Political Science (POLS) Courses
POLS 301 Introduction to Government: United States
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:Eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLR 340 AND ESLW 340
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area V(a); CSU Area D8; CSU Area U2; CSU Area U3; Cal-GETC Area 4 (effective Fall 2025); IGETC Area 4H
- C-ID:C-ID POLS 110
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2023
This course analyzes the U.S. government's historic origins, philosophical and theoretical justification, federal structure, and constitutional structures. The course studies the rights and liberties of individuals as articulated in the U.S. Constitution and federal court decisions. Further, it examines and describes the procedural aspects of the U.S. and California political systems including amending the U.S. and California constitutions, holding elections, campaigning, legislating, executing and adjudicating law. The course examines individual and group political behavior in voting, interest groups, political parties, and the media. It provides an analysis of contemporary problems and issues and looks at factors that shape politics and policy-making including diversity, political culture, political socialization, political ideologies, and public opinion. Finally, it also describes California state and local governments' constitutional base, structures and functions, political process, problems and issues, and federal-state relations. This course is not open to students who have completed POLS 481.
POLS 302 Comparative Politics
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:Eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLW 340.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); CSU Area D8; Cal-GETC Area 4 (effective Fall 2025); IGETC Area 4H
- C-ID:C-ID POLS 130
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2023
This course is a comparative study and analysis of political systems, ideologies, institutions, policies, cultures, histories, and the development of government within various countries. It emphasizes the cultural and social dimensions of political behavior and attitudes in connection with governmental and political practices typical of particular geographical regions. It also covers an examination of selected developed and lesser developed nation-states from a global perspective.
POLS 304 Introduction to Government: California
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:Eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLW 340
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area V(a); CSU Area D8; CSU Area U3; Cal-GETC Area 4 (effective Fall 2025); IGETC Area 4H
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2023
This course covers the essential organization, institutions, and processes of California state and local government. It fulfills the California State University requirement for state and local government, but not the requirement for the U.S. Constitution.
POLS 310 Introduction to International Relations
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:Eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLW 340.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); CSU Area D8; Cal-GETC Area 4 (effective Fall 2025); IGETC Area 4H
- C-ID:C-ID POLS 140
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2023
This course introduces the academic field of International Relations. It surveys global issues as they relate to theories of international relations, the nation-state system, the role of state and non-state actors, globalization, armed conflict and its causes, international law and conflict resolution, and international political economy. It emphasizes comparing global perspectives among developed and developing nations. This course is not open to students who have completed POLS 480.
POLS 320 Introduction to Political Theory
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:Eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLW 340
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); CSU Area D8; Cal-GETC Area 4 (effective Fall 2025); IGETC Area 4H
- C-ID:C-ID POLS 120
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2023
This course is a survey of the ideas that have shaped Western political development, covering important thinkers from the ancient, medieval, and modern periods. Topics include theories of just and unjust societies, social contract theory, justifications for government authority, and the rights of citizens versus the responsibilities of citizenship.
POLS 330 Constitutional Rights
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:Eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLW 340
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); CSU Area D8; Cal-GETC Area 4 (effective Fall 2025); IGETC Area 4
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2023
This course is a survey of American constitutional rights and civil liberties. Emphasis is placed on analysis of U.S. Supreme Court decisions and related materials dealing with issues arising under the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
POLS 342 Women and Politics from a Global Perspective
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:Eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLR 340 AND ESLW 340
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); CSU Area D4; CSU Area D8; Cal-GETC Area 4 (effective Fall 2025); IGETC Area 4D; IGETC Area 4H
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2023
This course examines the impact of politics on women's lives and women's impact on politics from a global perspective. It explores past and current influences on the political and legal status of women as well as women’s participation in the political process throughout the world.
POLS 480 Introduction to International Relations - Honors
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:Placement into ENGWR 480 through the assessment process.
- Advisory:ENGWR 300 or 480
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); CSU Area D; Cal-GETC Area 4 (effective Fall 2025); IGETC Area 4
- C-ID:C-ID POLS 140
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2023
This course examines global issues as they relate to theories of international relations, the nation-state system, the role of state and non-state actors, globalization, armed conflict and its causes, international law and conflict resolution, and international political economy. Emphasis is placed on the comparison of global perspectives among developed and developing nations. This seminar-style honors course approaches the topical material through class discussion which encourages problem-solving techniques focusing on current international relations issues. This course is not open to students who have completed POLS 310.
POLS 481 Introduction to Government: United States - Honors
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:Placement into ENGWR 300.
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:AA/AS Area V(a); CSU Area D; CSU Area U2; CSU Area U3; Cal-GETC Area 4 (effective Fall 2025); IGETC Area 4H
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2023
This course analyzes the U.S. government's historic origins, philosophical and theoretical justification, constitutional structures and how these institutions work. It examines and describes the procedural aspects of the political system including holding elections, campaigning, voting, lobbying, legislating, executing and adjudicating law. It provides an analysis of contemporary problems and issues. It also describes California state and local governments' constitutional base, structures and functions, political process, problems and issues. Conducted in a seminar format, this course emphasizes participatory classroom styles of learning and the material used is more substantial and sophisticated. In addition, there are extensive research projects on American institutions, political processes, and political behavior designed to challenge and motivate. This course is not open to students who have completed POLS 301.
POLS 494 Topics in Political Science
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Hours:9 - 54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:ENGRD 116, or placement through the assessment process.; ENGWR 102 or 103, and ENGRD 116 with a grade of "C" or better; OR ESLR 320 and ESLW 320 with a grade of "C" or better; OR placement through assessment process.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2023
This course provides the opportunity for concentrated study of specialized topics in Political Science. Each offering focuses on a discrete aspect of the Political Science discipline. Refer to class schedule for class topic. Individual field trips may be required.
POLS 495 Independent Studies in Political Science
- Units:1 - 3
- Hours:54 - 162 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2023
Independent Study is an opportunity for the student to extend classroom experience in this subject, while working independently of a formal classroom situation. Independent study is an extension of work offered in a specific class in the college catalog. To be eligible for independent study, students must have completed the basic regular catalog course at American River College. They must also discuss the study with a professor in this subject and secure approval. Only one independent study for each catalog course will be allowed.
POLS 499 Experimental Offering in Political Science
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2023
This is the experimental courses description.