Teaching public budgeting and finance to the next generation of scholars

Many universities throughout the United States offer MPA and other public affairs degrees, each of which includes at least one course in public budgeting or public financial management. These courses are important to the MPA curriculum as they provide necessary grounding for leadership positions in public organizations. However, many MPA programs face significant challenges with these courses. This chapter will address the issue of teaching public financial management by providing an overview of the status of public finance management courses in MPA, MPP, and PhD programs within public administration. The discussion will carry forward into what learning outcomes students are expected to achieve from courses on public budgeting, financial management, and other finance related topics taught within the field. The chapter then discusses the resources available for teaching and suggests pedagogical approaches for the courses and to engage students with the information necessary for the learning outcomes.