Appropriate for First Year students.
| Time | Days | Location | Instructor | GER | Credit | OPUS Class Number | Syllabus (Tentative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10:00am-11:15am | TuTh | Candler Library 114 | Lancaster, Thomas D. | HSC. | 4 | 3235 | TBA. |
August 29, 2012- December 11, 2012
Prerequisites: Entering first-year college students only
Catalog Description: Political systems of major nations in comparative perspective.
Semester Details: This introductory course, especially designed for incoming first-year students only, focuses on the fundamental concepts, processes, institutions, and issues in comparative politics. As with all comparative politics, as opposed to international relations, emphasis will be placed on domestic and internal politics of different countries. Students will be taught to compare systematically the similarities and differences in the way political systems operate, to ask why this is so, and to determine likely outcomes or consequences. Throughout the course we will frequently refer to, and constantly generalize about, the politics of the world’s many different countries. We will do so by utilizing a “most similar systems design” and reference in greater detail the North American cases of Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Required Textbooks, Articles, and Resources
- 2011. Canadian Democracy. ISBN: 9780195441550.Oxford University Press, 7th Edition.
- 2012. Contemporary Mexican Politics. ISBN: 9781442207578.Rowman & Littlefield, 2nd Edition.
- 2012. The American Political System. ISBN: 9780393926965.W.W. Norton.
Grading
| Assignment/Exam | Details | % of Total Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Three Short Web-Based Assignment | One on "Patterns" and two two-country comparisons | Each 5% |
| Final Examination | Comprehensive | 35% |
| Analytical Paper | TBA | 15% |
| Midterm Examination | TBA | 15% |
| Class Participation | NA | 10% |
| In-class Debate / Participation | Once during the semester | 10% |
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.