Bentley-Smith, GVPT 388I/386 Page 1 of 7 ** Note: This syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. Some additional readings may be expected regarding policies being discussed at that time. ** GVPT388i/386 – Public Policy Internship Program Spring Term 2010 Tuesday 6:30-9:15pm Instructor: Elizabeth A. Bentley-Smith Office: 1135A Tydings Hall Email: [email protected] Office Hours: Wednesday 2:00-4:00pm Phone: (301) 405-5021 and by appointment Course Description This course will examine the contemporary performance of the public policy process in the American Democratic Government System. It will provide an overall introduction to the workings of the political policy processes, typologies, theories and bureaucracy at the federal level. Focus will be on the powers, organization, and rules and procedures of the United States government with emphasis on constitutional responsibilities and institutional procedures. The course will be split in two sections: 1) how policy is organized, designed, and simply put together and 2) how policy is implemented through bureaucracy. “The Government and Politics Public Policy Internship Program enables students to work in local, state, national, regional, or global political institutions and receive college credit. Students are expected to work 8-20 hours per week over a 15-week semester and attend a weekly seminar in order to complete the program…The Public Policy Internship Program is designed for those students interested in the following policy institutions or policy arenas: (1) the Federal Bureaucracy; (2) the Federal Courts; (3) Civil Rights; (4) Community Service; (5) Environment; (6) International Studies; (7) Area Studies, especially Asian and Latin American Studies; (8) Labor; (9) Policy Advocacy; (10) Political Communications; (11) Municipal, City, or County Government; and (12) State Government.”1 You must register for the following courses to earn GVPT credit for this internship: ~ GVPT 388I section 0101 for 3 credits, REG grading method ~ GVPT 386 section 6301 for 6 credits, Pass/Fail grading method (optional, only register for this course if you wish to earn additional elective credits; this course will not count toward any GVPT major requirements). Fieldwork You are required to complete 8 to 20 hours per week for your policy internship; however, your work schedule details are to be negotiated with your supervisor. It is beneficial to request a job description from your office; if you are unsure regarding your expectations, duties, or you have concerns for any reason, please contact me. To make the most of your internship experience, you must be constantly aware of your surroundings. Be sure to observe all actions, including those you are not directly involved. Be mindful of staff actions, pay attention to your office‟s agenda, and remain informed of political activities. Most importantly, keep in mind that you may observe confidential interactions and it is your responsibility to respect that confidence. 1 http://www.bsos.umd.edu/gvpt/undergraduate/internships/PPIPApp-PropSpring2010.pdfBentley-Smith, GVPT 388I/386 Page 2 of 7 ** Note: This syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. Some additional readings may be expected regarding policies being discussed at that time. ** You were selected to participate in this program based on multiple criteria including your academic achievements and personal qualifications. These factors, along with a high level of professionalism, should be ever present during all aspects of your internship. At the end of the semester, your supervisor will complete a confidential evaluation which I will take into consideration when determining your final grade. I highly suggest asking your supervisor for an in-person evaluation upon the end of your internship experience to receive constructive criticism toward your future career. Required Texts Birkland, Thomas A. (2005). An Introduction to the Policy Process: Theories, Concepts, and Models of Public Policy Making. 2nd Edition. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe. ISBN #0-7656-1489-8 Kingdon, John W. (2003). Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies. 2nd Edition. New York: Longman. ISBN #0-321-12185-6 If the text is listed in the readings for that week, s/he should be prepared to participate in discussion of that topic. This class is a learning opportunity for all students both in and out of the classroom environment. This course is not a lecture, but a seminar; therefore, students should be prepared to contribute at each class meeting. All students should participate equally and respect each others‟ view points. Additional readings will be available through the Blackboard course page (www.elms.umd.edu). Students should visit the website during the first week of class to be sure that they have no problems obtaining the on-line reading materials. If necessary, some reserve materials will be available at the main desk of McKeldin Library. You will also need to choose an additional text discussing a specific policy topic (i.e. Immigration, Health, Foreign Aid, etc.) that is important to your organization or Congressional office. This text must be approved by me, so you‟ll need to provide the book‟s information with a short description (including title, author, year, ISBN, and table of contents) by the third class, February 9. You will use this book in your journal entries, Op-Ed, Memos, and the topic will be your Final Paper. Course Requirements All reading is due on the date it is assigned. Students are expected to complete the readings in advance and come to class prepared to discuss them. In conjunction with the assigned readings, students should read daily newspapers (The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The New York Times, etc.) to stay informed of current issues in U.S. and international politics. Attendance is required and unexcused absences will be penalized. Since the course is only once a week, it is imperative that you attend all classes as you are responsible for the information discussed. I understand that unavoidable conflicts sometimes arise, therefore students will be allowed one absence without penalty, no questions asked. However, if you miss class due to illness, you are required to bring a doctor‟s note. This action will be reflected in your participation grade. There will be a short, 10-15