PSC 306 Public Organizations, accelerated course for SPS.

By Dr. Jeremy Lewis, revised 25 Oct. '07.

PURPOSE: HC Catalog Description for PSC 306: Major theories and case studies of complex public organizations in the public environment in the United States and abroad. Attention to bureaucratic rivalry, staffing and promotion, hierarchy, communications, open government, and current reform movements contrasted with classical theories.

This course will examine the characteristics and changing role of the American administrative system in the policy process. It will ask why some agencies are more powerful than others, why agencies never seem to disappear, and why they grow over time. It will illustrate the historical growth of bureaus and the autonomy of bureaus from their parent departments. It will consider bureaucratic subcultures and pathologies. In particular it will examine how bureaus engage in interaction with other government agencies, interest groups, congressional staff and committees, courts, political parties, the mass media & public opinion. It will explore the existence of iron triangles and issue networks, and will compare the US system to Western European systems, and seek to evaluate organization theories.

Learning objectives:

understanding of the formal structure and functions of US government
knowledge of the public leadership and management of US bureaucracies
knowledge of the process of US administration
critical thinking about the relationship of institutions to the values of US government
critical thinking about the process of administering US public policy

Expected Outcomes:

critical discussion about the formal structure and functions of government

critical discussion of the public leadership and management of US bureaucracies

critical discussion of the process of US administration

critical discussion of the relationship of institutions to the values of US government

essays demonstrating critical writing about the process of administering US public policy

About the Book

Stillman, Richard J., ed. Public Administration: Concepts and Cases. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Selected case studies and readings will be testable.

Students With Disabilities, HC notice:
"Huntingdon College makes every reasonable accommodation for disabilities that have been processed and approved through our Disability Services Committee in accord with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. In order to request disability-related services at Huntingdon College, students must self-identify to the Disabilities Intake Coordinator, Ms. Jennifer Ishler, and provide appropriate and up-to-date documentation to verify their disability or special needs. After the accommodations have been approved by the Disability Services Committee, the 504 Coordinator, Dr. Glenn Cobb, will notify your professor(s) of the Committee’s decision. If you have any questions regarding reasonable accommodation or need to request disability-related services, please contact Disability Services at (334) 833-4556 or email disabilityservices@huntingdon.edu."