Class Schedule: Monday and Wednesday 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. SB 216

COURSE OBJECTIVES

As one of the prerequisite classes for the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, the class is designed to socialize students to the field of public administration, which is concerned with the development and implementation of public policies and programs. Students will be introduced to the science, process, and art of the field, and examine concepts and cases from political, managerial, and legal perspectives. At the conclusion of the course, students should have an understanding of the historical development of the field, how public administration differs from the private sector, and key administrative elements including, but not limited to, politics, intergovernmental relations, ethics, organizing, planning, decision making, budgeting and managing human resources.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS

Starling, Grover (1998). Managing the Public Sector. Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace.

Stillman, Richard J. (2000). Public Administration: Concepts and Cases. Boston:

Houghton Mifflin.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Contribution to Class (15%)

To maximize credit in this area, students are expected to be active contributors to the learning environment. This means attending class, coming prepared to engage in discussion and exercises, and generally not impersonating a fence post. Fence posts do not receive A’s, regardless of their performance on papers and tests. Due to the shortness of the summer sessions, attendance at all classes is crucial.

Case Questions (35%)

Students will be required to type answers to questions associated with cases from the textbooks. Papers should be one page in length, typed double-spaced. These answers must be prepared in advance of class so that they can be utilized in class discussions. Late papers are not accepted, nor are handwritten papers. If a student knows they will not be able to attend class, their questions should be submitted in advance, preferably by email. Please note that computer or printer problems are not an excuse for lateness.

Final Exam (50%)

Open book exam testing the ability of students to apply and synthesize information from course to typical problems encountered in public administration.

COURSE SCHEDULE

June 25 Introductions; What is Public Administration?

Starling, Chapter 1

June 27 The Politics of Administration

Starling, Chapter 2; Stillman, pp. 6-16

Case Study: The Last Flight of the Space Shuttle Challenger,

Stillman, pp. 110-121.

July 2 Organizing

Starling, Chapter 7; Stillman, pp. 54-63.

Case Study: The Blast in Centralia No. 5, Stillman, pp. 30-45.

Written Assignment: Question #4.

Leadership in Organizations

Starling, Chapter 8

Case Study: The MOVE Disaster, Stillman, pp. 238-252.

Written Assignment: Question # 6.

July 4 Independence Day – No Class

July 9 Planning

Starling, Chapter 5

Case Study: Waco, Stillman, pp. 277-293.

Written Assignment: Question #5.

Decision Making

Starling, Chapter 6

Case Study: The Decision to Bomb the Serbs, Stillman, pp. 207-217.

Written Assignment: Question # 3.

July 11 Administrative Responsibility and Ethics

Starling, Chapter 4; Stillman, pp. 501-511

Case Study: Madonna’s Sex, Stillman, pp. 513-521. Written Assignment: Question #2.

July 16 Implementation and Evaluation

Starling, Chapter 9

Case Study: The Political Paradox of Rationing: The Case of the

Oregon Health Plan, Stillman, pp. 427-437

Written Assignment: Question #1.

Intergovernmental Relations

Starling, Chapter 3

Case Study: Wichita Confronts Contamination, Stillman, pp. 146- 154. Written Assignment: Question #4.

July 18 Human Resources Management

Starling, Chapter 10, Stillman, pp. 160-169

Case Study: Uniforms in the Closet, Stillman, pp. 169-180.

Written Assignment: Question #4.

July 23 Budgeting

Starling, Chapter 11; Stillman, pp. 374-391

Case Study: County Prison Overtime, Stillman, pp. 392-401.

Written Assignment: Question #1.

The Information Revolution

Starling, Chapter 12

Cases/Readings: To be assigned.

July 25 Course Summary; Careers in Public Administration

Guest Speakers Panel

July 27 Final Exam (7:00 – 10:00 pm)