Syllabus Information |
Summer 2017
Apr 29,2024 |
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 | Use this page to maintain syllabus information, learning objectives, required materials, and technical requirements for the course. |
| PS 201 - U.S. Government and Politics |
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Associated Term:
Summer 2017
Learning Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to: 1. Apply analytical skills to social phenomena in order to understand human behavior. Students are expected to identify and understand the ideological foundations and institutional dynamics of US politics and government, the rights and responsibilities of leaders and citizens, influences on our political system, our successes and failures and the continuous pressure for change. 2. Apply knowledge and experience to foster personal growth and better appreciate the diverse social world in which we live. Students will be expected to appreciate the differences among fact, opinion and informed opinion and various sources from which they come in the governmental and political worlds. They should also come to understand the value of their input in the political culture (through voting and other forms of participation) and impediments to that participation among various groups in our society. 3. Understand the role of individuals and institutions within the context of society. With an obvious focus, due to the nature of this course, students will be apprised of the roles, the rights and the responsibilities of both citizens and institutions in a democratic republic. 4. Assess different theories and concepts, and understand the distinctions between empirical and other methods of inquiry. Students will examine competing theories of both government & politics, with particular attention to different methods of inquiry (scholarly articles, news reports, public opinion surveys, etc.) that come from different ideological perspectives that have evolved over time and circumstance. 5. Utilize appropriate information literacy skills in written and oral communication. Information literacy skills are promoted through the textbook, a packet of selected readings that include journal articles, news articles and editorial opinions. Precision in use of appropriate terminology is encouraged in both in-class discussion and the essay assignment. 6. Understand the diversity of human experience and thought, individually and collectively. Through various sources of information available, from sources reflecting ideological and philosophical differences across the political spectrum, an examination of the impact of socio-economic variables on political participation from the origin of this nation to the present. 7. Apply knowledge and skills to contemporary problems and issues. By initially focusing on the “Challenges to American Democracy” (first chapter in the text) and continuing through the constitutional debates and examination of various political processes that affect policies decisions, students learn the foundations of our society. Recent articles and editorials included in the Readings Packet as well as class discussion focus on contemporary problems and issues. Required Materials: Technical Requirements: |
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