Discipline: Political Science Degree Credit  [X]
Non Credit  [ ]
Nondegree Credit  [ ]
Comm Service  [ ]
 

Riverside Community College District
Integrated Course Outline of Record

Political Science 2


COURSE DESCRIPTION
2 Comparative Politics Units: 3.00
 
Prerequisite(s): None.

Advisory: Qualification of English 1A
A comparative study of selected European, Asian, African, Latin American and Middle Eastern political systems. Concerned with broadening and deepening the student’s understanding of the nature and variety of political systems. Course topics will include a study of institutions, issues and policies of various countries. Students may not receive credit for both POL-2 and POL-2H. 54 hours lecture.
 
SHORT DESCRIPTION FOR CLASS SCHEDULE
A comparison of political institutions, systems, issues and policies encompassing many regions and states in the world.
 
ADVISORY ENTRY SKILLS
Before entering the course, students will be able to:
  1. critically discuss and analyze primary and secondary texts, recognizing key ideas and responding in both oral and written form;

  2. analyze, synthesize, and evaluate concepts studied in primary and secondary texts using intermediate to advanced critical thinking skills;

  3. compose and develop unified, stylistically competent writing assignments and adjust writing to the target audience with intermediate to advanced skill.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

1.   Examine, analyze, and compare the political systems of certain key
      foreign governments or areas.

2.   Help develop student skill in reading, discussing, and analyzing
      current political materials and global situations so the student can
      better analyze and understand diverse global issues.

3.   Objectively explain critical issues in the field of Comparative Politics
      and analyze current political materials and global situations.

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.
 
COURSE CONTENT
  TOPICS
 

Focus of class readings may be chronological, topical-thematic, disciplinary, and/or based on case studies.  The course should cover most of the following topics and a minimum of five of the indicated case studies including at least one from the developing world.

  1. Major concepts
    1. The sources of social power, the state, authority, legitimacy, democracy, dictatorship, representation, pluralism, elitism, Left, Right, and Center, capitalism, socialism, the comparative approach to politics.
  2.  What to look for
    1. The impact of history, the key institutions of the state, the universality of nationalism.
    2. Democracy versus dictatorship, parliamentary versus presidential systems, private and public spheres.
    3. The value of political culture, the politics of social cleavages, interest group politics, development and underdevelopment, the value of political ideology, measuring and understanding social and political attitudes, the policymaking process, health care and education systems, social welfare and economic policies, foreign policy formation and implementation.
    4. Political parties and electoral systems, political environments, mass movements, the impact of globalization, women and politics, ethnicity and identity politics, the politics of the environment, the regional political context.
  3.  The case studies
    1. United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, Japan.
    2. Russia and other post-Communist Central and Eastern European states.
    3. China, India, Brazil, South Africa, Nigeria, Iran, Cuba, Mexico 

 
 
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
 Methods of instruction used to achieve student learning outcomes may include, but are not limited to:

  • Presentation of lectures and discussions on the institutions and processes of politics in various contexts in order for students to understand relationships of power, political systems, and forms of political participation.
  • Showing films, videos, slides, distributing handouts, and/or using electronic or computer-based media in order to reinforce understanding of concepts related to principles, institutions, policies, and issues of Comparative Politics.
  • 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 the features of different political systems and the value of the comparative approach to politics.
  • 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.

 
 
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:

  • 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 Comparative Politics.
  • 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 Comparative Politics.
  • 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 case studies 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.
ASSIGNMENTS

Required Reading Assignments


Required Writing Assignments


Other Outside-of-Class Assignments
 
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:

  • Almond, Gabriel et al. Comparative Politics: A Theoretical Framework. 4 ed. any: Longman, 2003.
  • Hauss, Charles. Comparative Politics. 4 ed. Belmont: Wadsworth/Thompson Learning, 2002.
  • Sodaro, Michael et al. Comparative Politics: A Global Introduction. 2 ed. any: McGraw-Hill, 2004.
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