POLS& 101 - Introduction to Political Science

1. Understand and identify the principal political ideologies.
2. Understand the power of ideologies.
3. Understand how ideologies shape, and are shaped by, history, economics, and political cultures.
4. Understand how ideologies affect political and power relationships within and between countries around the globe.

1. Demonstrate knowledge of politics and government in the United States and/or across the world.

• Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
• Responsibility - Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others.
• Written Communication - Written Communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in written form.

POLS 194 - Special Topics-Political Science

1. Achieve an in-depth understanding of a specific topic or area of political activity.
2. Demonstrate honed research skills.

POLS& 200 - Introduction to Law

1. Display a working knowledge of the functions of law in society, and the factors that effect the evolution of laws over time.
2. Understand the fundamental Concepts of Criminal Law, Torts, Civil Procedure, Property, and how they fit under the umbrella of historical Common Law and Constitutional principles.
3. Demonstrate an ability to concisely articulate the specific holdings and reasoning in given assigned cases.
4. Work cooperatively and effectively in group presentations.
5. Articulate and use several balancing tests commonly used in the resolution of public policy and Constitutional law cases.
6. Understand, appreciate, and reflect on the elements of thought (using the Paul-Elder Model) as they are applied to legal case analysis.
7. Be familiar with certain intellectual criteria used to evaluate the merit of particular legal arguments.

1. Recognize and use critical thinking elements and standards as they apply to the study of legal content.

• Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
• Responsibility - Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others.
• Written Communication - Written Communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in written form.

POLS& 202 - American Government

1. Explain and analyze the origins and evolution of the United States political system.
2. Understand the roles, relationships, and powers of the principal institutions of the United States, both formally and informally.
3. Understand the definition and structure of federalism.
4. Understand the nature of law-making in the United States.
5. Analyze and explain the significance of political culture and ideology in the U.S. political system.
6. Understand and analyze the differences between elitist and pluralist theories of participation and power.
7. Critically analyze the strengths and weaknesses of American democracy.
8. Articulate the difference between civil rights and civil liberties in the United States.
9. Understand the roles of public opinion, campaigns, political parties, voting, elections, and interest groups in the United States political system.
10. Articulate and explain salient issues in American politics.

1. Demonstrate knowledge of politics and government in the United States and/or across the world.

• Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
• Responsibility - Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others.
• Written Communication - Written Communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in written form.

POLS& 203 - International Relations

1. Identify and understand the principal theoretical approaches in the field of International Relations.
2. Outline the major rivalries between states in the twentieth century and at other times in history.
3. Explain the role and power of intergovernmental organizations and international law.
4. Understand the nature and significance of economic globalization in international relations.
5. Understand the changing natures and contexts of military conflict, power, and national security.
6. Understand central contemporary issues in international relations including: terrorism, environmental challenges, and human security.

1. Demonstrate knowledge of politics and government in the United States and/or across the world.

• Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
• Responsibility - Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others.
• Written Communication - Written Communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in written form.

POLS& 204 - Comparative Government

1. Describe selected political systems in the world.
2. Employ the basic methodologies for carrying out comparative politics research and analysis.
3. Know the definitions of democracy, republicanism, authoritarianism, totalitarianism, and of federal, unitary, parliamentary, presidential systems.
4. Understand the fundamental differences and definitions of capitalism, communism, and socialism.
5. Define and differentiate between, common legal systems.
6. Understand the power relationships (e.g., race, ethnicity, religion, sex) within the differing political systems.
7. Know the historical, geographical, sociological, cultural, religious, and demographic factors that have affected the types and styles of politics and government in the selected countries.
8. Understand the roles of economic globalization and technological change in political systems around the world.
9. Demonstrate skills that can apply to careers around the globe in government, business, or non-profit fields.
10. Demonstrate competence in understanding political cultural differences across the globe.

1. Demonstrate knowledge of politics and government in the United States and/or across the world.

• Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.

POLS 207 - American Political Participation

1. Know and understand democracy as practiced in the American political system.
2. Understand the power relationships that frame political participation as determined or influenced by diverse histories, genders, races, ethnicities, and religions.
3. Know the major precursors to mass political participation.
4. Specify the main methods for mass political participation (voting/electioneering, social movements, civil disobedience, and political violence).
5. Understand the role mass political participation plays in shaping the behavior of the political system, and the outcomes of this system.

1. Demonstrate knowledge of politics and government in the United States and/or across the world.

• Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
• Responsibility - Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others.
• Written Communication - Written Communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in written form.

POLS 209 - State and Local Government Politics

1. Understand the roles and responsibilities of states and local governments in our federal system.
2. Define federalism and understand how it contrasts with unitary government.
3. Understand the power relationships between local governments, states, and our national government.
4. Explain the basic history of Washington State including its creation and evolution.
5. Understand the roles, relationships, and powers of the principal institutions of state and local governments, both formally and informally.
6. Understand the unique role of tribal governments in the United States political system.
7. Understand how state and local governments have evolved and have been reformed over time.
8. Contrast different types of state constitutions and be able to explain constitutional reform.
9. Articulate the differences among and between initiatives and referenda.
10. Explain the power relationships of and between official and unofficial institutions in the local, state, and the national government.
11. Understand the nature of state and local bureaucracies and budgeting processes.
12. Articulate current political issues in state and local government.

1. Demonstrate knowledge of politics and government in the United States and/or across the world.

• Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
• Responsibility - Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others.
• Written Communication - Written Communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in written form.

POLS 220 - Food Politics and Law

1. Explain and Analyze the functions of U.S. legal rules and regulations that affect food production, distribution, health, and consumption, as well as factors (such as technology) that affect the evolution of such laws or regulations over time.
2. Understand and explain the fundamental principles of administrative regulations, and how they fit within the constraints of U.S. Constitutional principles.3. Demonstrate an ability to concisely articulate the specific holdings and reasoning in assigned food politics readings or cases.
3. Explain potential implications or consequences of proposed food policies or regulations on various interest groups, such as consumers, businesses, medical practitioners, and/or scientists.
4. Work cooperatively and effectively in group presentations.
5. Articulate and use several balancing tests or principles used in the resolution of  public policy and food issues, as well as in relevant legal cases.
6. Understand, appreciate, and reflect on the elements of thought as they are applied to chapter readings or case analysis.
7. Recognize and apply certain intellectual criteria used to evaluate the merit of particular arguments, cases, or presentations.

1. Demonstrate knowledge of politics and government in the United States and/or across the world.

POLS 225 - The Arab-Israeli Conflict

1. Explain and analyze the origins of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
2. Explain and analyze the evolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
3. Identify the key actors who have been involved in the conflict.
4. Analyze the social and political development of Israelis, Palestinians, and the various states that are involved in the conflict.
5. Be able to apply key concepts in political science to various aspects of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
6. Understand key Palestinian and Israeli narratives concerning the conflict.
7. Articulate the key goal and visions of the main groups that are involved in the conflict.
8. Identify the role European colonialism played in shaping and sustaining the conflict.
9. Explain and analyze the main factors that have led to the failure of the peace process.
10. Understand the key challenges and dilemmas that Israelis and Palestinians face today.
11. Exhibit policy analysis and conflict management skills that can be applied in government, non profit, and other policy or research oriented careers.
12. Demonstrate a strong intercultural knowledge regarding diverse ethnic, religious, and political groups across the Middle East.

1. Demonstrate knowledge of politics and government in the United States and/or across the world.

• Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
• Responsibility - Responsibility encompasses those behaviors and dispositions necessary for students to be effective members of a community. This outcome is designed to help students recognize the value of a commitment to those responsibilities which will enable them to work successfully individually and with others.
• Written Communication - Written Communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in written form.

POLS 298 - Independent Study-Political Science

1. Achieve an in-depth understanding of a specific topic or area of political activity.
2. Demonstrate enhanced analytical and research skills.