MELIKSAH UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
(POLS 309) INTRO TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION COURSE SYLLABUS
FALL 2015
OFFICE HOURS: 1: 15 – 2: 15 PM on Wednesday
OFFICE: School of Economics and Administrative Sciences Building, Room: 308
CLASS DAY AND HOUR: Wednesday / 9: 30 – 12: 15
INSTRUCTOR: BULENT UCAR
EMAIL: bucar@meliksah.edu.tr
Course Description
and Objectives:
This introductory course will introduce students to a wide range of
topics in public administration. The course will present a general
overview of organization theeory and behavior, human resources,
decision-making, government performance, ethics in government and
public administration, and role of bureaucracy in a democracy.
Particular focus will be on the concepts and problems of public
administration with emphasis on the development of organizations,
management of human resouruces, ethical practice, professionalism,
and budgeting-financing of government policies.
By the end of the semester, students are expected to;
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Gain an understanding of the politics-administration
dichotomy
Gain an understanding of organization theory
Gain an understanding of bureaucrats’ needs and motivations
Gain an understanding of ethics, decision making, and public
bureaucracies
Gain an understanding of budgeting
Gain an understanding of group dynamics in an administration
Weekly Course Topics:
Week 1: Understanding Public Administration: The Accomplishing Side of
Government – PP: 1-19
Week 2: Understanding Public Administration: The Accomplishing Side of
Government Continued – PP: 19-40
Week 3: Bureaucracy
PP: 79-84, 104-117
Week 4: Fundamentals of Organizational Theory and Management
PP: 122-136
Week 5: Fundamentals of Organizational Theory and Management Continued
PP: 136-155
Week 6: Fundamentals of Organizational Theory and Management Continued
PP: 155-180
Week 7: Basics of Public Personnel Administration
PP: 189-211
Week 8: Basics of Public Personnel Administration Continued
PP: 211-227
Week 9: An Overview of Public Budgeting
PP: 232-251
Week 10: An Overview of Public Budgeting Continued
PP: 251-269
Week 11: Public Administration and Issues Relating to Government
Performance – PP: 316-332
Week 12: Public Administration and Issues Relating to Government
Performance Continued – PP: 332-352
Week 13: Ethics and Public Administration
PP: 360-372 (Till Major Ethical Principles)
Week 14: Ethics and Public Administration Continued
PP: 372-387
Required Text Book:
Jeffrey D. Greene, Public Administration in the New Century: A Concise
Introduction, Cengage Learning, 2004.
Supplementary Text Book:
Donald F. Kettl, Politics of the Administrative Process, CQ Press, 2014
Additional Resources:
T.C. Kamu Denetçiliği Kurumu: www.ombudsman.gov.tr
T.C. Kamu Gözetimi Kurumu: www.kgk.gov.tr
T.C. Devlet Denetleme Kurulu Raporları - T.C. Cumhurbaşkanlığı:
www.tccb.gov.tr/ddk
T.C. Sayıştay Başkanlığı: www.sayistay.gov.tr
Student Evaluation:
There will be two tests for this course. One midterm exam and one final
exam. Group studies, class participation and attendance will affect
students’ final grades substantially.
Midterm exam will be a take home exam. A short essay of 500 – 750
words. Students will be given few short essay questions to choose one
from. The paper will be assessed on the basis of its clarity, relevance to
the chosen question and critical thinking.
The paper needs to be double spaced, 12 font size, times new roman
style.
Final exam will be a in-class exam. The test will seek to evaluate your
knowledge and understanding of the subjects discussed in the class.
Making interpretations and drawing conclusions is an important part of
this test.
Participation in Class Discussions is important part of learning
process for this class. All students are expected to read the assigned
readings every week for discussions, and be ready to contribute to the
conversations. Group studies, presentations and discussions are
important part of each class.
Assessment Methods:
Midterm Exam: % 40
Final Exam:
% 40
Group Studies
and Class Participation:
% 20
Grading Scale:
Final grades will be awarded on a 100-point scale as follows: A=100 - 91; BA=
81 - 90; BB= 71 - 80; CB = 65 - 70; CC= 61 - 64; DC = 55 - 60; DD = 51 - 54;
FD = 36 - 50; FF = 35 or below.
Classroom Rules:
All students must carefully read and follow the Meliksah University Student
Handbook and have a complete understanding of what they are expected as a
student at Meliksah. Students should always remember that they are in a
university environment and show respect to their classmates, instructors and
the other university personnel. Students should also be respectful to all ideas –
whatever they are. They should also not talk to one another during class, and
not connected to the internet. Also, cell phones should be turned off at all times
during the class sessions. Students should come to class as prepared and are
required to do readings and finish assignments before coming to the class.
Attendance Policy:
Attendance is required and will be checked. A student who misses the first
hour of the course will be considered absent for that day. Whether an excuse is
“acceptable” or not is at the sole discretion of the instructor. A student who
misses more than 30 percent of all sessions for this course in this semester may
automatically fail from the course.
Late Assignments:
Those students who do not come to class on exam/assignment/student
presentation days will automatically receive an ‘F’ for that specific grade item.
A 10 point / day will be deducted for late assignments; and no assignment will
be accepted if it is late more than three (3) days.
Academic Misconduct:
Academic misconduct will not be tolerated. Examples of misconduct include
violating rules stated in this syllabus, cheating, plagiarism (please learn in
detail and precisely what amounts to plagiarism; not knowing is not an excuse),
and dishonesty. All of the work you hand in within this course is expected to be
your own. Moreover, instances of cheating and plagiarism will be handled
according to the university disciplinary rules.
Important Notes:
*The instructor reserves the right to make changes in this syllabus if needed. If
a change takes place, the instructor will notify students about the change - in
class, through e-mail or Moodle - in advance.
*You can reach notes and slits for this course at: