PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 460
ADMINISTRATION & PUBLIC POLICY DEVELOPMENT
Office Hours and Contact Information:
Professor: Ric Epps
E-mail: repps@mail.sdsu.edu
T.A.: Megan Humphres
E-mail:meghumphres@gmail.com
Office: PSFA-172
Office Hours: Monday, 6-7pm or
by appointment
I. Course Description (From SDSU Catalog)
“Process of formulating public policy with emphasis on the role of public agencies.”
This course serves as an undergraduate introduction to the public policy process, with a focus on the context of the United
States. Throughout the course students will examine theories, concepts, and models of public policy making, giving
attention to both official and unofficial actors in the policy process. Students will consider how citizens’ and other actors’
voices are heard, not heard, and/or actively silenced in the context of American policies related to morality, social equity,
immigration, energy and the environment, drugs, social and corporate welfare, and terrorism. Students will end the course
by examining specific examples of policy implementation and policy failure.
II. Course Objectives:
The objectives of this course are as follows:
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Students will critically examine the role that individuals and organizations play in the policy process.
Students will locate themselves within the policy process, both as targets of public policy and as actors in the
policy process.
Students will locate the formal and informal organizations in which they work, study, and socialize within the
policy process, both as targets of public policy and as actors in the policy process.
Students will apply theories and concepts of the policy process to real-world situations during class discussion
and through analysis of text and film.
III. Students with Disabilities:
Students who need accommodations for their disabilities should contact me privately to discuss specific accommodations for
which they have received authorization. Also, If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need
accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473 (Calpulli
Center, Suite 3101). To avoid any delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student Disability
Services as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that accommodations based upon
disability cannot be provided until you have presented your instructor with an accommodation letter from Student Disability
Services. Your cooperation is appreciated. SDSU-IV Students can contact Norma Aguilar’s or Student Affairs (Norma: (760)
768-5637; Student Affairs: (760) 768-5502.
IV. Materials
A.
Required Texts:
Cochran/Mayer/Carr/Cayer/McKenzie/Peck. American Public Policy : An Introduction, 11th Edition
B.
Supplemental Videos:
As required.
C.
Other Materials:
As required
V. Grades & Evaluations
300 Total points are possible for this course. The grading scale is as follows: 90-100% = “A” range, 80-89% = “B” range,
70-79% = “C” range, 60-69% = “D” range, 59% and Below = F
1.
Attendance, Participation, and Discussion. N/A
2.
RESEARCH PAPER (100 Points). There will be a VIDEO WRITE-UP (100 points). You will watch an assigned
video and submit a 5 page written analysis of the video incorporating relevant chapter themes and terms into your
analysis. Video topics and due dates will be posted on Blackboard and emailed to you—THIS IS NOT A BOOK
REPORT! Due Week 13—In-class.
3.
Examinations (Midterm’s = 2 x 100 Points= 200pts & Final Exam= 100 Points). Exams may consist of ultiple
choice, I.D’s, short answer, or essay questions. You must complete all exams, failure to do so will result in an
automatic failing grade. All exams will be held in-class on specified dates in the syllabus
4.
Make-ups. Make-up exams will only be given to students with approved excuses for their absence. Missing an
exam without an excused absence will result in an automatic failing grade. See the instructor to schedule the exam.
Make-up exams should be scheduled ASAP following the missed test.
VI. General Information
1.
You are responsible for all due dates for assignments and exams!!!
2.
Cheating will not be tolerated. Students caught cheating on exams or papers (i.e., not writing them themselves) will
receive a grade of "F" and be referred for discipline pursuant to University policy.
3.
Announcements- Blackboard (exam dates, schedule/assignment changes, extra-credit opportunities, etc.) will usually
be made one time. It is the student's responsibility to obtain this information (preferably from another student) should
they miss it in class.
4.
The textbook comes in various formats including; hard copy, e-book, rental, or chapter purchase.
5.
All work submitted by students for evaluation must meet the minimum criterion for college-level work.
And all work must meet the basic requirements of grammar and logical structure expected in college writing.
6.
Students will be allowed ONE courtesy warning for cellphone use in class and/or doing non-class related activities on
laptops or tablets—the 2nd offence will result in a 20point reduction for their total semester course points- for each
offence.
7.
Students should always make and retain a copy of any assignment turned in to the instructor. The instructor assumes
no liability for should any materials turned in or mailed to the instructor be lost or destroyed.
**Note on ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES**
Students are always welcome to turn in assignments early if they desire. However, in the case of some assignments, students
should be aware that waiting until the designated due date may provide them with exposure to additional materials and class
discussion that may be useful for their topic. Without advance approval from the instructor or a documented emergency, 5
points will be deducted from the grade for the assignment for each day the assignment is late.
**Note on SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS THROUGH TURNITIN*
Turnitin to “catch” plagiarizing students, students will use the software as a preventative tool to detect possible instances of
plagiarism in their own writing. Students will be permitted to submit draft versions of their assignments to Turnitin as many
2
times as they would like, and then can check the reports generated for plagiarism and make any necessary adjustments to their
work. Draft versions should be clearly marked “DRAFT” in the filename. Students will then submit their final version to
Turnitin.com under a filename clearly marked “FINAL”. Students’ grades will be based only on the final version. More
detailed instructions on using Turnitin will be provided in class.
Students agree that by taking this course all required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to
Turnitin for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers will be included as source documents in the Turnitin reference
database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. You may submit your papers in such a way that no
identifying information about you is included.
**Note on PLAGIARISM**
Plagiarism WILL NOT be tolerated and any instance of plagiarism will result in a zero grade for the assignment, as well as
possible additional disciplinary action. Students should be aware that the instructor reserves the right to investigate suspected
instances of plagiarism using Turnitin plagiarism detection software, and by any other manner deemed necessary. Students
who need more information on what constitutes plagiarism can refer to the following website for guidance:
http://www.plagiarism.org/. Instances of plagiarism will be handled according to the SDSU Academic Senate policy, which
can be found at the following website: Plagiarism Doc.
VIII. COURSE CALENDAR- Spring 2015
Note: This is a general schedule of events for the semester--it is subject to modification.
Course Assignments:
WEEK#
CHAPTER(S)
TOPIC(S)
Week 1
N/A
Introduction
Week 2
Chapter 1
Public Policy: An Introduction
Week 3
Chapter 2
Contexts of Public Policy
Week 4
Chapter 3
The Economy: Changing
Government-Business Relationships.
Week 5
Chapter 4
Economic Issues: Taxing, Spending,
and Budgeting.
Week 6
Chapter 5
Energy & Environmental Policies:
Policy Complacency.
Week 7**
Midterm 1
Chapters 1-5
Week 8
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Crime and Criminal Justice:
Dilemmas of Social Control.
Poverty and Social Welfare Policy.
Week 9
Chapter 8
Health Care: Historic Change?
N/A
Spring Break!!!
Week 10
Chapter 9
Education: Conflict in Policy Direction.
3
Week 11
Chapter 10
Legal and Social Equality: The
Struggle Against Oppression and
Bigotry.
Week 12**
Midterm 2
Chapters 6-10
Week 13**
PAPERS DUE- IN CLASS
Chapter 11
Immigration Policy: The Barely
Open Door.
Week 14
Chapter 12
Foreign and Defense Policy: Security
and Interests in a Dangerous World.
Week 15
Chapter 13
Private Morality & Public Policy: Moral
Values, the Constitution, & Open
Society.
Week 16
Final Review
Finals Week**
Final Exam
Chapters 11-13i
4