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

Riverside Community College District
Integrated Course Outline of Record

Political Science 7D


COURSE DESCRIPTION
7D Current Political Issues D Units: 3.00
 
Prerequisite(s): None.

Advisory: Qualification for English 1A
Current political issues is designed to provide students the opportunity to examine major national and global issues which are not fully covered in the regular department curriculum. Topics selected are defined as current critical issues facing our nation and globe and will vary with each course offering. Each issue will be covered in detail, as will potential solutions to each issue and the political bodies involved in attempting resolution. 54 hours lecture.
 
SHORT DESCRIPTION FOR CLASS SCHEDULE
Examines critical political issues and the process of national and international response.
 
ADVISORY ENTRY SKILLS
None.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

1.   Examine, analyze, and compare the political approaches to current
      issues
   

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

3.   Objectively explain critical issues in Political Science and analyze
      current political materials in seeking a solution to these issues.

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
 

1.   Current Political Issues (an overview)
2.   Definitions of power
      a. General definitions: power, authority, democracy, representation,
           majoritarianism, pluralism, and elitism
3.   Examination of Current Global Crises:  Environment, Arms control,
      International debt, Regional Disputes, Peaceful uses of outer
      space, Third world development, Status of children
4.   Resolving Global Crises:  Conflict resolution and peacekeeping,
      Short-term versus long-term approaches, Role of international
      agencies
5.   Parties, Interest Groups, Mass Movements, and Media in American
      Politics
      a.   Interest Groups---controlling “mischiefs of factions, business,
            labor, agricultural, consumer, and environmental interest
            groups, lobbying 
      b.   Political Parties---why the two party system persists, how
            political parties operate in  government, the role of party
            organizations in politics, third parties and American politics 
      c.   Mass Movements---leadership, community organizing,
            selected case studies 
      d.   Media---media in a democracy, candidates and television,
            cyberspace and campaigns
6.   Institutions of American Government 
      a.  Congress---Congressional elections, congressional leadership
            and organization, the legislative process, the budgeting
            process, the makeup of Congress 
      b.   The Presidency---the president’s constitutional powers, the
            expansion of presidential powers, the organization of the
            executive branch, issues of presidential leadership and
            executive privilege 
      c.   The Bureaucracy----the nature and size of the bureaucracy, how
            the federal bureaucracy is organized, policymaking and the
            iron triangle, curbing waste and improving efficiency 
      d.   The Judiciary---the federal court system, federal judicial
            appointments, the Supreme Court in American politics,
             ideology and the courts
7.   Public Policy
      a.   Definitions of domestic policy, social welfare policy, economic
            policy 
      b.   The policymaking process including agenda-setting, policy
            formulation, implementation, and evaluation
      c.   American foreign policy including actors in foreign policy,
            history of American foreign policy, interventionism, the Cold
            War, and War on Terror 
 
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 order for students to understand the relationship of power, the constitution, the branches of government,  political participation, international relations, war and peace and foreign policies.
  • 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 in global and national politics.
  • Guest lecturers invited to class to discuss topics on democracy, political institutions, the constitution, civil liberties, and civil rights.
  • Develop and assign class exercises such as reports and papers in order to reinforce understanding the relationship of the constitutions, the judiciary, civil liberties and civil rights 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 development of the constitution, the principles, institutions, and issues of politics.
  • Written reports/presentations/performances designed to demonstrate students’ understanding of development of the constitution, the principles, institutions, and issues of politics.
  • Quizzes/examinations designed to assess students’ ability to recall, critically analyze and apply key concepts and course content.
  • 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 principles, institutions, and policies.
  • 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:

  • Miroff, Bruce, et.al. . Debating Democracy: A Reader in American Politics. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005.
  • Grover, William and Joseph Peschek. Voices of Dissent. New York: Longman, 1999.
  • 1. Boyd, Gavin & Pentland, Charles, Issues in Global Politics
    2. Kegley, Charles W., & Wittkopf, Eugene R., The Global Agenda: Issues & Perspectives
    3. Official United Nations and Government Documents
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