Course Description & Learning Objectives
"Public policy often determines the core of our political and personal lives. This course examines the development of legislative and regulatory policies and the role of public administrators as active participants in the policymaking process by studying problem identification, agenda setting, policy proposal and adoption. Students develop the breadth, skill and knowledge, as well as the understanding of our diverse society, needed for comprehensive analyses of public programs"
Specifically this course will introduce students to public policy approaches, processes, and theories. The course level learning objective will include "Gain the ability to critically analyze, create or improve, and implement, effective public policy in public sector programs and services".
- When and why are policies made? (Agenda Setting)
- How and who makes policies? (Policy Formulation)
- How are the policies put into action? (Implementation)
- Do/did the policies actually work? (Policy Evaluation)
Course Schedule
June 25 |
Introduction, Problem Identification, and Problem Definition Theodoulou & Cahn:
Kraft & Furlong:
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July 9 |
Problem Definition and Agenda Setting Theodoulou & Cahn:
Kraft & Furlong:
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July 16 |
Agenda Setting, Policy Formulation, and Policy Adoption
Theodoulou & Cahn:
Kraft & Furlong:
Moodle:
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July 23 |
Policy Formulation, Policy Adoption, and Implementation Theodoulou & Cahn:
Kraft & Furlong:
Moodle:
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July 30 |
Federalism, implementation, and Policy Evaluation
Theodoulou & Cahn:
Kraft & Furlong:
Moodle:
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August 6 |
Implementation and Policy Evaluation, Change and Termination Theodoulou & Cahn:
Kraft & Furlong:
Moodle:
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| August 13 |
Presentations 1. _______________ 2. _______________ 3. _______________ 4. _______________ 5. _______________ 6. _______________ 7. _______________ 8. _______________ 9. _______________ 10. ______________ 11. ______________ 12. ______________ 13. ______________ 14. ______________ 15. ______________
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| August 20 |
Presentations
1. _______________ 2. _______________ 3. _______________ 4. _______________ 5. _______________ 6. _______________ 7. _______________ 8. _______________ 9. _______________ 10. ______________ 11. ______________ 12. ______________ 13. ______________ 14. ______________ 15. ______________
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Please note additional reading and case studies will be provided to you either in class or in Moodle.
Final Paper
For the final paper you will apply John Kingdon's Multiple Streams theory to your policy area of choice. Kingdon's theory is a good theory for policy formulation and agenda setting. By applying this theory you will learn how the policy problem was defined, what kind of policy solution was created and what role politics played in the formation of public policy.
Here are some areas you may consider for your paper: prescription drugs, social security, housing, disability, abortion, drug abuse, steroids, crime, foster care, etc. You may not select a topic that will be discussed in class such as welfare, environment, health, and food. If you wish to focus your research in the latter areas, please speak to me and we can figure out a specific area within the larger policy area for you.
Paper Proposal
A 1-2 page proposal for the final paper that outlines and describes your research area will be due on our third class meeting, July 16. The purpose of the proposal is to help prepare and guide you in your research. Once submitted, I will review each student’s topic and make sure you are on the right track before investing time and effort on the final research paper. This means I will review and approve each of the research topics and have them ready for you in class the following week.
The proposal should include the following information:
1. What policy area have you selected
2. Why have you chosen the specific area
3. Provide a very brief background and introduction to the policy area
4. Finally, explain the methods you will use for your final paper such as the kinds of research you will conduct whether it will be library research, interviews, site visits, etc.
Final Paper
The final paper should be 12-15 pages excluding the reference section. Please use 12-point font with the appropriate margins. A good way to make sure you do not miss any of the requirements listed below is to use sub-titles to guide you through the paper. It will be due on the last day of class, August 20.
What is expected in the paper?
1. You are able to conceptualize and specifically identify public policy issues discussed in class and the readings.
2. You have identified the actors/players and their interests both within and outside government. How does each view the problem and the policy solution based on their beliefs and values?What kind of indicators, persuasion or evidence did the players use to push their positions?
3. You are able to accurately apply and meaningfully discuss Kingdon's theory
a. How did the issue progress to the policymakers' agenda? In other words, how did the problem become a public problem needing immediate attention?
b. How was the problem defined?
What was the policy solution?
What was occurring in the political stream?
4. Finally, whether you think the policy created actually addressed the problem.
APA Style
Please utilize the APA style guide for your final paper. You may refer to the APA manual for formatting and citation requirements. Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab is a good source for general APA guidelines and can be found at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01. In addition, two useful Web-based tools that may be used to help generate citations include:
1. Son of Citation Machine - http://citationmachine.net/index2.php
2. The KniteCite Citation Service - http://www.calvin.edu/library/knightcite/index.php
At any time this syllabus may be amended or revised. Students will be notified if and when any changes are made.