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Online EMPA Course Schedules & Syllabi

Online EMPA Course Schedules & Syllabi

Current Class Schedules

Please consult the Class Search Function of MySlice for the most up-to-date course listings and times.

Schedule an Appointment with Nell Bartkowiak to discuss your schedule.

*January 2026 Class Schedule - revised
*Please note that all future class schedules are subject to change

Textbook Lists

January 2026 (Spring) Textbook List

Future Class Schedules

- subject to change

Note that we are building several new online courses that will be launched in AY2627 and AY2728 including the following:

  • PAI 778 AI applications in Policy Design (coming Su’27)

  • PAI 721 Introduction to Statistics (coming Fa’26)

  • PAI 741 Data Wrangling and Visualization for Public Policy (coming Fa’26)*

  • PAI 722 Quantitative Analysis (coming Sp’27)

  • PAI 724 Data-Driven Decision Making (coming Sp’27)*

  • PAI 798 Behavioral Public Policy (coming Fa’27)

  • PAI 796 Philosophy and the Ethics of Data Science (coming Fa’27)*

  • PAI 789 Advanced Policy Analysis (coming Sp’28)*

*Many of these courses will be available online as part of the CAS in Data Analytics for Public Policy, which can be integrated into your EMPA online program. Speak with your academic advisor for more information.

Current Course Descriptions and Syllabi

Course descriptions and introductory videos recorded with our faculty can be found on the Program Website.

Course Syllabi:

  • PAI 755 Public Administration and Democracy -

  • PAI 897 Fundamentals of Policy Analysis -

  • PAI 760 Public Policy Process -

  • PAI 746 Ethics and Morality in Public Affairs -

  • PAI 734 Public Budgeting -

  • PAI 601 Fundamentals of Conflict Studies -

  • PAI 781 Social Welfare Policy -

  • PAI 895 Managerial Leadership -

  • PAI 730 Strategic Planning for Public Management - New offering!

  • PAI 996 Master’s Project Course -

Additional online elective offerings available to students in this program include PAI 600 Meditation: Theory & Practice, ANT 624 Negotiation: Theory & Practice, and the short courses delivered over the winter intercession (PAI 742 Public Administration & Law, PAI 700 Performance Management- ) and Maymester (PAI 700 Governing in a Crisis - ). Syllabi for these and other courses can be found online here.

Official course descriptions can be found online through the Syracuse University Course Catalog. More detailed course descriptions and syllabi are available on the PAIA and Executive Students Blackboard site.

Preparing for Registration


Please check your student record on MySlice for any ‘holds’ that may have been placed on your record.  You can do that by navigating to MySlice>Student Home>Holds OR MySlice>Student Home>Enrollment>Holds.  You can get help with registration online here.  It may take a few days for a hold to be resolved, so please do check this as soon as possible.  Holds may be for billing, degree-bearing transcript, mandatory training or other outstanding issues.

Courses will be registered through the University’s MySlice system.  When registering, please make sure that in addition to adding classes to the shopping cart, that you confirm the enrollment when able.  For technical issues with MySlice, please contact the University’s ITS service at help@syr.edu.

Registration Waitlist

If a class section is full or closed, you can request to enroll using the registration waitlist.  The Executive MPA Online Program will monitor and move students off the waitlist after registration begins each quarter.   Waitlist requests will be prioritized based on the date received, and expected graduation date.  In the meantime, you will want to register for a back-up course selection. In previous years, the department has been able to accommodate the majority of students on the waitlists, but those requests may not be processed until closer to the beginning of the term.

We will contact you if you are able to get into a wait-listed class. Thanks in advance for your patience during this process!

Submit Course Waitlist Request

Immersion & Alumni Event

At least once a year, typically in the fall, the program hosts an immersion and alumni weekend event.  The fall 2025 immersion was be held on campus in conjunction with Orange Central, the University's Homecoming weekend!  In addition, we arranged special programming by Maxwell faculty and opportunities to connect with current students.  The updated schedule can be found here below. 2026 Fall Immersion weekend will also likely be held in conjunction with Orange Central. More details will be confirmed in August 2026.

Fall '25 Immersion Program Information & Registration Instructions

We’re planning our winter networking event in 2026 to coincide with an SU Men’s Basketball game. More details will be forthcoming.