Spring Semester 2012

Monday – Wednesday – Friday

11:00 am – 11:50 am

ten Hoor 253

 

Instructor:                        Laura Merrifield Sojka

Office:                              tenHoor 320

E-mail:                              lmsojka@crimson.ua.edu

Office Hours:                     Monday, Wednesday – 11:50 – 1:00 pm and by appointment

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course surveys the fundamental elements of public policy through a variety of policy analysis models, including rationalism, incrementalism, group theory, elite theory, public choice theory, and game theory.  These models of policy analysis are illustrated through the study of policy issues pertinent to the present political climate, including healthcare, criminal justice, educational policy, among others. 

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

 

1.  Identify the role of public policy in a constitutionally-governed capitalist democracy, specifically the United States but with comparisons externally to other nations and internally with regards to state variations

 

2.  Describe the role of federalism and intergovernmental relations in the formulation, implementation, and assessment of public policy

 

3.  Evaluate the purpose of groups in public policy, including interest groups, grassroots organizations, PACs unions, corporations, and political parties  

 

4.  Identify selected policy models and describe the traditional and contemporary applications of these models in salient political issues 

 

5.  Understand a variety of selected policy issues prevalent in society today and recognize the major actors, goals, and challenges imbedded in these conflicts

 

6. Apply the major themes of this course, with regards to policy creation, policy actors, decision making, implementation, and evaluation, to a salient policy of interest to the student through policy portfolios

 

 

REQUIRED TEXTS

Dye, Thomas R.  2013.  Understanding Public Policy.   14th Edition.  Boston, MA:  Pearson Education, Inc.

 

Additional materials, such as case studies and supplemental, will be added.  These will be either supplied by me in class or available via electronic reserve. 

 

DISABILITY ACCOMODATIONS

If you have any special needs, you must contact the Office of Disability Services (348-4285).  You must also meet with me to arrange any necessary accommodations. 

 

ATTENDANCE/PUNCTUALITY

Class attendance is required to succeed in this course.  Lectures and discussions include materials that are not available in the text and you are responsible for all information presented. If you have missed a class, it is your responsibility to obtain the notes from a classmate, as I will not provide these for you. I will not post my lecture notes online. Regular attendance will provide you with all of the information necessary to succeed in this course.  You will be allowed four (4) un/excused absences without a grade deduction.  You are accountable for the material covered during your absence, per the late/missed assignment policy.  Each un/excused absence after the fourth unexcused absence will result in a two-point deduction from your final grade per additional absence (if you miss 6 classes, you will have 4 points deducted from your final grade). 

 

Any changes to the course syllabus will also be announced in class. Please note that we will frequently have in-class assignments to enhance the learning process.  These comprise the participation section of a student’s final grade which can be significant and make-up opportunities are available only in highly unusual circumstances (please refer to late/missed assignment policy). If you are frequently absent, your grade will fall quickly.

 

LATE/MISSED ASSIGNMENTS

Late or missed assignments will be accepted only in very unusual circumstances.  You must contact the instructor within 24 hours of the assignment being due and provide documentation concerning the reasons why an assignment is late or why an exam was missed.  Assignments that are late/missed without documentation will not be accepted.  Expect that documentation may be verified for authenticity.  Forged or false documentation is considered a form of academic misconduct, and in these cases the instructor will follow the University of Alabama’s Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy guidelines. 

 

If an in-class assignment or exam is allowed a make-up, any make-up allowed will be in a format of my discretion (essay, multiple choice, oral examination, etc.).  If you must miss class due to an official University of Alabama function, you must contact me directly for make-up assignments prior to the date of absence.  No late work will be accepted after the last day of class for the semester. 

 

GRADING

The grades for this course will be based on a standard grading system.

 

Grade            %                            Grade                   %                            Grade                  %

A+                98%                         B-                        80%                        D                         63%

A                  93%                         C+                       78%                        D-                        60%

A-                 90%                         C                         73%                        F                          0-59%

B+                 88%                        C-                        70%

B                   83%                        D+                       68%

 

ASSIGNMENTS

 

ASSIGNMENT            %        DUE DATE (Tentative)

Exam I                     25        February 15

Exam II                    25        March 22

Exam III                   25        April 29       

Policy Portfolio        15        April 12

Participation            10        Throughout term

Total                      100

 

* EXAMS

Exams may be cumulative.  The format of exams may include any combination of the following types of questions:  multiple choice, true/false, fill in the blank, and/or short essays.  Further instructions will be detailed prior to each testing date. 

 

If you are absent on exam day, in order to take the make-up exam, you must contact the instructor within 24 hours of the exam and provide documentation concerning the absence.  If you arrive after the first exam has been turned in, you will not be allowed to take the exam unless you can provide documentation concerning your lateness.  No exceptions.

 

* PARTICIPATION

Assigned reading material is a necessary component of this course.  Therefore, in-class assignments will be given randomly throughout the semester based on assigned readings/course content and will collectively constitute 10% of your overall grade.  Assignments may include, but are not limited to, case studies, pop-quizzes, group assignments and individual assignments (take home or in-class).  Case studies in particular are important to understanding the complex nature of public administration challenges and will be used to further illustrate concepts.  These will be made available by me prior to class but must be read by the student before they are discussed in class.  The total number of in-class assignments that contribute to participation may vary, given that quizzes may or may not be necessary throughout the term.

 

* POLICY PORTFOLIO  

Throughout the semester, we will discuss both different methods for evaluating policies as well as specific policies that are salient in society today.  The policy portfolio serves as an application of the course material and will include three (3) articles from reputable media sources that discuss one (1) main policy and a two (2) page double-spaced summary and analysis of each of the articles.  The portfolio is DUE IN CLASS on Friday, April 19th, 2012.  Papers turned in after the deadline will be deducted by one letter grade per day (12:00 on Friday means a 10 point reduction, etc.).  No exceptions.

 

* EXTRA CREDIT 

Extra credit may be offered during the course at my discretion.  Opportunities for extra credit may include, but are not limited to, guest lectures, University events, and extra assignments.  Qualifications for extra credit will be explained if and when an event occurs and will be made available to the entire class.  There is no make-up for extra credit. 

 

CLASSROOM DECORUM

The Code of Student Conduct requires that students behave in a manner that is conducive to a teaching/learning environment.  Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.  Discussions of certain topics may involve opposing positions.  I expect all students to be respectful of others’ positions and opinions.  Students who engage in behavior that is disruptive or obstructive to the teaching/learning environment will be subject to disciplinary sanctions outlined by the Code of Student Conduct. 

 

I also expect students to be respectful of the class.  Please make sure personal electronic devices are off before entering the classroom.  Should your electronic device disturb the class or if you are suspected of text messaging during class, you will be asked to leave.  The use of computers in class is allowed. However, students who engage in non-class related activities on their computers will jeopardize the use of computers during class time for everyone.

 

Furthermore, no photographs, videos, or audio tapings are to be conducted in the class without either 1) a request for disability accommodation from the Office of Disability Services or 2) explicit permission from the instructor.  Lecture material is considered copyrighted.

 

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT

The University expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid disciplinary action.  Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student engage in academic misconduct.  If a student is suspected of any type of academic misconduct, the instructor will follow the University of Alabama’s Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy guidelines.  If you are unsure of what constitutes cheating or plagiarism, please refer to the University of Alabama Student Code of Conduct or ask me.

 

COURSE OUTLINE
This is the guideline for reading for the course.  The corresponding lectures and activities may carry over from day or week, but the assigned chapter(s) should be read by the assigned date.  Please note that this course schedule is tentative and may change as the course progresses throughout the semester.  Any changes made to this schedule will be announced in class. 

 

January 9 & 11              Syllabus Review, Pretest

                                    Introduction to course and Pre-Chapter 1

 

January 14, 16, & 18     Chapter 1: Policy Analysis

 

January 23 & 25             Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (no classes)

                                     Chapter 2: Models of Politics

 

January 28, 30, & Feb. 1  Chapter 3: The Policymaking Process

                                      So Much Damn Money by Robert Kaiser excerpt

 

February 4, 6, & 8            Chapter 4: Policy Evaluation

 

February 11, 13, & 15      Review

Exam I 2/15

 

February 18, 20, & 22      Chapter 5: Federalism and State Policies and Policy Variations

                                               

February 25, 27, &           Chapter 6: Criminal Justice and Rationality &

March 1                           Irrationality

 

March 4, 6, & 8                Chapter 7: Welfare and Rational Strategies

                                      Chapter 8: Health Care and Rational-Comprehensive

 

March 11, 13 & 15            Chapter 9: Education and Group Struggles

                                        Viewing of Waiting for Superman documentary excerpt

 

March 18, 20, & 22           Review

                                        Exam II 3/22

 

March 25, 27, & 29           Spring Break (no classes)

 

April 1 & 3                        Chapter 11: Tax Policy and Special Interests

                                        4/5 Honors Day (no classes)

 

April 8, 10, & 12               Viewing of Inside Job documentary excerpt

                                        Chapter 10: Economic Policy and Incrementalism

 

April 15, 17, & 19             Chapter 14: Civil Rights Policy Elite and Mass Interaction

 

April 22, 24, & 26             Chapter 15: Defense Policy and Game Theory

                                        Review

 

FINAL EXAM: Monday, April 29th  – 8:00 AM -10:30 AM