PA 330: Ethics for the Public Administrator

Summer 2017 Online Course

Instructor Information
Name: Stephanie Celaya-Serventi Office Hours: By appointment
Email: scelayas@email.arizona.edu

Course Description & Objectives

The course is in 4 parts. The first section is an overview of individual ethics that we bring to
situations in the workplace, particularly in the public organization through moral reasoning or
intuitively. The second section explores the application of individual ethics. The third section
is the four components to ethics as management or organizational ethics; individual
LEADERSHIP, individual MEMBERSHIP, organizational STRUCTURE and organizational
CULTURE. The fourth section features applications of ethics in the public organization and the
final section is two illustrations of organization deviance, Enron and NASA.

This is a required course for all Public Management and Policy students. It is a course in
applied ethics and not a course in philosophy or religion. Instead, the course allows students
to become aware of the ethical frameworks that they are already employing in anticipation of
ethical dilemmas in the workplace. Second, the course seeks to answer, in part, what a
manager can do to facilitate ethical conduct in the workplace.
Course Format and Teaching Methods

The course is an online course. All learning materials, discussions, and assignments will be
administered via the D2L course site and UA email. In person discussions about course
material and topics with peers and/or instructor are encouraged, though not required.
Required Texts

All Readings are on D2L. Be advised that this saves you money, but there will be two reading
quizzes.
Course Topics, Assignments, and Schedule

Course topics and schedules, assignments, and due dates will be communicated via the D2L Course
Content, Discussions, Announcements, and Course Calendar.

Final Exam (Total 400 points) 1 final during the last week of the session covering the
application of all material.

Writing Assignments (Total 400 points): Scenario assignment worth 200 points and 1 Op-Ed
piece worth maximum 200 points. These writing assignments must be turned in to the D2L
Assignments. Further details will be provided on D2L.

Reading quizzes (Total 40 points): 2 reading quizzes worth 20 points each.

Participation (Total 160 points): We will have online discussions due twice a week (total 8 over
session 10 pts. each) focused on the readings and subject matter for that week. You will be
required to post one question on the readings/subject matter for your group to answer via
 VoiceThread (links provided in “Discussions” tab). You are required to respond to two
questions posted by other students.

You are also required to respond to the moral dilemma (total 8 over session*, 10 pts. Each)
directly OR to a classmate's response (respectfully).
*The first and last week you will not have a moral dilemma, but rather an ice breaker activity and a final
review activity

I will participate in these discussions with you. To get full points for these discussions, you
need to post your question no later than Tuesday or Friday by 11:59pm of each week and
respond to your groups’ questions and moral dilemma by Wednesday or Saturday by
11:59pm, respectively.

All submitted assignments should be typed, 12 pt font, single-spaced, page numbers, and must
include a proper heading with name, course name/number, instructor name, date, and
assignment name.

Final grades will be calculated with the sum of points earned through the semester, and be
assigned as follows:

900-1000 = A
800-899.99= B
700-799.99= C
600-699.99= D
0-599.99 = F/E
Late Work Policy

Late homework assignments will not be accepted. No makeup opportunities will be granted.
Only approved advanced excuses by the instructor and illness/emergency (with appropriate
documentation) will be honored.

Classroom Behavior

The Arizona Board of Regents’ Student Code of Conduct, ABOR Policy 5-308, prohibits threats of
physical harm to any member of the University community, including to one’s self. See:
http://policy.arizona.edu/threatening-behavior-students"http://policy.arizona.edu/threatening-
behavior-students.
Notification of Objectionable Materials

Although course content may be deemed offensive by some students, such materials are deemed
important for the learning process. Students are not excused from interacting with such materials, but
they are certainly encouraged to express well-formed opinions that express those objections and their
reasons for them.
Accessibility and Accommodations
It is the University’s goal that learning experiences be as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or
experience physical or academic barriers based on disability, please let me know immediately so that
we can discuss options. You are also welcome to contact Disability Resources (520-621-3268) to
establish reasonable accommodations. For additional information on Disability Resources and
reasonable accommodations, please visit http://drc.arizona.edu.

If you have reasonable accommodations, please plan to meet with me by appointment or during
office hours to discuss accommodations and how my course requirements and activities may impact
your ability to fully participate.

Please be aware that the accessible table and chairs in this room should remain available for students
who find that standard classroom seating is not usable.

Student Code of Academic Integrity

Students are encouraged to share intellectual views and discuss freely the principles and applications
of course materials. However, graded work/exercises must be the product of independent effort
unless otherwise instructed. Students are expected to adhere to the UA Code of Academic Integrity as
described in the UA General Catalog.
See: http://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/codeofacademicintegrity

The University Libraries have some excellent tips for avoiding plagiarism available
at: http://www.library.arizona.edu/help/tutorials/plagiarism/index.html

Selling class notes and/or other course materials to other students or to a third party for resale is not
permitted without the instructor’s express written consent. Violations to this and other course rules
are subject to the Code of Academic Integrity and may result in course sanctions. Additionally,
students who use D2L or UA email to sell or buy these copyrighted materials are subject to Code of
Conduct Violations for misuse of student email addresses. This conduct may also constitute
copyright infringement.
Additional Resources for Students
UA Non-discrimination and Anti-harassment policy:

http://policy.arizona.edu/human-resources/nondiscrimination-and-anti-harassment-policy

UA Academic policies and procedures are available at:

http://catalog.arizona.edu/2015-16/policies/aaindex.html"http://catalog.arizona.edu/2015-
16/policies/aaindex.html

Student Assistance and Advocacy information is available at:

http://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/student-assistance/students/student-assistance
Confidentiality of Student Records
Required language: http://www.registrar.arizona.edu/ferpa/default.htm
Subject to Change Statement
Information contained in the course syllabus, other than the grade and absence policy, may be subject
to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.