Faculty Contact Information:
Instructor: Charles A. Ailstock
Mailing Address: PSC 819, Box 54
FPO AE 09645
Email Address: cailstock@faculty.ed.umuc.edu
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Consultation:
| Instructor will be available before and after class or by appointment. | |
Required Texts and Readings:
Texts used exclusively in this course:
Denhardt, R.B. & Grubbs, J.W. (2003) Public administration: An action
orientation (4th ed.). Belmont, CA : Thomson Wadsworth.
Stillman, R.J. (2000). Public administration: Concepts and cases (7th
ed.). Houghton Miflin.
Text used in multiple courses:
American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication manual of the
American Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington D.C.: Author. | |
Supplementary Readings:
| Each instructor has his or her preferences for supplementary reading material that may be added here. In addition, all graduate students should be prepared to utilize the UMUC library online at http://www.umuc.edu/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. | |
Recommended Journals:
| A variety of full-text, online, free-of-charge and pay-per-view academic journals are listed on the PA Webboard at http://webboard.ed.umuc.edu/~pa. Public Administration Review, the lead journal in the discipline,is especially useful for this course. | |
Course Description:
| Prerequisite: Undergraduate American political science or American Government or permission from the Program Director. A survey of the fundamentals of public administration, management strategies and management techniques at the national, state, and local levels. | |
Course Goals:
As the introductory course in the M.P.A. program and a prerequisite to the certificate in E-Government, this course introduces and analyzes:
- Discipline and practice
of American public administration.
- Role of government
in general and public administrators in particular in a democratic society.
- Basic institutions
of American government.
- Development
of the administrative state.
- Component parts
of public administration.
- Current standards and best practices
in public sector management.
- Major theories, models, and concepts
of public administration | |
Course Objectives:
At the conclusion of the course, students will be able to:
- Analyze
case material, web sites, public law, and research articles related to public administration
- Investigate
the relationship between historical and current issues in public administration
- Utilize
electronic resources to find primary source documents, data, statements on best practices, and research articles related to issues in public administration
- Develop and present
written and oral arguments, case studies, and/or research papers on current issues in public administration that make reference to and build on factual and expert information | |
Grading Information:
Grades for this course will be assigned as follows:
A 93%
B 80% – 92%
C 70% – 79%
F Below 70% F(a) or regular non-attendance F(n)
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, available online at http://www.ed.umuc.edu/general_info/publications/catalogs 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.
In order to maximize your graduate educational experience in general and this course in particular, the following are required:
Midterm Examination:.........30%
Final Examination:...........30%
Papers (2 X 15%):............30%
Participation in Class:......10%
Total:..................... 100% | |
Description of Course Requirements:
Participate in classroom discussions: Participation means for the student to be engaged in the class and provide thought provoking comments. You are expected to come to class prepared to engage in all discussions in a professional and informed manner. Usually this requires two to three hours of additional for every hour of a face-to-face class.
Write graduate level papers or case studies: You are required to conduct professional-level research, including appropriately citing works of others and avoiding plagiarism. Plan on committing approximately 150 hours over the duration of this course to producing professional level deliverables.
- Project Descriptions: The papers will allow the student to analyze the public administration theories and draw on the comparison between public and private sector. Papers are to be 8-10 pages in length and be written according the APA style. Grading will be based on the following criteria: content, use of appropriate references and format.
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): Midterm exam will be administered on 22 April 2004 and the format will be essay. The final exam will be administered on 20 May 2004 and the format will be essay. 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. | |
Course Schedule:
This schedule presents 16 units or modules, with each unit corresponding to a regular three-hour weekday meeting.
1. 30 March 04 Initial meeting:
Introductions
Review of syllabus
Clarification of goals, objectives and requirements
Orientation to subject
Chapter 1 (Denhardt) Personal Action in Public Administration
2. 1 April 04 Second meeting:
Chapter 1 (Denhardt)
First paper assignment: Due module #8
3. 6 April 04 Third meeting:
Chapter 2 The Political Context of Public Administration (Denhardt)
Discussion of first reading assignment. The Study of Administration (Stillman Reading 1)). Chapter 3 The Interorganizational Context of Public Adminstration (Denhardt).
4. 8 April 04 Fourth meeting:
Chapter 4 The Ethics of Public Service (Denhardt)
Discussion of the Relationship Between Ethics and Public Administration. Stillman Reading 16.
Chapter 5 Budgeting and Financial Managment (Denhardt).
5. 13 April 04 Fifth meeting:
Chapter 6 The Management of Human Resources (Denhardt).
Discussion of Discussion of Hawthorne and Western Electric Company (Stillman Reading 6).
6. 15 April 04 Sixth meeting:
Chapter 7 Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation (Denhardt)
7. 20 April 04 Seventh meeting:
Discussion of Public Budgeting (Stillman)
Review for Midterm Chapters 1-7.
8. 22 April 04 Eighth meeting:
Mid-Term Examination Chapters 1-7.
9. 27 April 04 Ninth meeting:
Chapter 8 Managing Organizational Dynamics (Denhardt).
Discussion of Case Study: Boorda's War (Stillman Case 11).
First paper due. Assignment second paper/case. Due module 15.
10. 29 April 04 Tenth meeting:
Chapter 9 The New Public Management, Reinvention, and the Reform of Public and Nonprofit Organizations (Denhardt).
11. 4 May 04 Eleventh meeting: Chapter 10 Personal Skills in Public Mangement(Denhardt).
Discussion of The Political Environment (Stillman Reading 4 Case 4).
12. 6 May 04 Twelfth meeting: Chapter 11 Interpersonal Skills and Group Dynamics (Denhardt).
13. 11 May 04 Discussion of Administrative Communication (Stillman Reading 9).
14. 13 May 04 Fourteenth meeting:Chapter 12 The Future of Public Service (Denhardt)
15. 18 May 04 Fifteenth meeting: Discussion of Multiple Functions of Public Adminstration. Review for final exam (Stillman Reading 8)
16. 20 May 04 Sixteenth meeting: Final Examination Chapters 8-12. Second paper due.
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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:
| Charles Ailstock is a lecturer with the University of Maryland University College Europe. He graduated from Georgetown University Law School in 1980. He previously worked as a trial attorney for the District of Columbia, served as in-house counsel for the Potomac Electric Power Company, and taught at George Mason Law School in Arlington, Virginia. He is a member of the bar of the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. | |