Graduate Curriculum Committee Course Proposal Form
for Courses Numbered 6000 and Higher
Note: Before completing this form, please carefully read the accompanying instructions.
Submission guidelines are posted to the GCC Web site: http://www.ecu.edu/csacad/gcc/index.cfm
1. Course prefix and number:
PADM 6165
2. Date:
10/31/2011
3. Requested action:
X
New Course
Revision of Active Course
Revision & Unbanking of a Banked Course
Renumbering of an Existing Course from
from
#
to
#
Required
X
Elective
4. Method(s) of delivery (check all boxes that apply for both current/proposed and
expected future delivery methods within the next three years):
Current or
Proposed Delivery
Method(s):
X
On-campus (face to face)
Expected
Future Delivery
Method(s):
X
Distance Course (face to face off campus)
X
X
Online (delivery of 50% or more of the instruction is offered
online)
5. Justification (must cite accreditation and/or assessment by the graduate faculty) for
new course or course revision or course renumbering:
The MPA faculty have assessed the structure of our curriculum to meet the new
accreditation standards of our accrediting body, the National Association of Schools of
Public Administration and Affairs (NASPAA). As a result of that assessment, the
graduate faculty who comprise the MPA Committee have determined the need to
introduce a new course on program evaluation and to revise the content of PADM 6161.
This change will allow the students focusing on public policy as an area of emphasis to
bridge distinct policy content focused courses. The course will help us address the
NASPAA required competency of “To analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve
problems and make decisions.” The course was then approved by the Graduate Faculty
of the Department of Political Science.
1
Revised 04-06-11 and posted fall of 2011
6. Course description exactly as it should appear in the next catalog:
PADM 6165. Program Evaluation (3) P: PADM 6101 or consent of instructor. Theory and
practice of program evaluation with attention to the conceptualization and design of an
evaluation as well as the methods of measurement.
7. If this is a course revision, briefly describe the requested change:
Not applicable.
8. Course credit:
3
Lecture Hours
Weekly OR
Per Term
Lab
Weekly OR
Per Term
Studio
Weekly OR
Per Term
Practicum
Weekly OR
Per Term
Internship
Weekly OR
Per Term
Other (e.g., independent study) Please explain.
Total Credit Hours
Credit Hours
Credit Hours
Credit Hours
Credit Hours
Credit Hours
3
s.h.
s.h.
s.h.
s.h.
s.h.
s.h.
s.h.
3
15
9. Anticipated annual student enrollment:
10. Changes in degree hours of your programs:
Degree(s)/Program(s)
Master of Public Administration
Changes in Degree Hours
0
11. Affected degrees or academic programs, other than your programs:
Degree(s)/Program(s)
Not applicable
Changes in Degree Hours
Not applicable
12. Overlapping or duplication with affected units or programs:
X
Not applicable
Documentation of notification to the affected academic degree programs
is attached.
13. Council for Teacher Education (CTE) approval (for courses affecting teacher
education):
X
Not applicable
Applicable and CTE has given their approval.
14. University Service-Learning Committee (USLC) approval:
X
Not applicable
Applicable and USLC has given their approval.
15. Statements of support:
a. Staff
X
Current staff is adequate
Additional staff is needed (describe needs in the box below):
2
Revised 04-06-11 and posted fall of 2011
b. Facilities
X
Current facilities are adequate
Additional facilities are needed (describe needs in the box below):
c. Library
X
Initial library resources are adequate
Initial resources are needed (in the box below, give a brief explanation and
an estimate for the cost of acquisition of required initial resources):
d. Unit computer resources
X
Unit computer resources are adequate
Additional unit computer resources are needed (in the box below, give a
brief explanation and an estimate for the cost of acquisition):
e. ITCS resources
X
ITCS resources are not needed
The following ITCS resources are needed (put a check beside each need):
Mainframe computer system
Statistical services
Network connections
Computer lab for students
Software
Approval from the Director of ITCS attached
16. Course information (see: Graduate Curriculum and Program Development Manual for
instructions):
a. Textbook(s) and/or readings: author(s), name, publication date, publisher, and
city/state/country. Include ISBN (when applicable).
Required
Ronald D. Sylvia & Elizabeth M. Gunn. 2004. Program Planning and Evaluation for the
Public Manager 3rd Edition, Waveland Press, Prospect Heights, IL.; ISBN-13: 9781577663416
Emil J. Posavac. 2010. Program Evaluation: Methods and Case Studies, ed. 5,
Prentice Hall Canada; ISBN 13: 978-0205804979
Plus selected readings
Recommended Reading
Peter H. Rossi, Mark W. Lipsey, and Howard E. Freeman. 2003. Evaluation: A
Systematic Approach, 7th edition. Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA.; ISBN 13:
978-0761908944
3
Revised 04-06-11 and posted fall of 2011
b. Course objectives for the course (student – centered, behavioral focus)
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. identify the diverse purposes of program evaluations within a wide range of
environments where evaluations are conducted;
2. describe the conceptual issues and primary methods (including both
quantitative and qualitative methods) practitioners use to conduct and assess
evaluations;
3. employ conceptual and writing skills in constructing evaluation designs by
choosing appropriate methods, developing measurable objectives, collecting
data, and critiquing other evaluations;
4. model successful program evaluation techniques by conducting an evaluation
of a public program.
c. Course topic outline
1. Introduction and course overview
a. Where evaluation is used and conducted
b. History of program evaluation
c. Guiding principles
2. Defining and classifying program evaluation theory
a. Defining program evaluation
b. Use of evaluation in policy and management processes
c. Designing evaluations for multiple settings
3. Needs assessment
a. State of the field
b. Defining need
c. Sources of information
d. Using a needs assessment
4. Planning an evaluation
a. Steps in conducting an evaluation
b. Overview of evaluation models
c. Writing a researchable question
d. Issues and challenges
5. Selecting criteria, setting standards, and ethical concerns
a. Goals and objectives
b. Evaluation criteria
c. Limitations
d. Stakeholders
e. Ethical paradigms
i. Conflicts of interest
ii. Participant protections
6. Developing measures
a. Sources of data
b. Validity
c. Types of measures
7. Formative evaluation and program monitoring
a. Formative evaluation
i. Definition
ii. Design
4
Revised 04-06-11 and posted fall of 2011
iii. Compared to summative evaluation
iv. Implementation
b. Program records
i. Information format
ii. Accessibility
iii. Comparability
c. Common problems
8. Outcome evaluation design
a. Design
b. Internal and external validity
c. Single group evaluation
d. Descriptive designs
9. Randomized experimental design
a. Making observations
b. Dependent variables
c. Combining designs
10. Quasi-experimental design
a. Group comparison
b. Evaluating and critiquing research designs
c. Data collection issues
d. Project management
11. Using experiments to evaluate programs
a. Experimentation design and challenges
b. Introduction to survey methodology
12. Sampling
a. Methodology
b. Limitations
c. Ethical issues
13. Analysis of costs
a. Role of cost benefit and cost effectiveness designs
b. Methodology for cost benefit and cost effectiveness
c. Comparing outcomes to costs
d. Criticisms of cost analyses
14. Qualitative evaluation methods
a. Positivism and grounded theory
b. Data collection and measurement issues
i. Techniques
ii. Appropriate measures
15. Encouraging utilization of program evaluations
a. Considering your audience
b. Engaging stakeholders
c. Evaluating results
d. Integrating users
e. Presenting results
d. List of course assignments, weighting of each assignment, and
grading/evaluation system for determining a grade
1. Class participation: 20 %
a. Weekly assignments (12) including discussion boards, short papers,
and presentations
b. Attendance
5
Revised 04-06-11 and posted fall of 2011
2. Midterm exam: 20 %
3. Final exam: 20 %
4. Evaluation project: 40 %
A=90 to 100 %
B=80 to 89 %
C=70 to 79 %
F=Below70 %
6
Revised 04-06-11 and posted fall of 2011