Political Science 5040 Syllabus



Political Science 5040: Fall 2009

Readings in Politics and Public Administration

Dr. Bob England, 531 Math Sciences, 405-744-5590

Mail all papers to: bob.england@okstate.edu

NOTE: PLEASE READ THIS SYLLABUS VERY CAREFULLY. CLASS ASSIGNMENTS HAVE CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THE SYLLABI USED PREVIOUS TO THIS ACADEMIC YEAR. ASSIGNMENTS NOW HAVE A FIXED DUE DATE. FAILURE TO SUBMIT THE ASSIGNMENTS ON TIME WILL RESULT IN THE GRADE OF “F” FOR THE COURSE. NO GRADES OF INCOMPLETE WILL BE GIVEN FOR THE CLASS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. DO NOT ASK. ONLY ENROLL FOR THE CLASS IF YOU HAVE TIME TO READ THE FOUR BOOKS AND WRITE THE TWO 20 PAGE ESSAYS.

For all papers include a cover page that indicates the course number, semester enrolled in the class, your ID number, your email address, your mailing address, and your telephone number. Also, ask that I send you a confirmation of receipt of the paper. If you do hear from me in 24 hours, resend the paper. I return all papers that do not contain this information. So, the paper may be late if you do not follow instructions.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course was developed specifically for graduate students in the Fire and Emergency Management Program (FEMP). It is a self-directed, self-paced, directed readings course. The purpose of the course is to provide an overview of public administration as an academic discipline. The books selected for required reading are not comprehensive of the field. For example, the broad areas of public policy, quantitative analysis, and administrative law are not included as part of the reading list. Nevertheless, the books you are required to read and study should enhance your understanding of administrative and bureaucratic theory.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Attached is a list of four public administration books and two writing assignments. Your task is to read each book completely and complete each of the two writing assignments by the dates specified. Complete the assignments in the order they are listed. The first essay is due to me in electronic format on 5 October no later than midnight. The second essay is due on 7 December no later than midnight. Essays may be submitted early; in fact, early submissions are welcome. Each essay is worth 100 points. If an essay is submitted late, the score of zero will be recorded. Losing 100 points means you will fail the course. DO NOT call or email with reasons why the essay was not submitted on time. If you see you are not going to make the deadline, drop the course and take it again later. To reiterate, only take the course if you have time to read the four books and write and submit the two essays on time.

All essays must be well written and clearly demonstrate that you mastered the reading assignment associated with the essay. Each essay must be a minimum of 20 typed, double-spaced pages in length, with no more than 1 inch margins, and a font size of 12. Do not skip more than one line between each heading. Use headings to organize your work. For example, look at chapter one in the Denhardt and Denhardt text. They organize the chapter into three major topics using first order headings—The Old Public Administration, The New Public Management, and Engaging the Debate. Within each first order heading, they further use second order headings to organize their discussion. For example, under the topic The Old Public Administration, they discuss Two Key Themes, Dissenting Views, the Rational Model, Public Choice, and Core Ideas. You should do the same, use headings. Do not start on page 1 and end your essay on page 20 without using 1st and perhaps even 2nd order headings to organize your work.

Be sure to cite properly your sources. You are REQUIRED to use the same referencing style and format as used in the Denhardt and Denhardt book – parenthetical notes with a list of references at the end of the essay. Do not submit any essay that does not properly cite sources and that does contain a reference list. If you do, the grade of zero will be recorded.

ESSAY EVALUATION

Your essay responses will be evaluated individually, each essay is worth 100 points. I will evaluate your essays based on (1) substance and (2) presentation (i.e., grammar, spelling, writing skills, organization, use of referencing, correct referencing style, etc.). I will provide substantive comments for each essay question, if any is needed.

Grading Scale: A = 100 to 90, B = 89 to 80, C = 79 to 70, D = 69 to 60, F = 59 to 0.

Grading Scale: A= 100% to 90% of possible points, B = 89% to 80% of possible points, C = 79% to 70% of possible points, D = 69% to 60% of possible points, F = 59% to 0% of possible points.

REQUIRED READING LIST

Denhardt, Janet V. and Robert B. Denhardt. 2007. The New Public Service: Serving, not Steering—Expanded Edition. Armonk, New York: M.E. Sharpe. ISBN: 978-0756-1999-0

Fry, Brian R. and Jos C.N. Raadschelders. 2008. Mastering Public Administration: From Max Weber to Dwight Waldo, 2nd ed. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press. ISBN: 978-1-933116-82-2.

Goodsell, Charles. 2004. The Case for Bureaucracy, 4th ed. Washington, D.C.: CQ Press. ISBN: 1-56802-907-1 .

Hughes, Owen E. 2003. Public Management & Administration, 3rd ed. New York: Palgrave. ISBN: 0-333-96188-9.

ASSIGNMENTS

Submit assignments in the order listed below.

Assignment One

First, thoroughly read the books Mastering Public Administration written by Brian Fry and Jos Raadschelders and Public Management & Administration written by Owen Hughes. Second, write a 20 page (minimum) essay in which you respond to essay question one below. Be sure to cite appropriately (see instructions above) relevant literature.

Essay Question One: Based on the Fry and Raadschelders book write a ten-page essay in which you discuss, describe, and analyze the traditional model (TM) of public administration. Be sure to identify various schools of thoughts and principle theories and theorists. Next, write a ten-page essay in which you discuss, describe, and analyze the New Public Management (NPM) Model as a response to the limitations and maladies of the traditional model of public administration. Be sure to identify the underlying assumptions/principles of the NPM model.

Assignment Two

First, thoroughly read the books The Case for Bureaucracy by Charles Goodsell and The New Public Service (expanded edition) by Janet and Robert Denhardt. Second, write a 20 page (minimum) essay in which you respond to essay question two below. Be sure to cite appropriately relevant literature.

Essay Question Two (two parts, each 10 or more pages in length): Part A: According to Charles Goodsell in The Case for Bureaucracy, bureaucracy is “set up failure.” Why and how is this the case? Write an essay in which you summarize Goodsell’s “case for bureaucracy.” This part of your essay should be a minimum of 10 pages in length.

Part B: Discuss, describe, and analyze the New Public Service (NPS) Model as offered by Denhardt and Denhardt. Be sure to identify the principle assumptions/tenants of the NPS model. This part of essay B should be no less than 5 pages in length. Now, in no less than 5 pages, compare and contrast the TM of public administration as discussed by Fry and Raadschelders and the NPM model offered by Hughes with Denhardt and Denhardt’s NPS model. How is the NPS model a synthesis of the TM and the NPM models? Or is it?

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