P ADM 500: Public Organization and Management (3 credits). Development of basic concepts and issues in public administration; administra- tive theory and public policy processes.
Overview | Objectives | Materials | Library Resources | Technical Requirements | Evaluation | Grading | Schedule | Academic Integrity | Policies
Course Overview
P ADM 500 serves as the introduction to the field of Public Administration (PA) and to the MPA program at World Campus. It is designed to be a survey course providing the foundation for further study in the field, or as a general understanding of Public Administration for students from cognate fields.
In this course you will become familiar with the roles that public administrators play in a democratic society, the history and development of the field of PA, how complex organizations are managed and decisions are made, how public managers interact with one another and collaborate across sectors in society, the importance of ethical action and professional standards of conduct, and how external forces such as globalization and information technology are changing traditional assumptions and practices in PA. Most examples will draw upon the structure and processes of governance and economic organization in the United States.
There are no prerequisites for the course. Students will be enrolled from a wide variety of undergraduate majors. However, a familiarity with basic concepts of the social sciences, especially knowledge of American government and economics, is recommended. Working in large complex organizations in any sector of society should also give you insights regarding how such social entities work. Political experience, either directly engaged in electoral politics or active citizenship, is also a plus, but not required. Much of the activity of PA has moved from the traditional approach of divided, individual labor and performance to the work of groups and teams, drawn either from within a single organization or across organizational lines. This course and the MPA program in general attempts to capture this new reality by incorporating requirements for group discussions and group activities. After the introductory lessons each week’s topic provides an opportunity for you to work with your fellow students in group assignments and group discussions. This aspect of the course is facilitated by the use of the learning platform in ANGEL.
Learning Objectives
This course is designed to increase the ability of students to:
- Identify major concepts, theories, and issues that have guided the development of PA;
- Develop a working vocabulary of the field;
- Become familiar with methods of analysis to guide informed decisions;
- Appreciate the multiple perspectives, values, and ethical challenges in the work of PA;
- Understand contemporary issues that continue to change the field, and be prepared for future challenges, in particular the greater use of information technology and the demands for ethical action in an increasingly interdependent, globalized world society.
Course Materials:
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
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Library Resources
Many of Penn State's library resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Library Resources and Services for World Campus and Distance Education Web site, you can...- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep...or even your desktop
- ask a librarian for research help via e-mail, chat, or phone using the ASK! service
...and much more!
NOTE: You must have an active Penn State Access Account and be registered with the University Libraries in order to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and services. Registration and services are free!Technical Specifications
For this course we recommend the minimum World Campus technical requirements listed below:
| Operating System | Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8*; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher *Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version |
|---|---|
| Processor | 2 GHz or higher |
| Memory | 1 GB of RAM |
| Hard Drive Space | 20 GB free disk space |
| Browser | We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or
Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion,
and for advice on downloading a supported version,
please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers.
Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled. Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses. |
| Plug-ins | Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe]
Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe] |
| Additional Software | Microsoft Office (2007 or later) |
| Internet Connection | Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required |
| Printer | Access to graphics-capable printer |
| DVD-ROM | Required |
| Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers | Required |
| Monitor | Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Requirements
Performance in the course is evaluated in three ways: understanding, tested by two examinations; professional writing skills, through required papers; and the ability to participate in a group/team setting, measured by a group project and group discussions.
- Requirement 1: Examinations
- Requirement 2: Papers
- Requirement 3: Participations
Requirement 1: Final Examinations: 20 points
The final exam will be essay exams designed to test your knowledge of major concepts and themes developed in the course. You will have a choice of questions to answer. Each will be graded on three equally important criteria: accuracy of information presented; ability to integrate material from various assigned readings; and skill in communicating your ideas in a concise and well-organized manner. Sample exams will be provided to assure there are no surprises!
Requirement 2: Papers: 40 points
Review the assigned articles or book chapters in two topical areas, before the topic is discussed in class.
- Your 1st review should take the form of a briefing paper in which the major theme or topic is identified of a single reading (chapter or article); the author(s)’ method of inquiry and approach is briefly summarized; findings and conclusions noted; and you add some personal assessment of the quality of the argument, significance of the conclusions, and so on.
- The 2nd paper should address a single theme that you see running throughout a given week’s readings. Summarize the presentation and treatment of this topic throughout the readings and reflect critically on the development of this theme – either by comparing/contrasting each author’s perspective or conclusions, or by developing a synthetic view of the topic based on the readings.
Each assignment is worth 20 points toward the final grade, and should be 4-5 single-spaced pages in length. Examples of effective briefing papers will be provided to help you understand this type of writing. Briefing reports are the most common professional writing assignments, so mastery of this sort of professional writing is an essential part of the MPA education.
Paper #1 is due no later than the end of Lesson 7. Paper #2 is due no later than the end of Lesson 13. Please note that you must turn each assignment in before the material is covered in class; the listed dates are the final dates for completing these assignments. Dropboxes are provided for each of these assignments. Please use the dropboxes and not my personal email address for all submissions.
Use the style guide for the American Psychological Association (APA) for proper form. Be sure to include citations for all direct quotes and paraphrases. Turn in all assignments as Word files to the appropriate drop box in Angel by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time of the due date.
Requirement 3: Participation 40 points
Group Presentation – 20 points
Many professional work assignments in Public Administration are geared towards groups rather than individuals. Therefore, group learning is an important aspect of your education. In PADM 500, each participant will be randomly assigned to a group and each group will be given responsibility for a presentation via VoiceThread. This will entail the following for each group.
- Each group will choose a presentation topic from the list provided. Each group will then prepare a brief PowerPoint presentation with narration. This will be based on assigned readings for the topic as identified in the syllabus and additional readings related to the topics. Each slide should include four or five bullet points at most. The presentation should start with a topic slide and end with a slide presenting a list of no more than three questions. These questions are directed to the other groups, who must comment on them. The presentation should consist of 12 slides, not including the topic and question slides. All the group members should participate in the narration - 2 slides each at least.
- The group presentation should be open to the entire class to view by the 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time) of Wednesday in the assigned presentation week. From Thursday to Sunday, each of you should review other groups' presentations, and provide your comments to two of the other groups both regarding their general feedback to the presentations (the comments should be added to the topic slide), and your responses to the questions (the responses should be added to the questions slide). If a group has comments from ten students, please choose another group to make comments to.
Each group must review the comments, and submit a summary of their responses to the comments with their reflections by the end of the course.
Group Discussions – 20 points
Beginning with Lesson 3, you are required to participate in lesson reading analysis discussions within a group. At the end of the group discussions, each group must submit a 2-page (single-spaced) summary of their discussions to the drop boxes for the instructor's review. Each group will receive two points for each summary in which the instructor evaluates your submission positively.
All facets of student's performance are taken into account for grading purposes. The graded activities and the percentage of your course grade associated with the activities are as follows.
|
Graded Activities |
Points |
|
Final Exam |
20 |
|
Papers (2@20 points) |
40 |
|
Group Presentation |
20 |
|
Group Discussions |
20 |
TOTAL |
100 |
The grade given is based on the evaluation criteria established for each category of the graded activities described above and the scholarly performance and attainment of the student. Based on the points earned on each of the graded activities, your course grade will be determined by the scales presented in the table below:
|
GRADING SCALE |
|||
|
Points |
Grade |
Points |
Grade |
|
94.00 and Above |
A |
77.00-79.99 |
C+ |
|
90.00-93.99 |
A- |
70.00-76.99 |
C |
|
87.00-89.99 |
B+ |
60.00-69.99 |
D |
|
83.00-86.99 |
B |
Below 60 |
F |
|
80.00-82.99 |
B- |
||
Performance is evaluated on the basis of your course work on the assignments listed in the syllabus. Your course grade depends on the points accumulated during the semester. Use the table above to keep a record of your progress.
Note: Your grade on assignments will be reduced by 5% for each day of tardiness in receipt of work by the Instructor. Submit your work on time as scheduled.
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Graduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
Course Schedule
To help keep you on track, you should print the schedule and check off activities listed as you complete them. Follow this schedule closely, regardless of the pace of class discussions. It is important to watch for bold-faced due dates.
- The topics and learning activities scheduled for each of the 13 lessons in the course are listed in the Course Schedule. Each lesson covers one week. As you study each week's lesson, please focus on the specific list of learning activities for that lesson.
The schedule below outlines all activities and topics we will cover in this course, along with the associated time frames and assignments. Note that assignments are due based on the Eastern Time Zone (EST). This ensures that all students have the same deadlines regardless of where they live.
- Course length: 16 weeks
Note: The due dates for the assignments are noted in the Course Schedule section of this syllabus, below. Deadlines will be defined as 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the last day of the lesson timeframe, unless noted differently
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Academic Integrity
Academic integrity—scholarship free of fraud and deception—is an important educational objective of Penn State. Academic dishonesty can lead to a failing grade or referral to the Office of Judicial Affairs.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:
- cheating
- plagiarism
- fabrication of information or citations
- facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others
- unauthorized prior possession of examinations
- submitting the work of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor and securing written approval
- tampering with the academic work of other students
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, Penn State's policy on academic integrity requires that the instructor give the student notice of the charge as well as the recommended sanction. Procedures allow the student to accept or contest the charge through discussions with the instructor. If a student accepts the charge and the recommended sanction, the respective College files the case with the Office of Judicial Affairs. If a student chooses to contest, the case will then be managed by the respective College or Campus Academic Integrity Committee. If a disciplinary sanction also is recommended, the case will be referred to the Office of Judicial Affairs.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information students receive upon enrolling in a course. For that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us.
Additionally, students enrolled at Penn State via the World Campus are expected to act with civility and personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment of academic integrity is requisite to respect for self and others, and a civil community.
For more information on academic integrity at Penn State, please see the Academic Integrity Chart for specific college contact information or visit one of the following URLs:
www.psu.edu/dept/oue/aappm/G-9.html
www.sa.psu.edu/ja/
Policies
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.