Welcome to Public Administration

Welcome to CRJU/POSC 320

Your instructor: Dr. David P. Adams, Ph.D.
Your journey: 5 weeks exploring how government really works
Your destination: Understanding the field that shapes justice, safety, and democracy

First question: When you hear “public administration,” what comes to mind?

• Boring bureaucracy and red tape?
• DMV lines and government inefficiency?
• Or the people who keep society functioning?

Today’s reality check: Public administration is everywhere, affects everything, and offers meaningful career opportunities

Why You’re Here (And Why It Matters)

The Real World of Public Administration

This morning, public administrators:

• Dispatched police officers to emergency calls
• Processed court cases and managed evidence
• Supervised inmates and planned rehabilitation programs
• Coordinated emergency services and public safety
• Managed budgets that fund your future workplace

Your future career will involve:

• Working within government agencies
• Understanding how policy becomes practice
• Managing people, budgets, and programs
• Balancing efficiency with fairness
• Being accountable to the public you serve

What This Course Will Do for You

Learning Objectives That Matter

By the end of this course, you will:

1. Display broad understanding of public administration’s role in democratic society

• Real application: How police departments balance law enforcement with community relations

2. Demonstrate knowledge of concepts and theories in public administration

• Real application: Using organizational theory to improve agency performance

3. Identify complex problems facing public organizations

• Real application: Understanding why criminal justice coordination is so difficult

4. Exhibit critical thinking by interpreting information and developing opinions

• Real application: Analyzing policy proposals for their practical feasibility

5. Contrast public and private administration with their benefits and shortfalls

• Real application: Evaluating privatization proposals for correctional services

6. Demonstrate effective written communication skills

• Real application: Writing policy briefs that influence real decisions

Your Roadmap: 10 Modules + Major Project

The Journey Ahead

Week 1: Foundations (Modules 1-2)

• What is public administration? Why does it matter?
• Historical development and core concepts
• Policy Brief: Problem identification and research foundation

Week 2: Government in Action (Modules 3-4)

• What government does and how it functions
• Organizational theory and management challenges
• Policy Brief: Stakeholder analysis and context

Week 3: Leadership and People (Modules 5-6)

• Executive branch leadership and civil service systems
• Human capital management and workforce development
• Policy Brief: Organizational theory application

Week 4: Decisions and Money (Modules 7-8)

• Decision-making processes and budgeting realities
• Implementation challenges and performance management
• Policy Brief: Management challenges and solutions

Week 5: Oversight and Accountability (Modules 9-10)

• Regulation, courts, and democratic accountability
• Synthesis and future directions
• Policy Brief: Final recommendations and executive summary

How This Course Actually Works

Asynchronous Online Learning

Your Weekly Pattern:

• Watch video lectures (10-20 minutes each, packed with content)
• Complete assigned readings (Kettl textbook + supplementary materials)
• Participate in discussions (connecting theory to current events)
• Work on policy brief project (building week by week)
• Submit research logs (reflecting on your learning process)

No Zoom meetings required - work on your schedule within weekly deadlines All content available 24/7 - rewatch lectures as needed Regular feedback - through discussions, project check-ins, and direct communication

Your Major Project: Policy Brief Assignment

Real-World Application

Choose one current challenge:

• “Who Gets Help?” — Disaster Relief and Administrative Discretion: How do public agencies decide who gets help first after disasters like wildfires, floods, or heatwaves?
• “Smart Tech, Safe City?” — Surveillance and Public Safety in Local Government: How are local governments using surveillance technology, and what are the administrative challenges?
• “Is This Working?” — Evaluating a Public Program in Your Community: How effective is a local public program, and what implementation issues does it face?

Build expertise week by week:

• Week 1: Problem definition and evidence
• Week 2: Stakeholder mapping and context
  
• Week 3: Organizational analysis
• Week 4: Management solutions
• Week 5: Policy recommendations

Final product: 7-10 page professional policy brief you could submit to real decision-makers

Why These Topics Matter for Your Career

Criminal Justice and Public Administration

Police Departments are public organizations that must:

• Balance efficiency with community accountability
• Manage diverse personnel and complex budgets
• Coordinate with multiple agencies and jurisdictions
• Implement policies while maintaining professional discretion
• Respond to political pressures while upholding constitutional standards

Court Systems face classic public administration challenges:

• Case management and resource allocation
• Performance measurement and accountability
• Technology integration and modernization
• Stakeholder coordination and communication
• Balancing access with efficiency

Corrections Agencies deal with fundamental PA issues:

• Human capital management in difficult environments
• Budget pressures and competing priorities
• Regulatory compliance and oversight
• Public-private partnerships and contracting
• Performance measurement and outcome evaluation

The Three Core Values

Your Analytical Framework

Throughout this course, we’ll examine how public administrators balance:

Accountability: Being answerable for decisions and actions

• Example: Police body cameras increasing transparency

Efficiency: Getting the most results from available resources

• Example: Court case management systems reducing delays

Equity: Fair treatment and access for all citizens

• Example: Ensuring equal justice regardless of economic status

The challenge: These values often conflict with each other Your job: Learning to navigate these tensions skillfully

What Makes This Course Different

Theory Meets Practice

Not just academic theory - Every concept connected to real criminal justice examples Not just war stories - Systematic understanding of how and why things work Current and relevant - Using 2020+ examples and contemporary challenges Career-focused - Skills and knowledge you’ll actually use

Criminal Justice Integration:

• Police reform and accountability movements
  
• Court modernization and technology adoption
• Corrections reform and evidence-based practices
• Multi-agency coordination and information sharing
• Federal, state, and local government interactions

Your Instructor and Support System

Getting Help When You Need It

Dr. David P. Adams:

• Ph.D. in Public Administration and Public Policy
• Practical experience in government and nonprofit sectors
• Committed to your success in this intensive summer course

Technology and Tools

What You’ll Need to Succeed

Required Technology:

• Reliable computer and internet connection
• Google Docs access (for policy brief project with tracked changes)
• Canvas proficiency for submissions and discussions
• Basic video viewing capabilities for lectures

Research Skills:

• Online database searching for academic sources
• Government document research and analysis
• News source evaluation and synthesis
• APA citation format for professional writing

Digital Literacy:

• File management and organization
• Professional email communication
• Time management for asynchronous learning

Academic Integrity and AI Policy

Clear Expectations for Your Work

Academic Integrity:

• All work must be your own original analysis
• Proper citation required for all sources
• Collaboration encouraged, but individual accountability maintained
• Plagiarism detection software used for all written work

AI Tool Policy:

• Permitted: Brainstorming, grammar checking, research assistance
• Required disclosure: Must note any AI tool usage
• Prohibited: AI-generated text submitted as your own work
• Detection: Advanced AI detection software monitors submissions

Research Logs: Evidence of genuine engagement with sources and reflection on learning process

Time Management and Success Strategies

Making the Most of Summer Intensive Format

Weekly Time Commitment: Approximately 12-15 hours

• Video lectures: 2-3 hours
• Reading: 4-5 hours
  
• Discussion participation: 1-2 hours
• Policy brief work: 4-5 hours
• Research and reflection: 1-2 hours

Success Strategies:

• Front-load reading early in the week
• Work on policy brief daily rather than cramming
• Engage actively in discussions with classmates
• Use research logs to track your thinking process
• Ask questions early rather than waiting until deadlines

What Success Looks Like

Your Goals for This Course

Knowledge Goals:

• Understand how government really works beyond civics textbooks
• Recognize public administration concepts in current events
• Analyze organizational and management challenges systematically
• Evaluate policy proposals for feasibility and effectiveness

Skill Goals:

• Professional writing and policy analysis
• Research and synthesis of complex information
• Critical thinking about governance and management
• Communication with diverse stakeholders and audiences

Career Goals:

• Preparation for public service leadership roles
• Understanding of organizational dynamics and politics
• Ability to work effectively within government systems
• Commitment to democratic values and public service ethics

Looking Ahead: Week 1 Preparation

Getting Started

Before Next Week:

• Read syllabus and assignment descriptions thoroughly
• Set up Google Docs account and practice with tracked changes
• Begin thinking about policy brief topic selection
• Review Kettl Chapter 1 if textbook has arrived
• Join Discord channel and introduce yourself

Policy Brief Topic Selection:

• Consider which of the three topics interests you most
• Begin preliminary research on current developments
• Think about your existing knowledge and research capabilities
• Remember: you’ll become an expert on this topic over 5 weeks

Your Public Service Journey Begins

Why This Matters

Public administration is not just a job - it’s a calling to:

• Serve the public interest above personal gain
• Make government work better for everyone
• Protect democratic values and constitutional rights
• Solve complex problems that affect millions of people
• Build trust between citizens and their government

Your generation faces unique challenges:

• Rebuilding public trust in government institutions
• Adapting to technological disruption and change
• Addressing social inequality and injustice
• Managing complex, interconnected global problems
• Maintaining democratic governance in polarized times

This course prepares you to:

• Understand how government systems actually work
• Identify problems and develop practical solutions
• Lead change within complex organizational environments
• Balance competing values and stakeholder demands
• Make a positive difference in people’s lives

Discussion Question for Week 1

Reflection and Engagement:

Think about a recent interaction you’ve had with government (police encounter, court experience, DMV visit, applying for benefits, etc.) or a government-related news story that caught your attention.

Consider:

• What public administrators were involved in this situation?
• What challenges do you think they face in their daily work?
• How might the concepts we’ll study in this course apply to this example?
• What questions do you have about how government really works?

Post your reflection in the Week 1 discussion forum and engage thoughtfully with at least two classmates’ responses.

Welcome to the Real World of Public Administration

You’re embarking on a journey that will:

• Change how you see government and politics
• Prepare you for meaningful career opportunities
  
• Develop skills in analysis, communication, and leadership
• Connect you with classmates who share your interests
• Challenge you to think critically about complex problems

Remember: Public administration is both a science and an art. We’ll give you the systematic knowledge (science) and help you develop the judgment (art) to make government work better.

Let’s get started!

Your future in public service begins now. Make it count.