Ps-220 Syllabus

PS 220
Introduction to Public Policy
Spring 2013

Course Objectives: 1) Students will demonstrate knowledge of how public policy is political, coupled with understanding how major government institutions approach public policy issues and questions. 2) Students will understand major theories and models of the policy process and be able to apply the theories/models in describing and explaining policymaking and its outputs and outcomes. 3) Students will understand major stages and tools/instruments of public policy along with prominent types of public policies. 4) Students will understand and be able to apply major evaluative criteria used in assessing public policy alternatives. 5) Students will demonstrate knowledge of key developments, issues and debates in major public policy areas in the United States.

Required reading: 1) Kraft and Fulong, Public Policy: Politics, Analysis, and Alternatives, 4th ed. (Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2013). 2) Any newspaper – preferably one with a national scope such as NY Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, etc. 3) Various articles as assigned

Course Schedule (for on-site portion of course – on-line discussions will be explained during on-site sessions): Week One (1/15): Introduction and overview Week Two (1/22): Public policy and politics (ch. 1) Week Three (1/29): Government institutions and policy actors (ch. 2) Week Four (2/5): Understanding public policymaking (ch. 3) Week Five (2/12): Exam #1 Week Six (2/19): Introduction to policy analysis (ch. 4) Week Seven (2/26): Public problems and policy alternatives (ch. 5) Week Eight (3/5): Assessing policy alternatives (ch. 6) Week Nine (3/12): Exam #2 Week Ten (3/19): Spring Break Week Eleven (3/26): Economic and budgetary policy (ch. 7) Week Twelve (4/2): Health care policy (ch. 8) Week Thirteen (4/9): Welfare and social security policy (ch. 9) Week Fourteen (4/16): Education policy (ch. 10) Week Fifteen (4/23): Environmental and energy policy (ch. 11) Week Sixteen (4/30): Foreign policy and homeland security (ch. 12) Final Exam 5/7

*please note that this schedule is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion

Evaluation:
Three Examinations (100 points each) 300 points
On-line discussion (10 points/week) 150 points
Every week I will pose a series of questions which will require response and debate from each of you. Discussion topics can be found under our class listing on COMPASS. Grading will be based upon the number of postings you make and the quality of these posts. For full credit, each student must make AT LEAST 5 postings throughout each week and each post must make a substantive contribution to the discussion. In other words, statements like “I agree,” “me too,” and similarly unsubstantiated statements do not count. Instead, explain why you agree or why you feel that another point ought to be considered. Where possible, try and incorporate course readings, newspaper articles, or any other information you may have come across that bolsters your position. If done with full thought and commitment, these discussions will be very fulfilling and will more than adequately substitute for the lack of lectures. This is especially true if people do not wait until the very end to "jam in" their postings. Join the discussion early and often the results will be amazing! Course policy on discussions
When addressing controversial topics, or when disagreeing with other students in the class (I hope you will), please use great tact. When people write, we cannot hear voice changes, hear pauses in sentences, see hand gestures, hear the occasional laugh, etc. In other words, be careful HOW you write and respond. I hope that we can all maintain a high level of respect for one another at all times! If done correctly, the discussions will be fun, lively, and enlightening without being offensive to those who happen to hold a differing opinion from our own.

I hate to mention it, but while I am up front with the grading process, please remember that a grade is a private issue between instructors and students. Please do not discuss grades on the discussion board. This will distract us from the questions at hand.

A= 405-450
B= 360-404
C= 325-359
D= 270-324
F= below 270

*Review the syllabus and the course schedule, and make sure that you will get the course that you expect and want. If you require special assistance or reasonable accommodations to meet course requirements, you should contact me as soon as possible. Let me know how to help!