Class requirements

Attendance and participation are required for all class meetings.

Required Materials

• Selection of best MPA paper and assignments on a flash drive
• SFSU e-mail address with password you know

Required Books

The following are available from the University book store, and may be picked up at the downtown campus. They can also be ordered online.

• De Souza Briggs, Xavier. 2008. Democracy as Problem Solving: Civic Capacity in Communities Across the Globe. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.
   
• Goldsmith, Stephen and William D. Eggers.2004. Governing by Network: The New Shape of the Public Service. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press.
   
• Kettl, Donald F. 2002. The Transformation of Governance: Public Administration for 21st Century America. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press

Optional, recommended book

• Hacker, Diana. A Writer's Reference, 6th edition. Bedford/St. Martin's Press

Required Cases

The following can be purchased from the Kennedy School of Government Case Program website.  You can search by number, title or author to find them on the website.

Assignments

Unless otherwise arranged with me in advance, all written assignments must use the APA in-text method of citation Failure to use an approved method of citation will significantly lower the grade for the paper.

• Short case memos and class discussion (30% of final grade)

For each class meeting, you should read the required reading and case (see class schedule page) and write a short (maximum two page) memo as described on the assignments page.  You  should also be prepared to discuss the bullets outlined on the assignments page.

• Assessment Case Study Memo.  (10% of final grade)

        You will turn in via e-mail on Mar. 20 a two page memo assessing the same case you assessed in PA 700. The purpose is to
         measure the knowledge you have gained during the MPA program against that original baseline.

• Strategic Assessment Memo (50% of final grade)

This is a take-home essay that you will have several weeks to prepare. It requires you to choose one of the six cases listed on the Assignment page. Based on that case, you will write a 15-20 page memo that addresses the case in greater depth than was possible in class. Moreover, you are expected to incorporate citations to other relevant books, articles, government reports, etc. You should draw upon all of the reading materials you completed in MPA classes, as well as any other sources you find to be relevant. The paper is due May 4 by 6:00 PM (no exceptions). If you would like for me to read a preliminary draft of your memo, it must be e-mailed to me no later than  April 20. 

• ePortfolio/Career Goals Statement (10% of final grade)

All students are required to develop an ePortfolio that documents the knowledge, skills and abilities you have acquired in this program. We will do this during class sessions as noted on the class schedule page. It will include your own reflections of what you have gained during the program. See examples of student portfolios