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Financial Management and Budgeting

Leading a team, task force, or organization requires a confident understanding of financial management and budgeting. This course examines financial management associated with public administration including financial statements and reporting, cost analysis, budget approaches and preparation, financial forecast, cash flow management, and financial risk management. The course approaches this material from a leadership perspective, presenting the various parts of financial management and budgeting across agencies or levels (local/state/federal) of government. Because public sector budgeting and financial management reflect concerns of competing stakeholders, the course explores the way public administrators identify and weigh multiple concerns and outcomes in the budgeting process.

  • Credits: 3 credits
  • Fall (subject to change)
  • Course ID: PAD 712

What You'll Learn

Recognize and apply analytical skills that cover financial planning and budgeting, as well as ethical and legal considerations related to budgeting, and managing individuals and teams that create and oversee budgets.
Manage cultural and sustainability interests, concerns, and applications.
Formulate and assess leadership approaches to facilitate inter-agency financial management and performance as well as intergovernmental (local/state/federal) agencies.
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Course FAQs

What is asynchronous?
Asynchronous learning means that the instructor and the students in the course all engage with the course content at different times (and from different locations). The instructor provides students with a sequence of units which the students move through as their schedules permit.
What is the course structure?
Courses are offered fully online and are asynchronous. There is an optional, live interactive session offered weekly so students can engage with one another and with the faculty member. 

How long is each course?
Our mini-sessions (or terms) are 7.5 weeks long, and courses are offered in each mini. Each semester consists of 2 mini-sessions.
How many courses can I take in a mini-term?
We have structured our courses so students can take one course at a time; this is especially important for students balancing full-time employment. We do permit students to take a maximum of two courses in 1 mini-term (i.e. 6 credits over a 7.5 week period). While taking more than two courses in one semester may seem appealing, these online accelerated courses can be difficult to manage, especially while working full-time. In addition, taking more than one course in a mini session could cause conflicts in your weekly live sessions (i.e. they could be offered on the same day and time). 

What is a part-time course load vs. a full-time course load?
Part-time in SPS is defined as 3 credits (1 course) per semester, and full-time is defined as 6 or more credits (2 or more courses) per semester. Every course at SPS is 3 credits.
How fast can I earn a master's degree?
You can finish an SPS program in as little as 16 months if you take a course every mini semester*. If you need more time, that's okay too! We offer flexibility so you can go your own pace.

*This is for 30 credit hour programs only.