Course Syllabus

 Course Description

SPEA-V 439 – This course familiarizes students with the tools required to objectively analyze the potential impacts of various government policies. It covers important policies at the federal, state and local levels of government including income, sales taxes and property taxes, and mandatory and discretionary spending. Debt administration is also included.

 Learning Outcomes 

• By the end of the course, the student should be able to:

  1. Understand why current expenditures such as healthcare, social security, and education are causing problems in government
     finance with regards to balanced budgets.
  2. Engage in educated discussions about the biggest challenges to government finance.
  3. Understand the current U.S. tax system and the various taxes.
  4. Understand the role of politics in governance and the challenges it presents in trying to govern effectively and efficiently.
  5. Be able to research and defend a possible reform to government finance.

 Course Materials

Text: The Politics of Public Budgeting; Getting and Spending, Borrowing and Balancing, 9^th Edition.  Irene S Rubin