Public Administration

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The central goal of the public administration program is to create a conducive learning climate that will enhance the pursuit of academic excellence and foster the spirit of nationalism. In pursuit of this goal, the program will focus on achieving five key objectives:

  1. Introduce students to managerial, political, and legal approaches to public administration;
  2. Utilize the knowledge gained from the approaches mentioned supra constructively in their pursuit of higher education and career development;
  3. Understand how the public bureaucracy relates to society;
  4. Recognize the need to contribute meaningfully to the attainment of sustainable growth of the nation; and
  5. Ensure that the growth so attained is shared equitably among all citizens in both the private and public sectors, including those at the sub- national levels and the disadvantaged.

 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Pubic administration stands at the intersection of theory and practice. Public administration also stands at the intersection of a number of academic disciplines, such as political science, economics, sociology, psychology, law, management, and philosophy that have had tremendous influence on the study of public administration.  

For instance, political science has emphasized the role of public administration as a component of the process of governing, and has, along with law, also emphasized the importance of enforcing the accountability. 

Introduction to Public Administration I
PADM 201
Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite: English 101 & 102

 

This course provides students with an understanding of Public Administration as a field of study and the role of public administrators in a given society, institution or organization. It will lead students to a better knowledge of the scope and nature of public administration in developed and developing countries. The course also considers a historic account of the evolution of Liberia as a nation state through a comparative analysis of different administrative structures from an Indigenous, Colonial, Commonwealth and the Republican administrative structure as well as comparing administrative practices and emphasis on the relationship among the three (3) branches of government.

Introduction to Public Administration II
PADM 202
Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite: PADM 201

 

This course provides students with an understanding of Public Administration as an academic discipline and the role of Public Administration in a given society, institution and organization. Being an introductory course, it will lead students to a better appreciation of the scope and nature of Public Administration in relation to other discipline as well as help students to appreciate Administrative Behavior and organization principle, Types and Function of Executives, Government Organization in Liberia, Meaning of Administrative Law and Doctrines, communication, Leadership, Department, representative schools of thought, Administrative Decision making models, and new trends in Public Administration.

Local Government & Rural Development Administration
PADM 204/402
Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite: PADM-309

This course will provide an understanding of the local government structure of Liberia as it relates to the governance process. It will also examine the administrative relationship between the tiers of local government, and consider the new approach to decentralization as it relates to the transfer of administrative power to lower levels of government. Will also focus on administrative decentralization and fiscal decentralization respectively. This Course deals with a study of the Liberian Governments’ socio-economic development, policy objectives, and programs as it relates to the County Development Agency (CDA) which is an integral part of the National Strategies. Emphasis is placed on the current local government reorganizations and decentralization policy the formulation and implantation of its rural integrated development program within the context of the outcomes of county development programs agenda; and the general impact on traditional lifestyles.

PADM Seminar
PADM 301
Credit Hours: 1

Prerequisite: PADM 202

This course introduces PADM majors to various materials and presentation techniques for projecting their ideas to any audience.

Administrative Law
PADM 306
Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite: PADM 202

This course will provide the public administration practice in the legal environment, examines the administrative processes in terms of relationships between administrative actions and legal processes: the advantages of administrative law, grievances, including; ombudsman and appeal systems, theories of administrative rule-making and adjudicating, by civil servants or regulatory agencies, and relevant constitutional doctrines.

Administrative Theory and Practice
PADM 307
Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite: PADM 202

This course focuses on the nature of public executive/administrative leadership in government, including its basic constitutional and legal powers and ecological constraints, its traits, functions, and styles used in the exercise of social power, problems, and situational forces. Additionally, it provides a collection of theories, analyses the series of metamorphosis experienced by the field of Public Administration as well as its theoretical dispositions, and evaluates the theoretical implication and challenges of these approaches at each stage of its development. It highlights the creativeness of classical school on successful management process and its focus on organizational dynamics. 

Public Organization Structure and Behavior
PADM 309
Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite: PADM 202 

This course typically deals with the analysis and classification of public organization typologies, including their objectives, structures, functions, problems, theories, personality types, and needs of individuals in organization dynamics, change and adaptation, the nature and purpose of work, and the influence of culture in organizations. The student will also develop the legal basis of an organization (notably, formation) and also discuss the contribution of some of the original thinkers and scholars that have contributed to the formal aspect of the organization.

Government Budgetary Process
PADM 311
Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite: PADM 202

This course is based partially on the Liberian Government’s Budgetary system as an important instrument of economic and social policy tool for efficient financial management and coordination, with emphasis on the four basic phases of the budgetary process, namely (1) Budget preparation, (2) Legislative adoption or authorization, (3) Budget execution or administration, and (4) the financial reporting requirements or post-audit. Other critical issues to examine are the function the budget has to check inflation, reverse trade recession, and improve the balance of payment and redistribution of incomes.

Public Policy Administration
PADM 315
Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite: PADM 202

This course is purposely designed to overview approaches to the study of public policy, highlighting the strengths and limitations of each approach. The theoretical approaches include elite theory, group theory, political systems theory and institutionalism, policy output analysis, incremental theory, and rational-choice theory which are primarily concerned with public policy-making as a process. Also, discuss the contribution of some of the original thinkers and scholars that have contributed to the formal aspect of public policy. Introduces basic terms, concepts, and issues in the study and application of public policy-making.

Organizational Communication
PADM 317
Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite: PADM 202

This course highlights basic principles and concepts in communication as applied to organization, governance, and society. Introduction to communication, Types, Levels, Interpersonal Communication & Relationships Communication, Networks Verbal and Non-Verbal, Selecting Communication Channels, communicating in Groups/Teams, Interview, Meetings, communicating in Public, Frequently Misused Words, the grapevine, its characteristics and benefits to the organization, and how effective listening promotes better understanding, and Current trend in Communication.

Comparative Public Administration
PADM 401
Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite: PADM 309

This course comprises a survey of the history of the administration thoughts, developing administration, general theories of bureaucratic organizations, a study of the similarities and differences in the orientations, administrative structures of state and nations, their government and leadership styles, functions, and problems. Additionally, the comparison will be made between the administrative systems of developing and developed nations, the impact of culture, and selected problems of public administration.

Public Personnel Administration
PADM 403
Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite PADM 306

This course discusses general public personnel organization and administration, with special reference to the Liberian civil service agency (CSA) and its functions of Recruitment, Examination, Selection, position, Classification, pay plan, Discipline, Grievance system, Retirement, and Coordinating Agency personnel procedure.  Particularly, the new civil service Reform strategy (2008 – 2011) with the goal to enhance the quality of life of the Liberians on a sustained basis by creating a competent government public sector workforce that will be responsive, effective, and efficient in achieving the national development agenda of reconciliation poverty alleviation and making progress towards the achievement of the Regional (AU 2063) and the Global Goals (SDGs).

Public Finance Administration
PADM 405
Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite: PADM 306

This course studies the history of public finance, its organization, allocation, and control system, with special reference to government fiscal and monetary policies. To that end, emphasis will be placed on the government’s taxing, spending, and borrowing powers to attain public objectives, as well as on an examination of the Liberian banking system, types and monetary policy instruments, and monetary fiscal developments.

Public Enterprise Administration
PADM 406
Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite: PADM 311 & 405

This course will comprise a study of government as a producer of goods and services through State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) parastatals and regulatory agencies with special references to Liberia. Particular focus will be placed on the government’s objectives for SOE, Parastatals, and regulatory agencies which aim for more complete restructuring during the PRS period, in two parts. First, it will dissolve or privatize SOE, parastatals, and regulatory agencies that are declining, unnecessary, or more appropriate for private ownership. Second, it will continue improving efficiency and economic governance within those that remain. For each SOE, Parastatals, or regulatory agency, it will consider the full range of options, including liquidation, full privatization and privatization with full appropriate regulatory controls, a public-private partnership to leverage private sector capital for investment, and retaining public ownership with a private sector management contracts.

Government Planning Process
PADM 407
Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite: PADM 311

This course will provide a study of government planning concepts, types of social-economic plans, the objective of planning, development strategies, procedures, and problems, with emphasis on Liberia’s Past and current development agendas. We will thoroughly examine the essential building blocks for realizing the vision of rapid, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction, and progress towards achieving the SDGs.

Project Planning and Evaluation (Elective)
PADM 408
Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite PADM 405

This course deals with the principal element of development strategies in many countries. The thrust of this course is on the concepts and processes of project design and/or identification and planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. One of the key skills that students are expected to acquire from this course under project design is project proposal writing. Hence, several case studies in the writing of project documents will be provided and examined to aid the process.

Research Methodology
PADM 411
Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite: PADM 408

This course will provide a general introduction to research methods, as well as providing practical exposure to problem statements, Literature Reviews, Writing the Research Proposal, and Organization of the Research Report. Quantitative and Qualitative Research methodologies will be briefly covered in preparation for the later courses in these areas. In particular, the course will provide an introduction to the general perspective in conducting scientific research with emphasis on methods directly related to Public Administration.  This course utilizes methods and concepts for program and policy analysis including problem formulation, research design, and data collection methods.

Senior Research Paper (Thesis)
PADM 412
Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite PADM 411

This course gives senior students the opportunity to apply their theoretical, research, and analytical skills required in PADM 307 and PADM 411. Typically, it focuses on the identification, discussion, and analysis of major administrative problems in some areas of the discipline such as the policy process, decision-making, reorganization of bureaucracy, public and social-economic development, crime prevention, and public personnel producers.