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MPA 650: Public Policy Process

Contact Information

Dr. Saroukhanian

Email: talin.saroukhanian@csun.edu

Office: Sierra Tower 232

Office hours: Mondays and Wednesdays 2:00-3:30.

Instructional Materials

The Policy Game textbook

 

 

Title: The Policy Game: Understanding U.S. Public Policy Making
Authors: Stella Theodoulou & Chris Kofinis
ISBN: 978-1-62178-047-2
Publisher: Bridgepoint Education

The text is available as an e-book, which may be printed as needed. It is available in pdf and audio (mp3) formats as well, but does not exist as a hard book. The link below will take you to the text available through Thuze Bookstore at https://learn.thuze.com/Store.

Additional reading material will also be made available in the course Moodle site.

http://moodle.csun.edu

Moodle logo

 

 

 

Recommended/Optional Readings:

Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies by John W. Kingdon

"The Implementation of Public Policy: A Framework of Analysis" by Sabatier and Mazmanian

"Policy Evaluation: Finding Out What Happens After a Law is Passed" by Thomas Dye

Course Dates

The class is going to meet from 6:00PM to 9:45PM on eight consecutive Thursday evenings beginning August 14. The classroom is located in Jerome Richfield room 134.

Course Format

Most class sessions will consist of lectures and discussions.

Students will be expected to complete the reading material prior to attending class and be well prepared to particpate in discussions. There will also be a set of questions to address each week based on the reading. A number of students will be assigned to lead the weekly reading discussions.

Policies

Student Conduct Code:

www.csun.edu/a&r/soc/studentconduct.html

Academic Policy:

www.csun.edu/anr/soc/legalnotices.html

Grading

Breakdown of course grading:


Class Attendance & Participation

10

Moodle Discussion Forum
10
Paper Proposal
5
Exam
25
Presentation
15
Final paper
35

*There will be no extra credit or make-up work available in the course.


Percent
Grade
95-100
A
90-94
A-
87-89
B+
83-86
B
80-82
B-
77-79
C+
73-76
C
70-72
C-
67-69
D+
63-66
D
60-62
D-
<59
F

Carnegie Hours

"A minimum of 45 'Carnegie hours' total for 'Academic Engagement' is required for the semester.  Our three unit classes MPA meet eight times for four Carnegie hour sessions providing 32 Carnegie hours for the semester. Thirteen additional Carnegie hours must supplement class 'academic engagement' hours with additional 'engagement activities'" 

Students will have anywhere between 64 to 91 hours of work to complete outside of class.

 

Reading weekly assignments and preparing for class meeting

4-6 hours weekly

(Assigned readings total 24-36 hours)

Completing Moodle discussion forums

This includes reading additional material, watching video or short documentary, then responding to the question and classmates' responses.

2 hours weekly

(Seven class discussions would be about 14 hours)

Reasearching topic & preparing proposal

4-5 hours

Studying & preparing for exam
4-6 hours
Reasearching & preparing presentation
8-10 hours
Researching & writing final paper
10-20 hours

 

 

Course Description & Learning Objectives

"Public policy often determines the core of our political and personal lives. This course examines the development of legislative and regulatory policies and the role of public administrators as active participants in the policymaking process by studying problem identification, agenda setting, policy proposal and adoption. Students develop the breadth, skill and knowledge, as well as the understanding of our diverse society, needed for comprehensive analyses of public programs"

This course will introduce students to public policy approaches, processes, and theories by focusing on the following:

Program Learning Objectives

"The educational goals of the MPA program focuses on the skills, abilities, and habits of mind that a public sector professional would need to act in a leadership role in public sector. Therefore, as an introductory class to the field of public administration, students will acquire the following skills:

  1. Gain the ability to critically analyze, create or improve, and implement effective public policy in public sector programs and services.
  2. Acquire the foundation knowledge needed to understand the distinctive character and responsibilities of public sector administration in a democratic society."

Course Schedule

 

August 14

Introduction, Problem Identification, and Problem Definition

  • "The Tragedy of Concrete Commons: Defining Traffic Congestion as a Public Problem" by Joseph F. Coughlin -- Article available in Moodle
  • Ch. 1 - "What is Public Policy"
  • Ch. 2 - "The Where and the Who of Public Policy" -- Only section 2.1 is optional reading
August 21

Problem Definition and Agenda Setting

  • Ch. 3 - "Diverse Theoretical Frameworks for Understanding the Policy Process" -- In section 3.2 the following is required:
    • "Stages-Heuristic (Policy Cycle) Framework"
    • "Multiple Streams Framework"
  • Ch. 4 - "Issues, Problems, and Agenda Setting"
  • Ch. 8 - "A Case Study in Problem Identification: The Evolution of Federal Environmental Policy"
  • Ch. 9 - "A Case Study in Agenda Setting: The Development of Federal Policy on Education"
  • "Why Some Issues Rise and Others Don't " by John Kingdon
  • Discussion 1, Hunger in the US - due September 4
August 28

Agenda Setting, Policy Formulation, and Policy Adoption

  • Paper proposal due
  • Ch. 3 - "Diverse Theoretical Frameworks for Understanding the Policy Process" -- In Section 3.2:
    • "Social Construction of Target Populations Framework"
  • Ch. 5 "Formulating, Designing, and Adopting Policy"
  • "Social Constructions of People with AIDS: Target Populations and United States Policy, 1981-1990" by Mark C. Donovan -- Article available in Moodle
  • "The Science of 'Muddling Through'" by Charles E. Lindblom -- Article available in Moodle
  • "Two Cases in Agenda Setting" -- Article available in Moodle
  • Discussion 2, Alzheimer's Disease - due September 11
September 4

Policy Formulation, Policy Adoption, and Implementation

  • Ch. 6 - "Implementing and Evaluating Policy" (read section on implementation)
  • Ch. 10 - "A Case Study in Formulation and Legtimation of Policy Solutions: The Forming and Reforming of Federal Welfare Solutions"
  • Ch. 11 - "A Case Study in Policy Adoption: Comprehensive and Incremental Approaches to Health-Care Policy"
  • "Instruments and Strategy in Public Policy" by Richard Elmore -- Article available in Moodle
  • "Backward Mapping: Implementation Research and Policy Decisions" by Richard Elmore -- Article available in Moodle
  • "The Implementation of Public Policy: A Framework of Analysis" by Sabatier and Mazmanian -- Optional reading
  • Discussion 3, Social Host Policy - due September 18
September 11

Federalism, implementation, and Policy Evaluation

  • Exam
  • Ch. 6 - "Implementing and Evaluating Policy" (read section on evaulation)
  • Ch. 12 - "A Case Study in Implementation and Evaluation: The Debates Over Federal Immigration Policy"
  • "Federalism and State Policies: Institutional Arrangements and Policy Variations" by Thomas Dye -- Article is posted in Moodle
  • Discussion 4, Berkeley in the 60s - due September 25
September 18

Implementation and Policy Evaluation, Change and Termination

  • Ch. 7 - "Changing or Terminating Policy"
  • "The Katrina Breakdown" by Donald Kettl and Jonathan Walters -- Article is posted in Moodle
  • "Is Federalism the Reason for Policy Failure in Hurricane Katrina?" by Thomas Birkland and Sarah Waterman -- Article is posted in Moodle
  • "Policy Implementation, Failure, and Learning" by Thomas Birkland -- Article is posted in Moodle
  • "Policy Evaluation: Finding Out What Happens After a Law is Passed" by Thomas Dye -- Optional reading
  • Discussion 5, Federalism and Implementation - due September 25
September 25

Presentations

    1. ___________________ 2. ___________________ 3. ___________________ 4. ___________________ 5. ___________________ 6. ___________________ 7. ___________________ 8. ___________________ 9. ___________________ 10. __________________ 11. __________________ 12. __________________ 13. __________________ 14. __________________ 15. __________________

     

  • Discussion 6, Red-Light Camera - due October 2
October 2

Presentations

  • Final paper due
  • 1. ___________________ 2. ___________________ 3. ___________________ 4. ___________________ 5. ___________________ 6. ___________________ 7. ___________________ 8. ___________________ 9. ___________________ 10. __________________ 11. __________________ 12. __________________ 13. __________________ 14. __________________ 15. __________________

     

Please note additional reading and case studies will be provided to you either in class or in Moodle.


Attendance and Participation

Attendance will be taken for every class meeting. Students will also be assigned to take the lead on weekly discussions. These individuals will be responsible for leading the case studies once we break into our groups.

In addition to our class meetings, there will also be weekly graded discussions in Moodle for 7 out of the 8 weeks where each student will respond to the question posed. Active students who participate and respond to fellow classmates’ posts will receive additional points.  

Proposal, Presentation, and Final Paper

For the final paper you will apply John Kingdon's Multiple Streams theory to your policy area of choice. Kingdon's theory is a good theory for policy formulation and agenda setting. By applying this theory you will learn how the policy problem was defined, what kind of policy solution was created and what role politics played in the formation of public policy.

Here are some areas you may consider for your paper: prescription drugs, social security, housing, disability, abortion, drug abuse, steroids, crime, foster care, etc. You may not select a topic that will be discussed in class such as welfare, environment, health, and food. If you wish to focus your research in the latter areas, please speak to me and we can figure out a specific area within the larger policy area for you.

Paper Proposal

A 1-2 page proposal for the final paper that outlines and describes your research area will be due on our third class meeting, February 3. The purpose of the proposal is to help prepare and guide you in your research. Once submitted, I will review each student’s topic and make sure you are on the right track before investing time and effort on the final research paper. This means I will review and approve each of the research topics and have them ready for you in class the following week.

The proposal should include the following information:

1. What policy area have you selected
2. Why have you chosen the specific area
3. Provide a very brief background and introduction to the policy area
4. Finally, explain the methods you will use for your final paper such as the kinds of research you will conduct whether it will be library research, interviews, site visits, etc.


Final Paper

The final paper should be 12-15 pages excluding the reference section. Please use 12-point font with the appropriate margins. A good way to make sure you do not miss any of the requirements listed below is to use sub-titles to guide you through the paper. It will be due on the last day of class, March 10.


What is expected in the paper?

1. You are able to conceptualize and specifically identify public policy issues discussed in class and the readings.
2. You have identified the actors/players and their interests both within and outside government. How does each view the problem and the policy solution based on their beliefs and values?What kind of indicators, persuasion or evidence did the players use to push their positions?
3. You are able to accurately apply and meaningfully discuss Kingdon's theory
a. How did the issue progress to the policymakers' agenda? In other words, how did the problem become a public problem needing immediate attention?
b. How was the problem defined?
What was the policy solution?
What was occurring in the political stream?
4. Finally, whether you think the policy created actually addressed the problem.

APA Style

Please utilize the APA style guide for your final paper. You may refer to the APA manual for formatting and citation requirements. Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab is a good source for general APA guidelines and can be found at http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01. In addition, two useful Web-based tools that may be used to help generate citations include:

1. Son of Citation Machine - http://citationmachine.net/index2.php
2. The KniteCite Citation Service - http://www.calvin.edu/library/knightcite/index.php

 

Grading Criteria

Final paper grading rubrics (35 percent):

You are able to conceptualize and specifically identify public policy issues discussed in class and the readings.

2

You have identified the actors/players and their interests both within and outside government. How does each view the problem and the policy solution based on their beliefs and values?What kind of indicators, persuasion or evidence did the players use to push their positions?
4
You are able to accurately apply and meaningfully discuss Kingdon's theory
2
How did the issue progress to the policymakers' agenda? In other words, how did the problem become a public problem needing immediate attention?
6
How was the problem defined?
6
What was the policy solution?
6
What was occurring in the political stream?
6
Whether you think the policy created actually addressed the problem.
1
Followed instructions for paper structure and format
2

 

Presentation grading (15 percent):

Reading and concepts understood

1

Players/actors are identified
1
Discussed how each defined/viewed the problems and/or policy solutions
2
Accurately and meaningfully applied Kingdon's theory
2
Discussed how the issue progressed to the policymakers' agenda
2
Discussed problem 
2
Discussed policy solution
2
Discussed politics
2
Opinion - Whether problem was solved by policy
1


At any time this syllabus may be amended or revised. Students will be notified if and when any changes are made.

 

 

8/11/148/11/14