Riverside Community College District
Integrated Course Outline of Record
Political Science 11
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
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11 Political Theory
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Units: 3.00
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Prerequisite(s): None.
Advisory: Qualification for English 1A
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This course will examine the major contributions of political thinkers from Socrates to the present. Political concepts such as democracy, the rule of law, justice, natural rights, sovereignty, citizenship, power, the state, revolution, liberty, reason, materialism, toleration, and the place of religion in society and politics are traced from their origins, through their development and changing patterns, to show how they influence political thinking and institutions today. 54 hours lecture.
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SHORT DESCRIPTION FOR CLASS SCHEDULE
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Examines political ideas and thinkers from Socrates to the present and their application to contemporary issues and debates.
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ADVISORY ENTRY SKILLS
Before entering the course, students will be able to:
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critically discuss and analyze primary and secondary texts, recognizing key ideas and responding in both oral and written form;
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analyze, synthesize, and evaluate concepts studied in primary and secondary texts using intermediate to advanced critical thinking skills;
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compose and develop unified, stylistically competent writing assignments and adjust writing to the target audience with intermediate to advanced skill.
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STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:
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1. Describe, analyze, and evaluate political concepts, theories, and
institutions.
2. Objectively explain perennial concepts and issues in politics and analyze
their own opinions concerning these.
3. Identify key concepts linking Political Theory to other Social Sciences.
4. Use research tools including scholarly readings, current media and the
Internet.
5. Demonstrate critical thinking ability including the analysis and evaluation of
data, the understanding of alternative explanations and the forming of
conclusions from the data presented.
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COURSE CONTENT
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TOPICS
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Focus of class readings may be chronological, topical-thematic, disciplinary, and/or based on case studies. The course should cover most of the following figures and strands of Political Theory:
1. Classical and Medieval Political Theory: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Cicero,
St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas
2. The Reformation: Martin Luther and John Calvin
Modern Political Theory: Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Burke,
Hume, Bentham, James Mill, Adam Smith, Spencer
3. Modern Liberalism: De Tocqueville, John Stuart Mill, (Nationalism of
Mazzini)
4. Marxism: Hegel, Marx, Lenin, Bernstein
5. Current trends: feminism, ecology, neo-conservatism of Leo Strauss,
liberal internationalism, Islamism, The Third Way, neo-Marxism and anti
imperialism
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METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
Methods of instruction used to achieve student learning outcomes may include, but are not limited to:
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- Presentation of lectures and discussions on the ideas and socio-political contexts of major political theorists in order for students to understand the development of the subject.
- Showing films, videos, slides, distributing handouts, and/or using electronic or computer-based media in order to reinforce understanding of concepts central to Political Theory.
- Guest lecturers invited to class to discuss various topics related to the course.
- Develop and assign class exercises such as reports and papers in order to reinforce understanding of political theories and theorists.
- Cooperative/collaborative learning tasks, including pair and small group discussions and projects, in order to develop and reinforce course content and topics.
- Conduct individual conferences in order to evaluate and advise students on original writing and other projects.
- Assigned readings in order to reinforce and supplement course content.
- Computer-assisted and/or web-enhanced instruction which reinforces and develops course content.
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METHODS OF EVALUATION
Students will be evaluated for progress in and/or mastery of learning outcomes by methods of evaluation which may include, but are not limited to:
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- A minimum of two significant pieces of formal academic writing beyond quizzes or examinations is required.
- Oral reports/presentations/performances designed to evaluate students’ understanding of the topics, issues, and theories commonly employed in the study of Political Theory.
- Written reports/presentations/performances designed to demonstrate students’ understanding of the course content.
- Quizzes/examinations designed to assess students’ ability to recall, critically analyze and apply key concepts employed in the study of Political Theory.
- Written assignments designed to demonstrate successful understanding and application of basic concepts and course content.
- Class, group, and individual projects designed to assess students’ understanding of the key topics, issues and concepts employed in the course.
- Participation and regular attendance as required by instructor to ensure progress in mastering course content.
- Final examination designed to assess students’ mastery of the essential concepts explored in the course.
- Internet assignments designed to reinforce and elaborate on course content.
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ASSIGNMENTS
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Required Reading Assignments
Required Writing Assignments
Other Outside-of-Class Assignments
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COURSE MATERIALS
All materials used in this course will be periodically reviewed to ensure that they are appropriate for college level instruction. Possible texts include:
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Gaus, Gerald. Political Concepts and Political Theories.
any: Westview Press, 2000.
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Morgan, Michael. Classics of Moral and Political Theory. 3 ed.
any: Hackett Publishing , 2001.
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Nelson, Brian. Western Political Thought: From Socrates to the Age of Ideology. 2 ed.
any: Prentice Hall, 1996.
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