POSC 101 - American Political Institutions

Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-D1-2; US-1, US-2
Development of political institutions and ideals in the U.S. Key elements of political system, including Constitution, Presidency, Congress, Courts, parties, elections, and bureaucracy.

Possible Instructional Methods: Entirely On-ground, or Entirely Online, or Hybrid.
Grading: A-F or CR/NC (student choice).
Breadth Area(s) Satisfied: GE-D1-2 - Lower Division Social Sciences, American Institutions/Code US-1 and US-2
Course Typically Offered: Fall & Spring

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

Students will acquire a full understanding of how government functions in the United States, especially on the Federal level. This includes historical and structural elements, evolution of institutions, and variations in institutional power.
Students will be able to appreciate fully major current elements in government on issues of contemporary importance. Emphasis will be on precedents and historical contexts in analyzing contemporary developments in the study of political science.
Students will be able to evaluate the interplay of personality, politics, and principle in the formation and implementation of government policy

D1-2. Lower-division Social Science Electives Learning Outcomes

specify how social, political, economic, and environmental systems and/or behavior are interwoven;
explain how humans individually and collectively relate to relevant sociocultural, political, economic, and/or environmental systems-how they produce, resist, and transform them;
discuss and debate issues from the course’s disciplinary perspective in a variety of cultural, historical, contemporary, and/or potential future contexts; and
explore principles, methodologies, value systems, and ethics employed in social scientific inquiry.

US-1. U.S. History Learning Outcomes

Explain the significance or interpretation of major historical events in a period of at least a hundred years of American history;
Describe the contributions of major ethnic and social groups in a period of at least a hundred years of American history;
Explain the role of at least three of the following in the development of American culture: politics, economics, social movements, and/or geography.

US-2. U.S. Constitution Learning Outcomes

Describe the development of the Constitution from the political philosophies of its framers to its later interpretation and amendment;
Explain how the Constitution influenced the development of American political institutions and government;
Explain citizen rights and responsibilities under the Constitution.