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Course Syllabus

POLSC101: Introduction to Political Science

Course Introduction

Course Syllabus

Unit 1: Foundational Concepts of Politics

1.1: What Is Political Science?

1.2: What Does Political Science Study?

1.3: Is Political Science a Science?

1.4: Political Theory

Unit 1 Assessment

Unit 2: Participation and Public Opinion

2.1: Political Culture

2.2: Political Socialization and Public Opinion

2.3: Media

2.4: Interest Groups

2.4.1: Power of Special Interests

2.5: Political Parties

2.5.1: Two-Party vs. Multiparty Systems

2.5.2: Comparing Parties and Interest Groups

2.6: Elections

2.7: Other Forms of Participation

Unit 2 Assessment

Unit 3: Ideologies

3.1.1: Democracy

3.1.1.1: Democratic Capitalism

3.1.1.2: Democratic Socialism

3.1.2: Non-democratic Regimes

3.1.2.1: Marxism and Communism

3.1.2.2: Fascism and National Socialism

3.1.2.3: Islamism

3.2.1: Liberalism

3.2.1.1: Classical Liberalism

3.2.1.2: Modern Liberalism

3.2.1.3: Libertarianism

3.2.2.1: Classical Conservatism

3.2.2.2: Modern Conservatism

3.2.3: Feminism

3.2.4: Environmentalism

3.2.5: Determining Your Own Political Philosophy

Unit 3 Assessment

Unit 4: The State

4.1: What is a State?

4.2: Origins of the State

4.3: The Future of the State

Unit 4 Assessment

Unit 5: Political Institutions

5.1: Federal vs. Unitary Forms of Government

5.2: Legislatures vs. Parliaments

5.3: Presidents vs. Prime Ministers

5.4: Bureaucracy and Public Administration

5.5: Law and the Courts

Unit 5 Assessment

Unit 6: International Politics

6.1: The International System

6.2.1: International Institutions and Actors

6.2.2: Diplomacy

6.2.3: Treaties and International Law

6.3.1: National Security and Thomas Hobbes

6.3.2: War and Terrorism

6.3.3: Huntington's Clash of Civilizations

6.3.4: Democratic Peace Theory

6.4.1: Human Rights

6.4.2: Humanitarian Aid and Intervention

Unit 6 Assessment

Study Guide

Certificate Final Exam

Course Feedback Survey

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