POLS 331-1: Public Administration
Summer 2008
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
3:30 – 4:45 PM
Visual Arts Building (AB) 110
Instructor: Ms. G. Dumont
Email:
Office: Zulauf 114
Phone: (815) 753-1818
Office hours: Mondays, 12:00 pm-3:00 pm, and by appointment
Course Summary
This course is designed as a broad introduction to public administration. Public administration differs from many other areas in academia in that it has a strong practical component. Students will introduce to both the theoretical and practical sides of public administration. Among the topics we will cover this semester are major theories of management, organizations, the policy process, and the relationship between politics and administration.
This is an intensive course in which a lot of material will be covered in a short amount of time. That said students should be prepared to do a semester’s worth of work in 8 weeks. This includes completing the readings before class, completing praxis papers on time, and coming to class prepared to discuss the topic at hand.
Course Objective
Upon completion of the course, students will have a general understanding of public administration, its complexities, and how it relates to every day life.
Course Materials
Required Course texts:
Shafritz, J., E. Russell, and C. Borck, 2009. Introducing Public Administration, 6th ed. New York: Pearson Longman.
In addition to the texts, students are required to create accounts on the Blackboard Course Server (http://webcourses.niu.edu) during the first week of class. This site will be utilized for posting on-line readings, important course announcements, student grades, other course materials as well as a tool for you to communicate with me and your classmates. If you have any problems doing this, please let me know.
As your student Z email (Web mail) account is the one I can contact you through using Blackboard, you need to also make sure that you can access that account. I am well aware that many of you choose to use a different account, but you will need to at the very least, have your Z email forwarded to the email address you normally use. If you do not know how to do this, access your Web mail account, select “options” then “mailbox management.” In the first section titled “Forwarding”, where it reads “enable”, select “yes.” Then enter the email address you normally use in the “Forward to” section.
Calculation of Grades
Your grade in this course will consist of your performance on two exams (a midterm and a final exam), four praxis papers, and class participation. The following is a breakdown of how the grades will be determined:
Class participation / 10% (100 points) / The grading scale is as follows:Midterm Exam / 20% (200 points) / 900 – 1000 – A
Praxis Papers (125 pts each) / 50% (500 points) / 800 – 899 – B
Final Exam / 20% (200 points) / 700 – 799 – C
(1000 points) / 600 – 699 – D
< 599 – F
To calculate your grade, simply add the total points earned to determine how many more points you need to get your desired grade.
Class Policies
Attendance: There is a strong positive relationship between class attendance and student performance. Being in class affords you the opportunity to ask questions and learn from your fellow students. Noting this, it is strongly recommended, but not required, that you attend class. An attendance sheet will be passed around at the beginning of each class. Its purpose is for me to keep track of those who are attending on a regular basis. This is needed in helping me to decide your final grade in case you are on the cusp between two grades.
As noted on the syllabus, 100 of the 1000 possible points you can earn in this class are based on participation (see Class Discussion section for a more detailed breakdown). If you are not in class, you cannot participate, and therefore you do not earn those points. In addition, even if you are in class, and do not participate, you only earn a fraction of those points, since simply being in class is not considered participation.
If you need any more clarification, please let me know.
Tardiness: I expect all students to get to class on time and remain in class for the duration of the class period. If you are late, you will be marked absent.
Late assignments/make-up exams: I do not accept late work, nor do I offer make-up exams. If you have a situation that requires an exception, you must notify me well in advance and be prepared to produce documentation. This means do not ask for an extension the week the assignment is due!
Course Communications: Students have an obligation to activate and monitor their NIU email account. This account will be used for out-of-class communication as well as Blackboard.
Class Discussion: As noted above, 100 of the 1000 possible points you can earn in this class are based on participation. I do understand that some people are not apt to speak up in groups. However, out in ‘the real world’, especially as college graduates who will be entering the work force in higher positions in organizations, you will have to voice your opinion on subject matters. Think of this class as a non-threatening way to become use to speaking out in a group setting.
Cell Phones: No cell phone use during class. This includes not only calls but text messaging, internet browsing, and instant messaging as well. Please turn your cell phones off.
Behavior: I expect professional decorum in the classroom at all times. Do not read the newspaper, talk to your friends or sleep during class. Do not come to class late or leave early. All of these actions are not only rude to your teacher and peers, but are also not acceptable in a college setting.
Academic Dishonesty: The maintenance of academic honesty and integrity is of vital concern to the Department of Political Science and the University community. Any student found guilty of academic dishonesty will face both academic and disciplinary sanctions. It is each student’s responsibility to become familiar with this section of the University's Academic Integrity policy of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Advising Handbook, and to follow it.
Disabilities: Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, NIU is committed to making reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. NIU CAAR’s mission ensures that people with disabilities "are viewed on the basis of ability, not disability" and that their needs will be met in order to ensure an environment of equal opportunity. Students should inform the instructor of any such needs, and have the needs verified through the Center for Access-Ability Resources, Health Services [Fourth Floor: Phone: (815) 753-1303] during the first two weeks of the semester.
Obligations: I expect you to arrive to class on time and prepared. This means to make sure you have completed the readings before class. You should be ready to answer the question noted above each reading on the syllabus. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know. I will make myself available to help you outside of class or office hour times if necessary.
Class Papers: There are four (4) 2-3 page praxis papers for this class. These papers will be due on Thursday of each week. As noted above, it will not be accepted if handed in late. More detailed information is below.
Undergraduate Academic Awards: The department of political science offers award opportunities to undergraduates, both those who major or minor in political science as well as those who do not. A list of the awards is available on the department’s website, or through this link.
Department of Political Science website: Students are strongly encouraged to visit the political science department’s website for information. This site is up-to-date with information that will assist students in contacting faculty and staff, exploring graduate studies, researching career options, and accessing important details related to undergraduate programs and activities.For important information on the Department of Political Science, please visit: http://polisci.niu.edu/
Class Schedule:*
June 16 Introduction / review syllabus and expectations
June 17-18 Chapter 1: Defining PA
June 19 Chapter 2: Political and Cultural Environment of Public Policy and its Administration
June 23-24 Chapter 3: The Continuous Reinvention of the Machinery of Government
June 25-26 Chapter 4: Intergovernmental Relations
Praxis Paper on Government Reform or Intergovernmental Relations due
June 30 – Chapter 5: Honor, Ethics, and Accountability
July 1
July 2 Chapter 6: Evolution of Management and Org Theory
Praxis Paper in Ethics and Accountability or Management and Org Theory due
July 3 No Class
July 7-8 Chapter 7: Organizational Behavior
July 9 Review for Midterm
July 10 Midterm
July 14-15 Chapter 8: Managerialism and Performance Measurement
July 16-17 Chapter 9: Strategic Management and Government Relations
Praxis Paper on Org Behavior or Performance Measurement or
Strategic Management due
July 21-22 Chapter 10: Leadership
July 23-24 Chapter 11: Personnel Management and Labor Relations
Praxis Paper on Leadership or Personnel Management due
July 28-29 Chapter 12: Social Equity
July 30-31 Chapter 13: Public Finance Management
Praxis Paper on Social Equity or Public Finance due
August 4-5 Chapter 14: Program Audit and Evaluation
August 6 Review for Final
August 7 Final Exam
* I reserve the right to make changes and adjust the schedule as needed.
Praxis Papers
Each student will be required to turn in and be prepared to present and discuss four (4) short (no longer than two to three pages) papers during the semester that relate to one major idea, theory, or concept from the readings to a public administration case, story, or experience. How does the idea/theory/or concept fit (or not fit) with practice on the ground? What are the lessons learned? The case or story should come from a current events article. Praxis papers are due on Thursday of each week. No late praxis essays will be accepted. Only one praxis paper will be accepted each week. Cases must involve public (governmental) organizations and public (governmental) administrators. Grades will be based on how well the student integrates the article or case with the theories and concepts studied in class or in the readings, how well the student understands and explains the case, and how well the paper is written in terms of sentence structure, grammar, and spelling.
The praxis paper should have a title, be double-spaced, have one-inch margins, and 12-point font. Students should cite all sources in a reference section and there should be embedded citations with the author’s last name, year of publication, and page number if a direct quote. If a student turns in more than 4 reaction papers, the professor will drop the lowest grade.
Your research papers should follow these guidelines:
o Identify the issue/state the question (5 points)
o Get facts right (25 points)
o Write professionally (25 points)
o Cite sources in text, correctly (20 points)
o Logical, coherent, balanced argument (25 points)
o Follow instructions (debits)
______
· Identify the issue/state the question, main theme, etc.
o Avoid the 'mystery novel' approach to professional writing. Tell your reader in the first paragraph, if not the first line, what the paper seeks to do. Do this as clearly as possible, with a "This paper will..." statement, if necessary.
· Get facts right
o Self explanatory. Note that the likelihood of misinterpreting what you've read (or falling for a particularly biased, distorted take on an issue) is inversely related to the amount of research that you do.
o Note that this is a class about public administration, not the management of private companies.
· Write professionally
o Self explanatory.
o Write for an informed lay person on the street, rather than for experts, idiots, or your class teacher.
o Use quotations sparingly. This is meant to be a paper by you, not a collection of selected quotes that you thought were especially relevant to the topic.
o Use a professional tone. Don't force it. Some pet hates (this WILL lose you points!!!!):
§ Use third person; don't use first person (e.g. I, we, our), or second person (you). You are not writing this from yourself, you are writing it on behalf of an organization, to an impersonal audience.
§ Don't use contractions (e.g. don't).
§ Avoid rhetorical questions (e.g. Why is this the case?).
§ Avoid starting a sentence with a conjunction (e.g. The paper was bad. And she started a sentence with and.).
§ Avoid singular/plural inconsistency (e.g. The student lost points for singular/plural consistency in their paper).
· Cite sources correctly, in text and in the bibliography
o Please use APA. Key points:
§ Sources must be retrievable. Given the in-text citation, your reader should be able to go directly to the appropriate full citation in your list of works cited (or bibliography), and from this to the page (though this is sometimes tricky with web sites) of the document from which you got the information.
§ This means that if you cite something as (Smith 2000) in the narrative, the source should be listed alphabetically under Smith in the list of works cited.
§ Do not cite urls in text.
§ Note that you must have a proper list of works cited.
§ Everything cited in text must be in this list of works cited; anything not cited in text should not be in this list of works cited.
§ Bibliographic references should be informative on their own. Listing a url is not enough, as your reader should be able to get some idea where the information is from, so that s/he does not have to go to the source to get some idea of credibility.
§ You don't need a quotation in order to include a citation.
§ Note, again, the admonishment against plagiarism, and consult NIU's Academic Honesty Policy. If you are caught plagiarizing, you will fail the assignment, and possibly the class!
· Logical, coherent, balanced argument
o Your argument should have logical structure, and be easy to follow.
§ The main body of the argument should be consistent with what you told your reader your issue is.