6 courses with the subject POLS, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
POLS 1101Introduction to Political Science3
Introduces students to major topics, approaches, and methods in Political Science with an emphasis on comparative analysis. Topics will include: purpose and methods of comparison and classification, understanding political processes and public policy(what is politics; purpose of government; common policy challenges). Specifically, you will explore the following foundational concepts: sovereignty, authority, power, institutions, citizenship, society, the state, and political and economic change. In your comparative exploration of the Political Science discipline and contemporary issues, you will critically examine your own political values, experiences and behaviors. Major Content Areas Sovereignty, authority, citizenship, culture, and power 20% Political and economic change, public policy 20% Political Institutions (e.g. legislatures, executives, parties, interest groups, international orgs) 20% Citizens, society, and the state 20% Purpose of comparison/classification, foundational concepts (e.g. state, nation, government) 20% Learning Outcomes Assess political processes/phenomena using the comparative method Reflect on or participate in the roles and responsibilities of national citizens in a global context Reflect critically on one’s own national values, opinions, and experiences in contrast to those of people elsewhere Assess political cultures using the comparative method Compare and contrast perspectives on comparative politics Assess political institutions using the comparative method Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MNTC) Goals 08 - Global Perspective 05 - Hist/Soc/Behav Sci
Analyzes United States national government, political parties, campaigns and elections, public opinion, interest groups, media coverage and current political issues. The course will also examine principles of the Constitution, and the structure and behavior of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. In your exploration of contemporary U.S. domestic and foreign policy issues, you will critically examine your own political values, experiences and behaviors. Major Content Areas Campaigns and Elections 8% Public Opinion, Political Socialization, Media 8% The Congress 8% The Presidency and the Federal Bureaucracy 15% U.S. Constitution/Federalism 15% Civil Liberties/Civil Rights 15% U.S. Domestic and Economic Policy 8% The Judiciary 7% U.S. Foreign Policy 8% Interest Groups and Political Parties 8% Learning Outcomes Develop skills that enable participation in public life. Assess U.S. political culture, employing a variety of political science perspectives. Assess U.S. government institutions, employing a variety of political science perspectives. Assess U.S. government processes, employing a variety of political science perspectives. Reflect critically on one’s own values as a citizen. Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MNTC) Goals 09 - Ethical/Civic Resp 05 - Hist/Soc/Behav Sci
Examines state and local government political institutions, behavior, public policies, tax and spending issues. The course will also analyze structure and behavior of state legislatures, governors, courts, and political parties, including the nomination and election process of state and local officials. The course emphasis will be on the Minnesota political system. In your exploration of contemporary Minnesota policy issues, you will critically examine your own political values, experiences and behaviors. Major Content Areas Education, Criminal Justice and Welfare Issues 10% Governors and State Bureaucracy 10% State-Local Relations 10% State Political Parties 10% State Campaigns and Elections 10% Public Opinion, Political Socialization, Media 10% State Legislatures 10% State Constitutions/Federalism 10% State Courts 10% State Economic Policy 10% Learning Outcomes Analyze the empirical and normative dimensions of political relationships. Recognize the diversity of political motives and interests of others. Demonstrate knowledge of state governmental institutions, legislative, executive, judicial branches and the public bureaucracy. Analyze state and local politics and parties; elections, nominations, endorsements, primaries, two-party systems. Explore state government issues, civil liberties. Welfare policies, preK-12 and higher education, criminal justice. Demonstrate knowledge of local government; cities, counties, school districts, townships, metropolitan government. Consider state government finances and budgets; state and local taxes (income, sales, property) and state spending. Explore topics and methods associated with the discipline of Political Science. Analyze political ideologies and explain how these lead to different goals and political conflict. Examine the relationships among various values, principles, institutions, and traditions, as well as the economic, political, legal, and social orders. Apply core concepts such as rights, obligations, justice, liberty, power, and (in)equality to specific issues. Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MNTC) Goals 09 - Ethical/Civic Resp 05 - Hist/Soc/Behav Sci
Requires you to critically consider and address the history, organizations, interest groups, and processes that shape domestic and global environmental issues. The course will focus primarily on the following areas of study: (1) political and policy processes, (2) the public lands debate, (3) the politics of waste and toxins, (4) the politics of energy, (5) the politics of water, (6) the politics of air quality, (7) the politics of endangered species and biodiversity, (8) the politics of global environmental issues, (9) the politics of human population growth, and (10) the politics of environmental sustainability. Using cutting-edge social scientific theory and research, you will be asked to examine your own political values, experiences and behavior regarding contemporary environmental problems and potential solutions. Major Content Areas Critical analysis of contemporary environmental problems and potential solutions: 25% Environmental politics and public policy-related policies and institutions/organizations: 25% Environmental politics and public policy-related social science theory: 25% Study of contemporary environmental issues: 25% Learning Outcomes Demonstrate understanding of contemporary environmental problems and potential solutions Participate in civic engagement project related to an environmental policy-related organization or issue Identify and demonstrate understanding of environmental politics and public policy-related concepts/theories Analyze project, drawing on key concepts/theories Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MNTC) Goals 10 - People/Environment 05 - Hist/Soc/Behav Sci
Provides students with an overview of the nature and scope of American Constitutional rights and liberties based upon the United States Constitution as interpreted by the United States Supreme Court. In your exploration of contemporary U.S. Constitutional issues, you will critically examine your own political values, experiences and behaviors. Major Content Areas State Powers and Individual Rights 10% The Reach of the Constitution 10% The Constitution in War and Emergency 10% Protection of Economic Liberties 10% Executive Power 10% Bill of Rights 10% Equal Protection of the Laws 10% Fundamental Rights 10% Powers of Congress 10% Judicial Power 10% Learning Outcomes Analyze Supreme Court decisions and their societal impact. Recognize the diversity of political motives and interests of others. Apply core concepts such as rights, obligations, justice, liberty, power, and (in)equality to specific legal and constitutional issues. Explore Constitutional Law through though the Political Science discipline. Examine the relationships among various values, principles, institutions, and traditions, as well as the economic, political, legal, and social orders. Analyze political ideologies and explain how these lead to different goals and political conflict. Analyze the empirical and normative dimensions of political relationships. Understand the U.S. Constitution, specifically the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment, and the rights of the accused as interpreted by the Supreme Court. Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MNTC) Goals 05 - Hist/Soc/Behav Sci 09 - Ethical/Civic Resp
Variable Credits Y Combines internship at a public policy-related governmental or non-governmental organization with an examination of power, politics, and leadership. Students are responsible for securing their own internship opportunity with the support and guidance of Political Science faculty. Students spend approximately three hours per credit per week at internship location, meet with faculty coordinator at least three times during the semester, develop specific learning goals with both faculty coordinator ad internship site supervisor, and submit writing assignments that integrate Political Science concepts with internship experience. Must obtain permission from coordinating faculty member prior to registering for this course. Major Content Areas On site field experience/internship 60% Regular meetings with coordinating POLS faculty member and on site evaluator 20% Relevant political science research and writing 20% Learning Outcomes Summarize overall field work experience within the context of the political science discipline Demonstrate knowledge of relevant social science concepts and theories associated with the specific internship experience chosen Analyze broader public policy connections to specific governmental or non-governmental internship experience Employ basic methods of social science observation to field experience
