POLS& 202 - American Government

Credits: 5
Introduces students to the American political system - its origins, institutions, and operations. Students analyze and understand politics, power, and resulting policy. Examines formal and informal institutions of government, conventional and unconventional means of citizen participation, and political outcomes. Explores the strengths and weaknesses of various interpretations of American democracy.

Prerequisite: Eligible for ENGL& 101 or instructor’s permission.

Satisfies Requirement: Social Science

Course Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this class will be able to:

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

Program Outcomes

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

College-wide Outcomes

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.