POL 131: Public Administration

The principal goal of the course will be to enable students to critically think about how the government, at multiple levels, provides services to its citizens. The course will focus on the nature and scope of public administration, organizational theory, the bureaucracy, policy implementation, and public accountability. Theoretical discussions will be routinely complemented with case-studies to establish the connection between theory and practice. Assessment techniques used in the course will include class participation, critical analysis of case studies, midterms, and a final. After taking this course, students will acquire the background required for internships in public and non-profit sectors. Students will also be familiarized with various career options in the two aforementioned areas.