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SYLLABUS University of Maryland in Europe
COURSE TITLE: PUAD 501 - CONCEPTS IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION TERM: I-2000/01 Weekends 19/20 Aug.; 2/3, 16/17 Sept.; 30 Sept.-1 Oct. INSTRUCTOR:
TEXTS: Denhardt, Robert B. Public Administration: An Action Orientation, 3d ed. 1999 Stillman, Richard J., Public Administration, Concepts and Cases. 7th ed. 2000
COURSE PURPOSES: Offer the student the opportunity to learn and to Understand: 1. The historical evolution and ideas of the primary thinkers in the field of public administration 2. How public sector administration is similar to and distinct from private sector administration? 3. The importance and consequences of current trends, e.g., privatization 4. The impact of environmental factors such as demographics, the economy and political factors on public administration 5. Basic information about organizational theory, administrative behavior, decision making, intergovernmental relations, etc.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: At the conclusion of the course, the student should be able to: 1. Express systematically in writing ideas about the proper scope of public administration 2. Summarize and critique professional/scholarly articles on any non-technical aspect of public administration 3. Discuss basic features of organizational theory and behavior, etc. 4. Analyze complex cases and relate them to issues in public administration.
ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS: Grades for the course will be based on four performance criteria:
TERM PAPER REQUIREMENTS: 1. Length: maximum of 20 pages 2. Type: research 3. Topic: a subject selected for its long term learning value and falls within the domain of public administration. 4. Standards: Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. You may use another standard but to do so you must photocopy the technical standards for bibliographies and footnotes and send them to along with your paper. I will use them to evaluate your paper. Absent the photocopies I will evaluate the bibliography and the footnotes using Turabian. 5. Schedule: Paper due at 0900 Sept 30, 2000. Late papers receive a five-point penalty.
REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS: Since 80% of the course grade depends on your performance on two examinations and a term paper, the following guidance is offered.
EXAMINATIONS: 1. First exam: Part 1: Questions based on a case previously assigned for the purpose: Value = 50% of the exam grade. Part II: Five short answer questions. Valued = 50% of the exam grade. The short answer will test your knowledge of the principal authors, concepts and relationships. The chapters covered by the exam are:
2. Final Examination: The exam will cover the reading assigned subsequent to the mid-term and handouts specifically included. The structure of the final examination will be: a. Five definitions - valued at 25% of the exam grade b. Five short answer - valued at 25% of the exam grade c. Four essay questions (answer two) - valued at 50% of the exam grade. I shall inform you of the reading covered by the exam more specifically later in the class.
GRADING SCALE:
ASSIGNMENTS AND COURSE SCHEDULE: The assigned reading for each weekend is listed below. When a case from Stillman is assigned it is specifically cited, e.g., case 4. WEEKEND ONE: 19/20 August Reading: Denhardt 1-3 Stillman, 1, 3-5; cases 1, 3-5
WEEKEND TWO: 2/3 Sept. Reading: Denhardt 4-5, 7 Stillman 2, 8, 12-13,16, cases 2, 7-8, 12-13, 16 Mid-term - Sunday 0900-1200 WEEKEND THREE: Reading: Denhardt 6,8-11 Stillman 4 (revisit),6, 9, 11 cases 4, 6, 9, 11 Handout: The Objectives Matrix
WEEKEND FOUR: Denhardt 12 Stillman 10, 12, 14-15 cases 10, 12, 14-15 Papers due Presentations Final exam & wrap up
GRADING STANDARDS FOR PAPERS An "A" paper (90 & above) possesses the following characteristics: The topic is substantive Solid evidence of research effort Critical thinking is evident English is error free. A "B" paper possesses the following characteristics: The topic addresses a public policy issue Solid evidence of research effort Critical thing is present but not with clarity English errors (fewer than 5) are present. A "C" paper possesses the following characteristics: Topic does not address a public policy issue Numerous errors of English A "F" paper possesses the following characteristics: Not footnoted Plagiarism Submitted after the end of the term w/o permission
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The quantity and quality of the bibliography and footnotes determine solid research. Critical thinking is displayed, for example, when criteria by which an evaluation may be conducted are developed. The organization of the paper and of paragraphs is logical. Excellent English is free from verb tense, spelling and capitalization errors The introduction, body and conclusions make a coherent whole.
(Revised July 27,2000) Return to: Graduate Programs Syllabi
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