Topic: Introduction to American PoliticalThought

TimeDaysLocationInstructorGERCreditOPUS Class NumberSyllabus (Tentative)
10:40am-11:30am
MWF
Tarbutton Hall 321
Schneider, Thomas. 413133 TBA.

January 13, 2010- April 26, 2010

Catalog Description: Selected topics and problems in political science. Content will vary in successive offerings of this course. May be repeated for credit when topic varies.

Semester Details:

The American republic has often been called an experiment-something new in political history.  As such it has drawn the attention of foreign observers like Alexis de Tocqueville, who looked at America in order to understand the nature of democracy.  And American democracy can lay claim to its own tradition of theorist-politicians, whose views were shaped by their experience of political life.  This course considers challenges to American self-government, along with resources in the American political tradition that might aid in meeting those challenges.      

Required Textbooks, Articles, and Resources

  1. Robert K. Faulkner, Susan Meld Shell & Thomas E. Schneider. 2009. America at Risk: Threats to Liberal Self-Government in an Age of Uncertainty.
    ISBN: 9780472116683.
    University of Michigan Press
  2. Tocqueville, Alexis de. 2000. Democracy in America.
    ISBN: 9780872204942.
    Hackett
  3. Hamilton, Alexander. 2001. The Federalist: A Commentary on the Constitution of the United States.
    ISBN: 9780375757860.
    Random House Publishing Group Modern Library
  4. Calhoun, John. 1995. A Disquisition on Government and Selections from the Discourse.
    ISBN: 9780872202931.
    Hackett Publishing Company, Incorporated

Grading

Assignment/ExamDetails% of Total Grade
ParticipationNAUnknown%
2 PapersNAUnknown%
Mid-term ExaminationNAUnknown%
Final ExaminationNAUnknown%

The schedule of courses on O.P.U.S. is the official listing of courses, including days and times they meet and the General Education Requirements they satisfy. Students should use course descriptions as general guidelines. Course requirements, grading details, book lists, and syllabi are subject to change.