Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Program Overview and Theory of Public Administration Online

PADM 6000-71I

Course: PADM 6000-71I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCJ
CRN: 32433

Course Description

This is a foundation course that provides an overview of the MPA program and introduces students to the public administration profession. Students learn about MPA curriculum, areas of emphasis, and the experiential learning requirements. Additionally, students study the theoretical and practical framework for public administration, as well as competencies required for career public servants and nonprofit administrators. (Fall, Spring [Online]) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

Course Materials (there is ONE textbook for this course): 

  1. Mary E. Guy & Todd L. Ely. (2022) Essentials of Public Service, 2nd edition.  Irvine, CA: Melvin & Leigh, Publishers. 
ISBN: 978-1-73604022-5. 

NOTE: Additional required readings in the form of scholarly articles are available in full-text through the JSTOR database. For your ease and immediate accessibility, the stable web links of the full text of these readings are provided under each weekly topic in our Canvas course shell.

* The instructor reserves the right to add additional readings or resources to future modules, refer to the schedule and the canvas module for information and updates!

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand the major concepts, approaches and authors of public administration theories and be able to apply them to real world cases.
  2. Discuss and write about the competing public sector values, ideals, traditions, and practices that comprise the field of public administration. 
  3. Use and apply graduate level research and presentation skills to course content.
  4. Evaluate personal knowledge gained from the course and apply the concepts to your current and future career goals.

Course Requirements

Course Requirements are as follows: 
  • Written Assignments (Paper/Memos, Journals): 
    • Course Learning Outcomes achieved with completion of these assignments: Students will
      • Understand the major concepts, approaches and authors of public administration theories and be able to apply them to real world cases.
      • Discuss and write about the competing public sector values, ideals, traditions, and practices that comprise the field of public administration. 
  • Group Discussion Boards
    • Course Learning Outcomes achieved with completion of these assignments: Students will
      • Understand the major concepts, approaches and authors of public administration theories and be able to apply them to real world cases.
      • Discuss and write about the competing public sector values, ideals, traditions, and practices that comprise the field of public administration. 
      • Use and apply graduate level research and presentation skills to course content.
  • Midterm and Final Exams
    • Course Learning Outcomes achieved with completion of these assignments: Students will
      • Understand the major concepts, approaches and authors of public administration theories and be able to apply them to real world cases.
      • Discuss and write about the competing public sector values, ideals, traditions, and practices that comprise the field of public administration. 
      • Use and apply graduate level research and presentation skills to course content for their presentation(s).
  • Student Portfolio
    • Course Learning Outcomes achieved with completion of these assignments: Students will
      • Evaluate personal knowledge gained from the course and apply the concepts to your current and future career goals.

Course Outline


Course Schedule (Tentative) 

This course schedule is subject to change. The professor will notify students and post updates on Canvas regarding any changes necessary during the semester. Students are responsible for staying up-to-date with any changes made.

Synchronous class meetings/lectures: For most modules, I will host a synchronous discussion and/or mini-lecture. We will decide together in our first virtual meeting on the best day/time for this recurring weekly optional meeting. Recordings of the meetings are provided for students in Canvas.

Module 1 – Introductions (Aug. 27 - Aug. 31)

  • Reading: 
    • Guy & Ely (G&E) Ch 1
    • How to Read a Book
    • SUU MPA Strategic Plan
  • Introduction Discussion Board & Write It Down assignment
  • Student Skills Self-Assessment Survey
  • Student Information Survey
  • Class Orientation - THURSDAY, August 28 @ Noon MST

Module 2 – “What is Public Administration? How do we navigate the Complexities?” (Sept. 2 - 7)

  • Reading: 
    • Guy & Ely (G&E) Ch 2
    • The Evolution of PA
    • Max Weber’s Bureaucracy
    • The Study of Public Admin
  • Discussion Board (A) - Current Event Article
  • Discussion Board (B) - Policy Pick
  • Class Zoom - Date/Time TBD

Module 3 – “What kind of Leader Am I?” Managing People & Organizations (Sept. 8 - 14)

  • Reading: Guy & Ely (G&E) Ch 3
  • Written Assignment: Managing People vs Leadership
  • Class Zoom - Date/Time TBD

Module 4 – Who are the “Cornerstones of the Field” - the “Classics” we should know about? (Sept. 15 - 21)

  • Reading: Guy & Ely (G&E) Ch 4,5
  • Discussion Board: Choose a “Classic” (theory or theorist) & Discuss
  • Class Zoom - Date/Time TBD

Module 5 – Human Resource Functions and Processes, Systems Theory (Sept. 22 - 28)

  • Reading: 
    • Guy & Ely (G&E) Ch 5
    • Deming resources in Canvas
  • Written Assignment: Journal on HR Processes
  • Class Zoom - Date/Time TBD

Module 6 – “The Numbers Show your Policy Priorities” Public Budgeting (Sept. 29 - Oct. 5)

  • Reading: Guy & Ely (G&E) Ch 6
  • Written Assignment: Current Event Memo - Budgeting & Policy
  • Class Zoom - Date/Time TBD

Module 7 – Midterm Week (Oct. 6-12)

  • Midterm Week! 
  • “Crossroads of Theory and Practice” - Project Due

Module 8 – FALL BREAK WEEK 
(Oct. 15-19)

  • No Readings or Assignments this week!

Module 9 – “What about Them? (the Citizens?)”  Citizen Engagement & Digital Democracy (Oct. 20-26)

  • Reading: Guy & Ely (G&E) Ch 2, 7
  • Written Assignment: Journal: Citizen Engagement Discussion Questions
  • Class Zoom - Date/Time TBD

Module 10 – “Revisiting Your Policy Picks & Their Financial Impacts” Public Policy & Financial Mgt (Oct 27-Nov 2)

  • Reading: Guy & Ely (G&E) Ch 8, 9
  • Discussion Board: Policy Pick Application
  • Class Zoom - Date/Time TBD

Module 11 – “The Fishbowl: Our Actions & our Partners” Transparency, Contracting, Cultural Competency (Nov 3-9)

  • Reading: 
    • Guy & Ely (G&E) Ch 10, 11
    • Cultural Competency Podcast
  • Written Assignment: 
  • Class Zoom - Date/Time TBD

Module 12  – “What are our Ethical and Legal Responsibilities?” Legal Aspects of PA and Public Integrity (Nov 10-16)

  • Reading: Guy & Ely (G&E) Ch 12,13
  • Written Assignment: Journal on Leadership

Module 13 – “Are We Hitting the Mark?” Measuring Performance in Govt (Nov 17-23)

  • Reading: Guy & Ely (G&E) Ch 14,15
  • Assignments: 
    • Final Exam Worksheet Assigned
    • Portfolios Due 11/23
  • Class Zoom - Date/Time TBD

BREAK WEEK (Nov 24-30) 

Module 14 – Wrap up, Final Week (Dec 1-7)

  • Reading: No readings assigned
  • Assignments:
    • Peer Review of Portfolios Due 12/7
    • Final Exam Worksheet Due 12/7

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

All assignments are due at 11:59 PM (MOUNTAIN TIME) on the day listed in the course outline. It is your responsibility to ensure that the correct and final version of your assignment has been submitted by the deadline. Assignments received after the due date and time are considered late and will be penalized 10% of the possible grade (this includes Discussion Posts). For each week after the initial week that assignments are late, an additional 10% penalty will be applied.

Attendance Policy

This course is fully online. However, virtual meetings will be scheduled and students are encouraged to attend the meeting or watch the recording afterwards.  Recordings of class meetings and discussions will be posted in the Media Gallery in Canvas for that course’s shell.
Group presentations assigned in classes as a virtual meeting will require that students be in attendance for those meetings.  Contact your instructor if you have a conflict to work out an alternative option. 



Course Fees

N/A

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.