Dates: May 13 – May 17, 2002

Course description: The purpose of the Washington, D.C. seminar is to provide graduate students with an opportunity to explore and examine the three branches of the federal government: the executive, legislative, and judiciary. Examination and exploration will be accomplished through dialogue, inquiry, and reading and writing assignments.

Executive staff meetings are tentatively scheduled at the United States Senate and House of Representatives, Library of Congress, Office of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, the Office of the Attorney General, the Departments of State and Education, the American Red Cross, and various foreign embassies. Discussion topics include contemporary issues relevant to policy formulation, program implementation and evaluation. Areas of interest to participants include homeland security, public health, science and technology, emergency management services, public personnel management, social services administration, legal and illegal immigration, and foreign policy.

Objectives:

· Students will understand the importance of interagency relations.

· Students will understand the networking skills necessary to identify grant and contract opportunities for doing future research.

· Students will learn to identify opportunities for completing comparative public administration studies abroad.

· Students will understand more about the “fourth branch of government” and how it fits in the federal government.

Eligibility: Full-time graduate students enrolled in the MPA, joint JD/MPA, and Ph.D. programs are encouraged to apply. Enrollment is limited to 10 students. PERMISSION OF THE INSTRUCTOR IS REQUIRED PRIOR TO ENROLLMENT.

Application procedure.

To apply for the Washington, DC Seminar, follow the three simple steps below:

1) Prepare a one-page summary covering the Introduction section and Chapter 1 of both required texts (see below).

2) Submit a one- to two-page statement explaining:

· Your interest in the seminar?

· What you expect to learn from the experience?

· How the internship will contribute to your education and career objectives?

· Why should you be selected?

3) Submit one letter (e-mail recommendations accepted) from a faculty member recommending you for the seminar. The faculty member must be from the Department of Public Administration and Urban Studies.

Textbook requirements:

There are two required texts: The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay (1982). New York: Bantam Books. What the Anti-Federalists Were For - The Political Thought of the Opponents of the Constitution (1981). Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. Note: a one-page summary of the Introductions and Chapter 1 of each book is required as part of the application process.

Writing Assignments:

(1) A one-page summary covering the Introduction and Chapter 1 of both texts is required with your application materials.

(2) A one- to two-page metaphorical paper entitled, “Public administration is…” The paper is intended to help you begin to think about public administration in the context of federal, state, and local governments. For example, you may use a tree as a metaphor for government, with the several limbs comprising the various branches of government that work together to formulate and implement public policies and programs. You may see it in a physical sense—as the heart or brain of the nation. You may see it as a dark and murky primeval swamp. You decide. Be creative. Due date – May 28^th.

(3) Term paper (no more than ten pages): The term paper is designed to complement seminar objectives. The paper should be a succinct research paper on a public administration topic of your choice. It should be no more than 10 pages, not including figures, charts and bibliography, double spaced, #12 font, and stapled at the left hand corner. Your name, the date, and title of the paper should appear on the first page. Grammar, punctuation, citation, and appearance count. All papers should be typed.

The paper should cogently state your view of an issue in public administration gleaned from course materials, seminar meetings, interviews with key government officials and their staff, and an independent search of the literature. It should incorporate what you have learned in the seminar. Describe how you would go about identifying sources of federal funding, networking to accomplish some career or research objectives--perhaps conducting comparative public administration research--and state how the fourth branch of government fits in the framework of our federal form of government. Due date – 5:PM, May 28^th. Papers must be E-mailed to me at: ramona3@uakron.edu by the deadline date. They will be graded and returned to you by e-mail.

Lodging, transportation, and meals

Students are expected to pay for their own housing, meals, and all forms of air and ground transportation, i.e. airline tickets, car rental, and Washington, DC taxis and metro tickets.

Expectations

· Full participation is vital to the objectives of the seminar. Students are required to participate in all events and activities associated with the Washington, D.C. seminar.

· Since this is an analytic and experiential course, successful integration of the “knowledge” and the “application” components depend upon active participation and timely completion of assignments.

· Initiate appropriate and relevant public administration questions to government officials and their staff during scheduled meetings.

· Completion of all written assignments in a timely and professional manner.

· Professional business attire and attention to protocol is expected.

Projected Costs:

Lodging – TBA (to be announced). Approximate costs for lodging usually has been $600.00 for one week plus incidental taxes and fees, if any. Rates are based on double occupancy.

Round-trip transportation – students must make their own transportation arrangements.

Food – Approximately $40.00 per day should be anticipated for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Other transportation costs – Approximately $20.00 a day should be anticipated for taxi and metro services.

APPROXIMATE TOTAL COST: $700.00, including $100.00 University fee. (HOUSING COSTS ARE FIXED, HOWEVER, OTHER EXPENSES MAY CHANGE DEPENDING ON STUDENTS’ NEEDS.)

NOTE: STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO RESIDE IN WHATEVER HOTEL SELECTED.