PADM 501 Fundamentals of Public Administration

The purpose of this course is for the student to comprehend the composition and demographics of changing society and the workforce through designing and using performance measures in public administrations, explaining institutional and legal environment of administration, applying theories that can inform leadership and management in public organizations, explaining the external and institutional politics of decision making in public organizations, executing systematic research processes to novel problems, and producing research in written format. The student should also understand how to motivate workforce both ethically and effectively in public administration, identify legal implications of diversity in public organizations, assess practical situations in public administration, and take principled positions.

Textbook readings and presentations

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Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview. 

Discussions (7)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. The student will complete the assigned readings and post a thread of at least 300 words answering the discussion questions assigned from the readings. The student will reply to 2 classmates’ threads. Each reply must be at least 150 words. Threads will be completed by the individual student with no group threads. Outside research may be used to answer the questions and should be properly cited using current APA formatting. Each thread and reply must incorporate at least 1 scholarly citation.

Case Study Critique Assignments (2)

The student will write a critique of 2 case studies in this course. The case studies are to be based on the assigned case study reading for the assigned Module: Week. Each case study critique must be 3–5 pages and discuss the major facts of the case, and the student should tell whether or not he/she believes the right decision(s) was/were made and why. Each assignment will require 3 citations, including the case study itself.

Research Paper Assignment

The student will identify a problem in public administration. The paper must include an abstract, introduction, background on the issue, detailed presentation of the importance of the issue, discussion of possible solutions, and a recommendation for the solution. The paper must be 8–10 pages and include a minimum of ten scholarly resources to support the student’s work.

Essay Assignments (2)

Both the Essay: Midterm Assignment and the Essay: Final Assignment will require the student to respond to a broad-based question about public administration. In essence, the student will be asked to demonstrate critical thinking about controversial issues in public administration and take a position on which course of action would be the best approach for public administrators. Each assignment must be 2-3 pages and incorporate 5 citations.

Quizzes (2)

A Quiz: Midterm and a Quiz: Final will be required during the course. Each quiz will have 2 essay questions that will extract the student’s knowledge about the content of the course. Each quiz will have a 1-hour time limit.