Spring 2008
DU 246; Tuesday/Thursday
Professor: Kimberly Nelson, Ph.D.
Office: 211
Email:
klnelson@niu.edu Office
hours: Tues/Thur
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. 2007 Introducing
Public Administration (5th Edition).
Goodsell,
Charles. 2004. The Case for Bureaucracy: A Public
Administration Polemic, Fourth Edition.
Other readings are available via Blackboard.
Course Requirements:
Examination 1 20%
Examination 2 20%
Examination 3 20%
Book Review 15%
Homework (3 @ 5% each) 15%
Participation/Attendance 10%
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 test.
Book Review
Students must write
a review of the Charles Goodsell book, The Case for Bureaucracy. A grading rubric will be passed out the first
week of classes that explains the detailed requirements for the review. The
book review is due March 6 during class.
No late book reviews will be accepted.
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 three of the homework
assignments. If a student chooses to do
so, she may submit one extra
homework assignment; the lowest grade will then be dropped.
Class Participation
and Attendance:
Late
assignments will only be accepted with a valid, documented excuse and will receive
a deduction of 5 points per day. No
electronic submissions of papers will be accepted.
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: NIU abides by
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which mandates reasonable accommodations
be provided for qualified students with disabilities. If you have a disability
and may require some type of instructional and/or examination accommodation,
please contact me early in the semester so that I can provide or facilitate in
providing accommodations you may need. If you have not already done so, you
will need to register with the Center for Access-Ability Resources (CAAR), the
designated office on campus to provide services and administer exams with
accommodations for students with disabilities. The CAAR office is located on
the 4th floor of the University Health Services building (815-753-1303). I look
forward to talking with you soon to learn how I may be helpful in enhancing
your academic success in this course.
Class Schedule:
This
schedule is subject to change. Some
links may have changed since preparation of this syllabus.
DATE
|
TOPIC |
ASSIGNMENT DUE |
|
Jan. 15 |
Introduction |
|
|
Jan. 17 |
Context of public administration |
Chapter 1 Be prepared to discuss the think piece on
end of chapter case study—see Blackboard for case |
|
Jan. 22 |
Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations |
Chapter 4 |
|
Jan. 24 |
Greenblat, “Enemies of the State”—on Blackboard Homework—The American Democratic Republic |
|
|
Jan. 29 |
The Machinery of Government—Local Reform |
Chapter 3 pp. 83-104 Judd and Swanstrom Excerpt from Chapter 4 on Blackboard |
|
Jan. 31 |
Public Policymaking & Power |
Chapter 2 |
|
Feb. 5 |
Lindblom, “The Science of Muddling Through” on Blackboard |
|
|
Feb. 7 |
Reforming Bureaucracy & Privatization |
Chapter 3 pp. 104-130 |
|
Feb. 12 |
Morgan & England, “The Two Faces of Privatization”, Posner “Accountability Challenges of 3rd
Party Government”, both on Blackboard Homework
Assignment—Analysis of Posner Chapter Review for Exam #1 |
|
|
Feb. 14 |
Exam #1 |
|
|
Feb. 19 |
Ethics and Accountability |
Chapter 5 ICMA Code of Ethics: http://www.njmma.org/ethics.pdf Homework Assignment—Police Corruption |
|
Feb. 21 |
||
|
Feb. 26 |
Organization Theory |
Chapter 6 |
|
Feb. 28 |
Simon, “The Proverbs of Administration” on
Blackboard |
|
|
Mar. 4 |
Organization Behavior |
Chapter 7 |
|
Mar. 6 |
Book
Review is Due |
|
|
March 11 & 13 Spring Break |
||
|
Mar. 18 |
Managerialism & Performance
Management |
Chapter 8 |
|
Mar. 20 |
Samuelson,
“The Death of Management” on Blackboard Homework
Assignment: Think Piece on Chapter 8’s case study Review for Exam #2 |
|
|
Mar. 25 |
Exam #2 |
|
|
Mar. 27 |
Strategic Planning |
Chapter
9 Read
the case study for March 27. Found on
Blackboard in the Exercises Document. |
DATE
|
TOPIC |
ASSIGNMENT DUE |
|
Apr. 1 |
Leadership |
Chapter
10 |
|
Apr. 3 |
Walters, “Capital Gains” on Blackboard Homework
Assignment: Bases of Power |
|
|
Apr. 8 |
Personnel/Human Resources Management |
Chapter 11 |
|
Apr. 10 |
||
|
Apr. 15 |
Social Equity—Discrimination |
Chapter 12 Homework
Assignment—Social Equity in the Workplace in the Era of AIDS |
|
Apr. 17 |
Financial Management |
Chapter 13 |
|
Apr. 22 |
|
|
|
Apr. 24 |
Class Canceled—Urban Affairs Association
International Conference |
|
|
Apr. 29 |
Program Evaluation |
Chapter 14 Wholey,
“Managing for Results” on Blackboard |
|
May 1 |
Last
Class—Review for Final
|
|
|
May 8 |
Final Exam |
|