Fall
2008
DU 252
Tuesday/Thursday
Professor: Kimberly Nelson, Ph.D.
Office: 211
Email: klnelson@niu.edu Office hours: Tuesday
and
by appointment
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. POLS 331 will introduce students to both the
theoretical and practical sides of public administration. Among the topics we will cover this semester
are major theories of management, the policy process, and the relationship
between politics and administration.
Upon completion of the course, students will
have a general understanding of the history and practice of public
administration. Students will also learn
basic concepts from the fields of public budgeting, human resources, and
strategic management.
Required
Texts:
Shafritz, J. M. and E. W. Russell. 2008 Introducing Public Administration
(6th Edition).
Frederickson, H. George, 1997. The
Spirit of Public Administration.
Other readings are
available via Blackboard.
Course
Requirements:
Examination 1 20%
Examination 2 20%
Examination 3 20%
Book Review 20%
Homework (4 @ 5% each) 20%
100%
Exams:
The
examinations will be in-class (dates are listed on the schedule). The exams are not comprehensive. Exams will have a mixed format which may include,
but not be limited to, multiple choice, definitions, short answer, and
true/false questions. Make-up exams will
only be given in extreme emergencies and only with prior notice to Professor
Nelson. An unexcused absence on the date
of an exam will result in a score of zero for that exam.
Exam
grades will not be curved. In lieu of a
curve, students will have the opportunity to correct their exams and return
them at the next class meeting. Students
submitting corrected exams will receive ½ of the points missed added to the
exam grade.
Book Review
Students must write a review of the George Frederickson
book, The Spirit of Public Administration. An evaluation sheet and instructions for the
book review are available on Blackboard.
We will discuss the assignment in greater detail during the first week
of classes. The book review is due October 16 during class. No late book reviews will be accepted unless
there is a documented emergency.
Homework
Homework assignments are found on Blackboard in a single
document entitled “Exercises & Case Studies”. Due dates are listed on the course schedule.
Each student must complete at least four
of the homework assignments. If a
student chooses to do so, he/she may submit one extra homework assignment; the lowest grade will then be
dropped.
Attendance:
Late
assignments will only be accepted with a valid, documented excuse and will receive
a deduction of 5 points per day.
Academic Integrity: Students are required to adhere to NIU’s code of student conduct
for academic integrity. Violations will
result in a failed grade on the assignment and possibly the class. You are expected to ensure that all assignments submitted
for a grade reflect substantially your own work, that work submitted under your
name is substantially original, and that you have understood and learned the
competencies in each assignment and not relied primarily on the knowledge of
others. Students whose work is
substantially plagiarized from others will receive a ‘0’ on that assignment or
exam. If you are unclear of what actions
constitute plagiarism, please see me.
Students with Disabilities:
If you are a student with a disability, please meet with me so that I can
arrange accommodations.
Class Schedule:
This schedule is subject to change.
Some links may have changed since preparation of this syllabus.
DATE
|
TOPIC |
ASSIGNMENT DUE |
|
Aug. 26 |
Introduction |
|
|
Aug. 28 |
Context of public administration |
Chapter 1 Be prepared to
discuss the think piece on end of chapter case study—see Blackboard for case and the |
|
Sept. 2 |
Public Policymaking
& Power |
Chapter
2 |
|
Sept. 4 |
Lindblom, “The Science of Muddling Through” on
Blackboard |
|
|
Sept. 9 |
The Machinery
of Government & Bureaucratic Reform |
Chapter 3 pp. 83-104 Svara
& Nelson, “Taking Stock of the Council Manager Form at 100” on Blackboard Optional—Judd & Swanstrom—Reform
Government—on Blackboard |
|
Sept. 11 |
Chapter 3 pp. 104-130 On Blackboard—Posner
“Accountability Challenges of 3rd Party Government” Homework
Assignment—Analysis of Posner Chapter |
|
|
Sept. 16 |
Federalism and
Intergovernmental Relations |
Chapter
4 Homework—State-Local Relations (due
9/16) |
|
Sept. 18 |
Wright, “Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations”—available on Blackboard Review for Exam #1 |
|
|
Sept. 23 |
EXAM #1 |
|
|
Sept. 25 |
Class
Canceled—SECOPA Conference |
|
|
Sept. 30 |
Ethics and Accountability |
Chapter 5 ICMA Code of Ethics: http://www.njmma.org/ethics.pdf Homework Assignment—To Tell the Truth (due 9/30) |
|
Oct. 2 |
||
|
Oct. 7 |
Organization Theory |
Chapter 6 |
|
Oct. 9 |
Simon,
“The Proverbs of Administration”—on Blackboard Homework Assignment: Too Many Theories of
Management (10/9) |
|
|
Oct. 14 |
Organization Behavior |
Chapter 7 |
|
Oct. 16 |
Book
Review is Due (10/16) |
|
|
Oct. 21 |
Managerialism & Performance
Management |
Chapter 8 |
|
Oct. 23 |
Review for Exam #2 |
|
|
Oct. 28 |
Exam #2 |
|
|
Oct. 30 |
Strategic Management & Government
Regulation |
Chapter
9 Read the strategic planning case study for October
30. Found on Blackboard in the Assignments
folder. |
|
Nov. 4 |
Leadership |
Chapter
10 Gurwitt, “How to Win Friends and Repair a
City” on Blackboard |
|
Nov. 6 |
Homework
Assignment: Bases of Power |
|
|
Nov. 11 |
Personnel/Human Resources Management |
Chapter 11 |
|
Nov. 13 |
||
|
Nov. 18 |
Social Equity—Discrimination |
Chapter 12 Homework
Assignment—Sexual Harassment Case Study |
|
Nov. 20 |
Financial Management |
Chapter 13 |
|
Nov. 25 |
Growth & Taxes—Taxes in the States—On
Blackboard |
|
|
Nov. 27 |
Thanksgiving Break |
|
|
Dec. 2 |
Program Evaluation |
Chapter 14 Read GAO reports (2) on Blackboard—FEMA &
Government Performance |
|
Dec. 4 |
Last
Class—Review for Final
|
|
|
Dec. 11 |
Final
Exam |
|