POLI130 Introduction to Political Science
Department of Social & Behavioral Science: Political Science
- I. Course Number and Title
- POLI130 Introduction to Political Science Course No Longer Offered
- II. Number of Credits
- 3 credits
- III. Number of Instructional Minutes
- 2250
- IV. Prerequisites
- None
- Corequisites
- None
- V. Other Pertinent Information
- None
- VI. 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.
- VII. Required Course Content and Direction
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Course Learning Goals
- An understanding of the functioning of political institutions and processes;
- An elementary understanding of the perennial normative issues of politics;
- An understanding of the more basic techniques of political analysis;
- An understanding of current political events on national an global scale;
- Ability to read critically about political subjects at the level of the educated layman;
- Ability to think analytically about politics;
- Ability to communicate orally and in writing about political analysis;
- Ability to employ selected basis tools of political analysis; and
- An understanding of the interrelations between government and society, political ideologies, techniques of political analysis, and the political science discipline itself.
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Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities
- Politics in Human Life
- Governments and Governing: An Overview
- Political Psychology, Socialization, and Culture
- Modern Political Ideologies
- Democracy and Authoritarianism: Principles and Models
- Public Opinion in Democratic Systems
- Political Communication and Noncommunication
- The Electoral Process
- Voting Behavior
- Political Parties and Party Systems
- The Legislative Process
- The Executive Process
- The Administrative Process
- Law and the Judicial Process
- Human Rights: Principles and Problems
- Politics Among Nations
- Peacemaking and Peacekeeping
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Assessment Methods for Course Learning Goals
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Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Student:
Austin Ranney, Governing: An Introduction to Political Science (Upper Saddle River, NJ: latest edition) or similar text The New York Times (daily edition).
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Review/Approval Date - 10/98 ; Deactivated 09/2018