Description:

This course provides students the opportunity to explore the discipline of political science and to discover how political scientists study politics in the contemporary world. 3 hrs. lecture/wk. and online

Supplies: Refer to the instructor’s course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Prerequisites: NONE

Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Define, using examples, the basic concepts used in political science.
2. Describe each of the major fields within the discipline and apply to examples of political behavior.
3. Explain, using examples, how political scientists do their work and what is scientific about political science.
4. Describe and differentiate among the various types of political and economic systems found within the international political system, both western and non-western in origin.
5. Examine enduring questions of political science.
6. Identify and explain the motivators for political action and apply representative examples of each category to case studies.
7. Apply political knowledge to examples of “real world” politics.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. The Language of Political Science
   A. Identify and define key concepts and terms important in the
vocabulary of political science
   B. Apply, as appropriate, the vocabulary of political science to the
subject matter of selected case studies

II. The Fundamentals of Political Science
   A. Distinguish among the major fields in political science 
      1. Comparative Politics
      2. International Relations
      3. Political Theory
      4. American Government and Politics
      5. Public Policy
      6. Additional subfields, such as political economy, and political
behavior
   B. Evaluate the events under examination in selected case studies using
appropriate concepts from the above fields of political science
   C. Discuss how political scientists examine the varieties of political
systems and the roles of individuals and groups in the political system,
including each of the following:
      1. Decision Making
      2. Public Policy
      3. Leadership
      4. Conflict and Cooperation

III. The Craft of Political Science Research
   A. Describe and explain the role of theory for understanding politics
   B. Evaluate the role of methodology by utilizing basic units of
analysis
   C. Analyze and explain selected case studies utilizing the following
analytical methods
      1. Thesis statement
      2. Empirical analysis
      3. Data collection
      4. Hypothesis testing
   D. Identify and discuss conclusions drawn from analyses

IV. Political and Economic Systems
   A. Describe the origin of the modern state
   B. Explain the development of the modern state 
      1. The role of war in the development of the modern state
      2. The role of ideology in the development of the modern state
   C. Describe challenges to the state
      1. Challenges from above the state (such as globalization and
terrorism)
      2. Challenges from below (such as ethnic and nationalist movements)
      3. How and why states are losing their ability to make economic
policy 
      4. How and why globalization is affecting state policy

   D. Discuss the relationship of culture to the modern state and its
policies
   E. Identify the basic aspects of political economy
      1. Economic development
      2. Distribution of economic resources and inequality
   F. Compare and contrast as appropriate, political and economic systems
      1. Capitalist
      2. Socialist
      3. Developing world
   G. Describe the relationship between economic development and political
systems

V. The Role of Ideas and Enduring Questions for Political Science
   A. Analyze and explain the motivators for political action (such as,
ideology, nationalism, religion) and apply representative examples of each
category to case studies      
      1. Political economic case
      2. Political culture case
      3. Conflict and cooperation case
      4. Environmental and human rights case
   B. Examine enduring questions of political science, such as 
      1. Is politics essential for human beings?
      2. Are matters resulting from family life justifiably political?
      3. How is the public vs. private distinction best explained?
      4. Can the private control of property produce order? Is the
marketplace legitimately a political concern?
      5. What ends should government serve? Are governments to be allowed
to exceed ideas of right and wrong?
      6. Are unjust laws still demanding of obedience?
      7. Are wars inevitable? Why and when do Nation-states go to war?
Does the moral legitimacy of countries depend on their willingness and
ability to protect human rights? Who is responsible for the well-being of
migrants and refugees? Are the structures, rules and procedures of global
society fundamentally just?
      8. Who is responsible for protecting the environment, that is, the
atmosphere, oceans, and land shared by all? 

VI. Active Learning Politics
   A. Recognize and evaluate political assumptions and implications
pertaining to government and politics
   B. Synthesize and apply information to given political situations and
problems
   C. Compare and contrast the effectiveness of various methods of
conflict resolution to provided examples
   D. Synthesize knowledge about politics, including networking and
bargaining, and the political factors shaping contemporary politics
   E. Review the connections between the academic studies of politics and
apply to real-world issues

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

Examinations          50 % of grade
Projects/Assignments  50 % of grade
Total                100 %

Grade Criteria:
A = 90-100  
B = 80-89  
C = 70-79  
D = 60-69  
F = 59 or below    

Caveats: NONE

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.