Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Administrative Law (Online)

PADM 6300-70I

Course: PADM 6300-70I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCJ
CRN: 32437

Course Description

Analyzes the authority of administrative agencies with an emphasis on the study of the administrative relationship between the legislature, government, executives, and regulatory agencies, as well as the judicial review of administrative agencies. 

Required Texts


Administrative Law for Public Managers, David H. Rosenbloom, Third Edition. 
Additionally, throughout the modules there are links to other materials available online. 

Please let me know if any issues arise with accessing those materials. 


Rosenbloom, D. (2023). Administrative Law for Public Managers. (3rd ed.).  Routledge Publishers.  ISBN 9781003303176


Learning Outcomes


By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Describe and identify what is administrative law, and what is the significance of administrative law for public managers and employees, with consideration of the history and context of administrative law in the United States
  2. Assess how agency rulemaking and enforcement happens and distinctions in agency guidance documents
  3. Synthesize, apply, and evaluate administrative law concepts, such as separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, judicial review, transparency, and oversight methods applicable to administrative agencies
  4. Argue opposing sides of recent issues and developments in administrative law and their application to the future of administrative law
  5. Learn and incorporate into analyses your understanding of legal documents, such as regulations, statutes, administrative opinions and guidance, and judicial case law (including how to "brief" a case opinion)
  6. Demonstrate succinct, accurate writing (explanatory and persuasive), particularly as related to administrative legal processes

Course Requirements


Course Overview

Course Format and Structure

This course is delivered entirely through asynchronous online instruction without scheduled lectures. The curriculum emphasizes practical application through carefully selected materials and assignments that incorporate real-world case studies and examples relevant to your field of study.

Learning Support and Communication

While the course does not include regularly scheduled Zoom sessions, I am committed to supporting your academic success. Please contact me via email with any questions or concerns, or request an individual meeting if you would benefit from additional guidance or clarification on course content.

Collaborative Learning Component

Following an initial individual learning period during the first few weeks, students will be organized into working groups for the remainder of the semester. This collaborative structure is designed to:

  • Enhance practical application of course concepts
  • Improve analytical writing through peer feedback and support
  • Foster critical thinking through structured discussions and academic debate
  • Develop professional teamwork and communication skills
Course Development and Updates

Please note that course materials, assignments, and requirements may be revised throughout the semester to ensure optimal learning outcomes and relevance to current developments in the field. Students will be notified promptly of any substantive changes through the course management system.

Academic Success Resources

Your success in this course depends on active engagement with the materials, meaningful participation in group activities, and proactive communication when you need support. I encourage you to take advantage of all available resources and to reach out early if you encounter any challenges.

Course Outline

Assignment Outline

Submission Guidelines and Due Dates

All assignments must be submitted by the specified due dates. Most assignments will be available for 1-2 weeks and are due on Sundays at 11:59 PM, with occasional exceptions for specific assignments.

If you anticipate difficulty meeting a deadline due to personal circumstances, please contact me as early as possible to discuss potential accommodations. For questions regarding due dates or assignment requirements, do not hesitate to reach out for clarification.

Written Assignment Standards

All written work should demonstrate clear, concise communication while maintaining completeness. Strong academic writing requires:

  • Precise language that conveys your intended meaning
  • Logical organization and flow of ideas
  • Proper grammar, punctuation, and proofreading
  • Adherence to specified word limits
Points may be deducted for exceeding word limits or for errors that impede comprehension. Additional writing guidelines are provided in Module 1 and within individual assignment instructions.

Grade Distribution

Grade calculations are based on total points earned divided by total points available, with all points carrying equal weight. The following categories represent approximate allocations and may be adjusted within each category as needed.

Assignment Types

Quizzes

Four quizzes of varying length and point values will assess your understanding of course material. Each quiz allows 60 minutes for completion with one attempt permitted. You may reference your textbook and notes during quizzes. All quizzes must be submitted by their assigned due dates.

Short Answer Responses

These assignments require you to engage with assigned readings, videos, or audio materials and provide focused responses to specific questions. Effective responses should:

  • Directly address the question asked
  • Provide well-reasoned support using assigned materials
  • Demonstrate clear understanding of key concepts

Multimedia Projects

Select modules feature creative assignments requiring you to synthesize course concepts through visual or presentation formats. Examples include graphic representations of theoretical frameworks and recorded presentations. These collaborative group projects are evaluated based on:

  • Demonstrated comprehension of assigned topics
  • Effectiveness of message delivery
  • Ability to present complex information in accessible formats

These skills reflect the modern professional need to communicate efficiently across diverse audiences and platforms.

Annotations

Several assignments utilize Canvas's Hypothesis tool, enabling you to highlight text passages and provide contextual commentary. Some assignments also require responses to classmates' annotations. This interactive approach promotes deeper engagement with course materials by facilitating peer dialogue within the source documents themselves.

Grading criteria include meeting minimum contribution requirements and demonstrating substantive application of course concepts in your annotations.

Essays (Approximately 50% of Final Grade)

Group essays represent a significant component of your course grade. Working within consistent groups throughout the semester, you will complete assignments that may require explanation of concepts, analysis of positions, or advocacy for specific viewpoints.

These assignments serve dual purposes: mastering substantive course content and developing versatile writing skills. Effective academic and professional writing requires adapting your approach to different purposes—persuasive writing differs significantly from explanatory writing. Review the writing guidelines in Module 1 to enhance your essay quality throughout the course.

Course Structure and Pacing

The course is organized into modules, each beginning with a Module Overview that provides comprehensive navigation to all required materials and assignments. Assignment types and completion times vary by module, with some extending beyond one week to accommodate more complex requirements.

Modules 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11 feature particularly time-intensive assignments. Staying current with earlier module content will facilitate success during these demanding periods, as later modules build upon previously introduced concepts and skills. Consistent engagement with course materials will also better prepare you for the comprehensive final examination.

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

Academic Policies

Late Submission Policy

All assignments must be submitted by their designated deadlines. I understand that unforeseen circumstances may occasionally impact your ability to meet established deadlines. If you experience an emergency or exceptional situation, please contact me as promptly as possible to discuss potential accommodations.

Students who consistently demonstrate timely submission of coursework and proactive communication will find me receptive to working collaboratively on solutions when genuine emergencies arise. However, late submissions should remain exceptional rather than routine occurrences.

Group Work Expectations

For collaborative assignments, students are expected to coordinate schedules and maintain regular communication with group members well in advance of due dates. Effective group work requires early planning and shared responsibility for meeting deadlines. Please establish communication protocols and project timelines with your group at the beginning of each assignment.

Make-Up Work and Extra Credit Policy

This course does not offer make-up assignments or extra credit opportunities. All students are held to the same standards and assessment criteria to ensure fairness and academic integrity.

Revision and Resubmission Opportunities

Students who demonstrate genuine commitment to improving their conceptual understanding and writing skills may be eligible for revision opportunities on select assignments. If you are interested in incorporating instructor feedback to strengthen your work, please discuss this possibility with me after receiving your graded assignment.

Revision opportunities are granted at my discretion and are intended to support meaningful learning rather than simply improve grades. Students requesting revisions must demonstrate substantive engagement with feedback and a clear plan for improvement.

Attendance Policy

This is a fully online course with no attendance requirements.

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.