Faculty Contact Information:
Dr. JED Riggs
PSC 9 Box 3018
APO AE 09123
EMAIL: jriggs@faculty.ed.umuc.edu | |
Consultation:
| One-Half Hour before class, and by appointment. | |
Required Texts and Readings:
Texts used exclusively in this course --
O'Toole, L. J. Ed. (2000). American Intergovernmental Relations, (3rd ed.). Washington, DC. CQ Press.
Peterson, P. E. (1995). The Price of Federalism. Washington, DC. The Brookings Institute.
Text used in multiple courses:
American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, (5th ed.). Washington DC: Author | |
Supplementary Readings:
All graduate students should be prepared to utilize the UMUC online library. The library contains a large number of full text academic journals that are free of charge and immediately available. The library homepage also contains a number of links related to improving students' research and writing skills.
USEFUL WEBSITE: http://www.aspanet.org | |
Recommended Journals:
|
Course Description:
| Prerequisite: Undergraduate American political science or American government. Focuses on the complexities and inadequacies of the federal-state-local system; with conflicts and cooperation between the three levels; with changing roles of government; with the development of structures, processes, and management to strengthen the intergovernmental system and improve performance; and with increasing student problem-solving and managerial capabilities. | |
Course Goals:
|
As a required course in the management track of the MPA, this course analyzes the challenges of managing programs within federalist systems of government. Upon completion of this course, participants should have an understanding of the:
- history of the federalism.
- significant legislation pertaining to IGR.
- unique problems of state government.
- challenges and promises of local and regional governments.
- crisis of state and local budgeting.
- impact of the courts on IGR.
- alternative funding arrangements of state and local activities probable future of intergovernmental relations.
| |
Course Objectives:
|
At the conclusion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Identify the primary grant mechanisms.
- Compare and contrast the distinct phases of IGR.
- Delineate intergovernmental tax domains.
- Differentiate between the primary IGR policies
- Explain intergovernmental policy overlap issues.
- Identify new areas of state and local finances.
- Develop new models for revenue estimation.
- Implement new methods of revenue collection and disbursement.
- Identify the means of circumventing balanced budget amendments.
- Detect the major problems facing state and local governments.
- Develop strategies for avoiding costly social service litigation cases.
- Identify sources of grant money at state and nation levels. Write a grant proposal.
- Apply governmental policy objectives more effectively.
- Implement new laws pertaining to Equal Opportunity.
- Generate appropriate charts, tables and graphs.
| |
Grading Information:
Grades for this course will be assigned as follows:
A 90%
B 80 89%
C 70 79%
F Below 70%
Please note that Bowie State University does not use "D" for graduate students. The grade F(a) is used to designate academic failure. F(n) is used to designate failure for non-completion. Grades of Incomplete or Withdrawal are governed by UMUC-Europe policies. For further details, please refer to the UMUC-Europe Graduate Catalog. Hard copies of the catalog are available in your local Education Center. | |
Course Requirements:
Graduate school at the masters level focuses on helping students obtain the education needed for success as professionals in their chosen fields. Thus, UMUC-Europe Graduate Programs and Bowie State University share the common goals of promoting excellence in academic scholarship through thoughtful inquiry and the skillful application of knowledge and theory for the betterment of society. In order to maximize your graduate educational experience in general and this course in particular, your grade will be determined by:
A Mid-Term Examination----30%
A Final Examination-------40%
An IGR Position Paper-----30% | |
Description of Course Requirements:
Successful graduate students in American universities dedicate approximately three hours of preparation/study time for every hour spent in the face-to-face classroom. Thus, the following course requirements were developed on the assumption that students would be prepared to spend approximately 150 hours of their own time working on them. In an 8-week term, that is the equivalent of a half-time job. Most 14-week graduate distance education courses require at least 10 hours per week of dedicated time, plus time spent in the virtual classroom.
Participate in classroom discussions: You are expected to come to class prepared to engage in all discussions in a professional and informed manner.
Write graduate level papers or case studies: You are required to conduct professional-level research, including appropriately citing works of others and avoiding plagiarism.
Orally/visually present prepared material: You are required to present your research in a professional manner. In a face-to-face course, this typically means an oral presentation accompanied by appropriate visual material. In a DE class, this means creating a visual/textual presentation for your instructor and classmates.
Complete one or more written examination(s): The examination process in this class will assist you in developing the writing and critical thinking skills necessary to successfully passing the comprehensive exam required of all graduate students. The questions used for this course will either be taken directly from past comprehensive exams or written as though to be included on a comprehensive exam.
Specific to this course, you will have a mid-term and a final exam, as well as a 20-25 page theme paper.
The mid-term will fall on the Sunday afternoon of the second weekend, and will consist of all readings and lectures from the start of class, through Saturday of weekend two. The final exam will consist of all readings and lectures from the Sunday morning of weekend two, through the end of weekend four.
In addition, each student will be required to submit an original policy paper which investigates a current problem area in Intergovernmental Relations. This topic may be relevant to Federal, State or Local government.
By the mid-term exam, I expect to see from each student a topic sheet which specifies the problem to be addressed. You topic sheet will contain three pieces of information:
1. The topic; (eg... Internet Taxation Policy).
2. Your Approach; (eg... A case study of policy in the state of Iowa)
3. A sample bibliography of the literature you will use.
The paper is to be written in APA format and must be in my hands by the day of the Final Exam. Failure to turn in work on time will result in an automatic 15% reduction in the value of the paper. | |
Course Schedule:
Course Schedule: This schedule presents 16 units or modules, with each unit corresponding to a regular three-hour weekday meeting, a half-day on weekends, or a full week of DE.
WEEKEND ONE:
1. The History of Federalism. O'Toole; 1-4.
2. Same Topic.
1. The Politics of Federalism. O'Toole; 10-12.
2. Regulatory Policy Same Readings.
WEEKEND TWO:
1. Distributive Policy and IGR O'Toole; 16-18
2. Same Topic Peterson; 6.
1. Redistributive Policy and IGR. Peterson; 2,5.
2. MID-TERM EXAMINATION.
WEEKEND THREE:
1. Budget and Taxes in IGR. O'Toole; 19-21
2. Same Topic. Peterson; 4,7.
1. The Courts and IGR. O'Toole; 29-31.
2. Same Topic.
WEEKEND FOUR:
1. The Grants Economy No Readings.
2. The Methodology of Grantsmanship. No Readings.
1. The Future of IGR (Class Critiques)
2. FINAL EXAMINATION. | |
Academic Policies:
Please refer to the UMUC-Europe Graduate Catalog for information on the following:
Academic Integrity
Course Load
Exception to Policy
Grade Appeal Process
Make-up Examinations
Nondiscrimination
Students with Disabilities
Hard copies of the catalog are available at your local Education Center. | |
Faculty Bio:
| Dr. JED Riggs is Collegiate Professor in the University of Maryland in Europe/Bowie State University system. He has taught in the Maryland system since 1994. | |