POLS 1020 - Introduction to Political Science

Credits: 3
Hours/Week: Lecture None Lab None
Course Description: This course introduces the discipline of political science. It will survey the political science subfields of political behavior, comparative government, international relations and political theory. Key concepts such as power, the state, conflict, ideology, nationalism, and political violence are examined. Structure and change in democratic and non-democratic governments are emphasized.
MnTC Goals
5 History/Social/Behavioral Science, 9 Ethical/Civic Responsibility

Prerequisite(s): None
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: None

Major Content

1. The necessity of politics and introduction of the key concepts.
2. Political ideology and political theorists
   1. Liberalism, conservatism, socialism and a mix of other ideologies
   2. A selection from: Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Burke, Marx, Mill, others.
3. Political institutions: the legislature, the executive and the judiciary.
   1. Democratic and non-democratic political systems.
   2. Presidential and parliamentary political systems.
   3. Political systems of specific nation-states, such as Britain, China, Iran, etc.
4. Political Participation.
   1. Voting and elections.
   2. Collective action: political parties and interest groups.
   3. Political violence: terrorism and revolution.
5. International relations.
   1. Approaches to the relations between states.
   2. War, its causes and efforts to prevent war.
   3. A selection of Issues: globalization, North-South, environmental problems, human rights, weapons of mass destruction, intervention

1. Define the key terms and concepts of political science.
2. Identify political ideologies, including liberalism, conservatism and socialism.
3. Distinguish between the views of major political theorists.
4. Contrast presidential and parliamentary systems.
5. Contrast democratic and authoritarian political systems.
6. Describe the functions of and the relationship between the legislature, executive and judiciary.
7. Explain political participation and the forms it can take.
8. Compare political cultures.
9. Describe the different approaches to understanding international relations
10. Identify the major issues and problems of international relations.

05. 03. Use and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories.

05. 04. Develop and communicate alternative explanations or solutions for contemporary social issues.
Theme Goals (MnTC Goals 7-10)
09. 02. Understand and apply core concepts (e.g. politics, rights and obligations, justice, liberty) to specific issues.

09. 04. Recognize the diversity of political motivations and interests of others.

09. 05. Identify ways to exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

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