ADM5238 THEORY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
| Course Code: | 3105238 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 8.0 |
| Department: | Political Science and Public Adm. |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Graduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Prof.Dr. AYLİN TOPAL |
| Offered Semester: | Fall or Spring Semesters. |
Course Objectives
This course aims to equip graduate students with a comprehensive understanding of public administration theory and its methodological foundations, enabling them to critically engage with the field’s intellectual heritage and contribute to its ongoing evolution.
It aims to critically assess the normative and ethical implications of public administration theories, particularly in relation to democracy, accountability, and social justice. it also consider how public administration theories could address issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion in governance and public service.
Course Content
This course is oriented towards a review of different schools and/or theorists of public administration theory from its genesis to contemporary ones. Special emphasis is given to methodology problem in this area.
Course Learning Outcomes
Trace the Historical Development of Public Administration Theory:
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Identify and analyze the evolution of public administration theory from its origins to contemporary approaches, including classical, neoclassical, and modern schools of thought.
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Understand the historical, political, and social contexts that shaped the development of different theoretical paradigms.
Critically Engage with Key Theorists and Schools of Thought:
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Examine the contributions of seminal theorists and their influence on public administration theory.
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Compare and contrast the assumptions, principles, and implications of major schools of thought
Evaluate Methodological Challenges in Public Administration Research:
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Analyze the methodological issues and debates in public administration research, including the tension between normative and empirical approaches, qualitative vs. quantitative methods, and the role of interdisciplinary perspectives.
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Assess the strengths and limitations of different methodological frameworks for studying public administration phenomena.
Synthesize Theoretical and Practical Insights:
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Integrate theoretical knowledge with practical applications in public administration, identifying how theories inform policy-making, organizational behavior, and public service delivery.
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Level of Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | The ability to interpret and assess the ways in which power is generated and used socially, institutionally, economically and culturally at the local, national and international levels. | ✔ | |||
| 2 | The ability to conduct interdisciplinary studies and research when assessing the social phenomena in the field of Political Science and Public Administration. | ✔ | |||
| 3 | To attain a sound formation regarding the basic topics, like state-society relations, history of political thought, organisational theory, Turkish politics and comparative politics, in the field of Political Science and Public Administration. | ✔ | |||
| 4 | The ability to use the classical and new approaches in social sciences comprehensively and critically. | ✔ | |||
| 5 | To acquire the methodological knowledge and scientific skills which would enhance the capacity to conduct scientific research and produce publications including a M.S. thesis. | ✔ | |||
| 6 | The ability to evaluate the different dimensions of the problems in the policy areas which are studied through the use of different theoretical perspectives and to develop strategies on this basis. | ✔ | |||
| 7 | To uphold ethical principles in science, academy and life. | ✔ | |||
| 8 | To approach the issues by an independent, critical and inventive cognitive orientation, which could also support the professional career development. | ✔ | |||
0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution