Introduction To Public Administration
- Social Sciences
- 100 level
- 2 credit units
- 135 pages
- 12 units
This course introduces students to the theory and practice of public administration. It explores the concept of public administration, its scope, and importance. The course distinguishes between public and private administrations, examines various approaches to administrative inquiry, and introduces students to policy implementation and bureaucratic functions. Students will develop analytical skills to understand theoretical approaches and apply them to real-world administrative phenomena, particularly within the Nigerian context.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 65 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of INR142, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
INR142 · UNIT 1 DEFINITION OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Administrative theories are postulated to establish how resources of organizations can best be managed. Administrative approaches are broadly divided into Administrative Management, Scientific Management, Bureaucratic Management and Human Relations.
What you should be able to do
- Define and explain the concept of public administration.
- Differentiate between classical and behavioral approaches in administration.
- Identify and discuss various theories in public administration.
- Apply public administration approaches to real-world scenarios.
- Identify and discuss types of policies and their implications.
- Elucidate the major distinctions in dominant approaches in public administration.
What it prepares you for
- Public Sector Manager
- Policy Analyst
- Government Administrator
- Civil Servant
- Non-profit Manager
- Government
- Public Sector
- Non-profit
- International Organizations
- Consulting
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 2: Basic Practices of Public Administration
Unit 2: Methods of inquiry in Public Administration
Requires understanding of various research methodologies and their application in administrative settings, demanding analytical and critical thinking skills.
- Module 3: Issues in Public Administration
Unit 2: Public issues in Administration
Involves grasping complex policy formulation and implementation processes, requiring synthesis of theoretical concepts with real-world scenarios.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 59 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Public Administration: An Introduction
Unit 1: Definition of Public Administration · 3 hours
Read the definition of administration and identify its key components.. Discuss the history of administration and its evolution over time.. Explain the basic administrative principles and their application in different contexts..
Unit 2: General Introduction to the Studies of Public Administration · 2 hours
Explore the general introduction to the studies of public administration.. Examine the history of public administration and its development.. Identify the key milestones and influential figures in the field..
- Week 2Module 1: Public Administration: An Introduction
Unit 3: Importance of Public Administration · 3 hours
Discuss the importance of public administration in modern governance.. Analyze the role of public administration in various sectors of society.. Evaluate the impact of public administration on citizens' lives..
- Week 3Module 2: Basic Practices of Public Administration
Unit 4: Scope of Public Administration · 2 hours
Examine the scope of public administration and its various dimensions.. Identify the key areas and functions covered by public administration.. Discuss the relationship between public administration and other disciplines..
Unit 1: Functions Performed by Public Administration · 3 hours
Explore the functions performed by public administration.. Analyze the role of public administration in sustaining the government.. Discuss the provision of employment and social welfare services..
- Week 4Module 2: Basic Practices of Public Administration
Unit 2: Methods of inquiry in Public Administration · 3 hours
Examine the methods of inquiry used in public administration.. Discuss the historical and descriptive methods of inquiry.. Analyze the experimental and survey methods of inquiry..
Unit 3: Civil Service · 2 hours
Define civil service and discuss its functions.. Explain the principles of civil service and its importance.. Analyze the control mechanisms of the civil service..
- Week 5Module 2: Basic Practices of Public Administration
Unit 4: Development Administration · 5 hours
Define development administration and its goals.. Discuss the theories of development administration.. Analyze the obstacles to development administration..
- Week 6Module 3: Issues in Public Administration
Unit 1: Basic Concepts of Public Administration · 5 hours
Define bureaucracy and list its features.. Discuss the concept of organization and its characteristics.. Explain the responsibilities of the chief executive..
- Week 7Module 3: Issues in Public Administration
Unit 2: Public issues in Administration · 5 hours
Define public policy and provide examples.. List the implications for the concept of public policy.. Mention the stages of policy process and their significance..
- Week 8Module 3: Issues in Public Administration
Unit 3: Practical issues in our society in Nigeria · 5 hours
Trace the major historical developments in Nigerian public service.. Discuss the Public Service Review Commissions and their impact.. Describe the structures of public administration in Nigeria..
- Week 9Module 3: Issues in Public Administration
Unit 4: Practical issues in the world · 5 hours
Discuss decision making process in Nigerian Public Administration. Describe the African Experience of Public Administration. Explain the concept of continuity in the American public administration.
- Week 10Module 1: Public Administration: An Introduction
Module 1 Revision · 4 hours
Review Module 1: Public Administration: An Introduction. Focus on key definitions, concepts, and theories.. Prepare summaries and concept maps for each unit..
- Week 11Module 2: Basic Practices of Public Administration
Module 2 Revision · 4 hours
Review Module 2: Basic Practices of Public Administration. Focus on practical applications and case studies.. Practice applying administrative techniques to real-world scenarios..
- Week 12Module 3: Issues in Public Administration
Module 3 Revision · 4 hours
Review Module 3: Issues in Public Administration. Focus on current challenges and debates in the field.. Analyze policy issues and their implications for governance..
- Week 13Comprehensive Course Review
Final Revision · 4 hours
Complete all outstanding assignments and TMAs.. Review all course materials and notes.. Prepare for the final examination by practicing with past papers..
Preparing for the exam
- Create detailed summaries of each module, focusing on key concepts and theories.
- Practice applying administrative theories to real-world case studies.
- Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and identify areas for improvement.
- Develop a study schedule that allocates sufficient time for each unit.
- Form study groups to discuss complex topics and share insights.
- Familiarize yourself with past exam papers to understand the format and types of questions.
- Focus on understanding the Nigerian context and its specific administrative challenges.
Questions students ask about this course
What is INR142 about?
This course introduces students to the theory and practice of public administration. It explores the concept of public administration, its scope, and importance. The course distinguishes between public and private administrations, examines various approaches to administrative inquiry, and introduces students to policy implementation and bureaucratic functions. Students will develop analytical skills to understand theoretical approaches and apply them to real-world administrative phenomena, particularly within the Nigerian context.
How many units does INR142 have?
INR142, Introduction To Public Administration, has 12 units across 3 modules, over 135 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is INR142?
INR142 carries 2 credit units, at 100 level in Social Sciences.
Is INR142 hard?
INR142 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does INR142 take to study?
About 65 hours of study, spread across its 12 units.
How is INR142 assessed?
INR142 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with INR142?
Public Sector Manager, Policy Analyst, Government Administrator, Civil Servant and Non profit Manager.