Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Introduction to Public Administration

POLS 3410-01

Course: POLS 3410-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCJ
CRN: 32471

Course Description

Examination of the mechanics and dynamics of government administration. Emphasis on the rise and impact of bureaucratic state, tasks of administrators, technical aspects of administration, and administrative responsibility. (Fall - Odd Years) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

Public Administration, An Introduction (Required) by Marc Holzer and Richard W. Schwester, Routledge; Fourth Edition, 2025 ISBN 978-1-03251703-2

Learning Outcomes

In this course, you will be introduced to the exciting world of Public Administration! The corresponding course outcomes are designed to be engaging and explorative in answering questions about a future study or career in Public Administration. These outcomes align with SUU's Essential Learning Outcomes 1,2,4, and 6. These ELO's are required for a General Education course. The course outcomes are as follows:

  1. Explain the role and scope of public administration in the U.S. political system and identify how public service contributes to civic life. (ELO 1: Civic Engagement)

  2. Communicate clearly and professionally about public administration concepts through written, oral, and visual formats. (ELO 2: Communication)

  3. Apply ethical reasoning to evaluate administrative decisions and public sector dilemmas. (ELO 6: Ethical Reasoning)

  4. Analyze public programs and policies using principles of organizational theory, leadership, and performance management. (ELO 4: Critical Thinking)

  5. Reflect on the values and responsibilities of public service, including transparency, accountability, and service to diverse communities. (ELO 1: Civic Engagement; ELO 6: Ethical Reasoning) 

Course Requirements

We will accomplish the course objectives with the following requirements:

Class Participation/Contribution

This course requires active and consistent participation. Your participation will enhance the course materials and will allow for greater learning opportunities. 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. Each class lecture is designed with an in-class activity that emphasizes the module's topic. Concepts from these activities will be included on your Mid-term and Final. There will be opportunities for you to earn class participation points at the beginning of each activity. While you may not be able to attend EVERY class, consistent attendance is expected. Full points will be awarded students who regularly attend and engage in the learning activities. There is a total of (30) points possible.

Chapter Quizzes

Each module has a corresponding quiz based on the chapter you are assigned to read from the required textbook. Each quiz is due at the beginning of the next module. Each quiz is 5 questions and worth 5 points. The quizzes should be done individually but they are open book. You will have one hour and one attempt to complete each quiz. There is a total of 65 points possible  

Reflection Discussion 

This assignment will require you to participate in one Canvas discussion that expounds upon principles addressed in class. The discussion will help you reflect on the values and responsibilities of Public Service and will allow you to practice professional communication with classmates who may have differing opinions. This assignment includes an initial post communicating your position (20 pts) as well as responding to a minimum of two of your classmates' posts (5 pts each) There are 30 total points possible.

Data/Tech Assignment

This assignment will require students to explore the ever-changing world of Public Administration through technology. Students will examine a PA topic and write a brief 3 page paper that examines how this topic has been changed by technology. There are 25 total points possible.

Mid-term/Final

You will have a Midterm and Final Exam. These will be available on Canvas. They will include a combination of 25 multiple choice questions (2 pts each) and essay questions (varying between 5pts - 10pts each). These questions will cover material from your assigned readings as well as class lectures and activities. Each exam will be worth 75 points.

Course Outline

Course Schedule & Assignments

August 27–31: Welcome / Syllabus

  • Syllabus Quiz

  • Due: Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (11:59 PM MDT)

Module 1: What Public Administration Entails
Due: Monday, Sept. 8, 2025 (11:59 PM MDT)

  • Read: Chapter 1

  • Chapter 1 Quiz

Module 2: Management & Organizational Theory
Available: Sept. 8
Due: Monday, Sept. 15, 2025 (11:59 PM MDT)

  • Read: Chapter 2

  • Chapter 2 Quiz

  • Reflection Assignment / Discussion

Module 3: Politics and Public Administration
Available: Sept. 15
Due: Monday, Sept. 22, 2025 (11:59 PM MDT)

  • Read: Chapter 3

  • Chapter 3 Quiz

Module 4: Intergovernmental Relations
Available: Sept. 22
Due: Monday, Sept. 29, 2025 (11:59 PM MDT)

  • Read: Chapter 4

  • Chapter 4 Quiz

Module 5: Ethics in Public Administration
Available: Sept. 29
Due: Monday, Oct. 6, 2025 (11:59 PM MDT)

  • Read: Chapter 5

  • Chapter 5 Quiz

Module 6: Managing Human Resources
Available: Oct. 6
Due: Monday, Oct. 13, 2025 (11:59 PM MDT)

  • Read: Chapter 6

  • Chapter 6 Quiz

  • Mid-Term Exam

Module 7: Public Decision-Making
Available: Oct. 13
Due: Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 (11:59 PM MDT)

  • Read: Chapter 7

  • Chapter 7 Quiz

Module 8: Public Sector Leadership
Available: Oct. 20
Due: Monday, Oct. 27, 2025 (11:59 PM MDT)

  • Read: Chapter 8

  • Chapter 8 Quiz

Module 9: Public Budgeting and Finance
Available: Oct. 27
Due: Monday, Nov. 3, 2025 (11:59 PM MDT)

  • Read: Chapter 9

  • Chapter 9 Quiz

Module 10: Public Performance
Available: Nov. 3
Due: Monday, Nov. 10, 2025 (11:59 PM MDT)

  • Read: Chapter 10

  • Chapter 10 Quiz

Module 11: Program and Policy Assessment
Available: Nov. 10
Due: Monday, Nov. 17, 2025 (11:59 PM MDT)

  • Read: Chapter 11

  • Chapter 11 Quiz

Modules 12 & 13: Government, Data, & Technology
Available: Nov. 17
Due: Monday, Nov. 24, 2025 (11:59 PM MDT)

  • Read: Chapters 12 & 13

  • Chapter 12 & 13 Quiz

  • Critical Thinking Technology Assignment

November 24–30: Thanksgiving Break

  • No Assignments

Module 14: The Future of Public Administration
Available: Dec. 1
Due: Monday, Dec. 8, 2025 (11:59 PM MDT)

  • Read: Chapter 14

  • Chapter 14 Quiz

Final Exam
Available: Dec. 8
Due: Friday, Dec. 11, 2025 (11:59 PM MDT)

  • Final Exam

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 20% 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 requires active and consistent participation. Your participation will enhance the course materials and will allow for greater learning opportunities. 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. Each class lecture is designed with an in-class activity that emphasizes the module's topic. Concepts from these activities will be included on your Mid-term and Final. There will be opportunities for you to earn class participation points at the beginning of each activity. While you may not be able to attend EVERY class, consistent attendance is expected. Full points will be awarded to students who regularly attend and engage in the learning activities. 

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.