Course Description
Leading ethical issues that arise in public administration practice and consideration of the sources to which the public administrator can look for guidance in dealing with these issues.
Athena Title
ETHICS IN PUB ADM
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in POLS 7380
Semester Course Offered
Not offered on a regular basis.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The subject of ethics has risen in importance tremendously over the past 30 years and no public administration curriculum would be complete without an extensive treatment of the topic. This course covers the subject with the depth it deserves. The course addresses two broad problems: (1) What are the leading ethical issues that arise in the practice of public administration? and, (2) Where should the administrator look for guidance in dealing with these issues? Case studies will be used extensively in order to bring to light the kinds of ethical issues that confront administrators in their daily activities. Other readings of a more general nature will be used to identify principles that might guide ethical choice and to show the practical ramifications of these principles.
Topical Outline
I. Ethics and executive leadership II. Administrative ethics as the expression of good character III. The problems of ethics in the "old" and "new" public administration IV. Administrative ethics as responsible conduct V. Administrative ethics as obedience to law: What law is authoritative for administrators? VI. Administrative courage, obedience to orders, and resignation in protest VII. Administrative ethics and utilitarian calculation VIII. Administrative ethics and social justice IX. Defining and dealing with corruption X. The problem of choice XI. Resolving dilemmas of administrative ethics