PUB AFRS 100
Public Affairs Survey
Autumn 2010 Syllabus
1 credit hour
Class Number
Location
Class Meetings
Instructor Name
Office & Phone
Email
Office Hours
Chris Adams
Coordinator of Undergraduate Programs, John Glenn School of Public
Affairs
Page Hall 110; 614-292-8696
Adams.615@osu.edu
By appointment
COURSE OVERVIEW
This course is designed to introduce you to the Public Affairs major at Ohio State, as well as University
and Glenn School academic policies and procedures.
All course materials are available online through the course website, http://www.carmen.osu.edu.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
• Create a personalized degree plan.
• Develop awareness of the meaning of the baccalaureate experience and the process to obtain a
degree.
• Learn about the public affairs major and the General Education Curriculum (GEC).
• Develop an understanding of University dates/deadlines and other policies.
• Help you become familiar with the University's academic and other resources.
• Develop the ability to effectively use technology resources in academic planning.
• Establish a relationship with a Glenn School Academic Advisor.
THE JOHN GLENN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
The John Glenn School of Public Affairs is an academic unit at The Ohio State University that offers
coursework at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels in public affairs, the interconnection
between policy making and the management of the organizations and networks of organizations that
tackle public problems. At the undergraduate level, the School offers courses for a bachelor’s degree in
public affairs, along with courses that count toward Ohio State’s leadership studies and nonprofit
management minors.
REQUIRED TEXTS AND AVAILABILITY
All course readings will be available on the class website, http://www.carmen.osu.edu. Additional
reading materials and articles will be distributed in class. You should also familiarize yourself with the
information found on the Glenn School’s website, http://glenn.osu.edu/undergraduate/index.html.
WEB RESOURCES
www.glenn.osu.edu (John Glenn School of Public Affairs)
www.carmen.osu.edu (Carmen)
www.buckeyelink.osu.edu (Buckeye Link)
www.fye.osu.edu (First Year Experience)
ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY
As members of a university community, students are expected to uphold the highest standards of
academic honesty in all course work. Penalties for plagiarism, cheating, or other acts of academic
dishonesty may include receiving a failing grade, dismissal from the University, or revocation of degree.
More information can be found in The Ohio State University Code of Student Conduct.
ADA STATEMENT
Students who have documented any learning disabilities with the Office of Disability Services are
encouraged to meet with the course instructors to discuss arrangements for any approved
accommodations. Please contact the Office of Disability Services at 292-3307 if you have any questions.
Students requiring modified versions of written materials (large print, Braille, tape, etc.), class
modifications (e.g. American Sign Language), or an alternate format for submission of written materials,
please privately contact one of the instructors. Every effort will be made to work with you to
accommodate your specific learning needs.
ASSIGNMENTS
Public Affairs 100 is graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U). Students are expected to complete all
assignments. In order to earn a satisfactory grade, you must earn a minimum of 85 out of a possible 100
points.
You are expected to hand in all assignments on the day they are due. Points will be deducted for late
work unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor.
Item
FYE Success Series 1
Points
5
Due
Arranged
FYE Success Series 2
5
Arranged
In Class Book Discussion
5
Week 3
Degree Audit Report (DARS)
5
Week 4
Degree Plan
25
Week 7
Three Quarter Projection
10
Week 7
Advising Appointment
10
Weeks 6-8
Career Assessment Project
10
Week 9
Worksheet Assignment
25
Week 10
Total
100
Brief Description of Assignments
First Year Success Series
You will attend two sessions of your choice on any of a variety of issues important to student success.
The autumn quarter Success Series runs from October through November. Please plan on completing
the FYE assignment early in the quarter, as many sessions fill up quickly. The FYE Web Address to sign up
for the sessions is: www.fye.osu.edu.
*Note: in order to earn credit for your participation in an FYE event, you must stay for the duration of
the session.
Buckeye Book Community
The Buckeye Book Community is an opportunity for first-year students to share in a significant academic
experience with their classmates. This year, entering students will read XXX by XXX. The Office of First
Year Experience is planning several events around this book, including a visit by the author. You will
participate in a book discussion in your survey class, and you are strongly encouraged to sign up for one
of the book-related events. The FYE Web address to sign up for a session is:
www.fye.osu.edu/Book/BookEvents.html.
Degree Audit Report (DARS)
For this assignment, print off a copy of your Degree Audit Report (DARS)—an important degree-planning
tool—and bring it to class. Go to buckeyelink.osu.edu, select the “Grades and Advising” tab, and click on
“Degree Audit Report.” Follow the prompts.
Bachelor of Arts Degree Plan
Upon reading the degree planning materials available on the course website, use the “Degree Plan” to
map out the courses you plan to take to complete the GEC, your major, specialization requirements and
other courses. To complete the assignment, you must meet individually with an advisor to review your
final plan. You can sign up for a meeting by calling the Glenn School at 614-292-8696 or by making an
appointment at the front desk in 110 Page Hall.
Three Quarter Schedule Projection
The schedule projection will require you to plan out your schedule for the next three upcoming quarters.
You will review your projection with an advisor when you meet to evaluate the Degree Plan.
Career/Self Assessment Project
Self-assessment is the process of gathering information about yourself in order to make informed
decisions about your career. It is the first step of the career planning process. A self-assessment
includes identification of your values, skills, interests and personality. It can reveal your strengths and
help you to recognize your challenges. In addition to determining what you are good at and value, an
assessment helps you to find out what kind of activities and environments you enjoy. You can also use
the results of a skills assessment to identify which skills you may need to develop for a particular career.
Please review the career planning self assessment document on the Carmen site, and complete the
exercise beginning on page 5 of the document. You can bring it with you to your advising appointment
or submit it via the Carmen drop box.
Advising Appointment
You must schedule an appointment with a Glenn School advisor to go over your degree plan and three
quarter projection. You can also turn in your self-assessment and worksheet at this time. You can call
614-292-8696 to schedule an appointment. Remember to call early, as advisors’ schedules fill up fast,
and walk-ins cannot always be accommodated.
Worksheet
This worksheet serves as the “final exam” for Public Affairs 100. It should be completed and brought
with you to your academic advising appointment. You are responsible for completing the entire
worksheet for course credit. Please answer each and every question to the best of your ability. You will
be able to find the answers as you explore the links and readings located on the class website and
become familiar with the John Glenn School of Public Affairs.
Schedule of Assignments
Week
1
Topic
Review Syllabus
Introduce Carmen
What is Public Affairs?
Readings/Assignment
▪ Read “Introduction” of JGSPA Undergrad
Handbook and familiarize yourself with
JGSPA website.
▪ Read “Academic Policies” and “Student
Content” sections of JGSPA Undergrad
Handbook
4
Academic policies and
procedures
Adding and dropping classes
University deadlines
In-class book discussion of
freshman Buckeye Book
Community summer reading
book.
Curriculum overview
5
GEC overview
6
Public Affairs major
specialization areas
7
8
Co-curricular opportunities
Study abroad
Service learning
Student organizations
Internships and career planning
9
Public Service in action
10
Questions and Answers
Wrap Up
2
3
Date
▪ Discuss freshman summer reading book.
▪ Read “The Educated Person” article
distributed in class
▪ Print Degree Audit and bring to class
▪ Read “Degree Planning” section of JGSPA
Undergrad Handbook
▪ Review JGSPA General Education
Curriculum requirements
▪ Review JGSPA specialization requirements
▪ Work on degree plan and three quarter
projection assignments
▪ Read “Degree Enrichment” section of
JGSPA Undergraduate Handbook
▪ Degree plan and three quarter projection
assignments due
▪ Read “Career Planning” section of JGSPA
Undergraduate handbook
▪ Discussion with JGSPA alumni
▪ Career/Self-Assessment assignment due
▪ Worksheet assignment due