Thesis. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.

PPPM 404. Internship: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.
Supervised work experience that offers students opportunities to explore and clarify career goals, apply academic learning, enhance and learn new skills, gain experience, and network with professionals. Repeatable.
Prereq: PPPM 412.

PPPM 405. Special Problems: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.

PPPM 406. Practicum: [Topic]. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.

PPPM 407. Seminar: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.

PPPM 408. Workshop: [Topic]. 1-21 Credits.
Repeatable.

PPPM 409. Terminal Project. 1-12 Credits.
Repeatable.

PPPM 410. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable. Trial courses are taught under these numbers. See the online class schedule for current titles.

PPPM 410L. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 4 Credits.
Repeatable. Trial courses are taught under these numbers. See the online class schedule for current titles.

PPPM 412. Internship and Professional Development. 2 Credits.
Introduction to department’s internship program and career development. Overview of professionalism and effective communication, resume and cover letter writing, and interviewing and networking skills.

PPPM 413. Quantitative Methods. 4 Credits.
Introduction to the use of quantitative techniques to answer planning, public policy and management related questions.

PPPM 415. Policy and Planning Analysis. 4 Credits.
Applied problem-solving in the public policy and planning process. Examines the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of policy and planning analysis.
Prereq: EC 201.

PPPM 418. Introduction to Public Law. 4 Credits.
Administrative law, including introduction to legal research, for public administrators. Administrative procedures, implementation of policy through administrative law, judicial review, and practical applications in public agencies.

PPPM 422. Grant Proposal Writing. 1 Credit.
Introduction to the process of preparing grant applications and material for funded research.

PPPM 425. Project Management. 4 Credits.
Application of specific techniques that lead to projects being completed on time, within budget, and with appropriate quality.

PPPM 426. Strategic Planning for Management. 4 Credits.
Process of strategic planning for communities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

PPPM 432. Justice and Urban Revitalization. 4 Credits.
Examines the political, economic, institutional and social forces that affect the long-term vitality of cities and communities and how those factors relate to community redevelopment. Emphasis is given on how to revitalize low-income multicultural communities.

PPPM 434. Urban Geographic Information Systems. 4 Credits.
Introduction to geographic information systems in areas of environmental, demographic, suitability, and transportation-related research.

PPPM 438. Transportation Issues in Planning: [Topic]. 4 Credits.
Introduction to the social implications of various transportation-related policies and practices. Repeatable for a maximum of 8 credits.

PPPM 440. Land-Use Planning and Policy. 4 Credits.
Land use planning processes and policy tools that US governments employ to manage and control land development, especially those considered to support a community's efforts to pursue sustainable urbanization.

PPPM 442. Sustainable Urban Development. 4 Credits.
Introduces issues revolving around cities as the nexus for environmental challenges, including land-use planning, transportation planning, community and neighborhood design, and green buildings.

PPPM 443. Natural Resource Policy. 4 Credits.
Aspects of population and resource systems. Poses questions about population trends, policy, and optimum size; analyzes methods for determining resource availability and flows.

PPPM 444. Environmental Policy. 4 Credits.
Overview of policies related to the environment: examines the design and effectiveness of specific policies.

PPPM 445. Green Cities. 4 Credits.
Examines the history and future of the interface between urban growth and environmental concerns, and the technological, social, and political forces that continue to shape it.

PPPM 446. Socioeconomic Development Planning. 4 Credits.
Planning for responsible economic and social development. Policy problems and issues in providing a stable economic base and social and economic well-being while avoiding environmental degradation.

PPPM 448. Collaboration. 4 Credits.
Explores theory and practice of collaboration in public and nonprofit settings, including the role of organizations, agencies, and the public. Focuses in particular on developing and practicing collaboration skills and strategies.

PPPM 452. Public Participation in Diverse Communities. 4 Credits.
Review of community engagement strategies and tools for encouraging public participation in low income and ethnically diverse communities.
Prereq: PPPM 432.

PPPM 465. Program Evaluation. 4 Credits.
Introduction to the design and implementation of program evaluations.

PPPM 470. The Arts in Society. 4 Credits.
Course examines the arts as they function in society. Anthropological, philosophical, sociological, and art educational orientations to art are examined. Implications for arts and cultural management are addressed.

PPPM 471. Cultural Policy. 4 Credits.
Cultural Policy investigates political choice processes, governmental institutions, and the public policy cycle that shape the arts and culture sector.

PPPM 472. Creative Placemaking. 4 Credits.
This course provides an overview of the relationship between the arts and community development.

PPPM 473. Cultural Programming. 4 Credits.
Explore theory and practice related to arts and cultural programming in the public sector. Emphasis on inclusive and equitable cultural programming.

PPPM 475. Performing Arts Management. 4 Credits.
This course develops management skills for professional nonprofit performing arts organizations, focusing on executive leadership, strategic planning, programming, developing audiences, and venue management.

PPPM 480. Nonprofit Management. 4 Credits.
How to manage nonprofit organizations for superior performance in a humane, responsive, and responsible manner. Distinctive characteristics of nonprofit organizations.
Prereq: PPPM 280.

PPPM 481. Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations. 4 Credits.
Introduction to fundraising for nonprofit organizations. Annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, and campaigns.

PPPM 483. Volunteer Resource Management. 2 Credits.
This course provides an overview of the role of volunteers in community organizations and serves as a comprehensive introduction to effective practices in volunteer resource management.

PPPM 484. Public and Nonprofit Financial Management. 4 Credits.
Introduction to financial management for public agencies and nonprofit organizations. Topics include budget processes, financial statements, financial resource management (taxes, donations, grants), expenditure systems, and capital project analysis.

PPPM 486. Philanthropy and Grant Making. 2 Credits.
History, economics, and practice of philanthropy and grant making in the United States. Students study philanthropy from a multidisciplinary perspective and finish the quarter by awarding a $15,000 grant to a nonprofit organization of their choice.

PPPM 487. Impact Philanthropy. 4 Credits.
Introduction to impact philanthropy and related topics. Evidence-based philanthropy, venture philanthropy, impact investing, social impact bonds, impact measurement, and policy environment.

PPPM 488. Nonprofit Legal Issues. 4 Credits.
This course introduces legal issues for administration of nonprofit organizations. Topics include formation and types of organizations, board of directors duties, regulation of nonprofits, risk management, employee and volunteer law, lobbying, charitable solicitation, and laws on discrimination and accommodation.

PPPM 494. Practice of Leadership and Change. 4 Credits.
Examines the principles and practices of leadership and change in communities and organizations through discussions with community leaders and personal reflection.
Prereq: major status, senior standing preferred.

PPPM 495. Advanced Urban Geographic Information Systems. 4 Credits.
Acquiring advanced skills of using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for community mapping and spatial analysis.
Prereq: PPPM 434 or other intro GIS class.

PPPM 503. Thesis. 1-16 Credits.
Repeatable.

PPPM 507. Seminar: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.

PPPM 508. Workshop: [Topic]. 1-21 Credits.
Repeatable.

PPPM 510. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable. Trial courses are taught under these numbers. See the online class schedule for current titles.

PPPM 518. Introduction to Public Law. 4 Credits.
Administrative law, including introduction to legal research, for public administrators. Administrative procedures, implementation of policy through administrative law, judicial review, and practical applications in public agencies.

PPPM 522. Grant Proposal Writing. 1 Credit.
Introduction to the process of preparing grant applications and material for funded research.

PPPM 525. Project Management. 4 Credits.
Application of specific techniques that lead to projects being completed on time, within budget, and with appropriate quality.

PPPM 526. Strategic Planning for Management. 4 Credits.
Process of strategic planning for communities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

PPPM 532. Justice and Urban Revitalization. 4 Credits.
Examines the political, economic, institutional and social forces that affect the long-term vitality of cities and communities and how those factors relate to community redevelopment. Emphasis is given on how to revitalize low-income multicultural communities.

PPPM 534. Urban Geographic Information Systems. 4 Credits.
Introduction to geographic information systems in areas of environmental, demographic, suitability, and transportation-related research.

PPPM 538. Transportation Issues in Planning: [Topic]. 4 Credits.
Introduction to the social implications of various transportation-related policies and practices. Repeatable for a maximum of 8 credits.

PPPM 542. Sustainable Urban Development. 4 Credits.
Introduces issues evolving around cities as the nexus for environmental challenges, including land-use planning, transportation planning, community and neighborhood design, and green buildings.

PPPM 543. Natural Resource Policy. 4 Credits.
Aspects of population and resource systems. Poses questions about population trends, policy, and optimum size; analyzes methods for determining resource availability and flows.

PPPM 544. Environmental Policy. 4 Credits.
Overview of policies related to the environment: examines the design and effectiveness of specific policies.

PPPM 546. Socioeconomic Development Planning. 4 Credits.
Planning for responsible economic and social development. Policy problems and issues in providing a stable economic base and social and economic well-being while avoiding environmental degradation.

PPPM 548. Collaboration. 4 Credits.
Explores theory and practice of collaboration in public and nonprofit settings, including the role of organizations, agencies, and the public. Focuses in particular on developing and practicing collaboration skills and strategies.

PPPM 552. Public Participation in Diverse Communities. 4 Credits.
Review of community engagement strategies and tools for encouraging public participation in low income and ethnically diverse communities.
Prereq: PPPM 532.

PPPM 560. Health Policy. 4 Credits.
Introduction to the key health policy issues of access, cost, quality, and racial and ethnic disparities.

PPPM 565. Program Evaluation. 4 Credits.
Introduction to the design and implementation of program evaluations.

PPPM 570. The Arts in Society. 4 Credits.
Course examines the arts as they function in society. Anthropological, philosophical, sociological, and art educational orientations to art are examined. Implications for arts and cultural management are addressed.

PPPM 571. Cultural Policy. 4 Credits.
Cultural Policy investigates political choice processes, governmental institutions, and the public policy cycle that shape the arts and culture sector.

PPPM 572. Creative Placemaking. 4 Credits.
This course provides an overview of the relationship between the arts and community development.

PPPM 573. Cultural Programming. 4 Credits.
Explore theory and practice related to arts and cultural programming in the public sector. Emphasis on inclusive and equitable cultural programming.

PPPM 575. Performing Arts Management. 4 Credits.
This course develops management skills for professional nonprofit performing arts organizations, focusing on executive leadership, strategic planning, programming, developing audiences, and venue management.

PPPM 581. Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations. 4 Credits.
Introduction to fundraising for nonprofit organizations. Annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, and campaigns.

PPPM 583. Volunteer Resource Management. 2 Credits.
This course provides an overview of the role of volunteers in community organizations and serves as a comprehensive introduction to effective practices in volunteer resource management.

PPPM 586. Philanthropy and Grant Making. 2 Credits.
History, economics, and practice of philanthropy and grant making in the United States. Students study philanthropy from a multidisciplinary perspective and finish the quarter by awarding a $15,000 grant to a nonprofit organization of their choice.

PPPM 587. Impact Philanthropy. 4 Credits.
Introduction to impact philanthropy and related topics. Evidence-based philanthropy, venture philanthropy, impact investing, social impact bonds, impact measurement, and policy environment.

PPPM 588. Nonprofit Legal Issues. 4 Credits.
This course introduces legal issues for administration of nonprofit organizations. Topics include formation and types of organizations, board of directors duties, regulation of nonprofits, risk management, employee and volunteer law, lobbying, charitable solicitation, and laws on discrimination and accommodation.

PPPM 595. Advanced Urban Geographic Information Systems. 4 Credits.
Acquiring advanced skills of using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for community mapping and spatial analysis.
Prereq: PPPM 434 or other intro GIS class

PPPM 601. Research: [Topic]. 1-16 Credits.
Repeatable.

PPPM 602. Supervised College Teaching. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.

PPPM 604. Internship: [Topic]. 1-10 Credits.
Supervised work experience that offers students opportunities to explore and clarify career goals, apply academic learning, enhance and learn new skills, gain experience, and network with professionals. Repeatable.

PPPM 605. Special Problems: [Topic]. 1-16 Credits.
Repeatable.

PPPM 606. Practicum: [Topic]. 1-16 Credits.
Repeatable.

PPPM 607. Seminar: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.

PPPM 608. Workshop: [Topic]. 1-16 Credits.
Repeatable. A recent topic is Community Planning.

PPPM 609. Terminal Project. 1-16 Credits.
Repeatable.

PPPM 610. Experimental Course: [Topic]. 1-5 Credits.
Repeatable.

PPPM 611. Introduction to Planning Practice. 4 Credits.
Explores the concepts and functions of the planning process as they relate to the social, economic, political, and environmental aspects of communities and regions.

PPPM 612. Legal Issues in Planning. 4 Credits.
Federal and state legal relationships, the role of the courts in reviewing public sector decision-making, sources of the law, issues in land-use regulation, and basic legal research skills.

PPPM 613. Planning Analysis I. 5 Credits.
Data sources and methods of data collection including surveys; descriptive and multivariate analysis; computer applications; selected analytic models, population projections, cost-benefit analysis.

PPPM 616. Planning Theory and Ethics. 4 Credits.
Logic of the planning process; the relationship of planning to the political process and to rational decision making in governance.

PPPM 617. Human Settlements. 4 Credits.
Historical development of cities and the ways in which city and regional contexts influence economic, social, and political processes.

PPPM 618. Public Sector Theory. 4 Credits.
Overview of the core concepts, theories, and practices that provide the foundation for the field of public policy and management.

PPPM 620. Planning and Management Research Skills. 2 Credits.
Surveys research skills in planning and public administration. Applies research skills to applied projects in Community Planning Workshop and Nonprofit Consultancy.

PPPM 623. Professional Development. 1 Credit.
Articulating preliminary career goals and mapping the necessary steps to accomplish these goals.

PPPM 625. Community Planning Workshop. 5 Credits.
First in a two-term sequence of planning and problem-solving courses. Students working in teams conduct research and develop solutions to planning problems for a client community. Sequence with PPPM 626.

PPPM 626. Community Planning Workshop. 5 Credits.
Last in a two-term sequence of planning and problem-solving courses. Students working in teams conduct research and develop solutions to planning problems for a client community. Sequence with PPPM 625.
Prereq: PPPM 625.

PPPM 628. Public Sector Economics. 4 Credits.
Reasons for governmental intervention and analysis of revenue sources available to governments. Includes discussion of various taxes, intergovernmental transfer policies, and user fees.

PPPM 629. Public Budget Administration. 4 Credits.
Resource allocation through the budget process. Analysis of budget systems, service costing, and citizen participation in the budget process.

PPPM 633. Public Management. 4 Credits.
Theory and practice of public service managment; leadership and organizational capacity building, including key management activities for developing effective public service organizations.

PPPM 636. Public Policy Analysis. 4 Credits.
Techniques in the policymaking process. Determining the impact of policies, comparing alternatives, determining the likelihood that a policy will be adopted and effectively implemented.
Prereq: PPPM 628 or equivalent.

PPPM 637. MPA Policy Analysis Project. 1 Credit.
Students team to produce a professionally oriented policy analysis memorandum and presentation on an assigned topic in a 48-hour period.
Prereq: PPPM 636.

PPPM 638. MPA Capstone Applied Research Project I. 5 Credits.
Team prepare applied research projects for client organizations using analytical and managerial skills to solve problems in public policy analysis or public management. Sequence with PPPM 639.
Prereq: PPPM 618, 629, 633, 636, 657, 684.

PPPM 639. MPA Capstone Applied Research Project II. 5 Credits.
Teams prepare applied research projects for client organizations using analytical and management skills to solve problems in public policy analysis or public management. Sequence with PPPM 638.
Prereq: PPPM 638.

PPPM 640. Land Use Planning and Policy. 4 Credits.
Study spatial planning tools and processes that control and manage land developments in order to enhance the well-being of human societies and natural systems.

PPPM 646. Planning for Growth Management. 4 Credits.
Examines motivations for managing growth. Surveys regulatory and incentive-based approaches to growth management at the state, regional, and local level.

PPPM 656. Quantitative Methods. 5 Credits.
Develops skills in quantitative analysis. Emphasizes selecting appropriate analysis procedures and properly interpreting and reporting results.

PPPM 657. Research Methods in Public Policy and Management. 4 Credits.
Survey of research methods used in the analysis of public policy issues. Emphasis is on determining the appropriate methodology for a given research question.
Prereq: PPPM 656.

PPPM 663. Professional Development II. 1 Credit.
Pre-professional students practice the habits of professionals in the field. Build skills in metacognition and reflection, inclusion and diversity, and personal investment in life long learning and inquiry. Sequence with PPPM 623. Repeatable once for maximum of 2 credits.

PPPM 670. Cultural Administration. 4 Credits.
Course examines the major functions and issues in the administration of the arts and culture Emphasis is place on nonprofit organizations.

PPPM 680. Managing Nonprofit Organizations. 4 Credits.
Principles of effective management of nonprofit organizations. Governance, strategy, legal structure and standards, and volunteer administration.

PPPM 681. Nonprofit Financial Management. 4 Credits.
Fundamentals of managing nonprofit revenues and expenses, budgeting, fund stewardship, endowment investment and payout, event and service pricing, capital project decision making, and internal control procedures.

PPPM 684. Public and Nonprofit Financial Management. 4 Credits.
Financial management overview for public agencies and nonprofits, including budget processes, financial statements, resource management, expenditure systems, capital project analysis, and internal management control processes.

PPPM 685. Social Enterprise. 4 Credits.
Introduction to social enterprises and their ecosystem. Earned revenue and social business models, social performance management, balancing financial and social objectives, funding landscape, policy environment, and taking social enterprises to scale.

PPPM 686. Nonprofit 48-Hour Charrette. 1 Credit.
Requires students to complete a management memo on an assigned topic. Work is completed within a 48-hour period, mimicking the high-stakes, deadline-intensive schedule characterizing professional work in the nonprofit sector.

PPPM 687. Nonprofit Board Governance. 1 Credit.
Students serve on governing boards of nonprofit organizations for one year: fall, winter, and spring terms. Repeatable twice for a maximum of 3 credits.

PPPM 688. Nonprofit Consultancy. 4 Credits.
Student teams complete projects for nonprofit organizations, assessing organizational needs and capacity, evaluating alternative strategies, and recommending solutions for organizational success.