5/16/2024 2:11:38 AM	POLS 18 Course Outline as of Fall 1999	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:

An introduction to the history of political thought from Plato to the present.  A survey of political writings from ancient, medieval and modern sources.  Topics include answers to questions, such as the nature of justice and the relationship of the individual to the state, as well as ideologies, such as marxism and liberalism.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Completion of ENGL 100B or ENGL 100.

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

An introduction to the history of political thought from Plato to the present.  A survey of political writings from ancient, medieval and modern sources.  Topics include answers to questions, such as the nature of justice and the relationship of the individual to the state, as well as ideologies, such as marxism and liberalism.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Completion of ENGL 100B or ENGL 100.
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: Not Certificate/Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

The students will:

1.  Define and explain the scope, purpose, and methodology that will

   be used to organize and structure the subject matter in the course.

2.  Record notes from their reading in the textbook.

3.  Record notes from the lectures given in class.

4.  Discuss their point of view in class discussions.

5.  Demonstrate communication and analytical skill level on exams.

6.  Use information learned from the textbook and lectures on exams.

7.  Compose and contrast the various theories and ideologies we study

   in the course in class discussion and on exams.

8.  Evaluate the various theories and ideologies we study in the course

   in class discussion and on exams.

9.  Describe and evaluate one or more theories or ideologies we study

   in the course in a term paper. (required)

10. Participate in group readings of primary sources.

11. Demonstrate an ability to apply written political theories to

   contemporary events in class discussions and/or exams.

Topics and Scope

1.  Introduction to the course.

     A. The scope and purpose of the course.

     B. Review syllabus.

     C. Review textbook(s).

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 Industrial Social

     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

     C. Overview of the Course

Assignments:

1.  Read and study appropriate chapters in the textbook.

2.  Regular attendance and extensive notetaking in class is expected

   and assumed.

3.  Preparation for in-class, closed book, no notes essay exams.

4.  Participate in in-class discussion and readings.

5.  Complete term paper

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 20 - 40%
Written homework, Essay exams, Term papers
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 20 - 40%
Homework problems, Exams
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 20 - 40%
Multiple choice
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 10 - 20%
Participation in in-class discussion and readings.

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

PRIMARY SOURCES:

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 THINKING, POLITICAL THEORY, AND CIVIL SOCIETY, Steven Delue.

Allyn and Bacon, 1997.

RECONSTRUCTING THE CLASSICS:  POLITICAL THEORY FROM PLATO TO MARX, Edward

Bryan Portis. Chatham House Publishers, 1994.

POLITICAL QUESTIONS:  POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY FROM PLATO TO RAWLS 2nd ed.

Larry Arnhart. Waveland Press, 1993.

TEXTS WHICH COMBINE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCES.

GREAT POLITICAL THINKERS:  PLATO TO THE PRESENT, 5th ed. William and

Alan O. Ebenstein. Harcourt Brace, 1991.

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