MPA eQuad 

Course Description:

A study of the philosophical and practical issues related to ethical decision making in the public sector. Emphasis is on the analysis of ethical problems and the development of analytical skills and values framework to act ethically in public service roles.

Course Objectives:

Students will be able to recognize and analyze complex public sector ethical issues, identify potential solutions, and defend courses of action using case analysis methodologies.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Distinguish various ethical models for decision making in a public sector setting: conceptual, philosophical, legal, political, organizational, and professional.
2. Articulate the differences between personal and public ethics.
3. Evaluate the applicability and effectiveness of various public sector codes of ethics. Demonstrate the ability to understand and implement codes of ethics.
4. Relate ethical issues confronted by administrators in the public sector at the individual and organizational levels, with special emphasis on the importance of integrity, professionalism, diversity, and social responsibility.
5. Evaluate ethical dilemmas in organizations and propose viable solutions and leadership strategies to foster an ethical climate.

Entrance Competencies/Course Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Required Textbooks & Supplementary Materials

a. Bowman, J.S. and West, J. P. (2018). Public service ethics: Individual and institutional responsibilities, 2nd ed. Los Angeles, CA. Sage Publications (CQ Press). ISBN: 978-1-1385-7819-7.

b. Menzel, D.C. (2017). Ethics Management for Public and Nonprofit Managers: Leading and Building Organizations of Integrity, 3rd ed. Rutledge, Taylor Francis Group. ISBN: 978-1-1381-9016-0.

The official bookstore for Troy University is Barnes and Noble (B&N). Students can now order textbooks within Canvas, Trojan Web Express or on the B&N website at http://shoptroytrojans.com/. For further instructions on how to order your course materials go to “How to Order Textbooks”. Students should have their textbook by the first week of class. Not having your textbook is not an acceptable excuse for late work.

PROFESSIONALLY SUGGESTED READINGS: Svara, James (2015). The Ethics Primer. Burlington, MA. Jones & Bartletl Learning. ISBN: 978-1-4496-1901-5 and Cooper, Terry L. (2012). The Responsible Administrator, 6th ed. San Francisco, CA. Josey Bass. ISBN: 978-0-470-87394-6

You are required to apply concepts from the core courses in PA 6699.  Accordingly retain your textbooks from this course to support work in the PA6699 Capstone in Public Administration Course.

Attendance Policy

In addition to interaction via Canvas and email contact, you are required to contact the instructor via email by the first day of the term. Although physical class meetings are not part of this course, participation in all interactive, learning activities is required.

Make-Up Work Policy

Missing any part of this schedule may prevent completion of the course. If you foresee difficulty of any type (e.g., an illness, employment change, etc.) which may prevent completion of this course, notify the instructor as soon as possible. Failure to do so will result in failure for an assignment and/or failure of the course. If I have not heard from you by the deadline dates for assignments, exams, or forums, no make-up work will be allowed (unless extraordinary circumstances exist, such as hospitalization). Requests for extensions must be made in advance and accompanied by appropriate written documentation. “Computer problems” is not an acceptable excuse.

Incomplete Grade Policy

Missing any part of the Course Schedule may prevent completion of the course. If circumstances will prevent the student from completing the course by the end of the term, the student should complete a request for an incomplete grade. Note: A grade of incomplete or “INC” is not automatically assigned to students, but rather must be requested by the student by submitting a Petition for and Work to Remove an Incomplete Grade Form. Requests for an incomplete grade must be made on or before the date of the final assignment or test of the term. The form will not be available after the last day of the term. A grade of “INC” does not replace an “F” and will not be awarded for excessive absences. An “INC” will only be awarded to student presenting a valid case for the inability to complete coursework by the conclusion of the term. It is ultimately the instructor’s decision to grant or deny a request for an incomplete grade, subject to the policy rules below. Policy/Rules for granting an Incomplete (INC). An incomplete cannot be issued without a request from the student. To qualify for an incomplete, the student must:

Have completed over 50% of the course material and have a documented reason for requesting incomplete (50% means all assignments/exams up to and including the mid-term point, test, and/or assignments.)

Be passing the course at the time of their request. 

If both of the above criteria are not met an incomplete cannot be granted. An INC is not a substitute for an “F”. If a student has earned an “F” by not submitting all the work or by receiving an overall “F” average, then the “F” stands. All work must be completed in sufficient time for grading and submission prior to the next term.

Method of Evaluation

Assignments

1. Class Preparation and Participation: Students are expected to read all assigned material and to participate in class discussion. Active participation will enhance understanding of the course material. Weekly Participation by responding to assigned discussion questions is required with postings due by 8:00 PM each Sunday evening. These weekly assignments will constitute the participation grade to be assigned after the last discussion has been graded. Failure to submit weekly discussions on time will result in a 10 point per day grade reduction, with a zero grade assigned after the third day.
2. Presentations: Group Presentations: Students will be assigned portions of the Menzel text for graded group presentations using PowerPoint® slides with story boards/notes pages detailing what would be presented in a traditional class setting. Presentations, which will be used to support online discussion, must include a professional quality presentation using an appropriate computer presentation program. Presentations must be posted in the discussion board area for the appropriate week for which they are assigned. Analysis of the cases contained in assigned chapters must be part of the presentation.
3. Ethics Case Study/Analysis Paper: Students must prepare and discuss in class, a case study/analysis paper on a topic approved by the instructor. A topic must be submitted by week three of the course for instructor approval, and case analysis papers should be prepared in accordance with the TROY Case Analysis Worksheet (as modified in class) available at the following the link (Case Analysis Worksheet ) unless an alternative format is approved. Papers should represent the student's best effort in academic writing, using traditional academic style according to the APA style guide. The analysis paper will be used to judge student achievement of student learning outcomes identified above. 
4. Examinations: An examination, designed to measure students' understanding of and ability to integrate course material will be administered during week eight of the term.

Examination Schedule and Instructions: A three to four hour closed book final examination will be administered during Week 8 of the course and will consist of complex essay questions and/or cases requiring students to explain and apply course concepts and case analysis methodology. The course final examination will not require a proctor, but it will be an online examination to be completed in Canvas with security arrangements to be detailed during the course.

GRADING STANDARD

Disability Services

Disability Services provides assistance and accommodations to students with documented disabilities that may impede their academic progress. Services include notifying instructors about the specific accommodations to which the student is entitled. Disability Services will not alter the academic requirements of individual courses. Each student must provide recent documentation of his or her disability in order to participate.

For more information about Disability Services in Troy University (e.g. how to apply, Troy University policies, documentation guidelines and contact information), click on this Disability Services link.

Additional Course Information

COURSE POLICIES:

Submitting Assignments Weekly assignments must be posted to the discussion board by the submission deadline. Text should be pasted directly into the discussion board submission to allow me and your classmates to read the material online without opening another program, however the Word document should be included so I can verify formatting in the event of formatting issues in the discussion board. The weekly assignments will be the primary interaction mechanism for the course and as noted will combine to form the participation grade. Instructor comments and discussion of student submissions will be provided each week. These assignments will assist the student in preparing for the examination, all portions of which will have been discussed in this manner.

Submit papers in Standard English using a 12-point format, 1-inch margins, and double spacing in MS-Word format. The American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines are the standards for writing and referencing papers in the MPA program. Use the APA Research Style guidelines found at: http://trojan.troy.edu/writing center/

Failure to submit assignments on time will result in point deductions. Assignments should be posted to the appropriate discussion board area for the week by Sunday evening at 8:00 PM unless otherwise instructed. (note: Canvas and I operate on central US time).

(Required weekly work is due by 8:00 PM, Sunday of the week in question unless otherwise posted, due dates are further explained in the discussion board area of the course): MATERIAL SUBMITTED AFTER THE DUE DATE WILL RECEIVE A GRADE PENALTY OF AT LEAST TEN POINTS PER DAY. Weekly assignments will be posted in the Weekly Assignment folder in Canvas at the appropriate time, and will consist of weekly discussion questions and ethics scenarios for student submission in the corresponding Weekly Discussion Board for my review and response.

Week One: Introduction; Foundations of Public Service Ethics

Read Bowman & West Part I (Chapters 1-3) & Menzel as assigned; Review the related course slides in the Week 1 Assignment Folder and in the discussion board respond to the questions posted in the Week 1 assignment folder.

NOTE: Weekly postings are due by 8:00 PM Sunday evening of each week unless otherwise instructed.

Week Two: Individual Centered Approach to Ethics

Read Bowman & West Part II (Chapters 4 through 7) & Menzel as assigned; Review the related course slides in the Week 1 Assignment Folder and in the discussion board respond to the questions posted in the Week 2 assignment folder.

Week Three: Individual Centered Approach to Ethics (continued)

Read Bowman & West Part II (Chapters 4 through 7) & Menzel as assigned; Review the related course slides in the Week 1 Assignment Folder and in the discussion board respond to the questions posted in the Week 3 assignment folder.

Week Four: Institutional Approach to Ethics

Read Bowman & West Part III (Chapters 8 through 10) & Menzel as assigned; Review the related course slides in the Week 4 Assignment Folder and in the discussion board respond to the questions posted in the Week 4 assignment folder.

Week Five: Issues in Public Service Ethics

Read Bowman & West Part IV (Chapters 11 & 12) & Menzel as assigned; Review the related course slides in the Week 4 Assignment Folder and in the discussion board respond to the questions posted in the Week 5 assignment folder.

Week Six: Issues in Public Service Ethics

Read Bowman & West Part IV (Chapters 13 & 14) & Menzel as assigned; Review the related course slides in the Week 4 Assignment Folder and in the discussion board respond to the questions posted in the Week 6 assignment folder.

Week Seven: Choices and Strategies for the Years Ahead

Read Bowman & West Part V & Menzel as assigned; Review the related course slides in the Week 4 Assignment Folder and in the discussion board respond to the questions posted in the Week 7 assignment folder.

Prepare and submit group presentations of assigned Menzel text material

Group presentations are due by 8:00 PM Friday evening of this week to allow other class members to respond. Students must respond to presentations posted by all groups except their own. The final exam will be available after the seventh week for completion during week eight.

Week Eight:

There will be no weekly postings required to allow students to complete the final exam planned for the eighth week of the course.

Week Nine: Course project and final discussions

(Projects are due by 8:00 PM, Wednesday evening of week nine to allow for discussion)