PA 8340 Capstone Seminar for Leadership in Public Affairs

Fall 2005 Wednesday 7 p.m. Classroom: TBA

Richard K. Scotch Phone: 972-883-2922 Email: scotch@utdallas.edu
Office: GR3.510 Hours: Wednesday 6-7; Thursday 3-4; and by appointment

The purpose of this capstone seminar is to build on concepts and analytic skills students have mastered in
the Public Affairs doctoral program and to apply those concepts and skills to a body of knowledge relevant
to their future dissertation research. In the first half of the semester, students will
prepare (and present to the class) essays on key concepts in Public Affairs and present them for class
discussion. In the second half of the semester, students will prepare (and present to the class) a literature
review on a topic they are considering for their dissertation research.

There are no common assigned readings or examinations for the seminar. Course requirements include
three essays (15% of the total course grade each); a literature review paper (50% of the total course
grade); and class participation (5% of the total grade). The three essays will be due on September 7,
September 21, and October 5; specific assignments will be distributed at the previous class meeting. Each
essay will be approximately five pages (double spaced) in length, and will involve describing, analyzing, and
applying a concept from Public Affairs introduced in an earlier core course.

The literature review paper involves a summary and analysis of key research literature related to an issue of
interest to the student in social public affairs, to be chosen in consultation with the instructor. For the
literature review, students will be required to submit a topic statement (due October 19), an annotated
bibliography (due November 2), a full draft (due November 16), and a revised draft based on comments
from the instructor (due November 30). Students will also give a class presentation (on November 16).

Late assignments will be penalized unless prior approval is received from the instructor. Students are
responsible for following university rules for academic honesty; violations will be referred to the Dean of
Students for disciplinary proceedings.

The seminar will meet on a biweekly basis according to the schedule below.

August 24 Introduction to the Course

September 7 Essay #1 due (meet in GR3.510 – Scotch’s office)
September 21 Essay #2 due
October 5 Essay #3 due
October 19 Literature Review Topic Statements Due
[Week of October 24-28] Individual Conferences with Instructor (no class meeting)
November 2 Annotated Bibliography Due
November 16 Student Presentations; Draft Literature Review Due
[November 23] Literature Review Returned to Students (no class meeting)
November 30 Revised Literature Review Due