California State University, Chico

Department of Health & Community Services

Public Health Administration: HCSV 360-01

 

 

Instructor: Dr. Holly Nevarez                                                 Phone: 898 – 5013

Office: Butte 647                                                                    Email: hnevarez@csuchico.edu

Office Hours: Wednesdays from 8:30am to noon. Tuesdays from 12:30 – 1:45pm                      

                        Also by appointment

                                               

Course Description:

This course provides a survey of administrative functions within public health agencies and health education programs.  Major approaches to leadership, motivation, conflict management, personnel administration, financing and budgeting are presented. Concepts of marketing, public policy, administrative law and ethics are also addressed.

 

Required Textbook:

§         Fleming Fallon Jr., L. and Zgodzinski, E.J. (2005). Essentials of public health management. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. ISBN-13: 978-0-7637-3153-3

§         Additional readings and web links will be posted on Vista.

 

Course Objectives:

After completing this course, the student should be able to:

  1. Identify, describe, and apply theories of effective leadership and management.      
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of different motivational theories.
  3. Understand common barriers to communication and effective means of overcoming these barriers.
  4. Identify community health problems and priorities, as well as plan and evaluate programs that address identified issues.
  5. Apply principles of effective public relations and marketing.
  6. Understand how the public policy process and administrative law apply to public health agencies and health education programs.
  7. Understand the importance of ethics in relation to public health management.

 

 

Grading, Evaluation, & Assignments

Students have the opportunity to earn 500 points.  Points are earned based on performance in the following areas:

           

Exams (3 at 70 points each)                                                  210 points

            In Class Work/Homework                                                      150 points

            Group Case Studies    (3 at 50 points each)                          150 points

            Total points                                                                             510 points

 

Exams: There will be three exams worth 70 points each.  There will be NO make-up tests given after the scheduled exam date and time.  If you have to miss an exam for ANY reason, you must make arrangements with the instructor & take the make-up test BEFORE the scheduled exam.  Students who miss an exam and contact the instructor afterward will not be allowed to make-up the exam.  Exams will be short answer and essay. Exams will cover all information presented in class and in reading assignments.  Study guides will be provided at the discretion of the instructor.

In Class Work/Homework: Work will be assigned in class. You must be present in class the day the work is assigned in order to complete the assignment and receive credit. If you know you will be missing a class, you can contact the instructor ahead of time to receive any assignment information.  Assignments are due by 4:30 pm on the due date either to me in person or in my department mailbox (Butte 607). EMAILED ASSIGNMENTS ARE NOT ACCEPTED. Points will be deducted for late assignments. Assignments turned in after their due date will get 20% of the grade deducted for EACH BUSINESS day (M-F) that the assignment is late. Therefore, an assignment will be worth 0 points if it is turned in 5 days late. As an example, if an assignment is due on Monday, and turned on the following Wednesday it is 2 days late. The assignment would be worth 60% of the grade earned (or – 40%).

 

Group work: During the first week of class you will be randomly assigned into a group. This will be your group for the remainder of the semester. All group assignments will be completed with this group.

Some group work will be assigned. At times this work will be completed in class, the day that it is assigned. Other times the work will require groups to meet outside of class to complete the assignment.

There will be 3 different case studies assigned to your group throughout the semester. These case studies will be analyzed by your group outside of class. Group assignment due dates and late policies are the same as described the above section, In Class Work/Homework.

 

Case Studies: Case studies are intended to apply theory learned in this and other classes to real world situations. They help to develop analysis and decision making/problem solving skills. In addition, this assignment will help to develop communications skills. For this assignment your GROUP will analyze the case and, in the role of a person in the study, prepare a memo/report to your "supervisor" which presents the study and your recommended solutions.

1.   Briefly synthesize the situation in the case, including any appropriate background information;

2.   Identify possible alternatives;

3.   Recommend what you believe to be the best alternative and justify your decision;

4.   Identify the course of action which you would take and any obstacles which you expect.

 

Other Important Notes:

ü      All assignments must be spell-checked and proofread; Points will be deducted if there are excessive errors.

 

ü      The PowerPoint presentation is not available to students. If you miss a class it is your responsibility to get the necessary information/notes from a classmate.

 

The Rules:

  • Students with disabilities requesting reasonable accommodations must first register with Disability Services (DSS).

 

  • CHEATING: The guidelines for the CSU Chico Academic Honesty Policy, as stated in the University Catalog, will be fully adhered to in this course. If you are caught cheating/plagiarizing on an assignment, test, or project related to this course, you will immediately FAIL the assignment, test, or project and be reported to Student Judicial Affairs. PLAGIARISM is considered cheating. 

 

  • CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR: Appropriate classroom behavior is expected of all students. Inappropriate and disruptive classroom behavior including inappropriate language and gestures, class disruptions, disrespect to other students or instructor, and other behavior as determined by the instructor will not be tolerated and will result in possible removal from the class and/or disciplinary action as per the university catalog.

 

  • CELL PHONES: Cell phones must be turned off or in silent mode during class.  Students using cell phones or texting during class will be asked to leave.

 

 

 

Content:

            Topics will be covered in the following order:

Topic                                                                    Chapter(s)             

Introduction                                                                 1

Leadership vs. Management                          readings on Vista

Leadership                                                                  3

Morale & Motivation                                                11 & 16

Conflict Management                                      readings on Vista

                        Workplace Communications                          readings on Vista

Groups                                                                        11

Negotiation Skills                                             readings on Vista

                        Organizational Structure                                          5 & 6

Bureaucracy                                                   readings on Vista

Management                                                               10

Personnel Administration                                 12 – 15, 17, & 18

Program Planning                                                    4 & 34

Evaluation                                                                   7

Financing and Budgeting                                     20, 21, 32

Public Relations                                                      30 & 31

Marketing                                                                     33

Public Policy                                                             8 & 9

Politics                                                                                24 & 25

Administrative Law & Processes             readings on Vista

 

 

Important Dates:

Date                                        Assignment                

2/19 (TH)                    Group Case Study #1 due

2/24 (T)                       Exam #1

3/16 – 3/21                  Spring Break!!!

T 3/31                          No Class – Cesar Chavez

3/24 (TH)                    Group Case Study #2 due              

4/9 (TH)                      Exam #2

4/30 (TH)                    Group Case Study #3 due              

5/19 12 – 1:50 (T)       Exam #3