Political Science 285, Section 06
American Public Policy
3 Credit Hours/Fall 2006
Location: AB1, Room 317
Time: Monday/Wednesday/Friday 1:00 – 1:50
Instructor: Kevin Wooten
Office: AB1, Room 319
*Office Phone: 294-4042
*Email: klw007@shsu.edu (this is the best way to contact me)
*Office Hours: MWF – 11:00-12:30 or by appointment
Course Description:
This course is a study of national and state policy. Both the policy process and the substance of selected policies will be examined. Topics may include foreign policy, civil liberties, health care, education, social issues, economic policy, environmental policy, and/or others. Prerequisite: Pol 261
Optional Textbook:
• Davis , Edwin S., Public Policy: The Basics . Edsal Publishing House, 2005. ISBN 0-9721978-1-8
Required Textbook
• Schlosser, Eric, Fast Food Nation, New York : Houghton Mifflin, 2001. ISBN 0-395-97789-4
Attendance Policy: Attendance will be taken. Absences in excess of five for the semester will result in a decrease of the final grade of one (1) point for each absence. For example, a person with a final average of 82 with 8 absences would receive a final grade of 79 for the class. Tardies will be recorded. When calculating grades, the first three tardies will count as one absence. Thereafter each tardy will be considered an absence.
Grades: Grades will be based on two (2) exams during the semester and a comprehensive final exam.
Exam #1 30% A = 90 -100
Exam #2 30% B = 80 - 89
Exam #3 30% C = 70 – 79
Other 10% D = 60 – 69
Total 100% F = 00 – 59
Academic Dishonesty: All students are expected to engage in all academic pursuits in a manner that is above reproach. Students are expected to maintain complete honesty and integrity in the academic experiences both in and out of the classroom. Any student found guilty of dishonesty in any phase of academic work will be subject to disciplinary action. The University and its official representatives may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of any form of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work which is to be submitted, plagiarism, collusion, and abuse of resources materials.
Email Etiquette: All email correspondence must be sent to klw007@shsu.com . All emails must contain the full name of the student within the body of the email. The email must also designate the class (days/time) which you are enrolled. If both items are not included in the email, the email will not be answered.
Classroom Behavior: All participants in the classroom experience (instructor and students) are expected to treat each other with respect. This includes allowing the instructor to present material to the class without unnecessary interruptions (including arriving late to class), as well as respecting the opinions and views of other students. Laptop computers and recording devices are acceptable to use in class as long as it does not interfere with other students. Turn off cell phones before entering class.
Americans With Disabilities Act: Students with disabilities that might affect their academic performance are expected to visit the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities located in the Counseling Center . They should then make arrangements with their individual instructors so that appropriate strategies can be considered and helpful procedures can be developed to ensure that participation and achievement opportunities are not impaired. All disclosures of disabilities will be kept strictly confidential. NOTE: No accommodation can be made until the student registers with the Counseling Center .
Religious Holidays: Students desiring to absent himself/herself form a scheduled class in order to observe a religious holy day(s) shall present to each instructor involved a written statement concerning the religious holy day(s) within three weeks (21 days) of the first scheduled class day. . The instructor will notify the student of a reasonable timeframe in which the missed assignments and/or examinations are to be completed.
Tentative Course Outline:
The Policymaking Process
Agenda Setting
Policy Formulation
Policy Implementation
Policy Evaluation
Systems Model
Test #1
Using Models
Group Model
Big Box Retailers
Elite Model
Foreign Policy
Rational Model
Criminal Justice
Test #2
Incremental model
Economic policy
Institutional Model
Disaster preparedness
Exam #3 (Date and time of Final will be posted later in the semester)
I have read and understand the Syllabus
Print name
Signature