POLI 101 American Federal Government

This course is an introduction to American federal government and the study of political science. Students who complete this course will be able to critically analyze American government and politics including the American Constitution, federalism, civil liberties and civil rights, ideology, political parties, campaigns and elections, media in politics, and the roles of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the US government.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

Eligible to enroll in ENGL 121

Hours Weekly

3 hours weekly

Course Objectives

1. Identify and organize information and ideas about the American Federal Government and American politics.
2. Generate ideas, explore possibilities, and consider alternative theories and explanations for American political developments.
3. Analyze and evaluate ideas about causes and consequences of development in American government and politics.
4. Apply information and ideas about American politics and government to other political systems.
5. Apply appropriate strategies to find relevant and credible information necessary to understand a topic in the study of politics and government.
6. Analyze the roles, responsibilities, and powers of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.
7. Analyze the meaning and implications of civil liberties guaranteed through the Bill of Rights.
8. Describe the historical development and influence of political parties and interest groups.
9. Analyze how controversies over the proper role and scope of government have affected American politics from the framing of the Constitution to the present.
10. Write clearly and effectively using appropriate, relevant, and properly attributed content that demonstrates the writer’s understanding of the American Federal Government.

Course Objectives

1. Identify and organize information and ideas about the American Federal Government and American politics.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Critical and Creative Thinking Rubric

   Critical Thinking

   • CT1
2. Generate ideas, explore possibilities, and consider alternative theories and explanations for American political developments.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Critical and Creative Thinking Rubric

   Critical Thinking

   • CT2
3. Analyze and evaluate ideas about causes and consequences of development in American government and politics.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Critical and Creative Thinking Rubric

   Critical Thinking

   • CT3
4. Apply information and ideas about American politics and government to other political systems.

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Critical and Creative Thinking Rubric

   Critical Thinking

   • CT4
5. Apply appropriate strategies to find relevant and credible information necessary to understand a topic in the study of politics and government.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Course assignment rubric.

   Information Literacy

   • IL1
   • IL2
   • IL3
6. Analyze the roles, responsibilities, and powers of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • course assignment rubric
7. Analyze the meaning and implications of civil liberties guaranteed through the Bill of Rights.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Course assignment rubric
8. Describe the historical development and influence of political parties and interest groups.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Course assignment rubric
9. Analyze how controversies over the proper role and scope of government have affected American politics from the framing of the Constitution to the present.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Writing Assignments

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Course assignment rubric.
10. Write clearly and effectively using appropriate, relevant, and properly attributed content that demonstrates the writer’s understanding of the American Federal Government.

    This objective is a course Goal Only

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Writing Assignments

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Course writing rubric.