POLI112 American Political Issues

Department of Social & Behavioral Science: Political Science

  1. Course Number and Title

    POLI112 American Political Issues

  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 analysis of government policies, examining various approaches to welfare, the economy, urban affairs, race relations, national defense, and foreign policy.

  7. Required Course Content and Direction

    1. Learning Goals:

      1. To develop an ability to read critically about policy problems at the level of educated man.
      2. To develop an ability to think analytically about policy problems.
      3. To develop an ability to communicate orally and in writing about policy problems.
      4. To develop an understanding of the major policy dilemmas of government in the United States.
      5. To develop an understanding of the analytical techniques used by political scientists in dealing with policy questions
      6. To develop an appreciation of the complexity of policy questions.
      7. To develop an appreciation of the importance of an informed, interested citizenry to the satisfactory resolution of policy issues.

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

      1. The Policy Process-Federal, State and Local
      2. Domestic Policy-Historical Overview
      3. Domestic Policy-Environment
      4. Domestic Policy-Economic
      5. Domestic Policy-Welfare
      6. Domestic Policy-Education
      7. Foreign Policy-Historical Overview
      8. Foreign Policy-Europe
      9. Foreign Policy-Asia
      10. Foreign Policy-Middle East

    3. Assessment Methods for Core Learning Goals:

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

      Text and articles selected by individual instructors of each course section. Details are provided to the students by each instructor and included on the instructor’s course format distributed to students.

  8. Teaching Methods Employed

    Lecture presentation, class discussion, and film

Review/Approval Date - 1/99