Political Science Learning Objectives
Revised 12/18/18
| Learning Objectives | 100 Level | 200 Level | 300 Level | 400 Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Substantive knowledge in the Discipline. | Define and describe the basic political processes and institutions of government including definitions of politics. | Apply the central concepts to the role of various actors including citizens, interest groups, political parties, and politicians within political systems. | Apply the central theories and concepts in independent research. | Convey Substantive knowledge in the central theories and concepts to self-directed work. |
| Demonstrate a Competence in Writing. | Demonstrate competence in reading and understanding elite political analysis. | Demonstrate writing competence with respect to assigned topics. | Demonstrate research and writing competence in independent research. | Demonstrate research and writing competence in self-directed original research and convey substantive knowledge using research, writing, and oral communication. |
| Methods: exhibit analytical skills in interpreting data. | Introduction to data collection techniques including quantitative and qualitative techniques. | Operationalization and measurement. | Data collection. | Data analysis. |
| Demonstrate critical, independent thinking about politics and public life. | Recognize rights, responsibilities, and privileges of participating in, and contributing as a citizen in a diverse society. Have and awareness of one's own biases, including reflection on one's own political socialization and the effects of political socialization on one's perceptions of the political world. | Understand and evaluate the assumptions, values, and beliefs in context of diverse local, national, and global communities. | Describe and apply the ethical, moral, and political philosophical arguments of power, justice and democracy in context of diverse local, state, and national communities. | Assess the relationship between public policy choices and outcomes and the relationship between policies and their political consequences, especially with regards to power and the oppression of certain members of a society. |