Faculty Contact Information:
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Consultation:
This is a Web-enhanced course that will allow us to have private exchanges in the password protected environment of WebTycho. In addition, I will be available by appointment before and after class.
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Required Texts and Readings:
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Text used exclusively in this course:
Mikesell, J.L. (2003). Fiscal administration: Analysis and applications for the public sector (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth. ISBN 0-495-00740-4
Text used in multiple courses:
American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication manual of the
American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington D.C.: Author.
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Supplementary Readings:
You are expected to make good use of the UMUC online library at www.ed.umuc.edu/library which we access as part of the University of Maryland System. The library contains a large number of full text academic journals that are free of charge and immediately available.
Please also make use of the UMUC library's homepage links to resources that will help you improve your research and writing skills. We are never too old or experienced to seek help with our own process of discovery.
See also the Syllabus Supplement (http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/syll_sup/06t2/puad524_06t2.html).
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Recommended Journals:
A variety of full-text, online, free-of-charge and pay-per-view academic journals are listed on the UMUC library website. Public Administration Review, the lead journal in the discipline, is especially useful for this course.
There are also a number of journal articles on systems analysis (search on "soft systems") referenced in our on-line databases, Business Premier among many others. Look under Management - Decision Science.
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Course Description:
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Prerequisites: Undergraduate economics and American political science or American government, and PUAD 501, or permission of the Program Director. Covers concepts, principles, and practices, and their specific application to the development of resources in support of programs and the allocation of these resources against the demands at national, state, and local levels. The student evaluates performance budgeting, PPBS, and zero-base budgeting.
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Course Goals:
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As a required course in the management track of the M.P.A., the purpose of this course to provide graduate students with an understanding of the nature of public sector budgeting and the role of public finance economics in shaping the economy of the United States or other developed nations.
In this course we will examine:
1. The politics of the budgetary process.
2. The major schools of budgetary theory.
3. Practical methods of revenue enhancement.
4. The creation and maintenance of workable tax roles.
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Course Objectives:
At the conclusion of the course, students should be able to:
- Evaluate the size and growth of government expenditure
- Critique the budget process in the U.S.,
- Apply cost-benefit analysis to determine the relative merits of government capital expenditure projects,
- Assess the economic effects of government revenue options and their structures and administration,
- Develop a better idea of how governments administer their debt, working capital, and pension funds, and
- Utilize concepts of the budgeting process to analyze case studies and current events.
- Create and supervise effective methods for revenue estimation.
- Apply effective budget techniques for varying governmental needs.
- Supervise the creation of effective tax roles.
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Grading Information:
See my web site for my grading criteria and standards
http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/crs_guid_gen/grades.html
Students will receive letter grades for assignments based on their performance. I assign a letter grade for each exam and assignment on a relative scale (A-B-C-F; 52-0 points typically) to include use "+", "-", and borderline grades. Your final grade is a weighted average of your separate grades in this course.
Please note that Bowie State University does not use "D" for graduate students. The grade F 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, available online or in your local Education Center.
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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.
The graded elements of this course are as follows:
- 10% Individual & group work, in & out of class
- 10% Case Analysis
- 25% Federal Department or State Budget Analysis
- 25% Critical Public Budgeting Issue Analysis
- 30% Comprehensive Final Exam
- 100% Total
See my web site for my grading criteria and standards
http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/crs_guid_gen/grades.html
If there are a large number of students enrolled in the course I may offer selected students the option for the budget analysis to be submitted in written form only. In that case, I still need you to share your insights with the class informally during other presentations. Those students who were excused the oral budget report would be graded solely based on the written report for that requirement.
This is a Web-enhanced course that requires you to access the Internet and use our WebTycho classroom. You will post electronic versions of all assignments in your own Private Study Group in that classroom set up for private discussions between you and me. Your individual reports (all on different topics) will be shared with the whole class in face-to-face presentations which you will make. In addition, I will share your written report with the whole class in a conference set up for that purpose.
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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 course requirements below 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.
See also the Syllabus Supplement (http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~prichard/syll_sup/06t2/puad524_06t2.html).
Requirements Summary:
- Participate in classroom discussions: You are expected to come to class prepared to engage in all discussions in a professional and informed manner.
- Systems Analysis Tools: Learn and apply selected systems analysis tools which will be presented in class on Day 1.
- Write graduate level papers or case studies: You are required to conduct professional-level research, including appropriately citing works of others and avoiding plagiarism. Resubmission of course work from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC, UMUC-Europe or BSU), partially or in its entirety, is not acceptable in this course and will result in an automatic failure on the assignment. Moreover, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with current UMUC-Europe/BSU policies on plagiarism, as all class papers are liable to be sent to turnitin.com for authentication. In particular for this course you will prepare the following written assignments:
- Federal Department or State Budget Analysis: As a class we will investigate a minimum of four states and four federal departments. You will research both primary and secondary sources and report your findings to the class in a 6-8 page paper and, except as noted above, an in-class presentation. For detailed requirements, see the Syllabus Supplement linked above.
- Critical Public Budgeting Issue Analysis: We will explore selected Critical Public Budgeting Issues. You will be responsible for helping the class understand your assigned issue throughout the course. You will research both primary and secondary sources and report your findings to the class in a 6-8 page paper and an in-class presentation. For detailed requirements, see the Syllabus Supplement linked above.
- Case Study: You will prepare a 2-3 page paper focusing on key issues in an end-of-chapter case(s) prior to presenting the case in class. For detailed requirements, see the Syllabus Supplement linked above.
- Orally/visually present prepared material: You are required to present your research in a professional manner. Except as noted above, all written reports will be presented orally to the class. You will lead the class discussion to follow. Each of you will also be responsible for leading the analysis of one or more end-of-chapter cases in the text. You should prepare an Microsoft Powerpoint presentation to support your analysis of complex issues. For detailed requirements, see the Syllabus Supplement linked above.
- Complete a comprehensive written examination: The examination process in this class will assist you in developing the writing and critical thinking skills necessary to pass successfully 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.
I reserve the right to make minor changes in assignments and schedules. Changes will only be made if there are unforeseeable circumstances. I will not make major changes without first consulting with the class.
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Course Schedule:
** Note ** See the Syllabus Supplement for detailed schedule information.
Introduction, Systems Tools & Part 1: Budgeting, Budget Structures & Budget Reform
** Day 1: Saturday, 28 Oct. '06 **
Study text: Table of Contents, Preface, Chapters 1-2.
** Day 2: Saturday, 4 Nov. '06 **
Study text Chapters 3-5.
Part 1 (cont'd) and Part 2: Revenue Sources, Structure & Admin.
** Day 3: Sunday, 5 Nov. '06 **
Study text Chapters 6-8.
** Day 4: Saturday, 18 Nov. '06 **
Study text Chapters 9-11.
** Day 5: Sunday, 19 Nov. '06 **
Study text Chapters 12-14.
** Wednesday, 22 Nov. '06, 2400 hours **
Federal Department or State Budget Analysis Report Due, posted to your Private Study Group in our WebTycho classroom.
** Tuesday, 5 Dec. '06, 2400 hours **
Critical Public Budgeting Issue Analysis Report Due, posted to your Private Study Group in our WebTycho classroom.
Part 3: Administering Debt, Working Capital & Pension Funds
** Day 6: Saturday, 9 Dec. '06 **
Study text Chapters 15-16.
Federal Department or State Budget Analysis Presentations
Critical Public Budgeting Issue Analysis Presentations
** Day 7: Sunday, 10 Dec. '06 **
Review text and class notes.
Federal Department or State Budget Analysis Presentations
Critical Public Budgeting Issue Analysis Presentations
Final Exam.
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Academic Policies:
The University has a license agreement with Turnitin.com, a service that helps prevent plagiarism from internet resources. I may be using this service in this class by either requiring students to submit their papers electronically to Turnitin.com or by submitting questionable text on behalf of a student. If you or I submit part or all of your paper, it will be stored by Turnitin.com in their database throughout the term of the University's contract with Turnitin.com. If you object to this temporary storage of your paper, you must let me know no later than two weeks after the start of this class. Please Note: If you object to the storage of your paper on Turnitin.com, I may utilize other services to check your work for plagiarism.
The official university policy on Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty can be found at http://www.umuc.edu/policy/aa15025.shtml. Section I.C. states: Faculty may determine if the resubmission of course work from previous classes (whether or not taken at UMUC), partially or in its entirety, is acceptable when assigning a grade on that piece of course work. Faculty must provide this information in their written syllabi. If the resubmission of course work is deemed to be unacceptable, a charge may not be brought under this Policy and will be handled as indicated in the written syllabi.
Please refer to Description of Course Requirements for specific information on how resubmissions will be treated in this course and 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.
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Faculty Bio:
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