POLI130 Introduction to Political Science

Department of Social & Behavioral Science: Political Science

  1. Course Number and Title

    POLI130 Introduction to Political Science

  2. Number of Credits

    3 credits

  3. Minimum Number of Instructional Minutes Per Semester

    2250 minutes

  4. Prerequisites

    None

    Corequisites

    None

  5. Other Pertinent Information

    None

  6. Catalog Course Description

    An introduction to what we know about government and politics, emphasizing the techniques by which we have come to know what we know. Intended for students planning to major in social science and other serious students of government and politics.

  7. Required Course Content and Direction

    1. Learning Goals:

      1. An understanding of the functioning of political institutions and processes.
      2. An elementary understanding of the perennial normative issues of politics.
      3. An understanding of the more basic techniques of political analysis.
      4. An understanding of current political events on national an global scale.
      5. Ability to read critically about political subjects at the level of the educated layman.
      6. Ability to think analytically about politics.
      7. Ability to communicate orally and in writing about political analysis.
      8. Ability to employ selected basis tools of political analysis.
      9. An understanding of the interrelations between government and society, political ideologies, techniques of political analysis, and the political science discipline itself.

    2. Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities:

      1. Politics in human life
      2. Governments and governing: an overview
      3. Political psychology, socialization and culture
      4. Modern political ideologies
      5. Democracy and authoritarianism: Principles and Models
      6. Public Opinion in Democratic Systems
      7. Political Communication and Noncommunication
      8. The Electoral Process
      9. Voting Behavior
      10. Political Parties and Party Systems
      11. The Legislative Process
      12. The Executive Process
      13. The Administrative Process
      14. Law and the Judicial Process
      15. Human Rights: Principles and Problems
      16. Politics among nations
      17. Peacemaking and Peacekeeping

    3. Assessment Methods for Core Learning Goals:

    4. Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Students:

      Austin Ranney, Governing: An Introduction to Political Science (Upper Saddle River, NJ: latest edition) or similar text The New York Times (daily edition)

  8. Teaching Methods Employed

    Lecture, Discussion, Simulation

Review/Approval Date - 10/98