Describe two ways that social science research helps to design good public policies.

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Public policy is one way that society addresses social problems through the use of laws and regulations adopted by governments.  In this discussion, review the American Sociological Association article Sociology and Public Policy (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. and address the following:

1. Consider and explain the following statement, “Public policy is both what government does and what it does not do” (Theodoulou & Kofinis, 2012).

2. What determines whether a policy is enacted or not?

3. Who holds the power and authority to create, enact and/or change public policy?

4. What is the difference between public versus private concerns in relation to policy making and the government’s role in this process?

5. Describe two ways that social science research helps to design good public policies.  Why are social science research skills important for analyzing the impact of existing policies?

Your initial post should be at least 300 words in length. Support your points with scholarly references, appropriate citations, and full references at the conclusion of your post. Cite your sources in APA format.

http://www.asanet.org/sites/default/files/savvy/footnotes/apr09/asa-forum_0409.html

https://content.ashford.edu/books/AUSOC320.13.1/sections/sec1.2

Describe each of the musical elements in response to this piece

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Please watch and listen to the tone poem “Also Sprach Zarathustra” by conductor Gustavo Dudamel and Berlin Philharmonic.

Describe each of the musical elements in response to this piece. Read the relevant chapter and attached the summary of elements of music and use language that describes each unique element of music.

Below are examples:

1. Rhythm  – type of meter, time/meter signature, syncopation, etc

2. Melody – whether based on major, minor, chromatic scale, stepwise motion or leaps, etc

3. Harmony – Consonance , Dissonance, etc

4. Color (Timbre) – Men and Women’s voice, Instruments, Dynamics, etc

5. Texture  – Monophony, Homophony, Polyphony

How can policy makers promote implementation and also obstruct implementation?

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Reading Assignments

· Read the book by Larry Gerston, Chapter 5

· Read the attached PDF by Garry Brewer, The Foundations of Policy Analysis, The Dorsey Press, Chicago, 1983, Chapter 9: Factors Influencing Implementation (see the attached PDF)

· Read the attached PDF by Thomas Birkland, The Policy Process, M.E.Sharpe, New York, 2005, Chapter 8, Policy Implementation and Failure (see attached PDF)

· Read the attached PDF by Paul Sabatier, The Conditions Of Effective Implementation, pages 382-391, Stillman, Richard, Public Administration Concepts And Cases, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1996. (Skim for concepts as the language is a little challenging). To retrieve this article just click on the title.

Written Assignments

Write 3 pages answering the following questions: What are three reasons why the policy implementation process fails?  How can policy makers promote implementation and also obstruct implementation?

Please include an introduction, the body and conclusion. Also label each question as a title like you have been doing in all my previous assignments.

Also read the grade rubric I attached and make sure everything is covered for maximum points. 

Career Services And Career Planning

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Peruse the information.  Write one paragraph of 125-200 words describing what you found when you examined this information.

 

 

 

 

Choosing my major

Choosing a Major

One of the most important decisions in your college education is your academic program and career path. The following steps will help ensure the major or program you choose will help you achieve your career goals.

Step 1: Know About Yourself –

Consider these elements:

· Skills and abilities: What do you do well? What are your strengths?

· Interests: What do you enjoy doing?

· Work values: What is most important to you? What motivates you to work?

· Personality: What are your personal preferences?

Career Services offers a variety of resources to help you gain a better understanding of your fit within different industries and different roles. View the Tools and Resources listed in CareerQuest to find additional information.

 

More Resources

These articles from external websites offer more ways to learn about career options.

· O*Net : Explore occupations, and complete a skills assessment.

· Interest Profiler : Find jobs that are best suited for you based on your interests.

· Federal Careers by Field of Interest : Search for federal jobs by field of interest.

· My Next Move : Find jobs by keyword or industry.

Step 2: Know About Your Options –

Once you have clarified your self-knowledge, the next step is identifying and increasing your knowledge of your available options. Identify potential occupations and majors that match your skills, interests, values and personality. Research job descriptions, education and training requirements, salaries and the skills and personal characteristics required for specific occupations.

Ways to learn about your options:

· Research specific occupations and majors

· Understand how occupations, job settings and academic programs are organized

· Research job descriptions

· Investigate education and training options

· Understand the skills and traits required for specific occupations

You can research UMUC’s career-focused  undergraduate/bachelor’s  and  graduate/master’s  programs.

New Job Search and Career Planning Service for Students and Alumni

UMUC’s Office of Career Services is pleased to offer  Career Insider by Vault —a one-stop career resource to help you plan your best career path and prepare for that highly competitive position.

This service is available to UMUC students and alumni via Career Quest and offers access to more than 10,000 company profiles and rankings, a fully searchable job database with thousands of listings posted daily, salary reviews and trends, and downloadable career guidebooks that cover resume and cover letter writing, interviews, top employers by industry and more!

More Resources

These articles from external websites offer more ways to learn about career options.

· CareerOneStop

· Occupational Outlook Handbook

· Occupational Outlook Quarterly Online

· Informational Interviews

Step 3: Know How You Make Decisions –

The next step is to make your major or career decision. You should first consider how you usually make important decisions. If you have been able to successfully make decisions in the past, then the method you used for making those decisions should be applied to your career decision-making.

More Resources

This article from an external website offers more ways to learn about career decision making.

· Five Steps of Career Decision Making

Step 4: Think About Your Decision –

Identifying and addressing any barriers to making your career decision is essential to the entire process. It is difficult to think clearly and make decisions when you are bombarded with negative thoughts that act as barriers and interfere with your decision making. To identify and overcome your barriers, you must pay attention to your self-talk, become self-aware and then control your self-talk. Once all barriers are removed, you can make a plan and carry out your decision.

Step 5: Create and Carry Out Your Plan –

Take practical steps to implement your career decision.

· If you do not have it already, pursue the education and training you need.

· Identify opportunities that can get you the experience relevant to your career goal (such as internships, cooperative education and volunteering).

· Get involved in professional associations and/or student organizations.

· When you are ready to job hunt, prepare a quality resume and cover letter, and prepare for interviews.

More Resources –

This article from an external career website offers more advice on decision making.

· Personal Goal Setting: Planning to Live Your Life Your Way

Advice for Career Changers

If you are thinking about obtaining a degree to make your career change possible, there is one major factor to consider: when entering your new career, you may experience a drastic change in salary and/or organizational status. In many cases, this may involve taking a pay cut or more entry-level position than you have now. If you are willing to accept those changes, then the next step is deciding on a major for your new career path.

Choosing a Major for Graduate Students

Choosing a  graduate degree  is much different than choosing an undergraduate major. Below are common scenarios you can consider when choosing a graduate program.

Tips for Experienced Professionals

Quite often, students who are looking to pursue a graduate degree have years of work experience but need the credentials of a graduate degree to advance on the job. When deciding on a graduate degree, you should be very stable in your career direction and choose a major that will complement your undergraduate degree and your work experience.

Tips for Recent Bachelor’s Degree Graduates

When deciding on a graduate degree, you must evaluate your current situation and what will best complement your undergraduate degree and your career path.

In many cases, employers are more interested in your experience (this is common in engineering and computer fields). If this is the case with your chosen career path, it is recommended to get career-related experience after completing your undergraduate degree instead of enrolling in a graduate program right away.

After acquiring some years of experience, you can better evaluate the type of degree that is necessary to advance your career. In some cases, too much education without any career-related experience can limit your marketability. In other cases, a graduate degree is required for you to achieve your career goals (this is common in the psychology field). In this case, it is recommended that you enroll in graduate school after obtaining your undergraduate degree.

 

Find the Right Program for You

With our  Program Comparison Tool , you can evaluate as many as three degrees, specializations, and certificates1side by side. Explore program descriptions, cost, transfer credit, program formats, course content, and more. Found your program? Use our  Time and Tuition Estimator  to get your estimated tuition, fees, and graduation date.