Course Description
Political environment, structure and process of public bureaucracies; organizational theory; professional ethics; and administrative functions including management, budgeting, and personnel. Prerequisite: Admission to the MPA program or permission of instructor.
Syllabus
Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:
Students successfully completing this course will be able to:
- summarize the major concepts and concerns of public administration, both as a field of study and as a profession.
- identify the political, legal, institutional, and historical aspects of public administration.
- understand the complexity and dilemmas of administrative practices, as well as outcomes from such practices.
- articulate and apply a public service perspective.
Course Grading Information:
| Activity/Performance Measure | Percentage/Points |
|---|---|
| Course Portfolio | 40% |
| Exam | 30% |
| Management paper | 30% |
Grading Scale:
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 93 to 100% | A |
| 90 to 92.99% | A- |
| 87 to 89.99% | B+ |
| 83 to 86.99% | B |
| 80 to 82.99% | B- |
| 77 to 79.99% | C+ |
| 73 to 76.99% | C |
| 70 to 72.99% | C- |
| Less than 69.99% | F |
Attendance/Participation:
Attendance is required and will be taken at the instructor's discretion. Excessive absences can result in a reduction of up to 25 percent in the final grade calculation at the end of the term.
Course Materials Purchased by the Students:
- Guy, Mary E. and Todd L. Ely. 2022. Essentials of Public Service: An Introduction to Contemporary Public Administration, 2nd edition. Melvin & Leigh, Publishers (ISBN: 978-1-73604022-5): Irvine, CA
- Patterson, Kerry, Grenny, J., McMillan, R., Switzler, A. 2022. Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When the Stakes are High. 3rd Edition. McGraw Hill: New York. [ISBN-13:978-1260474183]
- Trounstine, Jessica. 2018. Segregation by Design. (Cambridge University Press) [ISBN:9781108454988]
Scholarly Perspectives
This course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate and inclusion of a reading does not imply endorsement.