Purpose:
The purpose of this course is
to introduce students to three major areas of public policy: 1) the history and nature of public policy;
2) the making of public policy; and 3) analyzing public policy issues. By the end of the sixteen weeks, students
will be able to answer the following questions: What is public policy?
How does U.S. historical and institutional context influence the policy
process? What is the role of government
in administrating policy? How do race,
power, privilege, and law impact the policy process? What models and methods are used to analyze public policies? Finally, readings, course material, and
current public policy issues will be examined through a variety of teaching
methods which promote class discussion, application of course concepts and practical
experience in policy analysis.
Required Texts: The text and reader are also at the
reserve desk of the Zimmerman Library.
}
Lester, James P. and Joseph Stewart, Jr. 2000. Public Policy: An Evolutionary Approach. St. Paul, MN: West
Publishing Company. Available at UNM
bookstore by 8/23/02, 277-7478.
}
Course Reader
available at The Publications/Copy Center, University of New Mexico, College of
Education, Administration Building, Room 124, 505-277-9551.
Americans
With Disabilities Act (ADA):
“Qualified students with
disabilities needing appropriate academic adjustments should contact the
instructor as soon as possible to ensure your needs are met in a timely
manner.” In
accordance with University policies, reasonable accommodation will be made for students
will special needs or for the observance of religious occasions. For
information on the UNM ADA Policies, please contact the Office of Equal
Opportunity at 505-277-5251. www.ada.gov
Confidentiality
of Grades: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act mandate the
confidentiality of student records.
Grades will ONLY be released to the student and to the UNM faculty and
staff who have an official education interest.
Release of a student’s grade to others requires written permission of
the student. Test scores, etc. are
displayed in such a way to readily identify the student’s score to others. Final grades for classes will never be
displayed, even with social security numbers.
Requirements:
Three Exams 50%
Five Assignments 40%
Class Attendance &
Participation 10%
Exams: Closed book, 20-25
questions, multiple choice, true and false, and fill-in the blank. English as a second language students must
request permission to use an English/other language dictionary from the
instructor prior to the exam.
Assignments: Typed/word
processed, double-spaced, hard copy due in class. Late papers will not count towards grade credit. No exceptions, no excuses. Guidelines for assignments will be posted at
www.unm.edu/~cacari.
Class attendance &
participation: During the 16 weeks of the semester, attendance will be taken at
class and count towards the minimum grading criteria. In addition, participation will count towards grading through the
following criteria: students
demonstrate they have read the assignments, show active listening, ask
questions relevant to readings, and contribute to class discussions. Students are responsible for all
arrangements to obtain class handouts, notes, or other materials missed due to
their absence.
Ground Rules for
Learning: The course is governed by
all rules and procedures as detailed in the UNM Catalog and The Pathfinder: The
UNM Student Handbook. All students are expected to abide by the University policies on
academic honesty and integrity as given in the Pathfinder.
Learning Methods:
}
Readings-
Assigned readings are selected with the purpose of introducing the student to
three major areas of public policy: 1)
history and nature; 2) making of public policy; 3) analysis of public policy
issues.
}
Class Meetings- Each
class is one hour and 15 minutes and will begin with a presentation and summary
of assigned readings, followed by:
class discussion, learning activity, video, and/or guest speakers.
}
Group Work-
Students will join other classmates in small groups to discuss and analyze key
policy issues such as education, criminal justice/crime, economics, health and
social welfare, environmental, international trade and immigration, defense,
tax, and civil rights.
}
Individual Study & Participation- Students are
responsible for studying assigned readings before the class session and come
prepared to discuss key concepts, themes and policy models from the
readings.
}
Videos-Will be viewed during
class followed discussion in order to promote application of concepts and
models.
}
Technology- The class website will be designed as a learning tool for
students. The instructor will post
requirements for written assignments, exam study guides, resources and websites
for policy research, and other information that promotes student learning.
}
Assignments-Promote reflection and critical thinking and sued
to build research & writing skills.
Each assignment must include students name, course title & number, date, instructors name, and assignment number at top of paper. Assignments are to be typed/word processed, spell check, and in 12 point font.
The History & Nature of Public Policy
Week One:
Tuesday, August 20-Introductions
and Class Overview
Thursday, August 22- What is pubic policy & policy
analysis?
$ Chapter 1, Lester & Stewart, pp. 1-21.
Week Two:
Tuesday, August 27- Evolution
of Public Policy and Policy Research
$ Chapter 2 in Lester & Stewart, pp. 22-34.
Thursday, August 29- The U.S. Historical Context of Public
Policy
$ Reader-Morone, James, A. (1998). The
Democratic Wish: Popular Participation and the Limits of American Government,
pp. 1-30. Yale University Press.
Week Three:
Tuesday, September 3-
Representation and Republic
$Reader-Morone, James, A.
(1998). The Democratic
Wish: Popular Participation and the Limits of American Government, pp.
33-73. Yale University Press.
Assignment #1 DUE
Thursday, September 5-
Representation and Republic
$Reader-Morone, James, A.
(1998). The Democratic
Wish: Popular Participation and the Limits of American Government, pp.
33-73. Yale University Press.
Week Four:
Tuesday, September 10-
Role of Federal Government in Policymaking
$ Reader- Lowi, T.J. & Ginsberg,
B. American
Government: Freedom and Power. Chapter 3,
The Constitutional Framework: Federalism and the Separation of Powers. WW. Norton & Company.
$Reader-Bardach, E. (2000).
APPENDIX A: Things Governments
Do, pp. 87-95. In A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis: The Eightfold Path to More Effective Problem
Solving.
Chatman House Publishers.
Thursday, September 12- Role of State Government in Policymaking
$- Reader- Turner, H. American
Democracy: State and Local Government. Chapter
5, State and Local Functions and Services. Harper & Row Publishers.
$- Reader- New Mexico State Legislature.
Assignment #2 Due
The Making of Public Policy
Week Five:
Tuesday, September 17-
Approaches to Policy Analysis
$ Chapter 3 in Lester & Stewart, pp. 35-48
Thursday, September 19, Models and Public Policy Studies
$ Chapter 4 in Lester & Stewart,
pp. 51-64.
Study Guide for
Exam # 1
Week Six:
Tuesday, September 24- Exam # 1
Thursday, September 26, Analysis
in the Policy Process
$ Chapter 5 in Lester
& Stewart, pp. 66-86.
Week Seven:
Tuesday, October 1, Policy Formulation
$ Chapter 6 in Lester & Stewart, pp. 87-103.
Thursday, October 3, Policy Implementation
$ Chapter 7 in Lester & Stewart, pp. 104-124.
Week Eight:
Tuesday, October 8, Policy
Evaluation
$ Chapter 8, Lester & Stewart, pp. 125-143
Training on conducting research
and accessing academic journals and data resources. Location TBA via email by
instructor.
Assignment
#3 DUE
Thursday, October 10, NO
CLASSES @ UNM.
Week Nine:
Tuesday, October 15- Policy Change & Termination
$ Chapter 9, Lester & Stewart, pp. 144-162.
Study Guide for
Exam #2
Thursday, October 17- EXAM #2
Analyzing Public Policy
Issues
Week Ten:
Tuesday, October 22- Labor
Policies
$Web-based reading- Lessons from Our Past: From the Great Depression to Now. http://www.aflcio.org/cse/mod4/mod4_3.htm
In Class Case Study- Corporate
Accountability & ENRON
Midterm Class Evaluation
Thursday, October 24- Civil Rights Policy
$Reader- Dye, T. (2002).
Civil Rights: Elite and Mass
Interaction. In Understanding Public
Policy, Prentice Hall.
Week Eleven:
Tuesday, October 29- Civil Rights Policy
$Case Study in Reader -Swain, C. (2001).
Affirmative Action: Legislative
History, Judicial Interpretations, Public Consensus. In American Becoming: Racial Trends and Their Consequences,
Volume I, by Smelsner, N.J., Julius Wilson, W.
& Mitchell, F. National
Research Council, National Academy Press.
Thursday, October 31, Education Policy
$
Chapter 10, Lester & Stewart, pp. 164-185.
Assignment
#4 DUE
Week Twelve:
Tuesday, November 5- Education Policy
$ Case Study in Reader-Ferguson,
R. F. Test Scores Along Racial
Lines, 1971-1996: Popular Culture and
Community Academic Standards. In
America Becoming: Racial Trends and
Their Consequences, Volume I.
Thursday, November 7-
Environmental Policies
$-Chapter 13 in Lester
& Stewart, pp. 226-243.
$Case Study in Reader- Virginia Sanchez. Nuclear Waste, Dumping on the Indians in All
Our Relations: Native Struggles for
Land and Life by Winona LaDuke, South End Press, 1999.
Week Thirteen:
Tuesday, November 12-
Social Welfare Policies
$Chapter 11, Lester & Stewart, pp. 188-209.
Assignment #5 Due
Thursday, November 14- Social Welfare
Policies
$ Case Study in Reader- New Mexico Senate Joint Memorial
52: Impact of the Personal
Responsibility & Work Reconciliation Act on Access to Health Care &
Public Benefits for Immigrants in New Mexico.
Week Fourteen:
Tuesday, November 19- Drug Policy
$ Reader-Schneider Health
Policy Institute. Substance Abuse: The Nations Number One Health Problem, Key
Indicators for Policy, Consequences of Use and Combating the Problem. February 2001.
Thursday, November 21, Immigration Policies
$Reader -Portes, A. & Rumbaut, R.G. Immigration & Public Policy. In Immigrant America: A Portrait.
University of California Press, 2001.
Study
guide for Exam #3
Week Fifteen:
Tuesday November 26- Exam#
3
Thursday, November 28- THANKSGIVING- No
Class
Week Sixteen:
Tuesday, December 3, Defense Policy & National Security
$Reader-
Dye, T.R. Defense Policy: Strategies for
Serious Games. In Understanding Public
Policy. Prentice Hall, 2002.
Thursday, December 5,
Course Review
Week Seventeen:
Tuesday December 10th
Final EXAM PERIOD
Final Class Evaluation
Assignment #6