Chabot College
Fall 2010
Course Outline for Political Science 40
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN AMERICAN POLITICS
Catalog Description:
40 - Contemporary Issues in American Politics
3 units
An introduction to current political issues, their historical, and economic causes, and the
public policies advanced to solve them. Emphasis on government decision-making
processes and civic engagement. 3 hours.
[Typical contact hours: 52.5]
Prerequisite Skills:
None.
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon the completion of the course the student should be able to:
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10.
identify major contemporary political issues in American politics;
define a public problem;
analyze the causes of political issues and problems;
evaluate the effects of political issues and problems;
describe the process of developing public policy;
identify and evaluate the role of public policy actors and entities within and outside
the government;
present policy solutions to political problems;
describe the role of political institutions in public policy;
understand how ideas for government action translate into action;
understand and analyze how responses to contemporary political issues differ at the
local, state, and national levels.
Course Content:
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Public policymaking systems and formal policy models
Policy analysis and evaluation
Contemporary political issues pertaining to public policy topics, which may fall
under (but are not limited to) categories such as:
a.
Civil rights policy
b.
Welfare policy
c.
Criminal justice policy
d.
Health Care policy
e.
Education policy
f.
Foreign and Defense policy
g.
Environmental policy
Case studies of contemporary political issues and policy problems, including the
study of historical context, contemporary approaches, key players, and attempted
Chabot College
Course Outline for Political Science 40, Page 2
Fall 2010
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and proposed solutions
Agenda setting processes, actors, and activities
Role of non-government entities in the enactment of policy
The framing of contemporary issues (ex: role of media, social movements, political
agendas)
Limits to public intervention
Optional: civic engagement activities and/or service learning component
Methods of Presentation:
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Lecture, including PowerPoint
Class discussion
Role playing activities and debates
Student presentations
Audio-visual material
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1.
Typical assignments:
a.
Identify a contemporary political issue and write a research paper on its
historical background, the current debate surrounding this issue, relevant
actors, and proposed solutions.
b.
Identify a contemporary societal problem and propose a policy solution,
demonstrating strong comprehension of public policy theory, and the
practicalities of political action.
2.
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
a.
Quizzes
b.
Midterm examinations
c.
Written assignments
d.
Oral presentations (individual or in groups)
e.
Critical essays, position papers and/or research papers
f.
Class participation
g.
Final examination
Textbook(s) (Typical):
Technology and the Future (11th edition), Albert H. Teich, Wadsworth, 2009.
American Public Policy: An Introduction (9th edition) Cochran et al., Wadsworth, 2009
Issues for Debate in American Public Policy: Selections from Cq Researcher (10th edition),
CQ Press, 2009
Special Student Materials:
None.