POLS 207 - American Political Participation

Credits: 5
Considers the causes and consequences of various forms of American political participation. Focuses on elections, social movements, and political violence while considering representation and citizenship. Through examination of qualitative and quantitative methods, students will investigate democratic theories in historical and current political discourse.

Enrollment Requirement: Eligible for ENGL& 101 or instructor consent.

Satisfies Requirement: Social Science
Course Fee: $3.00

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

Understand key features of American democracy.
Understand the power relationships that frame political participation as determined or influenced by diverse histories, genders, races, ethnicities, and religions.
Identify major political ideologies and contemporary political issues.
Specify the main methods for mass political participation (voting/electioneering, social movements, civil disobedience, and political violence).
Understand the role mass political participation plays in shaping the political system, and the outcomes of this system.

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.