Course Highlights

Spring 2026 Course Highlights

Please review the course highlights for Spring 2026 in the following categories. The full course schedule can be found in the Albert Course Search.

Check Albert for dates, times and prerequisites.

PADM-GP 4700 (001) Topics in Public Policy: State and Local Government Action on Contemporary Workers' Rights Issues 
Instructor: Terri Gerstein

Course Description: 

This course will examine current pressing issues in relation to labor and workers’ rights, and will explore the role of state and local governments in addressing these topics. Topics will include unionization, workplace safety and health, wage theft, misclassification of workers as independent contractors, the fissured workplace, labor market inequities, and the resurgence of child labor. Students will learn the central challenges in relation to each topic, and will examine methods by which different actors within state and local government (legislators, enforcers, etc.) have taken action in relation to these challenges. Students will explore the potential and limitations of state and local government in advancing and safeguarding workers’ rights. 

Readings will include statutes, legal cases, opinion pieces, think tank reports, government press releases, and similar materials, along with academic writing. In addition to gaining an overview in key issues affecting workers in the United States today, students will learn to identify the key challenges in relation to pressing issues and innovative methods for various levels of government to act. Writing assignments will require students to hone their skills in succinctly presenting complex information.

PADM-GP 4700 (002) Topics in Public Policy: Shared Ownership - Alternative Models for a Democratic Economy  
Instructor: Andrea Armeni
Prerequisites: CORE-GP 1021 and CORE-GP 1022

Course Description: 

The dominant model of economic activity at the enterprise level is one where governance rights (who makes the decisions) and economic rights (who reaps the value created by the enterprise) are concentrated in the hands of shareholders – largely outside investors that have capitalized the company through the purchase of equity stakes. While this model has led to tremendous economic growth, it has also contributed to structural issues, such as the concentration of wealth and power, the prioritization of profits at the expense of other goals, the externalization of environmental costs, and the consideration of workers as a liability rather than an asset. 

Alternative forms of structuring economic activity have long been present in the economy, from consumer cooperatives to nonprofit enterprises. As crises mount – some exacerbated by the primacy of shareholders – there is growing emphasis on the need for these alternatives, and successful examples are proliferating and becoming more familiar, from Patagonia to Bosch to Novo Nordisk.

Looking at why enterprises are organized in a certain way provides a lens through which we can explore who ought to have a say over productive activity, how externalities are taken into account, and how we should allocate the economic value that is created by enterprises. 

The course provides an introduction to alternative ownership models – a broad set of enterprise structures that move beyond shareholder primacy to prioritize non-shareholder centric goals ranging from ensuring long-term purpose, to equitable wealth distribution and economic democracy. Through a combination of readings, case studies, lectures, class discussion, and applied assignments, this course aims to demystify and normalize the alternative ownership models and will equip students with the conceptual frameworks and practical understanding needed to evaluate, design, and implement alternative ownership models.

The course begins with a critical examination of the prevailing enterprise model of shareholder primacy and its shortcomings in duly addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges (or, indeed, its contribution to those challenges). From this foundation, we move to exploring worker-centric, stakeholder-centric, purpose-centric models, and hybrid approaches. We analyze their design, benefits, and limitations through real-world examples, with a focus on when a departure from the dominant model of the enterprise may be warranted. We end by examining the enabling environment needed to support and scale these models and exploring why, if these models are socially preferable, they are not adopted more widely. By the end of the course, students will have developed a thorough and critical understanding of the alternative ownership landscape and its potential to address systemic challenges, as well as a perspective on feasibility, trade-offs, and long-term implications. 

URPL-GP 4666 Topics in Urban Studies: Girl on Fire - How Ordinary People Become Extraordinary Leaders
Instructor: Laura Kavanaugh

Course Description:

In a world that feels defined by crisis, it’s never been more urgent, or even more daunting, to lead. Laura Kavanagh, the FDNY’s first woman and youngest Commissioner, led 17,000 people through unthinkable emergencies and systemic change. Her path from a shy small-town kid to leading one of the world’s most complex public institutions in the largest city in the country shows that leadership isn’t innate, it’s built. In this class, she shares what it really takes to lead when the heat is on, and how to keep your humanity, and with it your courage and clarity. Through practical frameworks, case studies and conversations, students will leave with a clearer sense of their own leadership voice and the tools to be a leader no matter who they are and where they come from.

Check Albert for dates, times and prerequisites.

PHD-GP 5905 Qualitative Research Methods
Instructor: Erica Foldy

In order to request registration, please fill out this application. Priority submissions will be accepted from now until Monday, November 17. Students will be notified about registration results shortly after November 24. Requests will be accepted on a rolling basis until the beginning of the spring semester. If you have questions, please contact Maya van Rosendaal at mv2713@nyu.edu. 

PHD-GP 5908 Doctoral Seminar in Policy: Inequality and Poverty
Instructor: Jonathan Morduch

This is an application-only course separate from Wagner’s Weighted Lottery. In order to request registration, please fill out this application. Priority submissions will be accepted from now until Friday, November 21. Students will be notified about registration results by Monday, November 24. If you have questions, please contact Harry Boadu at harry.boadu@nyu.edu.

Check Albert for dates, times and prerequisites.

PADM-GP 2204 Development Assistance, Accountability, and Aid Effectiveness
Instructors: Paul Smoke and John Gershman

PADM-GP 4101 (001) Conflict Management and Negotiation
Instructor: Don Waisanen

PADM-GP 4101 (002) Conflict Management and Negotiation
Instructor: Garrett Lucien

PADM-GP 4110 (001) Project Management
Instructor: Julie Shahroudi

PADM-GP 4110 (002) Project Management
Instructor: B.J. Jones

PADM-GP 4112 Building Effective Teams 
Instructor: Charlotte Wagenberg

PADM-GP 4155 Disability, Policy and Leadership - Building an Accessible World
Instructor: Breandan Ward

PADM-GP 4217 Accountability in Humanitarian Assistance
Instructor: Jessica Alexander

PADM-GP 4414 Corporate Philanthropy and Engagement
Instructors: Hedieh Fakhriyazdi and Armand Biroonak

Check Albert for dates, times, and prerequisites.

PADM-GP 2170/EXEC-GP 2170 Performance Measurement and Management
Instructor: Stolas Mares-Cuff

PADM-GP 2413/EXEC-GP 2413 Strategic Philanthropy
Instructor: Molly Schultz Hafid

PADM-GP 2430/EXEC-GP 2430 Cross-Sector Collaborations
Instructor: Chong-Lim Lee

PADM-GP 4101 (001) Conflict Management and Negotiation
Instructor: Don Waisanen

PADM-GP 4101 (002) Conflict Management and Negotiation
Instructor: Garrett Lucien

PADM-GP 4110 (002) Project Management 
Instructor: B.J. Jones

PADM-GP 4154/EXEC-GP 4154 Management Consulting for Public Service Organizations
Instructor: TBA

PADM-GP 4217 Accountability in Humanitarian Assistance
Instructor: Jessica Alexander
[Friday class session as well]

PADM-GP 4414 Corporate Philanthropy and Engagement
Instructors: Hedieh Fakhriyazdi and Armand Biroonak

Check Albert for dates and times.

HPAM-GP 2836 Topics in Health Policy: Policy, Politics, and Power
Instructor: John Billings

HPAM-GP 2846 The Realities of Managing Complex Health Systems
Instructor: David Kaplan

HPAM-GP 4852 Ethical Issues in Healthcare Management
Instructor: Lauren Taylor

PADM-GP 2106 Community Organizing
Instructor: Cea Weaver

PADM-GP 2112 Gender in the Workplace
Instructor: Vanessa Lecorps

PADM-GP 2127 Corporate Social Responsibility
Instructor: Neil Britto

PADM-GP 2132 Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Instructor: Rebecca Duane

PADM-GP 2145 (001) Design Thinking
Instructor: Carolyn Hou

PADM-GP 2145 (002) Design Thinking
Instructor: Wayne Suiter Matamoros

PADM-GP 2201 Institutions, Governance, and International Development
Instructor: Salo Coslovsky

PADM-GP 2214 Constructing National Development Strategies
Instructor: Scott Martin

PADM-GP 2252 Climate Policy and Politics
Instructor: Malcolm Araos

PADM-GP 2407 Advocacy Lab
Instructors: Noelle Damico

PADM-GP 2413 Strategic Philanthropy
Instructor: Molly Schultz Hafid

PADM-GP 2445 Poverty, Inequality, and Policy
Instructor: Anne Marie Brady

PADM-GP 4101 Conflict Management and Negotiation
Instructor: Don Waisanen or Garrett Lucien

PADM-GP 4110 Project Management
Instructor: Julie Shahroudi or B.J. Jones

PADM-GP 4112 Building Effective Teams 
Instructor: Charlotte Wagenberg

PADM-GP 4155 Disability, Policy and Leadership - Building an Accessible World
Instructor: Breandan Ward

PADM-GP 4322 Data and AI Strategies for Social Impact Organizations
Instructor: Rebecca Duane

PADM-GP 4414 Corporate Philanthropy and Engagement
Instructors: Hedieh Fakhriyazdi and Armand Biroonak

PADM-GP 4503 Introduction to Data Analytics for Public Policy, Administration, and Management
Instructor: Pam Kingpetcharat

PADM-GP 4506 Python Coding for Public Policy
Instructor: Aidan Feldman

PADM-GP 4700 (001) Topics in Public Policy: State and Local Government Action on Contemporary Workers' Rights Issues
Instructor: Terri Gerstein

URPL-GP 1605 Land Use Law: The Planning Perspective
Instructor: John Mangin

URPL-GP 2620 Race, Ethnicity, Class, and Gender in American Cities
Instructors: Francis Yu and Eddy Almonte

URPL-GP 2641 Urban Transportation Planning
Instructor: Tiffany-Ann Taylor

URPL-GP 2645 Planning for Emergencies and Disasters
Instructor: Vanessa Deane

URPL-GP 4650 Advanced GIS: Interactive Web Mapping and Spatial Data Visualization
Instructor: Christopher Whong

URPL-GP 4666 Topics in Urban Studies: Girl on Fire - How Ordinary People Become Extraordinary Leaders
Instructor: Laura Kavanaugh

Registration Information

Spring 2026 Registration Checklist

Registering on Albert