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 30th, 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 October 5th, 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 may submit a video response for the discussion posts by addressing each question and explaining your answers. You may also complete your peer replies through video.
Alternatively, you may meet with at least two other students—a minimum of three students total—to discuss the questions and your responses using Zoom or another platform. Record the conversation and post it to the discussion board. I will count the group video as both your initial post and your peer responses, provided that at least three students participate and each person meaningfully contributes to the discussion. I ask that you also include the transcript from your discussion video for reference.
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.
Ethical Hero Paper
In a two-page memo format (see the MPA Style Guide in Welcome Module), describe your ethical “hero” – the person you most want to emulate for your own ethical behavior. This person must be someone you have personally met during your life. Think carefully about the person who has shaped or influenced your standard of ethics the most. Describe how they have done so, providing specific examples. In addition, discuss your perception of the way they make ethical decisions. What do you perceive as impacting their ethical decision-making? The paper will be due on Canvas on September 14th.
Personal Ethical Dilemma
Briefly identify an ethical dilemma you have experienced. A work-related or organization-related dilemma is best, but another ethical dilemma will also work. You will need to analyze your process of decision-making using the prescriptive approaches (consequentialist, deontological, and virtue ethics), and other ethical “tools” we have discussed thus far in the semester. A detailed handout will be available on Canvas. This paper should be a three- to four-page memo format (see the MPA Style Guide in Welcome Module) and will be due on Canvas on October 5th.
Organizational Code of Conduct Video
You will study the code of conduct/ethics of a specific agency or non-profit organization of your choice (e.g., Red Cross, FBI, Utah Legislature, World Health Organization).
The presentation consists of four sections. The first should identify the ethical issues regularly faced within the organization. Which stakeholders have been involved, and how have they influenced the organization? How has the organization addressed these ethical issues?
Second, analyze the code of conduct and determine if the code of conduct for the organization actually encourages behavior or simply serves as an administrative document. Support your response. How does the document ensure ethical behavior is in place? Does the code of ethics define the consequences associated with breaking the code? Does the code of conduct provide for accountability, and at what level? Has the organization been implicated in ethical misconduct? What steps has the organization taken to ensure they are ethically responsible? Are there any other issues/areas of concern that they have responded to?
Third, compare your chosen organization with an organization in the same industry or field and draw conclusions. Is there a great variety in structure, attitude, and levels of involvement with their ethical positions? Does either organization have a proactive definition or a retroactive position? Is one of the organizations doing a better job than the others in these areas? What is this industry doing to address ethical and social responsibility issues?
Finally, briefly describe what you have learned about your selected organization. What are the strengths and weaknesses of ethics and how is the organization demonstrating ethical leadership?
You will be expected to go beyond description; grading will consider the quality of the analysis. Please cite your sources at the end of your presentation. Although this is not a presentation course, I do expect that your video presentation will enhance, rather than detract, from the content you are presenting. This assignment should be no less than 5 minutes and no more than 8 minutes. The video and transcript will be submitted on Canvas on October 26th.
Individual Professional Code of Ethics
This document will be BRIEF (one page, CREATIVE FORMAT), but should be a polished statement of personal values that integrates concepts and ideas you have learned during the semester and can guide your decision-making as you face moral dilemmas and personal challenges in your future professional life. In addition, it should be a document that will aid you in communicating your ethics to your colleagues. This document should be a clear, concise, and visually accessible statement of the most important things you have learned about ethics. The document’s contents and form will be highly individualized – you should produce a meaningful and pleasing document. The paper will be due on Canvas on December 7th.
Exams
There will be one exam during the course. The final exam will consist of essay questions provided to you on November 30th. You will answer the questions in essay form and return them to me via Canvas by 11:59 pm on Tuesday, December 15th.