Overview Objective Materials grading Exam ELI Policies and Procedures Contacting the Instructor Beginning the Course
PBS 100 - Introduction to Public Administration - 3 Credits
Instructor :  Denise Simmons

Overview


Public Administration is a fascinating field if you are interested in the management of government and the politics of government or nonprofit organizations -- at local, state or national levels.  Many students of PBS 100 work in government or nonprofit organizations and can relate the course material to their work environment.  In addition the news media in the Washington D.C. area are filled with reports that relate to the subject matter of the course. Topics of interest that relate to the course include: the government reorganization that resulted in the Department of Homeland Security; new Human Resource policies proposed for the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense; President Bush's initiatives related to contacting and competing Federal jobs ( revision to OMB circular A-76); Ethics and Iraq prisoner abuse by US military; Federal, state and local government budget deficits, land use and growth especially in Loudoun and Prince William counties; President Bush's faith based initiatives related to provision of social services--to name a few.

PBS 100 focuses on principles underlying public administration in federal, state, and local government.  It also examines the role of government, administrative and policy processes, organizational structure, basic problems of management, administrative responsibility, and the future of public administration.

Prerequisites/Expectations/Recommended Knowledge and Skills:  There are no prerequisites for this course.

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Objectives

 

If you do well in this course, you will be able to:

  • Public administration as both discipline and profession
  • The structure and organization of governments and the relationship of local,state, and federal governments
  • How public policies originate, the role of public administrators in policymaking.
  • The cooperative relationsip between government and private sector organizations.
  • Organizational theories and behaviors, including decision making and leadership.
  • The legal and political factors influencing human resources management.
  • The legal and political factors influencing budgeting and finance and the budgeting processes.
  • The policy making process and accountability.
  • The challenges of public administration.
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Materials

 



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Grading
 

The course grading criteria are listed below:

Assignment

Points

Percentage

Discussion Board (4 @ 35 points each)

140

14%

Chapter Assignments (4 @ 50 points each)

200

20%

Article Reviews  (4 @ 25 points each)

100

10%

Interview Paper

60

6%

Public Administration Paper

100

10%

Exams (4 @ 100 points each)

400

40%

Total

1000

100%

In addition to completing all the assignments, you must take all four (4) exams and pass at least two of the four exams to pass the course, regardless of your grades on other assignments.

Grading Scale
A
900-1000 points
B
800-899 points
C
700-799 points
D
600-699 points
F
Less than 600 points
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Exams

 

There are 4 exams in this course. You are expected to take your examinations at one of the NVCC campus Testing Centers. Be sure to allow enough time to complete your exam before the Testing Center closes; Testing Centers have specific policies relating to the administration of ELI exams. You will need to take a photo ID, your NovaConnect empl ID number, and the appropriate Exam Pass when you go to the Testing Center.  

For Testing Center locations, hours of operation and policies, click here.

For information on taking exams outside of the metropolitan area, click here.

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ELI Policies and Procedures

 
This is an Extended Learning Institute (ELI) course. ELI courses differ from campus courses in several important ways, including enrollment dates, communication with faculty, assignment completion requirements, and exams. You must follow ELI's policies and procedures if you take this course. Read (or review) ELI's Policies and Procedures before you begin the course. If you have questions, call ELI at (703) 323-3347 or (800) 627-5443.
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Contacting the Instructor

 

I am here to help you succeed in this course. Occasionally questions or problems may arise. Here is how to contact me when they do:

E-mail : dsimmons@nvcc.edu
Telephone :(703) 878-5634
You may call me to schedule a meeting at ELI or my office on the Woodbridge Campus.

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Beginning the Course

 

1. Use your web browser to connect to http://www.nvcc.edu/bbstart. Follow the directions to determine your email, Blackboard and VIVA account user names and passwords.
2. Access your email account and make sure you know how to use it; you will be required to use this account for all course-related email.
3. Log on to Blackboard at http://learn.vccs.edu.
4. Click on this course under "My Courses." Review the entire course to make sure you understand what will be required of you. Then start completing the assignments.

Please note that account generation takes approximately one week from the time of your paid registration. If you cannot log on after one week, contact the IT Help Desk. If you can log on to Blackboard, but your course isn't listed, please contact ELI or your instructor.