Maryland in Europe Graduate Programs

Bowie State University

 

Concepts of Public Administration

PUAD 501

Term II:  Oct. 29 Dec. 19, 2002

Weekend B Lakenheath, UK

 

Weekend Schedule Updated – See Below

 

 

INSTRUCTOR: Archie J. Twitchell, DPA

Mailing Address: PSC 37 Box G/D APO AE 09459

Email Address: atwitchell@faculty.ed.umuc.edu

Telephone: Provided, when available

Consultation: Available after class and by appointment (any day, anytime)

 

REQUIRED TEXTS:

 

Public Administration: An Action Orientation. (2002). Denhardt, Robert B., Grubbs, Joseph W. Wadsworth. Toronto, Canada.

 

Public Administration: Concepts & Cases, 7^th Edition. (2000). Stillman, Richard J. Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston

 

SUPPLEMENTAL READINGS:

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th Edition. (2001).

Additional information supplemental to the texts will be supplied as needed.

 

PURPOSE: The purpose of this course is to introduce the theory, philosophy and practice of public administration. The course will examine management strategies and

techniques at national, state and local levels. Ethical issues in public administration are also addressed.

 

OBJECTIVES: This course enables students to understand:

 

1. The historic evolution of public administration including a survey of the ideas of the primary scholars in the field.

2. Comparisons and contrasts between administration in the public and private sector

3. How the political, ecological and ethical environments impact public administration

4. Current trends in public administration

5. The role of ethics in public administration

 

GRADES:

400 - 450 points equals an “A”.

350 - 399 points equals a “B”.                                                                                         

300 – 349 points equals a “C”.

Below 300 points equals an “F”.

 

REQUIREMENTS:

The midterm exam is valued at 100 points and is scheduled for 17 November.

The final exam is valued at 100 points and is scheduled for 14 December.

Two projects are each valued at 50 points. Due dates are posted in the project description.

The term paper is valued at 100 points and is due at 0900 14 Dec.

Attendance/participation is worth 50 points.                 

The projects and the term paper shall follow the APA Publication Manual 5th Ed.

Plagiarism is grounds for failure of the class.

 

Exams: The exams are composed of three parts: definitions (25 points), five short answer questions ((25 points) and two essay questions selected from among four (50 points).

 

The first project involves the examination of the relationship between politics and administration. Wilson’s dictum that politics should be separate from administration is the criteria by which the case “The Blast from Centralia No. 5” is examined. The paper is limited to four pages and is due Nov. 16th.

 

The second project involves a comparison of the concept of incremental choice with a mid range decision theory such as Mixed Scanning. The goal is for the student to understand how the decision structure of an organization affects decisions. The paper is limited to a maximum of four pages and is due 7 December at 0900.

 

The approved topics for the term paper will be available at the first class. Paper is due at 0900 15 December.

      

Topics and Reading Assignments: It is important to have read the assignment before the class. My expectation is that the student will be able to discuss the central ideas contained in the reading and to participate in-group assignments.

 

Weekend One Nov. 2-3

Read:  Denhardt Ch.1-3           Stillman: Ch. 1-3 Cases 1-3, 5

 

TOPICS:

Introductions and Orientation                                     

What is public administration (PA)?

What are the definition, role and function of PA in modern society?

Public v. private administration

The political and intergovernmental context of PA.

 

 

Weekend Two:  Nov. 16-17

Read:  Denhardt Ch.5-7      Stillman: Ch. 7-8, 11-12 Cases 7-8, 11-12

 

TOPICS:

The alternative methods of management in government.

Decision making

Budgeting

Human resource management

Midterm exam Sunday PM

 

Weekend Three:  Dec 7-8        -------  Updated Schedule  - Happy Holidays!

Read:  Denhardt Ch.8-11    Stillman: Ch. 6,  9-11 Cases 9-11

 

TOPICS:

Organizational dynamics

The “New” management

Personal and Impersonal skills

Effective public organizations

 

 

Weekend Four:  Dec. 15

 

Summing up

Presentations

Final exam

 

 

Grading standards for the paper           

 

An “A” paper demonstrates critical thinking, has flawless English and competent research with proper citations.

 

A “B” paper demonstrates less rigorous critical thinking, or the English is of high quality but contains errors or the research is not strong. The latter is in evidence when there are few citations or the bibliography is weak.

 

A “C” paper has any one of the above missing

 

An “F” occurs when the paper is plagiarized, is not completed, or is so flawed that minimum standards for graduate work are not met.