Issues affecting the individual student's development as a member of a community of learners and as a citizen are identified. Students complete a broader range of reading assignments, extensively examine the theory of government, and engage at a more in-depth level of analysis of issues than in POLS 1101 . POLS 1101 Students study major concepts and approaches in the field of Political Science and begin to develop an understanding of the purpose and scope of the discipline. POLS 1101 Students analyze political parties in the United States with a focus on the role these institutions play in the political process. Special emphasis is placed on nominations, propaganda, public opinion, leadership, campaigns, elections, and problems associated with the two-party system.
Students study the various approaches and methods used in political science research.
After being introduced to the key elements of the Scientific Method, students conduct a research project selecting an appropriate research design, collecting data, employing basic statistical tools in analyzing the data, and writing the research report. The organization, major functions, and state supervision of local government and the problems of administration and finance are studied. Students are introduced to issues of interstate relations, relationships between national and state governments, the history of state and local government reform, and state and local governmental structures. Selected policy issues, such as crime, welfare, and education expose students to the kinds of problems facing state and local government today and to some of the proposed solutions. POLS 1101 Students study the historical and currently evolving constitutional and legal rights of women in areas such as marriage, divorce, and property ownership.