Political Science

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• describe the nature of government and its theoretical foundations and functions.
• relate American political thought, the Constitution, and governing institutions to one another.
• identify and explain the structures and functions of the United States and California governments prescribed by their respective constitutions.
• compare and contrast the federal, state and local governments with respect to their political foundations, functions, and contemporary problems.
• explain the civil liberties and civil rights of individuals as articulated in the United States Constitution and federal court decisions.
• identify and evaluate political processes within the United States and California, including the development of political ideologies, voting behavior and other forms of political participation.
• evaluate the relationship between the governing process and public policy at both the state and federal level.
• discuss and analyze contemporary political issues and operations in the United States and California.
• analyze the role of culture, diversity, and ideology in shaping public opinion and public policy in the United States and California.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• compare and contrast different political systems, regimes, and ideologies.
• evaluate patterns of political behavior and policy choice.
• assess how regime type and the design of political institutions and processes affect policy, economic development, and political stability.
• examine how citizen and interest group participation influence political systems.
• analyze the role of political culture and its influence on political institutions and political behavior.
• explain the origins of the modern state and evaluate characteristics necessary for state formation.
• identify different relationships between states and markets.
• construct questions, theories, and hypotheses of political behavior.
• assess the impact of the relationship between states and markets on economic development.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• assess the relationship between citizens and the state of California with emphasis on the impacts of cultural, economic, political, and social diversity.
• compare and contrast the structure of California government and the federal model.
• describe the various institutions of California government and how each functions in the policymaking process.
• analyze the effects of structural differences between the federal model and the structure of California government institutions on the policy making process and political behavior.
• examine public financing in California and analyze the interconnectedness of federal, state, and local budgets.
• compare and contrast the California and U.S. Constitutions and the effect of these differences on policy making, civil rights and liberties, and political behavior.
• analyze public opinion and the political behavior of California citizens.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• explain the field of international relations and methods associated with research in the field.
• compare and contrast different theoretical approaches to the study of international relations and the roles they play in understanding the international system.
• analyze the evolution of the nation-state system and issues associated with nation-state actors in the international system.
• identify the global south, its experiences, challenges, and responses to world powers.
• analyze the causes and trends of armed conflicts, their resolution, and the causes of international conflict in the 20th Century and 21st Century.
• assess the potential for international law and its use for preservation of world peace and stability.
• critique contending international political economic theories in a changing global economy.
• define key terms used in the study of International Relations.
• research topics related to International Relations issues and principles while demonstrating critical thinking.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• explain arguments made by political philosophers from different periods of history.
• assess the historical development of ideas regarding just and unjust regimes, government authority, the ends of civil society and the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
• critique arguments made by political philosophers from different periods of history.
• compare and contrast various conceptions of just and unjust regimes, justifications for government authority, the ends of civil society, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens.
• construct theoretical insights into the current problems facing governments and societies.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• analyze the philosophical bases for constitutional protection of certain human rights.
• compare and contrast various approaches to judicial interpretation of the U.S. Constitution.
• evaluate the current status of constitutional rights as reflected in United States Supreme Court decisions interpreting the Fourteenth Amendment and U.S. law.
• evaluate the current status of constitutional liberties as reflected in U.S. Supreme Court decisions interpreting the Bill of Rights and U.S. law.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• assess the impact women have had on political institutions, social movements, interest groups, and revolutions.
• evaluate the impact that public policy has on women's lives.
• explain the importance of studying the roles of women in politics globally.
• identify similarities and differences in women's reasons for political organizing, as well as their choice of tactics and methods.
• construct questions, theories, and hypotheses related to the impact of women on politics.
• explain the rationale for state public policies regarding women.
• analyze the current status of women in the developing world.
• compare the different issues that impact women in the developing world to those in the advanced industrial world.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• explain the field of international relations and methods associated with research in the field.
• compare and contrast different theoretical approaches to the study of international relations and the roles they play in understanding the international system.
• analyze the evolution of the nation-state system and issues associated with nation-state actors in the international system.
• identify the developing world, its experiences, and challenges.
• analyze the causes and trends of armed conflicts, their resolution, and the causes of international conflict in the 20th Century and 21st Century.
• assess the potential for international law and its use for preservation of world peace and stability.
• critique contending international political economic theories in a changing global economy.
• define and compare key terms used in the study of International Relations.
• analyze complex readings and processes as they apply to contemporary issues in International Relations.
• hypothesize the conditions under which various international relations outcomes are likely to occur and provide theoretical explanations for said outcomes.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• describe the nature of government and its theoretical foundations and functions.
• relate American political thought, the Constitution, and governing institutions to one another.
• identify and explain the structures and functions of the United States and California governments prescribed by their respective constitutions.
• compare and contrast the federal, state and local governments with respect to their political foundations, functions, and contemporary problems.
• explain the civil liberties and civil rights of individuals as articulated in the United States Constitution and federal court decisions.
• identify and evaluate political processes within the United States and California, including the development of political ideologies, voting behavior and other forms of political participation.
• evaluate the relationship between the governing process and public policy at both the state and federal level.
• discuss and analyze contemporary political issues and operations in the United States and California.
• analyze the role of culture, diversity, and ideology in shaping public opinion and public policy in the United States and California.
• analyze complex readings and processes as they apply to contemporary issues in American Politics.
• hypothesize the conditions under which various political outcomes are likely to occur and provide theoretical explanations for said outcomes.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• identify and explain key political processes covered in the course
• assess the relationship between individuals, governmental actors, and the topic covered
• evaluate the the relationship between the governing process and the topic covered
• analyze the impact of the topic covered on the political system under analysis