GSPA

Course Description: The course is intended as a broad introduction to the study and practice of public service. Public service is a complex and varied field that draws upon many specialities in performing the important work of delivering public services. Working from the general to the specific, course content is organized into three sections that cover the development and social/political environment of American public service, the nature and management of public service organizations, and the role of the public service practitioner. Within the three sections are a total of nine topical areas assigned reading sets.

The goals of the course are to: Provide a theoretical foundation for understanding current events affecting pubic service organizations and professionals; make students aware of the nature and development of the field of public service; give students a conceptual framework within which to examine their role in public service; encourage independent and critical evaluation of ideas and actions rather than acceptance of conventional wisdom.

Class sessions include instructor and student presentations, whole-class discussions, and small-group exercises. Class members are expected to attend and to be active participants in class discussion.

Research Paper: Class members will prepare a research paper on one of the topics listed below. The paper is intended to extend the student's knowledge beyond course contents, into foundational and cutting-edge scholarly writing. Students are expected to conduct a thorough review of the literature beyond course readings, selecting for use from ten to fifteen sources outside course readings that offer a wide range of research and opinion.

This is a paper about ideas and the field of public service; narrow, focused, or specific case-based approaches are to be avoided, through brief examples may be used for illustration. The paper should include description and critical evaluation of the conceptual content of the literature and its importance for current and future practice in public service. The topic choices are (these shall be the paper titles as well):

Reading Summaries: At the beginning of each of the five Saturday class sessions, students will submit summaries of the assigned readings, not to exceed five double-spaced pages in length. Summaries will be graded as adequate (3 points) or inadequate (0). Adequate summaries will identify and discuss what the class member believes to be the most important ideas in the readings.

Take Home Papers: Class members will write mid-term and final papers, each not to exceed eight double-space pages in length. The papers are designed to give the student an opportunity to draw upon course material, especially in-class work, in creatively addressing two broad questions (in each paper) on topics central to the course.

Threshold Writing Requirement: The ability to communicate accurately and effectively in writing is an essential part of academic and professional work. Since this is a university-level course and a course within a professional degree program, there is a required threshold level of competence in writing which preempts grading on other aspects of student performance. This means that to pass the course, class members must in all written work use appropriate language, structure, and citation style.

Grading: There will be 65 points possible in the course, as follows: research paper summary, 5 points; research paper, 15 points; reading summaries, 15 points total; take-home papers, 10 points each; class participation, 10 points. Late work will be accepted with a penality.

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