PAD 5001 On-line: Introduction to Public Administration and Public
Service
Graduate School of Public Affairs
University of Colorado-Denver
Fall 2006
Instructor:
Phone:
Email:
Aimee Williamson
(720)733-8263
Aimee.Williamson@cudenver.edu
COURSE OBJECTIVES
This introductory graduate-level course is intended to provide an overview of the field, as well as
serve as a basis for further advanced studies in the MPA program. The course assumes no prior
background—academic or work related—in Public Administration. It introduces students to
administrative concepts and practices, primarily from the standpoint of the public service, its
development and current issues. Much of the coursework will be drawn from case material and
other secondary sources. This class will be divided into two parts: first, an overview of the
bureaucratic system and how it governs and second, the basic instruments or components of
bureaucratic governance.
COURSE MATERIALS
Required Texts:
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Jay Shafritz, Albert C. Hyde and Sandra J. Parkes, Classics of Public Administration, 5th
edition (Belmont: Wadsworth/Thomson, 2004).
Richard Stillman, The American Bureaucracy, 3rd edition (Belmont: Wadsworth/Thomson,
2004).
Richard Stillman, Public Administration: Concepts and Cases, 8th edition (Boston: Houghton
Mifflin Co., 2005).
Supplemental materials will also be provided.
***Please make sure you have the specified editions. More than half of the case studies have
changed since the previous edition of Public Administration: Concepts and Cases.
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REQUIREMENTS
This on-line section of Introduction to Public Administration and Public Service is made up of
ten units, each lasting ten days. Eight of the units will be devoted to discussion and analysis of
the topics indicated. Students are expected to read the required materials and participate during
each unit. The research paper will be due during the eighth unit and the tenth unit will be for
the final exam.
Reading Assignments
Plan to complete the readings within the first seven days of each unit, to allow plenty of time to
participate in the threaded discussion. The supplemental readings are optional. Generally, they
provide a more recent application of the material discussed in the unit. You may certainly
discuss these readings during the threaded discussions, as well as use them as references during
the final exam.
Threaded Discussions (25 points)
For each unit, you are expected to participate in the threaded discussion and will be graded on
this activity. The discussion questions for each unit will be found under each unit heading and
will be labeled “discussion.” The first unit will be a “practice” threaded discussion (everyone
will get one point just for posting). After that, participation will be graded based on both content
and online participation skills. Also after the first unit, I will break up the class into smaller
groups for threaded discussions. You will post your comments and respond to other students
within your smaller discussion group. Each threaded discussion (after Unit One) will be worth 4
points, based on the following:
4 Points: Demonstrates excellence in grasping the key concepts of the unit/assigned
readings; demonstrates critical thought; critiques (positive or negative) work of
others based on application of knowledge from resources (not just personal
opinion); offers new interpretations of discussion materials; contribution is
prompt, thoughtfully worded, and relevant; remarks are posted frequently
responding to other students.
3 Points: Demonstrates understanding of the key concepts of the unit/assigned readings;
supports opinions; responds to other students thoughtfully and within the unit
time frame.
2 Points: Limited participation OR does not demonstrate understanding of the assigned
readings.
1 Point:
Participation is extremely limited AND does not demonstrate understanding of the
assigned readings.
0 Points: No participation in the threaded discussion by the end of the unit.
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You are expected to participate in 7 of the 8 threaded discussions (including the first unit’s one
point “practice,” for a possible total of 25 points. If you participate in every threaded discussion,
your lowest participation grade will be dropped (even if it is a 0). No points will be awarded for
postings made after the due date indicated in the course schedule. I’ve set up “completion dates”
for the readings several days before the end of each unit to give students ample time to
participate in the threaded discussions after completing the reading assignments.
Research Paper (35 points)
You are also required to submit one research paper, on a topic related to an important issue in
public administration. You may choose a topic of interest, with the instructor’s approval. The
paper should be 3,000-4,000 words in length.
There are three major purposes of this assignment:
1) To obtain more in depth knowledge of a significant area/issue in the field of public
administration.
2) To improve research skills, including becoming familiar with the Auraria Library
resources, particularly public administration journals.
3) To improve writing and critical thinking skills.
I am available to help in any capacity with this paper. I encourage students to e-mail me with
their choice of topic and a list of at least ten potential references as soon as possible, but at least
by the end of Unit Four (September 30th). If you would prefer to e-mail me a topic for approval
prior to searching for references, feel free to do so. The research paper will be due at the end of
Unit 7, by midnight, Monday, October 30th. See the “Research Paper” section of the course
for more information on the research paper.
Final Exam (40 points)
The final exam will be an un-timed, open-book exam, given during Unit Ten (December 2nd11th). The final exam must be completed by midnight, Monday, December 11th.
EVALUATION
Grades will be based on the following:
Possible Points
Threaded Discussion 25 points
Research Paper
35 points
Final Exam
40 points
100 points
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Grading Scale
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
93-100 points
90-92 points
87-89 points
83-86 points
80-82 points
77-79 points
73-76 points
70-72 points
67-69 points
63-66 points
60-62 points
Under 60 points
Academic Honesty
Students are expected to be aware of and abide by the Academic Honor Code of the University
of Colorado at Denver. You can access these policies at:
http://www.cudenver.edu/Academics/Catalog0506/RegPolicies/default.htm. Click on
“Academic Policies, Regulations.” Exams must be completed individually, without assistance
from other students. Plagiarism will not be tolerated in any written work. The CU-Denver
catalog defines plagiarism as the “use of another person’s distinctive ideas or words without
acknowledgement.”
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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Students are encouraged to contact the instructor with any questions or concerns about
this course. I am happy to meet with students, talk to students by phone, or respond to
questions by e-mail.
If this is your first online class, I recommend that you review the “student orientation
course” on e-college. If you are having difficulty accessing any of the material, please let
me know.
If you have technical problems with e-college, you can reach their 24 hour help desk at
303-873-0005 or HelpDesk@cuonline.edu.
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COURSE SCHEDULE
UNIT ONE
August 21-31
Overview of Public Administration
Reading Assignment: Complete by August 27th.
 Public Administration: Concepts and Cases: Chapter One (pp. 1-47)
 “Introduction to the Study of Public Administration,” Leonard D. White (Classics of
Public Administration, pp. 56-63).
 “The Administrative State: Conclusion,” Dwight Waldo (Classics of Public
Administration, pp. 150-154).
Written Assignments: Due by August 31st.
 Introduce yourself to the class in the “Introductions” section of Unit One.
 Participation in Threaded Discussion for Unit One (“practice” threaded discussion, worth
one point).
UNIT TWO
September 1-10
The American Bureaucracy
Reading Assignment: Complete by September 7th.
 The American Bureaucracy: Chapters One, Two, and Seven (pp.1-76, 316-350)
 “Bureaucracy,” Max Weber (Classics of Public Administration, pp. 50-55).
Written Assignment: Due by September 10th.
 Participation in Threaded Discussion for Unit Two.
UNIT THREE
September 11-20
Politics and Administration
Reading Assignment: Complete by September 17th.
 Public Administration: Concepts and Cases: Chapter Four (pp.104-123)
 “Politics and Administration”, Frank Goodnow (Classics of Public Administration, pp.
35-37)
 “Administrative Decentralization and Power, Herbert Kaufman (Classics of Public
Administration, pp. 285-297)
 “Public Administration Theory and the Separation of Powers,” David Rosenbloom
(Classics of Public Administration, pp. 446-457)
Written Assignments: Due by September 20th.
 Participation in Threaded Discussion for Unit Three.
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UNIT FOUR
September 21-30
Organizational Theory
Reading Assignment: Complete by September 27th.
 Public Administration: Concepts and Cases: Chapter Six (pp.154-178)
 “Scientific Management,” FrederickTaylor (Classics of Public Administration, pp. 4345)
 “Notes on the Theory of Organization,” Luther Gulick (Classics of Public
Administration, pp. 90-98)
 “The Proverbs of Administration,” Herbert Simon (Classics of Public Administration, pp.
136-149).
Written Assignments: Due by September 30th.
 Participation in Threaded Discussion for Unit Four.
 E-mail research paper topic with list of at least ten potential references to me.
UNIT FIVE
October 1-10
Public Management
Reading Assignment: Complete by October 7th.
 Public Administration: Concepts and Cases: Chapter Ten (pp. 298-339)
 “Public and Private Management: Are They Fundamentally Alike in All Unimportant
Respects?” Graham Allison (Classics of Public Administration, pp. 396-413).
 “Exploring the Limits of Privatization,” Ronald Moe (Classics of Public Administration,
pp. 467-476).
 “A Public Management for All Seasons?” Christopher Hood (Classics of Public
Administration, pp. 503-516).
Written Assignment: Due by October 10th.
 Participation in Threaded Discussion for Unit Five
UNIT SIX
October 11-20
Human Resource Management
Reading Assignment: Complete by October 17th.
 Public Administration: Concepts and Cases: Chapter Eleven (pp. 340-364)
 “Democracy and the Public Service: The Collective Services,” Frederick Mosher
(Classics of Public Administration, pp. 434-445)
 “From Affirmative Action to Affirmative Diversity,” R. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr. (Classics
of Public Administration, pp. 494-502)
Written Assignment: Due by October 20th.
 Participation in Threaded Discussion for Unit Six
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UNIT SEVEN
October 21-30
Research Paper
No reading assignment this week.
Written Assignment:
 Research paper due by midnight, October 30th (the end of Monday).
UNIT EIGHT
October 31-November 9
The Policy Process
Reading Assignment: Complete by November 6th.
 Public Administration: Concepts and Cases: Chapter Eight (pp. 220-253)
 “The End of Liberalism: The Indictment,” Theodore Lowi (Classics of Public
Administration, pp. 298-301)
 “Policy Paradox: The Art of Political Decision Making,” Deborah Stone (Classics of
Public Administration, pp. 571-577).
Written Assignment: Due by November 9th.
 Participation in Threaded Discussion for Unit Eight.
UNIT NINE
November 10-19
Ethics and the Public Service
Reading Assignment: Complete by November 6th.
 Public Administration: Concepts and Cases: Chapter Sixteen (pp. 501-527)
 “The Possibility of Administrative Ethics,” Dennis Thompson (Classics of Public
Administration, pp. 458-466)
Written Assignment: Due by November 19th.
 Participation in Threaded Discussion for Unit Nine.
FALL BREAK
November 20-26
READING PERIOD
November 27-December 1
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NO CLASSES
Use this period to review course materials and e-mail me with any questions you may
have.
UNIT TEN
December 2-11
Final Exam
Written Assignment:
 Final Exam, due by midnight, Monday, December 11th (the end of Monday).
***Please note that this is a tentative schedule and may change if necessary during the course.
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