POSC 331 - Political Parties and Campaigning

Units: 3
Party organizations in U.S. and California, historical changes in party operations, political machines and patronage, money in politics, party labels, differences and similarities between major parties, minor parties, new style of campaigns, professional campaign management firms, the prospects for reform.

Possible Instructional Methods: Entirely On-ground.
Grading: A-F or CR/NC (student choice).
Course Typically Offered: Variable Intermittently

Student Learning Outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Students will learn the nature and function of political parties, especially as applied to the election process.
Students will understand political party structures, financing, and operations.
Students will analyze the presence of party identification in electoral decisions and the interplay of party power in the electoral framework.