Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Critical Thinking, Ethics, and Public Administration

PADM 6620-70I

Course: PADM 6620-70I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCJ
CRN: 32446

Course Description

An exploration of the role of ethics in public administration with an emphasis on standards of professional conduct, ethics and constitutionalism, and the ethical implications of law, policy, procedure, and practices within public administration. (Spring, Summer [Online]) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Repeatable for Add’l Credit? Yes - Total Credits: 6 Registration Restriction(s): Graduate students only

Required Texts

Defining Moments: When Managers Must Choose Between Right and Right Required
by Jr., Joseph L. Badaracco
Harvard Business Review Press; Edition 1
ISBN: 978-1633692398

Justice: What's the Right Thing to Do? Required
by Sandel, Michael J.
Farrar, Straus and Giroux; Edition Reprint
ISBN: 978-0374532505

Learning Outcomes

In this course, we will prepare you with critical intellectual and ethical skills to successfully execute the multi-faceted responsibilities of public administration. You can see how these course outcomes align closely with the NASPAA core competencies of 1, 3, 4, and 5. You will learn how to manage ethical conduct at three levels – personal ethical issues, as a manager, and from the broader perspective of the organization (either public or non-profit). The focus will be on applying this awareness and knowledge to make informed, well-reasoned decisions in cases of ethical issues that will impact you personally, the people you work with, and your organization.

  • Identify and address common ethical issues that arise for individuals, managers, and organizations. 
  • Use contemporary and classic frameworks to analyze and suggest resolutions to ethical dilemmas. 
  • Recognize how individual differences and cognitive barriers can influence ethical judgment.
  • Identify key organizational tools, policies, systems, and laws that apply to managing ethical conduct. 
  • Identify and prioritize personal values and apply those to making ethical decisions. 
  • Explain how organizational and cultural variables can influence ethical conduct. Define the role of diversity within an ethical framework. 
  • Engage in logically sound discussions about moral dilemmas using the language of managerial ethics. 

Course Requirements

We will accomplish the course objectives with the following requirements:

Preparation

In order to receive the full benefit of the course, you should complete the reading assignments prior to completing the discussion posts. These assignments are shown in the course outline. On each of these “assigned reading days” during the semester, you will mark your completion of the reading assignment on your reading chart. This must be completed prior to the beginning of the reading due date and time. You can receive half credit for any reading done after the due date by marking it as such on your chart. In addition, you will be asked to complete the following assignments:

  • Book Report. The number of great ethical philosophers is numerous. Unfortunately, we will not have the time in class to cover each of them. Instead, I encourage you to search through the provided Book Report List and choose a book to read during the semester. On November 17th, you will then submit a video book report based on your reading. Additional instructions and details for the book report will be made available on Canvas.
  • Admissions worksheet. On September 29th, we will be discussing an Admissions Case. You will be asked to read the short case and complete the accompanying worksheet that will be available on Canvas. You will submit the worksheet on the day the discussion post is due.

Contribution and Discussion

This course requires active and consistent participation through online discussions from all students. Your participation will enhance the course materials and will allow for greater learning opportunities. The first part of participation is completing the discussion posts before their assigned due date – you cannot participate and reply in any meaningful way if you are late. Another crucial part of participation is your contribution to the discussion. Sharing your knowledge and experiences with the other members of the class will create a much richer, more interesting, and more diverse learning experience for all of us. The most important part of the discussion is the quality of your contribution. I will not simply count the number of times that you respond to your peers. However, you are required to reply to at least three of your peers’ responses. Your comments and questions should be meaningful and should contribute to the learning experience of the other students. In addition, your comments must be polite and respectful. I hope that we can learn and benefit from each other during the course.

***Discussion Option -  You can do a video response for the discussion posts, where you walk through the discussion post questions and provide your answers. You can also do your replies this way as well. Additionally, if you and at least two other students (a total of 3 students) get together and discuss each question and your responses through Zoom or some other media option, record it, and post your group discussion on the discussion board. I will count that for your discussion initial reply and your peer responses, but there have to be at least THREE of you on the video, and you each have to contribute. 

Master of Public Administration (MPA) Competencies 

Upon graduation, students should be able: 

NASPAA Universal Competencies/SUU Mission-Specific Competencies
1) To lead, manage and apply effective public governance
2) To participate and contribute to the public, fiscal, and economic policy process
3) To solve problems using analytics, critical thinking, and ethical thinking and conceptualize and apply best practices
4) To articulate and apply public service perspectives norms and legal standards
5) To communicate orally and in writing and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenry 
Technology Usage:
All graduate students in public administration must have a comprehensive understanding of computer technology to effectively engage in their coursework and collaborative activities. They are expected to know how to confidently participate in virtual meetings using both video and audio features on platforms such as Zoom and Google Meet. In addition, they must be proficient in using standard office software, including Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Excel, All Google products (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, etc), and similar tools. As collaboration and group projects are integral to public administration programs, students must be prepared to fully participate and contribute with other students in projects and with the coursework using these digital resources.  Students who find themselves struggling and in need of additional resources are strongly encouraged to reach out to MEET with their professor for additional assistance.  

Course Outline

Course Schedule & Assignments

Semester Begins:

  • Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Module 1: What is Ethics and Why Be Ethical
Available: August 27
Due: Tuesday, Sept 2, 2025 (11:59 PM MDT)

  • Read: Sandel Ch. 1 & 2

  • Read: How Will You Measure Your Life (PDF)

  • Watch: The Good Place – Trolley Problem (Video)

  • Introductory Discussion Post

  • Discussion Post #1

Module 2: Ethical Reasoning and Awareness
Available: August 27
Due: Monday, Sept 8, 2025 (11:59 PM MDT)

  • Read: Sandel Ch. 3 & 4

  • Review: Ethical Tool Kit (Word doc)

  • Ethical Hero Paper Due

  • Reply: Introductory Discussion Post

  • Reply: Discussion Post #1

  • Discussion Post #2

Module 3: Ethical Decision Making – Tool Kit
Available: September 2
Due: Monday, Sept 15, 2025

  • Read: Sandel Ch. 5

  • Read: Ending the US Government’s War on Medical Marijuana Research (PDF)

  • Reply: Discussion Post #2

  • Discussion Post #3

Module 4: Ethical Judgment and Cognitive Barriers
Available: September 8
Due: Monday, Sept 22, 2025

  • Read: Sandel Ch. 6

  • Read: The Central Park Five (PDF)

  • Read: What is Cognitive Bias (PDF)

  • Reply: Discussion Post #3

  • Discussion Post #4

Module 5: Dilemma – Admissions
Available: September 15
Due: Monday, Sept 29, 2025

  • Read: Sandel Ch. 7

  • Read: The Ethical Case for Affirmative Action (PDF)

  • Read: What to Know About Affirmative Action (PDF)

  • Reply: Discussion Post #4

  • Discussion Post #5

  • Personal Ethical Dilemma Due

  • Admissions Worksheet Due

Module 6: Creating Ethical Organizations & Codes
Available: September 22
Due: Monday, Oct 6, 2025

  • Read: Sandel Ch. 8 & 9

  • Read: How to Design an Ethical Organization (PDF)

  • Skim: U.S. Executive Branch Code of Ethics

  • Skim: ICMA Code of Ethics

  • Read: Principles of Ethical Conduct (PDF)

  • Reply: Discussion Post #5

  • Discussion Post #6

Module 7: Ethical Technology
Available: September 29
Due: Monday, Oct 20, 2025

  • Read: Badaracco Ch. 1 & 2

  • Read: Technology Ethics and the Role of Government (PDF)

  • Read: The FBI & Apple Security Case (PDF)

  • Organizational Code of Conduct Presentation

  • Reply: Discussion Post #6

  • Discussion Post #7

Module 8: Obedience & Loyalty
Available: October 6
Due: Monday, Oct 27, 2025

  • Read: Sandel Ch. 10

  • Read: Badaracco Ch. 3

  • Watch: Stanford Prison Experiment (2 Videos)

  • Watch: Milgram Experiment (Video)

  • Read: Stangl & the Holocaust Case (PDF)

  • Reply: Discussion Post #7

  • Discussion Post #8

Module 9: Pinto Case
Available: October 20
Due: Monday, Nov 3, 2025

  • Read: Badaracco Ch. 4

  • Watch: The Pinto Fire Case – What Really Happened (YouTube)

  • Read: The Importance of Being Iacocca (PDF)

  • Read: Ethical Breakdowns (PDF)

  • Reply: Discussion Post #8

  • Discussion Post #9

Module 10: Compliance & Culture
Available: October 27
Due: Monday, Nov 10, 2025

  • Read: Badaracco Ch. 5

  • Read: Our Cheating Culture (PDF)

  • Read: Corporate Culture & Ethics Compliance (PDF)

  • Read: Building Ethical Cultures in Public Service (PDF)

  • Watch: Conformity Bias (Video)

  • Read: German Police Battalion 101 (PDF)

  • Reply: Discussion Post #9

  • Discussion Post #10

Module 11: Moral Courage & Power
Available: November 3
Due: Monday, Nov 17, 2025

  • Read: Badaracco Ch. 6 & 7

  • Read: 8 Rules to Prevent Misuse of Corporate Power (PDF)

  • Read: Leadership and the Use of Power (PDF)

  • Read: Four Ways to Use Power Ethically (PDF)

  • Book Report Due

  • Reply: Discussion Post #10

  • Discussion Post #11

Module 12: Ethical Leadership
Available: November 10
Due: Monday, Dec 1, 2025

  • Read: Badaracco Ch. 8 & 9

  • Read: Ethical Curiosity (PDF)

  • Watch: Model for Leadership Ethics (Video)

  • Watch: What is Leadership Ethics (Video)

  • Individual Professional Code of Ethics Due

  • Reply: Discussion Post #11

  • Discussion Post #12

Module 13: Wrap-up
Available: November 17
Due: Monday, Dec 8, 2025

  • Reading Chart Due

  • Reply: Discussion Post #12

Final Exam
Available: December 1
Due: Wednesday, Dec 10, 2025 (11:59 PM MDT)

  • Final Exam must be submitted online

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

As an online course, attendance is not required. However, in order to receive the full benefit of the course, you should complete the reading assignments prior to completing the discussion posts. These assignments are shown in the course outline. On each of these “assigned reading days” during the semester, you will mark your completion of the reading assignment on your reading chart. This must be completed prior to the beginning of the reading due date and time. You can receive half credit for any reading done after the due date by marking it as such on your chart.

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.