SAMPLE SYLLABUS - subject to change; provided as an example... For current students, the syllabus you are given in class...

SAMPLE SYLLABUS - subject to change; provided as an example only for prospective students.
For current students, the syllabus you are given in class by your instructor is the one which
applies to your course, and which you should follow.
Tennessee State University
Department of Public Administration
Course Number:
PADM 6240 section 95, a hybrid delivered course
Thursday evenings 5:00 to 8:00 PM
Spring, 2011
Title:
Seminar in Staff Functions: Personnel
Course Credit:
Three Credits
Instructor:
Ann-Marie Rizzo, Ph.D.
Office: Avon Williams Campus, Suite F 405
Email: arizzo@tnstate.edu
Phone: (615) 963 – 7250
Office Hours: Tuesday 2:00 – 4:30
Wednesday 12:30 – 4:30
Thursday 1:00 – 4:30
Course Description:
This class will be required in the Master of Public Administration program. This semester it is conducted
as a hybrid course: one week on-line, one week on campus. Its purpose is to instruct the public
administration professional as well as the pre-service student about the field and practice of human
resources management. This course will emphasize applying the theoretical knowledge discussed in
class lectures to “real world” situations and events through the use of case study analyses. The student
will be expected to demonstrate her/his knowledge of human resources management through various
reading and written exercises.
Course Learning Outcomes:
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At the end of this course the student will be able to:
Motivate workforce both ethically and effectively
Explain institutional and legal environment of government
Assess practical situations in public administration and take principled positions
Identify the legal implications of diversity in organizations
Comprehend the composition and demographics of changing society and workforce
Design and use performance measures
Apply theories that can inform leadership and management in organizations
Explain the external and institutional politics of decision making
Apply systematic research processes to novel problems and produce research in written format
Describe the challenges of and criteria for proper administrative data collection and
maintenance
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Instructional Methodology
PADM 6240 is a hybrid course which means that lectures, reading and case study exercises are offered
one week on campus, the next week on line and so on throughout the semester. Students are
expected to be prepared and informed participants in class discussion whether it occurs on line or in
class.
Learning effectively on-line will require different skills from on campus classes. Having said this, the
successful on-line learner frequently has mastered skills which facilitate learning in traditional courses.
Note the following examples, all of which apply in this course. At a minimum, the competent on-line
student:
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Is a self directed learner. This means the student believes he or she is responsible for learning
the course subject matter. S/he checks progress in the course, attends to deadlines, takes
initiative to remedy deficiencies, misunderstandings and requests feedback from the instructor
Is responsible for reading and understanding the syllabus and other guidelines for the class,
assignments, timelines, emails, etc. The response “I didn’t read the deadline/instructions/my
email concerning this” is not an acceptable excuse.
The instructor will be contacting you using your mytsu address. If you choose not to check
your mytsu email, the onus is on you!
Knows how to schedule and creates a study routine, pacing him or herself to complete work in a
timely manner
Checks frequently with the course homepage and offers feedback to the instructor as needed
Submits assignments on time
Reviews course material routinely
Takes notes and can summarize a discussion
Is well prepared for on-line discussions, speaks informatively and expresses points relevant to
the discussion
For further information, please consult http://www.clt.odu.edu/oso/index.php?src=lo_effective
Required Text
Berman, Evan M., James S. Bowman, Jonathan P. West and Montgomery R. Van Wart. Human Resource
Management in Public Service: Paradoxes, Processes, and Problems. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 3rd edition,
2010.
Additional readings will occasionally be required and will be distributed through the course’s eLearn site.
Course Requirements
Written Assignments
(5 @ 40 points)
200 points
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Case Study Critiques (4 @ 50)
Final examination
Total
200 points
100 points
500 points
Final Grades will be based on cumulative points as follows: A = 500- 450; B = 449 - 390; C
= 389 - 325; D = 324 - 250; F = below 250.
Essays (Homework)
Roughly every two weeks the student will read an assignment or conduct research into a public
personnel issue and compose a short essay. The written assignment – referred to in the Course
Schedule as Homework 1, 2….etc. - should be between 3-5 pages in length and should specifically
answer the question given to the student by the instructor. Some questions will require library
research; others will attempt to bridge theory with practice. Each assignment will be located under the
Content module on-line.
Students must submit the all written assignments through the eLearn drop box option for the course.
Important: if the drop box is not available due to technical reasons, email the assignment to
arizzo@tnstate.edu. Whether you use the drop box or email, the time stamp must indicate that you
have submitted by the stated deadline for the assignment. The instructor reserves the right to reject
assignments submitted after the deadline.
Case Study Analyses
Each student will be required to write an analysis of four case studies in human resources management.
Each case study analysis should be between 3-5 pages in length and should discuss the major facts of
the case and should discuss whether or not the right decision(s) was/were made and why. The format
of each case study analysis should be as follows:
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Identify the important facts in the case study
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What decision(s) were made in the case study
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Do you believe the decisions were appropriate?
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Discuss any alternative solution(s) to the problem and support those solutions with additional
research (In other words support your solution with similar cases)
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Conclusion
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Bibliography
In addition, please follow these guidelines regarding presentation and style:
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Make sure each section is labeled appropriately (Facts, Decision, Solution, Conclusion,
Bibliography)
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Citation style: APSA, APA, Chicago
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All papers should use the following format: Times New Roman, 12 point font, 1” margins from
left to right and top to bottom, and double spaced.
The instructor reserves the right to reject assignments submitted after the deadline.
Note: Following directions is an important aspect of graduate school training. Therefore, it is
important that the student follow the stated guidelines in this syllabus, throughout the course of this
class, because failure to do so will result in point reductions. Furthermore, it will probably be to your best
interest to submit papers to me before the due date (at least two weeks), so I can make suggestions on
how you might want to change your work in order to receive a higher grade.
Final examination
This short answer and essay examination will test the student’s ability to integrate or pull together the
subject matter and apply what she or he has learned throughout the course. It will be held on campus
during the last class session.
Classroom Civility:
Appropriate netiquette is expected in the portion of the course taught on line. Some rules for
appropriate conduct may be obvious in both settings. Respect others’ privacy and opinions. Avoid
criticism which is neither constructive nor subject-related. Share expert knowledge to elucidate your
point. For further guidance on these matters, consult: www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html
As with “brick and mortar” classes you are expected to follow all University rules regarding language and
behavior, and in all other matters. TSU’s Code of Conduct includes discipline for acts of personal
misconduct such as lewd, indecent or obscene conduct, damage to University property or others’
property or threats of indecent or inappropriate acts. If such conduct occurs through or as a result of
participation in an on-line course, it is still subject to the same penalties. Please consult the TSU Code
of Conduct and Disciplinary Offenses section in the TSU Student Handbook for more complete
information.
Please consult The MPA Student Handbook online or in print for additional information concerning
conduct, advisement, admissions, graduation and the program as a whole.
Academic Integrity
Tennessee State University expects all students to conduct themselves with honesty and integrity. This
means that you will not cheat and you will not help others in doing so. Whenever you submit as your
own work that which originates from another, whether the other is a published source, a friend, or a
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paper archive, you commit a serious violation of academic integrity known as plagiarism (Wilde, 2008, p.
4).
The Department reserves the right to discipline students for cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, violation
of University rules and otherwise contributing to academic misconduct. As the instructor, I will attach
severe penalties to any cheating or plagiarism I discover: this includes assigning a grade of “F” for the
course and placing a letter in your student file about the incident. You can be accused of plagiarism
after you have completed a course, so you should never pass your papers on for others to use.
Remember: a student who provides answers or a paper for another to use is just as guilty of cheating as
the user. Consequently, if I discover that your paper, or another similar to it, has been submitted by
another student in another class, you can be found guilty of plagiarism.
Acts of plagiarism warrant special mention. Students are especially warned against
(www.tnstate.edu/11p/promoting academic integrity. htm, p. 2):
1) Copying the work of others on tests or assignments;
2) Copying without quotation marks and appropriate documentation from original sources;
3) Paraphrasing factors or ideas of an author without appropriate citation.
For information on proper form as well as what not to do, one good place to begin is:
www.georgetown.edu/honor/plagiarism.html This homepage contains a dazzling array of rationales for
why plagiarism is not only dishonest, unprofessional and in some cases, prosecutable . Please pay
special to the section on “Examples of Plagiarism” Avoid these! The TSU Undergraduate Catalogue
section on “Academic Misconduct” As the TSU Student Handbook makes clear (see p. 16), penalties
for plagiarism and other academic dishonesty range from a zero on the assignment to failure in the
class.
Special Circumstances
It is not possible to predict special circumstances such as technology failures, university closings due to
weather, etc. This is one reason why keeping your contact information up to date with the instructor
and the department is important. Please notify the instructor if your phones, addresses or other
contact information changes during the semester or, for that matter, as you progress through your
academic program. Although this course is conducted on-line some events may require us to contact
you using other means.
Also note: The readings, lectures, and class discussion may be supplemented by use of videos and guest
“speakers” that do not appear on the schedule.
Finally, the instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus with proper notification to students.
Students with Special Learning Needs
If you believe you need special accommodations to conduct your class work, contact Ms. Patricia
Scudder, Director of Students with Disabilities, Disabled Student Services office, at 615 963-7400,
preferably before the fourth class meeting. The Department of Public Administration, in conjunction
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with the Office of Disabled Student Services, makes reasonable accommodations for qualified students
with medically documented disabilities. The instructor must be aware of your status if it will affect your
class activities and assignments before assignments are due.
PADM 6240 Grading Rubric
Criterion
Rubric: Inferior (C)
Rubric: Satisfactory (B)
Understanding
Seems to understand texts
and requirements but does
not express this clearly and
explicitly. Does not use
concepts from the text or
class to analyze paper’s
elements.
Shows solid grasp of concepts.
Discusses ideas
Clearly, explicitly. Seldom
misunderstands materials
or expresses them poorly.
Using concepts
Examples or analogies are
not apt, are naïve, or
repeat instructor/text
examples. Comparisons, contrasts between concepts
are
naïve, unclear or incorrect.
Does not apply theory to
practical experience
appropriately.
Uses appropriate examples,
analogies. Draws appropriate
comparisons, contrasts between various concepts used
In class. Can apply theory
and ideas to practical experience. Demonstrates
Knowledge required for paper.
Critical thinking
and
reasoning
Mostly reiterates in-class or
text discussion. Draws
inappropriate inferences.
Accepts what others
say/write uncritically.
Occasionally offers critical
Commentary. Can identify
underlying theory, values.
Arguments are logical and
ckear,
Writing and
argumentation
No evidence of revision,
editing. Some spelling,
grammatical errors.
Argument lacks flow, logic,
clarity.
Evidence of revision, editing.
Few spelling or grammatical
errors. Argument flows, is
logical and clear.
Rubric: Excellent
(A)
Shows complex,
sophisticated
Understanding
Of concepts,
theories. Uses many
concepts to analyze
issues. Can envision
beyond what was
taught and form
own ideas.
Examples, analogies
are interesting and
suggest additional
Possibilities.
Discussion is clear
and detailed. Draws
insightful contrasts
between various
concepts. Applies
theories, ideas
creatively and innovatively.
Offers penetrating
criticism of material,
Shows pros, cons,
explains why. Arguments are sophisticated and clear.
Presentation is clear,
smooth. Errors are
rare. Argument is
persuasive on its
own terms.
Course Schedule
All readings are from the required text, referred to as Berman (et al), unless otherwise specified.
Additional articles and case studies will be included under the Content link for the course.
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On line sessions are indicated by italicized type. On campus classes are indicated by standard typeface.
1/13 Introduction
1/20 The Context of Public Personnel Administration
and Its Challenges
Berman, chapter 1
1/27 Laws Governing the Public Sector Workplace
chapter 2
2/3
chapter 3
Recruitment
Homework 1
is due
2/10 Selection
chapter 4
Homework 2
2/17 Position Management
chapter 5
Case study 1
2/24 Motivation
chapter 6
Homework 3
chapter 7
Case study 2
3/3
Compensation
3/10 Spring Break
chapter 8
3/17 Work and workplace quality Part 1
3/24 Work and workplace quality Part II
Homework 4
3/31 Training and development
chapter 9
4/7
chapter 10
Performance Appraisal
4/14 Organizational justice, the work, and the worker
Case study 3
4/21 Unions and the Government
Klingner, et al, ch. 13 Homework 5
(hand-out)
chapter 11
4/28 Wrap-up and review
Berman, conclusion
5/5
Final examination
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Case study 4
*** Note this course schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor with appropriate
notification to students.
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