POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
Student Learning Outcomes
Students who complete courses in Political Science will be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of the concepts and theories applied to the area of Political
Science and its sub-fields which include American government, Comparative Politics,
International Relations, Political Philosophy, and Public Administration.
2. Incorporate and apply a variety of social science theories and methods that
compliment and are intertwined with the comprehensive area of Political Science for a
variety of purposes, including civic awareness and participation.
3. Differentiate among the various competing political systems, compare and contrast
the strengths and limitations of each system, and explain the internal and external
operations of such systems.
4. Apply critical thinking skills, writing skills, and verbal skills in explaining the role
of government in the development and maintenance of modern society.
5. Recognize the contributions of the multiplicity of cultures, socio-economic classes,
religious denominations and others to the political evolution of political systems.
POLITICAL SCIENCE 100
American Government
Student Learning Outcomes: At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to
1. Describe the major theories and philosophical principles that were applied to
establish the American political system, e.g., federalism, confederation, and states
rights.
2. Apply social science theories and philosophical principles to the evolution of
the American political system, e.g., pluralism, elitism, constitutionalism
3. Explain the internal and external processes of:
a) government, (e.g, separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism)
b) interest groups, (e.g., the behavioral school, the Madisonian dilemma)
c) public policy (e.g., bureaucratic theory, division of labor)
4. Identify some of the critical periods in the evolution of the American political
system, including contributions from all ethnic, racial, religious groups (e.g.,
American Revolution, Confederation, Federalism, Civil War, the Progressive Era,
the Great Depression).
POLITICAL SCIENCE 110
Contemporary American Politics
Student Learning Outcomes: At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to
1. Demonstrate knowledge of the current political issues affecting the United
States government and strategies for possible solutions.
2. Apply complimentary social science theories and philosophical principles to
government policies.
3. Evaluate:
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a) the functioning and application of United States government system
and its interaction with the federal bureaucracy, state and local
governments, its agencies and non-government actors in the area of
contemporary politics.
b) the role of political culture, political legitimacy, and political economy
in affecting contemporary political issues.
c) the role and affect that international conditions, foreign governments,
and international bodies affect on contemporary politics in the United
States.
4. Evaluate some of the critical political issues of the past to provide context to
current political conditions.
5. Identify the contributions and role of non-state actors such economic, ethnic,
racial, religious groups in affecting United States politics.
POLITICAL SCIENCE 120
Introduction to Political Theory
Student Learning Outcomes: At the conclusion of this course students will be able to:
1. Describe political theory and its affect on the creation and development of the
United States government system, e.g., the principles of the Enlightenment, the
Federalist Papers, Constitutionalism.
2. Evaluate political theory and its impact on the evolution of government systems,
e.g., classic political philosophy, the Enlightenment, and contemporary political
theory.
3. Apply political theory to alternative government systems, e.g., unitary,
confederation, or authoritarian forms.
4. Apply political theory to complimentary social science theories to determine
internal and external government behavior.
5. Identify the impact of political theory on distinct ethnic, racial, religious, and
socio-economic groups within and outside the United States.
POLITICAL SCIENCE 150
California Government and Politics
Student Learning Outcomes: At the conclusion of this course students will be able to
1. Demonstrate knowledge of the state of California’s political system, i.e., the
governorship, state legislature, and state judiciary.
2. Explain the internal and external processes of:
a) the state bureaucracy,
b) interest groups
c) outside government bodies
3. Identify the major issues affecting California’s political system
4. Evaluate the historical, cultural, and economic forces that have impacted the
political evolution of California,
5. Identify California’s political contributions from its diverse ethnic, cultural,
religious, and socio-economic groups.
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POLITICAL SCIENCE 180
Capital Field Trip: Sacramento Seminar
Student Learning Outcomes: At the conclusion of this course students will be able to
1. Explain the process and interaction of California’s major political institutions in
formulating and applying public policy.
2. Evaluate California’s state legislative bodies, bureaucracy and interest groups
in influencing political outcomes.
3. Develop verbal, written, and critical thinking skills in the area of California
politics.
4. Identify some of the critical issues facing California and the processes used to
tackle these areas.
5. Describe the contributions of ethnic, racial, religious and socio-economic
groups in the political process.
POLITICAL SCIENCE 200
Introduction to the Study of Politics
Student Learning Outcomes: At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to
1. Explain the general nature of politics, its role in both the domestic and
international areas.
2. Apply political theory as well a social science theory in identifying the external
and internal dynamics of political systems and its consequences.
3. Identify the role of culture, economics, and history in impacting the critical
issues of politics.
4. Incorporate critical thinking skills, verbal skills, and writing skills in dealing
with the complexities of politics.
5. Evaluate the contributions of diverse ethnic, racial, religious, and non-religious
actors in the arena of politics.
POLITICAL SCIENCE 215
Comparative Political Systems
Student Learning Outcomes: At the conclusion of this course students will be able to
1. Demonstrate knowledge of the theories and philosophical principles that were
applied to political systems throughout the world.
2. Apply social science theories and philosophical principles to the evolution of
political systems including monarchy, democracy, and dictatorship.
3. Evaluate and explain the
a) functioning of at least three governments throughout the world,
b) role of government and non-government actors in explaining the
internal and external dynamics of political outcomes.
c) role of political culture, political legitimacy, and political economy to
the growth and development of governments
4. Identify some of the critical periods in the evolution of the nation-state system
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and the rise of globalization.
5. The contributions and role of non-state actors such ethnic, racial, religious
groups in the evolution of the nation-state.
POLITICAL SCIENCE 216
The Governments and Politics of the Middle East
Student Learning Outcomes: At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to
1. Describe the historical, social, economic, and ideological foundations that have
created the political systems of the Middle East, e.g., the demise of the Ottoman
Empire, the colonial legacy of France and Britain in the region, the creation of the
state of Israel.
2. Explain the role of external actors in shaping the politics of the Middle East,
including the United States, Western Europe, and the Third World.
3. Evaluate the impact of both state and non-state actors, the emergence of Islamic
revivalism, the politics of oil, and problems of regional conflicts (Iraq War, the
Arab-Israeli conflict).
4. Identify the contributions of ethnic, racial, religious, and other socio-economic
groups in affecting Middle-East politics.
POLITICAL SCIENCE 230
Introduction to International Relations
Student Learning Outcomes: At the conclusion of this course students will be able to:
1. Describe the major theories and philosophical principles that were/are applied
to foreign policy, e.g., the Realist school, the Liberal school, Deterrence theory,
and Diplomacy.
2. Evaluate the:
a) functioning and application of United States foreign policy, e.g., the
role of the state department, the defense department, the CIA and
executive branch advisors.
b) role of government and non-government actors, e.g., the United Nations,
the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Association, and the
World Bank.
c) role of political culture, political legitimacy, and political economy play
in affecting foreign policy.
3. Identify some of the critical periods in the evolution of the foreign relations
among nation-states, e.g., balance-of-power period, bipolar world, and the
unipolar world of today.
4. Identify the contributions ethnic, racial, religious, and other socio-economic
groups in affecting international relations.
POLITICAL SCIENCE 275
Introduction to Public Law
Student Learning Outcomes: At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to
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1. Describe the process of establishing the laws that govern the United States
political system, e.g., the role of the three branches of government, the influence
of powerful interest groups, such as corporations, and the role of state and local
governments.
2. Explain the unique role of the American judicial system in exercising its power
judicial review, affecting and creating policy, and the dynamics of ideology in
establishing judicial decisions, e.g., the commerce clause, the elastic clause, the
due process clause.
3. Identify principles applied by the founders in creating the American political
system and its primary governmental institutions, e.g., separation of powers,
checks and balances, consent of the governed, and federalism.
4. Identify the critical judicial decisions that served to transform the United States
government system, (e.g., Marbury vs. Madison, Gibbons vs. Ogden, Dred Scott,
Brown vs. Board of Education, Miranda vs. Arizona).
5. Explain the critical impact that racial, ethnic, religious, and other socioeconomic actors played in developing the laws of American society.
POLITICAL SCIENCE 299
Political Science Independent Study
Student Learning Outcomes: At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to
1. Demonstrate critical thinking skills, writing skills, and verbal skills in the area
of political science.
2. Apply a variety social science theories in explaining the internal and external
dynamics of political institutions in the United States (e.g., pluralism, states’
rights vs. federalism, strict construction vs. loose construction, constitutionalism)
3. Describe the conditions that created and developed the political system of the
United States, e.g., historical, economic, and social.
4. Identify the role that diverse ethnic, racial, religious and other socio-economic
groups played in creating the American political system.
5. Evaluate the impact of diverse ethnic, racial, religious, and other socioeconomic groups have on the American political system.
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