SRJC Course Outlines

3/28/2024 2:28:12 PMPHIL 9 Course Outline as of Fall 2025

Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  PHIL 9Title:  POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY  
Full Title:  Political Philosophy
Last Reviewed:2/26/2024

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum3.00Lecture Scheduled3.0017.5 max.Lecture Scheduled52.50
Minimum3.00Lab Scheduled06 min.Lab Scheduled0
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total3.00 Contact Total52.50
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50 

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:
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Students will examine political concepts such as liberty, equality, rights, justice, and democracy. Typical approaches will use these concepts to address the nature of government and citizenship, then apply these concepts to contemporary issues such as civil rights, the welfare state, and civil disobedience.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:


Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description: Untitled document
Students will examine political concepts such as liberty, equality, rights, justice, and democracy. Typical approaches will use these concepts to address the nature of government and citizenship, then apply these concepts to contemporary issues such as civil rights, the welfare state, and civil disobedience.
(Grade or P/NP)

Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:Effective:Fall 1996
Inactive: 
 Area:E
G
Humanities
American Cultures/Ethnic Studies
 
CSU GE:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 C2HumanitiesFall 1997
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 3BHumanitiesFall 1997
 
CSU Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 1996Inactive:
 
UC Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 1996Inactive:
 
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course



COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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1. Form well-reasoned judgments about philosophical arguments concerning government and its relationship to individuals.
2. Apply philosophical theories to current political issues.
 

Objectives: Untitled document
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Explain the relationship between political philosophy and political science.
2. Identify philosophical concepts within political theories.
3. Analyze philosophical arguments about political theories.
4. Critically evaluate philosophical arguments about political theories.
5. Compare and contrast how various political philosophies apply to selected current global and/or local political issues.

Topics and Scope
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I. Introduction
    A. Nature of philosophical reflection
    B. Special issues of political philosophy
II. Basic Issue of Governmental Legitimacy: Theories about what Justifies State Power Over Individuals
III. Rights of the Individual  
     A. Liberty
    B. Human rights
    C. Political rights
    D. Negative and positive rights
IV. Rights and Responsibilities involved in Citizenship
     A. Free speech
     B. Privacy
     C. Other
V. Theories of Constitutional Interpretation
VI. Common and Shared Values
    A. Procedural values
    B. Substantive values
VII. Systematic Political Philosophies and Differing Views of Human Nature and Human Society
    A. Conservatism
    B. Liberalism
    C. Communitarianism
    D. Democratic socialism
    E. Others

Assignments:
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1. Regularly assigned reading from course texts and supplemental materials
2. Multiple choice and/or short essay quizzes covering the assigned readings
3. Out-of-Class writing essays totaling 1000 to 4000 words
4. Final examination involving true/false, multiple choice, fill-in, and/or essay questions

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.Writing
30 - 60%
Essays
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.Problem Solving
0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.Skill Demonstrations
0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.Exams
30 - 60%
Quizzes and exams
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.Other Category
0 - 20%
Attendance and participation


Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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Political Thinkers: From Socrates to the Present. 3rd ed. Boucher, David and Kelly, Paul. Oxford University Press. 2017. (classic).
Social and Political Philosophy: A Contemporary Introduction. 2nd ed. Christman, John. Routledge. 2017. (classic).
Political Philosophy: The Essential Texts. 3rd ed. Cahn, Stephen. Oxford University Press. 2014. (classic).
Political Philosophy. Simmons, John. Oxford University Press. 2007. (classic).
Contemporary Political Philosophy: An Anthology. 2nd ed. Goodin, Robert and Pettit, Philip. Wiley-Blackwell. 2005. (classic).

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