Course: PPA 590 Special Topics: Women and Public Policy

Instructors:            Michelle A. Saint-Germain, Ph.D.
                                Campus Office: ET-245
                                Telephone (562) 985-5383 or x54178 or x54179
                                Fax (562) 985-4672
                                E-mail msaintg@csulb.edu
                                Web page http://www.csulb.edu/~msaintg/

                            Gerrie Schipske, J.D.
                                E-mail: egschipske@yahoo.com

Meeting Dates:        Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:00 - 9:45 pm, July 15 - August 23
Meeting Location:    SPA 112

Required Texts:

James E. Anderson, Public Policymaking, An Introduction, latest edition.
Dorothy McBride Stetson, Women's Rights in the USA, 2^nd ed.
M. Margaret Conway, Women & Public Policy, A Revolution in Progress, 2^nd ed.
 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course explores the relationships between women and contemporary public policy in the United States. Topics covered include how public policy is made and women's political roles in the making of public policy, as well as women's administrative roles in the implementation of public policy. We will look at current research on whether women have identifiable policy interests, the diversity of women's policy interests, how those interests are expressed, and whether women's policy interests differ from men's (e.g., the gender gap in voting and public opinion). Specific policy topics of interest to women will be explored, including women's legal rights; work and pay; women's health and health care; women's educational status; women in the police, military, and justice systems; women and family issues; and other topics of interest to class participants.
 

COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course is organized as a learning community. In such a community, both the students and the instructors are challenged equally to make the learning experience a success. The instructors are not a "sage on the stage" but a "guide on the side." Each and every person draws upon his or her own experiences and talents to help others understand the course materials and accomplish the learning objectives. Therefore, you are expected to come to class prepared and ready to participate in all activities, and to share experiences which are related to the course concepts and to learning.

This graduate seminar will integrate such activities as lectures, class discussions, assigned readings, article critiques, oral and written presentation of assignments, library research, small group presentations, structured in-class exercises, and other activities. Because different people learn best through different means, this combination will not only allow each person to draw on upon their own learning skills but to also experiences new ways of learning. Through the various activities, all participants will help one another to grasp the major concepts and techniques presented and to apply them in realistic settings.
 

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING

The final grade will be determined by the number of points you accumulate during the semester. You can accumulate points by completing assigned readings before each class meeting, by participating in class activities, and by completing oral and written assignments in a timely fashion. A summary of the course assignments and their possible point value is shown below.
 
 

Assignment	Possible Points	Percent of Grade
Class Attendance & Participation	30	30%
Public Policy Essay	10	10%
Article Critiques (2 @ 15 each)	30	30%
Annotated Bibliography	30	30%
TOTAL	100	100%

In order to obtain an A in this course, you will need to accumulate at least 90% of the total points, or at least 90 points. For a B, you will need at least 80% of the total, or at least 80 points. At least 70 points will earn a C, and at least 60 points will earn a D. Below 60 points is failing. There is no limit to the number of students who can get an A. You should keep track of the points you accumulate throughout the semester.

Because of the accelerated format of this course, it is essential that you turn in all assignments on time. Assignments turned in late will lose 10 percent of the points earned. You are welcome to submit any assignment ahead of time for instructor feedback before the due date. You may also revise and re-submit any assignment during the course to increase the points earned.

All written assignments should be typed, double spaced, and follow the conventional rules of grammar, punctuation, spelling, and notation of references. Please use one-inch margins and a 12-point font. All courses in PPA now require that students use the American Psychological Association (APA) format for footnotes, endnotes, references, and bibliographies. You can find a guide to the APA style on the CSULB Library's web page. Always keep a copy of your written assignments for yourself.

The first component of the assignments is preparation and participation; this is worth 30 points. Successful completion of a graduate seminar such as this rests on two fundamental concepts: preparation and participation. Preparation consists in reading the assigned material before class and completing assignments prior to the due date. Attendance is a necessary prerequisite for participation, but mere passive attendance is not in and of itself sufficient. Participation consists in contributing relevant comments to class discussions, working on individual and group problem-solving exercises, engaging in constructive criticism, assisting other class members, and demonstrating solutions to problems. Please note that the assigned readings for each class date on the schedule are to be completed before class, and assignments are due at the beginning of each class period on the due date.

The first written assignment consists of a short (one- to two-page, double spaced) essay on why you are interested in the topic of women and public policy. You may consult academic sources, or you may interview a knowledgeable person, but it is not required. You should select the broad topic of women and public policy in general, rather than any one particular policy or public issue in particular. This essay is due on the second class meeting.

The second written assignment is an article critique. You will do a total of two article critiques during the course. A critique is both a brief summary of a public policy article and your assessment of the article. A list of suggested articles will be provided for you. This critique is due on the date for which it is assigned on the reading list, and you may be asked to talk about it in class on that date. Each person will have a different article to critique, and present it on a different date. Be sure to write down the due date on your syllabus. Each of the two critiques is worth 15 points.

The third written assignment is an annotated public policy bibliography. This is a collection of at least 10 academic references relating to the public policy or policy issue of your choice. Each reference is accompanied by a brief (one or two paragraph) description of the author's theme and its relevance to the our understanding of women and public policy in general. You should try to find a wide variety of source articles or books, with varying points of view on the subject. You may use books, academic journals, published reports, government reports, or other sources, as long as they have an academic focus. The annotated bibliography will be due at the last class meeting.

Instructors will be available during on-campus office hours, by telephone, and by e-mail. Please do not hesitate to contact either instructor if you have any questions. You may also call or e-mail the student coordinator, Shawn Bauer, or the office manager, Robin Quirk, for help with administrative matters. A technology help desk at CSULB is also available to you around the clock for help with technological questions, such as how to access the CSULB library from off-campus.
 

DATE

TOPICS and ASSIGNMENTS

READINGS & DUE DATES

TUE 7/16/02

Introduction to the course

Choose policy or issue topic

THU 7/18/02

Introduction to women and public policy-making in the US

Anderson Ch 1; Conway Ch 1; Stetson Ch 1; ESSAY DUE

TUE 7/23/02

Policy-makers and their environment; education policy

Anderson Ch 2; Conway Ch 2; Stetson Ch 5

THU 7/25/02

Policy formation; health care policy

Anderson Ch 3; Conway Ch 3;

TUE 7/30/02

Policy adoption; equal employment opportunity policy

Anderson Ch 4; Conway Ch 4; Stetson Ch 7

THU 8/1/02

Policy funding; economic equity policy

Anderson Ch 5; Conway Ch 5; Stetson Ch 10

TUE 8/6/02

Policy implementation; family law policy

Anderson Ch 6; Conway Ch 6; Stetson Ch 6

THU 8/8/02

Policy impact, evaluation, change; child care policy

Anderson Ch 7; Conway Ch 7; Stetson Ch 8

TUE 8/13/02

Criminal Justice policy

Conway Ch 8;

THU 8/15/02

Equal rights; women's political resources

Stetson Ch 2 & 3

TUE 8/20/02

Sexuality and reproduction policy

Stetson Ch 4 & 9

THU 8/22/02

Conclusions

Anderson Ch 8; Conway Ch 9; ANNOTATED BIB DUE