4/18/2024 10:36:53 AM	POLS 18 Course Outline as of Fall 2005	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 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. 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:

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

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:

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:

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.

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