12/6/2024 7:31:05 PM	POLS 18 Course Outline as of Fall 2017	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  POLS 18	Title:  POLITICAL THEORY
Full Title:  Political Theory
Last Reviewed:5/8/2023

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		12 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total 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:

An introduction to the history of Western political thought from Plato to the present. A survey of political writings from ancient, medieval and modern sources. Course topics include the evolution of Western political thought over the last 2,500 years; an examination of modern political ideologies (such as liberalism, conservatism, Marxism, and feminism); and an examination of the nature of justice and the relationship between the individual and the state.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

An introduction to the history of Western political thought from Plato to the present. A survey of political writings from ancient, medieval and modern sources. Course topics include the evolution of Western political thought over the last 2,500 years; an examination of modern political ideologies (such as liberalism, conservatism, Marxism, and feminism); and an examination of the nature of justice and the relationship between the individual and the state.

(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 1981	Inactive:
Area:	D	Social and Behavioral Sciences
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	D	Social Science		Fall 1997
	D8	Political Science, Govt, Legal Instutns
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	4	Social and Behavioral Science		Fall 1981
	4H	Political Science:Govt and Legal Instutn
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
C-ID:
CID Descriptor: POLS 120	Introduction to Political Theory and Thought	SRJC Equivalent Course(s): POLS18

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1.  Discuss the core contributions made by major political thinkers.

2.  Trace the evolution of political ideas over time by comparing and contrasting different

    political eras and the writings of major thinkers within them.

3.  Apply the concepts covered in political theory to contemporary political issues.

 

Objectives:

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Outline the historical development of Western political thought from ancient Greece to the

    present.

2. Compare and contrast the "world views" held by political philosophers within the ancient,

    medieval and modern traditions.

3. Identify the core concepts and contributions of thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Augustine,

    Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Mill and Marx.

4. Compare and contrast modern political ideologies, such as liberalism, conservatism, Marxism

    and feminism.

5. Apply the perspectives of thinkers from different eras to contemporary political problems.

6. Utilize research skills commonly found in the Social Sciences.

7. Examine how different societies and social subgroups (such as economic classes and religious

    groups) interact with one another during the Ancient, Medieval and Modern eras within the

    Western tradition.

Topics and Scope

1. Introducing Political Theory

    a. The scope and purpose of the course

    b. Methodology and research skills

    c. Situating political theory within the discipline of political

         science--comparison and contrast with other fields of study

2. The Nature of Politics and Development of Political Thought

    a. Classical era

    b. Medieval era

    c. Modern era

3. Classical Political Thought

    a. Historical setting in ancient Greece

    b. Plato

    c. Aristotle

4. Medieval Political Thought

    a. The emergence of Christianity in Europe

    b. Catholic theorists (Augustine, Aquinas, et. al.)

    c. Protestant theorists (Luther, Calvin, et. al)

5. Modern Political Thought

    a. A shift in the Medieval Paradigm

    b. Machiavelli

    c. Hobbes

6. The Rise of Liberalism

    a. The emergence of individual rights

    b. Locke

    c. Smith

    d. The Federalists

    e. Mill

7. The Conservative Reaction

    a. The spread of democracy

    b. Burke

    c. Tocqueville

8. The Communitarian Response to Liberalism--Rousseau

9. The Emergence of Capitalism and the Socialist Response

    a. Marx

    b. Communism and Socialism in theory and practice since Marx

10. Other Critiques of Modern Liberal Society

    a. Nietzsche's critique

    b. Fascism and Nazism

    c. Postmodernism

    d. Feminism

     e. Environmentalism  

11. Political Theory Today

    a. Contemporary theorists (Rawls, Nozick, communitarians)

    b. Theory, ideology and the world today

Assignments:

1. Read and study appropriate chapters in the textbooks (approximately 40-80 pages per week).

2. Regular attendance and extensive note taking in class is expected and assumed.

3. Preparation for two in-class, closed book, no notes essay exams.  One of these

      exams would be a final.

4. Participate in in-class discussion and readings.

5. Complete 2,000-3,000 words of out-of-class writing in the form of analytical essays,

     research or reaction papers.

6. Other assignments may include written homework, class presentations or debates.

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 25 - 40%
Written homework, analytical essay, research or reaction papers
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 10%
Problem-based learning demonstrations
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 60 - 70%
Multiple choice, Essay Exams
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 10%
Participation in class discussion, class presentations

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

Primary Sources:

 

Classics of Moral and Political Philosophy. 2nd ed. Cahn, Steven M. Oxford UP. 2011 (classic)

Ideals and Ideologies: A Reader. 9th ed. Ball, Terence and Dagger, Richard. Longman Publishing. 2014

Princeton Readings in Political Thought: Essential Texts Since Plato. Cohen, Mitchell and Fermon, Nicole eds. Princeton University Press. 1996 (classic)

Readings in Political Philosophy: Theory and Applications. Jeske, Diane. Broadview Press. 2011 (classic)

 

Secondary Sources:

 

An Introduction to Political Philosophy. 3rd ed. Wolff, Jonathan. Oxford UP. 2016

Applying Political Theory. 2nd ed. Smits, Katherine. Palgrave Macmillan. 2016

Feminist Moments: Reading Feminist Texts. Bruce, Susan et. al. Bloomsbury Academic. 2015

History of Political Theory: An Introduction (2 vols.). Kloslo, George. Oxford.2013

Inventors of Ideas: An Introduction to Western Political Philosophy, 3rd ed. Tannenbaum, Donald . Cengage Learning. 2012 (classic)

Issues in Political Theory. 3rd ed. McKinnon, Catriona. Oxford UP. 2015

On Politics: A History of Political thought from Herodotus to the Present (2 vols.). Ryan, Alan. Liveright Press. 2012 (classic)

Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal.10th ed. Ball, Terence and O'Neill, Daniel. Routledge. 2016

Political Questions: Political Philosophy from Plato to Pinker. 4th ed. Arnhart, Larry. Routledge. 2015

Political Theory: An Introduction. 4th ed. Heywood, Andrew Palgrave. MacMillan. 2015

Political Thinking, Political Theory, and Civil Society, 4th ed. DeLue, Steven M and Dale, Timothy M. Routledge. 2016

Political Thinking: The Perennial Questions. 6th ed. Tinder, Glenn. Longman. 2004 (classic)

Political Thought: A Guide to the Classics. 1st ed. Johnson, Laurie M. Kindle edition. 2016

Reconstructing the Classics: Political Theory from Plato to Weber. 3rd ed.  Portis, Edward Bryan.  Chatham House Publishers/Seven Bridges Press, LLC.  2007 (classic)

World History of Ancient Political Thought. Black, Antony. Oxford. 2016

Western Political Thought: From Socrates to the Age of Ideology. 2nd ed. Nelson, Brian R. Waveland Press. 2015

Women in Western Political Thought. Okin, Susan Moller. Princeton UP. 2013

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