| 12/21/2024 7:01:40 PM |
| 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 | 17.5 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:
Untitled document
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:
Untitled document
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. Topics include an examination of the nature of justice and the relationship of the individual to the state as well as political ideologies, such as Marxism and liberalism.
(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
Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
Untitled document
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. Demonstrate an ability to 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
Untitled document
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)
C. Protestant Theorists (Luther/Calvin)
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
A. The Emergence of Capitalism and the Socialist Response
B. Rousseau
C. Marx
D. Communism and socialism in theory and practice since Marx
9. Critiques of Modern Civil Society
A. Nietzsche
B. Nationalism and Fascism
C. Feminist Critiques
D. Environmentalism
10. Political Theory Today
A. Contemporary Theorists (Rawls, Nozick, communitarians)
B. Theory, Ideology and the World Today
Assignments:
Untitled document
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.
4. Participate in in-class discussion and readings.
5. Complete term paper approx. 8-10 pages long.
6. Written Homework.
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, Term papers | |
| 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
60 - 70% |
| Multiple choice, Essay Exams | |
| Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories. | Other Category
0 - 5% |
| Participation in in-class discussion. | |
Representative Textbooks and Materials:
Untitled document
PRIMARY SOURCES:
IDEALS AND IDEOLOGIES: A READER, 5th ed., Terence Ball and Richard
Dagger, Longman Publishing, 2003.
PRINCETON READINGS IN POLITICAL THOUGHT, Mitchell Cohen and Nicole Fermon,
eds. Princeton University Press 1996.
GREAT POLITICAL THEORIES, VOLS, I & II, Michael Curtis, ed. Avon Books,
Rev. ed. 1985 & 1987.
SECONDARY SOURCES:
POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES AND THE DEMOCRATIC IDEAL, 5th ed., Terence Ball and
Richard Dagger, Longman Publishing, 2003.
POLITICAL THINKING, POLITICAL THEORY, AND CIVIL SOCIETY, 2nd ed., Steven
Delue, Allyn and Bacon, 2001.
RECONSTRUCTING THE CLASSICS: POLITICAL THEORY FROM PLATO TO MARX,
2nd ed., Edward Bryan Portis, Chatham House Publishers, 1998.
POLITICAL QUESTIONS: POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY FROM PLATO TO RAWLS, 3rd ed.,
Larry Arnhart. Waveland Press, 2002.
P0LITICAL THOUGHT: A GUIDE TO THE CLASSICS, Laurie M. Bagby, Wadsworth,
2002.
INVENTOR OF IDEAS: AN INTRODUCTION TO WESTERN POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY,
2nd ed., Wadsworth, 2004.
TEXTS WHICH COMBINE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCES.
GREAT POLITICAL THINKERS: PLATO TO THE PRESENT, 6th ed. William and
Alan O. Ebenstein. Harcourt Brace, 1999.
Print PDF