Students in this course will be introduced to the fundamental concepts of political science such as politics, political culture, ideology, government, nation and state and they will explore the impact of politics on individuals and society by examining similarities and differences of various political systems and processes.
Credits: 3
Hours: 45 (Lecture Hours: 3)
Total Weeks: 15
Prerequisites:
None
Non-Course Prerequisites:
None
Co-Requisites:
None
Course Content:
- Nation-States, Nationalism, and Globalization
- Government, the Economy, and Political Conflict
- The Democratic Ideal
- Liberalism, Conservatism, Socialism, and Fascism
- Feminism, Environmentalism, and Religious Fundamentalism
- Political Culture, Political Participation, and Political Socialization
- Politics and the Media
- Political Parties
- Elections, Electoral Systems, and Voting Behaviour
- Taking Collective Action: Interest Groups and Social Movements
- Unconventional and Highly Conflictive Politics: From Protest to Revolution
- The Constitution, Rights and Freedoms, and the Rule of Law
- Multiple Governments
- Parliamentary Systems
- Presidential and Semi-Presidential Systems
- Public Policy and Public Administration
- Politics and Government in the World’s Poorer Countries
- Non-Democratic Systems and the Transition to Democracy
- Politics and Governance at the Global Level
Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Be able to express an understanding of fundamental concepts of politics necessary for success in future political science courses
- Demonstrate improved critical thinking and writing skills
- Be able to develop and express informed opinions on domestic and international political issues both orally and in written form
- Identify how political structures can be influenced and changed by political involvement and collective action.
Knowledge:
- Provide students with the knowledge of the development of nations and political ideologies.
- Provide students with the understanding of how media present political ideas to their readers
- Provide students with an understanding of political development outside of the western world
Skills:
- Identify arguments in political texts
- Analyze primary documents
- Contrast and compare political arguments in texts that on similar topics but with different arguments
- Write a research essay using academic language and structure
Technologies:
- Become familiar with the web-based program, Desire2Learn, and will learn how to access,download, and upload documents
Attitudes:
- Demonstrate a willingness to listen in a courteous manner to opposing arguments, while still voicing individual ideas
Grading System: Letters
Passing Grade: D (50%)
Percentage of Individual Work: 100
Additional Course Comments:
The essay assignments must be submitted through the D2L dropbox, which automatically also screen the text using Turnitin, a text-matching program that detects faulty paraphrasing.
Textbooks:
Textbooks are subject to change. Please contact the bookstore at your local campus for current book lists.