PSC 210: American Public Policy

GREAT BASIN COLLEGE

PSC 210: American Public Policy

Fall 2009 Syllabus

October 12, 2009 to December 19, 2009

I. Course Number & Title:

PSC 210: American Public Policy (three credits)

Class Location—WebCampusOnline Environment

II. Prerequisites:

ENG 101 placement test score or completion of ENG 100 or higher or co requisite of READ 135.

III.Catalog Description:

Analysis of the interplay of forces involved in policy-making at all levels of American government. Study of the impact of policy on individuals and institutions.

IV. Course Description:

The course will study numerous aspects of the American public policymaking process. By taking a doctrinal approach to studying public policy, this course will utilize theoretical frameworks and examine the following American public policymaking areas:

Economic policy
Education policy
Environmental policy
Welfare policy
Civil rights policy
Foreign and defense policy
Criminal justice policy
Health care policy

Current political events, governmental actions, and public policy decisions will be coveredduring weekly lectures and as part of the ongoing Bulletin Board Discussions (BBDs). The class will also study the level of influence and power exercised by participants in the political arena. The assigned readings will be supplemented by articles in college databases and online resources to demonstrate the consequences (intended and unintended) associated with decisions made by government during the public policymaking process. At the beginning of each week, the following course materials will be available:

1. Key chapter terms and concepts (e.g. public policy, incrementalism, capture theory).

2. Weekly learning objectives by chapter (e.g. “After reading chapter 1, the student should be able to gain an awareness of the historical grounding of contemporary public policy”).

3. Lecture notes and summary outlines.

4. Online links, college databases, and resources to compliment the assigned texts. These links will also help you with the bulletin board discussions that count for a significant part of your grade as class participation.

5. Weekly bulletin board discussions and group activities.

These materials are available to you on WebCampus under Learning Modules, Web Links, and Goals. Ongoing emails and announcements will be made throughout the course.

V. Instructor Information:

Danny Gonzales, Ph.D.

Great BasinCollege

1500 College Parkway

Elko, Nevada89801

Office:Electrical-IndustrialTechnologyBuilding, Social Sciences Department, Room 128

Phone: 775.753.2114; Fax: 775-753.2186; E-mail:

College Website:

Office Hours: Call or e-mail to schedule an appointment; Check WebCampus

Office Hours / Morning / Afternoon
Monday / By appointment / 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday / 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. / By appointment.
Wednesday / By appointment / 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Thursday / 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. / By appointment.
Friday / By appointment. / By appointment.

VI. Required & Recommended Textbooks and Other Materials:

Shafritz, Jam M. and Christopher P. Borick. 2008. Introducing Public Policy (1st Edition). New York: Pearson-Longman.

The instructor will post links to college databases, journals, articles, and audio/video clips on an ongoing basis. These materials will be available on WebCmpus.

VII. Grading Policy/Point System:

Grades will be based on the following:

Assignment% of final grade

Three(3)examinations60%

Bulletin Board Discussions (BBDs)40%

Grading Scale

Percent % Letter Percent % Letter

94-100 A 73-76 C

90-93 A- 70-72 C-

87-89 B+ 67-69 D+

83-86 B 63-66 D

80-82 B- 60-62 D-

77-79 C+ <60 F

VIII. Attendance & Class Participation

Participation in class and during bulletin board discussions (BBDs) is essential, accounting for 40% of the final class grade. Timely responses to BBDs are also important. Active involvement in the assigned group activities will also count toward class participation.

IX. General Education Objectives & Select Student Learning Outcomes

General education objectives can be referenced on Page 58 of the GBC Catalog. It is the goal of the faculty at GBC that all students that graduate with either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree from this institution have had the opportunity presented to them during their attendance to have acquired ability and awareness with the following course objectives:

Objective 1: Communication Skills (Strong)

Communication skills are of critical importance in PSC 210, and the course strongly meets this objective through a variety of methods in class and on WebCampus.

Objective 2: Critical Thinking (Strong)

Critical thinking is a vital process that students must developto scrutinize opposing viewpoints, identify central points, and evaluate the credibility of sources of information.

Objective 3: Personal & Cultural Awareness (Moderate)

Overall, PSC 210 deals with personal and cultural awareness to a moderate degree.

Objective 4: Personal Wellness (Some Degree)

PSC 210 meets the personal wellness objective to some degree by highlighting public policies that have created our modern health care system and the welfare state, such as the creation of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Objective 5: Technological Understanding (Strong)

PSC 210 fulfills the technological understanding objective due to the emphasis in the course on using technology as a writing and research tool.

Select Student Learning Outcomes

Select student learning outcomes are furnished below, and specific learningobjectives for each assigned chapteris available on WebCampus. Upon the successful completion of this course, the student will be able to accomplish the following:

Select Student Learning Outcome / Measurement
1. Define key vocabulary of public policy and the relationship between public law and administration. / Bulletin Board Discussion #1
Exam #1
2. Articulate the understanding of elitism and pluralism as public policy process theories using contemporary examples. / Bulletin Board Discussion #2
Exam#1
3. Explain stages/cycle of the policymaking process. / Bulletin Board Discussion #3 and 4
Group Activity #1
Exam#1
4. Explain the role of the Executive Office and White House staff and their significance in the policymaking process. / Bulletin Board Discussion #5
Exam #2
5. Understand the role of formal and informal advisors to policymakers. / Bulletin Board Discussion #6 and #7
Exam #2
6. Itemize the public policy process in terms of adaptive, multifaceted system of processes, inputs, outputs, and feedback loops. / Bulletin Board Discussion #8
Group Activity #2
Exam #3
7. Differentiate the relationship between political ideology, doctrine, and public policy. / Bulletin Board Discussion #9
Exam#3
8. Define the primary characteristics of the Republican Party and Democratic Party in terms of doctrine and policy platforms. / Bulletin Board Discussion #10
Group Activity #3
Exam #4
9. Apply theoretical frameworks to the examination of substantive public policy areas to critically analyze the governing process and participants. / Bulletin Board Discussion #1 through #10
Exam #3 and #4
10. Introduce and utilize college databases, online resources, and audio/video clips to compliment the ongoing discussions. / Bulletin Board Discussion #1 through #10
Group Activities #1 through #3
Exam #1 through #4

Note that student learning objectives for each chapter are provided in the Weekly Outline section of WebCampus.

X. Course Assignments, Content, & Schedule

There are three examinations that cover the assigned readings, online resources, college databases, counting for 60% of the overall course grade. Bulletin Board Discussions count for class participation and 40% of the course grade.

Policy of Academic Integrity

Academic honesty is expected in this course and all college courses. Acts such as cheating and plagiarism are violations of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Code of Conduct as well as violations of the standards of intellectual dishonesty. All student work must be original and authentic. Any acts of cheating, copying, and/or plagiarizing are violations of the NSHE Code of Conduct and will be taken seriously. Students who cheat, copy another’s work, or plagiarize from the Internet or other sources are subject to consequences ranging from dismissal from and failure of a class to dismissal from the college. Tutors are available in the GBCAcademicSuccessCenter for assistance with appropriate documentation and citations.

Student Conduct Policy

Messages, attitudes, or any other forms of communication deemed to be outside the bounds of common decency/civility as judged by common standards of classroom behavior (determined as they would be in a regular classroom by the instructor) will not be tolerated. The behavior of GBC students, as a member of the NSHE, is governed by GBC and NSHE Code. Misconduct, as defined and established in the NSHE Code, Title II, Chapter 6, Section 6.2.2 and the above misconduct as defined by GBC, is subject to Disciplinary Sanctions as defined by NSHE Code, Title 2.

Other Issues

ADA STATEMENT: GBC supports providing equal access for students with disabilities. An advisor is available to discuss appropriate accommodations with students. Please contact the ADA Officer (Julie Byrnes) inElkoat 775.753.2271 at your earliest convenience to request timely and appropriate accommodations.

A. Examinations & Quizzes:

Examinations and quizzes will be posted to WebCampusand due according to the instructions posted by the instructor. Examinations and quizzes consist of multiple choice, true-false questions, and essay questions. Taking the examination and quizzes is an individual exercise, and collaboration with others is not permissible.

B. Seminar Participation/Bulletin Board Discussions:

Class participation and postings to the Bulletin Board Discussions are mandatory. It needs to be stressed that since the class does not physically meet on a weekly basis, BBDs count as weekly participation (40% of the total grade). Respond to the bulletin board prompts and questions. Appropriate citations and references to textbooks and online resources are expected. Student responses are subject to random screening using plagiarism detection software. Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty and could result in removal from class. Responses should be thoughtful, concise, and in your own words. Additionally, responses must be substantiated and based in the required readings in Introducing Public Policy and relevant online resources introduced in class.Refer to the BBD Participation Rubric on WebCampus for posting criteria.

Unless otherwise noted, weekly BBD postings and responses follow the timeline below:

1. BBD prompt posted by instructor on Monday morning.

2. BBD closes on Sunday at 11:55 p.m.

3. Late BBD responses ARE NOT accepted.

In order to earn the maximum number of points, responses should be at least 250 words.Ongoing bulletin board discussions (BBD) are recorded as class participation.Wikipedia and similar online encyclopedias are not acceptable and will result in failing the assignment.Using appropriate net etiquette, you are encouraged to respond to other weekly BBD postings and contribute in The War Room: Political Science Cyber Cafe BBD where current political events and government activities will be discussed. Online resources will be posted related to the weekly Bulletin Board Discussions (BBDs) as the semester progresses.Refer to the syllabus for specific BBD and exam due dates.

If you have a question regarding any of the assignments or materials for this course, I willmake every attempt to respond to you within 12-hours.

X. PSC 210: American Public Policy Tentative Course Schedule

The following is the fall 2009schedule, including bulletin board discussion, examinations, quizzes, and online assignments:

Week / Topic / Reading(s) / Posted / Due Date
Shafritz & Borick / Supplemental
Resources
Week 1
Oct. 12 / Defining Public Policy
Introductions/Course Overview
SYLLABUS & RUBRIC QUIZ / Chapter 1 / BBD #1
Monday
Oct. 12 / Sunday
Oct. 18
11:55 p.m.
Week 2
Oct. 19 / Study of Public Policy / Chapter 2 / BBD #2
Monday
Oct. 19 / Sunday
Oct. 25
11:55 p.m.
Week 3
Oct. 26 / Public Policymaking System Formal Policy Development / Chapter 3
Chapter 4 / BBD #3
Monday
Oct. 26 / Sunday
Nov. 1
11:55 p.m.
Week 4
Nov. 2 / Policy Analysis & Program Evaluation
Exam #1 Preparation / Chapter 5 / EXAM #1
Thursday
Nov. 5
6:00 a.m / Sunday
Nov. 8
11:55 p.m.
Week 5
Nov. 9 / Doctrinal Approach to Understanding Public Policy
Economic Policy / Chapter 6
Chapter 7 / BBD #4
Monday
Nov. 9 / Sunday
Nov. 15
11:55 p.m.
Week 6
Nov. 16 / Education Policy
Environmental Policy / Chapter 8 Chapter 9 / BBD #5
Monday
Nov. 16 / Sunday
Nov. 22
11:55 p.m.
Week 7
Nov. 23 / Welfare Policy
Exam #2 Preparation / Chapter 10 / EXAM #2
Monday
Nov. 23 / Sunday
Nov. 29
11:55 p.m.
Week 8
Nov. 30 / Civil Rights Policy
Foreign & Defense Policy / Chapter 11
Chapter 12 / BBD #6
Monday
Nov. 30 / Sunday
Dec. 6
11:55 p.m.
Week 9
Dec. 7 / Criminal Justice Policy / Chapter 13 / BBD#7
Monday
Dec. 7 / Sunday
Dec. 13
11:55 p.m.
Week 10
Dec. 14 / Health Care Policy
Exam #3 Preparation / Chapter 14 / EXAM #3
Thursday
Dec. 17
6:00 a.m. / Sunday
Dec. 20
11:55 p.m.

(1) Refer to WebCampus and class communications for updated information on class schedule. (2) Instructor reserves the right to modify the syllabus during the semester. (3) Proper net etiquette is to be used during the course of the semester, and flaming should be reported to the instructor immediately. (4) If you have a question regarding any of the assignments or materials for this course, I will make every attempt to respond to you within 12-hours.