EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
PLSC 450: MANAGING PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES (3 HOUR)
FALL TERM 2014
COURSE SYLLABUS
Classroom: Thursday evenings 6:00 p.m. until 8:40 p.m., EMU Livonia Campus, Room 423.
Text: Organizational Behavior and Management in Law Enforcement, 3/E
Harry W. More, Ph.D., San Jose State University
Gennaro F. Vito, Ph.D., Southern Police Institute, University of
Louisville
William F. Walsh, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, University of Louisville
ISBN-10: 0135071526
ISBN-13: 9780135071526
Publisher: Prentice Hall
Copyright: 2012
Format: Cloth; 456 pp
Published: 01/11/2011
Available at Mike's Book Store or http://www.amazon.com/Organizational-Behavior-ManagementEnforcement-Edition-ebook/dp/B005H8D8CW
Instructor: Gary M. Goss may be reached at 248-880-3234, E-mail: ggoss@emich.edu
OBJECTIVES
This course will prepare the student for an administrative roll in a public safety
agency. It will cover organizational theory and practice as well as organizational behavior
to promote an understanding of the organization itself as well as key interactions among
employees, managers and the community. To achieve these goals, the class will involve
discussions of contemporary issues, as they relate to the public safety field, and leadership
traits. This course will provide the foundation for the student's capstone seminar in public
safety administration.
Academic Integrity
Academic dishonesty, including all forms of cheating and/or plagiarism, will not be
tolerated in this class. Penalties for an act of academic dishonesty may range from receiving a
failing grade for a particular assignment to receiving a failing grade for the entire course. In
addition, you may be referred to the Office of Student Judicial Services for discipline that can
result in either a suspension or permanent dismissal. The Student Conduct Code contains
detailed definitions of what constitutes academic dishonesty, and it can be accessed online at
www.emich.edu/sjs
University Writing Center
One-to-One Consulting
The University Writing Center (UWC) provides writing support through multiple means to all
members of the EMU community—undergraduate and graduate students, international
students, post-baccalaureate students and faculty. Students and faculty can receive one-on-one
support at the main UWC location in 115 Halle Library, or at one of the satellite locations.
One-on-one support is also available in the Academic Projects Center (APC) in 116 Halle Library,
and at our satellite locations in Marshall, Owen, Pray-Harrold, and Sill.
Workshops
The UWC offers a series of workshops to help students learn and practice writing strategies that
are applicable across disciplines. There are workshops to support every stage of the writing
process from organizing to revision.
Workshops can help fill in gaps in your knowledge, or complement an existing writing class you
are taking. For example, if you find yourself needing to write a research paper in your
administration class, there are individual workshops that can help you learn how to incorporate
evidence, cite your sources in APA, make sure you are correctly using commas, and revise your
paper. Workshops can be taken as a series to help better develop yourself as a writer, or
individually to learn about one strategy or technique, such as just how to use APA or MLA
citations and formatting.
Workshops are run by one of our writing consultants and typically last 45 minutes to an hour.
They are held in the University Writing Center in 115 Halle Library. For more information go to:
http://www.emich.edu/uwc/about/services.php
Classroom Management Issues
Students are expected to abide by the Student Conduct Code and assist in creating an
environment that is conductive to learning and protects the rights of all members of the
University community. Incivility and disruptive behavior will not be tolerated and may result in
a request to leave class and referral to the Office of Student Services (SJS) for discipline.
Examples of inappropriate classroom conduct include repeatedly arriving late to class, using a
cellular phone, or talking while others are speaking.
Students with Disabilities
If you wish to be accommodated for your disability EMU Board of Regents policy #8.3
requires that you first register with the Access Services Office (ASO) in room 203 King Hall. You
may contact ASO by telephone at (734) 487-2470. Students with disabilities are encouraged to
register with ASO promptly as you will only be accommodated from the date you register with
them forward. No retroactive accommodations are possible.
COURSE OUTLINE
Sept. 4th.
Introductions, course requirements and historical perspectives
Sept. 11th.
Police Organization: Evolving Strategies, Chapter 1
Sept. 18th.
Dynamics of Management: Managers and Organizational Behavior, Chapter 2
Sept. 25th.
Leadership theory Chapter 3: Leadership exercises
Oct. 2nd.
Leadership theory continued
Oct. 9th.
Human behavior as it relates to the organization Chapter 4
Oct. 16th.
Determinants of human behavior Chapter 5
Oct. 23rd.
Discussion of beliefs, values and attitudes and the Mid-Term exam
Oct. 30th.
Term project topics are due and review of the mid-term exam. Motivation: the
force behind behavior Chapter 6
Nov. 6th.
Stress in organizational life Chapter 7
Nov. 13th.
Conflict: nature, causes and management Chapter 8
Nov. 20th.
Presentation of term projects
Nov. 27th.
Happy Thanksgiving
Dec. 4th.
Presentation of term projects
Dec. 11th.
Final Exam
Grading: The mid-term exam and the final exam will each count for 33 percent of the final
grade with the term project accounting for the remainder.
Class attendance: Both exams will include multiple choice, fill in and short essay questions
taken from the text and from classroom discussions.