Course

Course Summary
Credit Type:
Course
ACE ID:
SAYA-0012
Organization's ID:
POLSC101
Organization:
Saylor Academy
Location:
Online
Length:
Self-paced (109 hours)
Dates Offered:
Credit Recommendation & Competencies
Level Credits (SH) Subject
Lower-Division Baccalaureate 3 Political Science
Description

Objective:

The course objective is to survey the basic principles, terminology, and methods of political science. Students gain mastery of course concepts for the purpose of enabling them to think deeply about political life and understand issues in the context of contemporary politics.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Explain the concepts of power, legitimacy, and authority
  • Discuss the political socialization process
  • Examine the nature of political participation from a comparative perspective
  • Discuss the influence of public opinion on the political decision-making process
  • Identify the different types of party systems from a comparative perspective
  • Describe the origins and principles of international law
  • Describe and analyze the causes of international conflict
  • Discuss the origins and developments of the nation-state
  • Discuss general approaches to the study of politics, such as political ideologies and political economy
  • Identify the different types of electoral systems and assess the implications of those systems
  • Identify the role and functions of political parties
  • Describe and evaluate the general principles of presidential and parliamentary political systems
  • Identify and evaluate the principles of authoritarian and totalitarian governments
  • Discuss and explain the origins and principles of democratic capitalism, democratic socialism, Marxist socialism, and fascism
  • Identify and assess the influence of major international organizations

General Topics:

  • Political science as a subfield of social science
  • The concepts of politics, power, authority, and legitimacy
  • Constitutionalism
  • Political representation
  • Types and forms of power
  • Types and forms of legitimacy
  • Participation and public opinion: political culture, political socialization, the media, interest groups, political parties, elections, and other forms of political participation
  • State ideology: democracy, democratic capitalism, and democratic socialism
  • Non-democratic regimes, Marxism, communism, fascism, national socialism, Islamism
  • Individual ideology: classical and modern liberalism, classical and modern conservatism, libertarianism, feminism, and environmentalism
  • The state: origins, formation, and purpose of the state
  • The future of the state
  • Political institutions: federalism, unitary states
  • Legislatures and parliaments
  • Presidents and prime ministers
  • Bureaucracy and public administration
  • Law and the courts
  • International politics: the Westphalian system, international institutions, international actors, diplomacy, treaties, international law, international conflict, just war theory, democratic peace theory, clash of civilizations, human rights, humanitarian aid and intervention
Instruction & Assessment

Instructional Strategies:

  • Audio Visual Materials
  • Computer Based Training
  • Lectures

Methods of Assessment:

  • Examinations

Minimum Passing Score:

70%
Supplemental Materials