Introduction to Political Science – GOVT 210

Course Description

Rationale

A good political system helps us to flourish as individuals and families by providing social structure, order, and security. Political scientists seek to know how to organize and structure such a political system in order to bring about human flourishing. This course is intended to give you an overview of the discipline of political science, including its concepts, methodologies, theories, subfields, and purposes. Through this course, you will gain an ability to analyse and critique the field of political science from a biblical viewpoint and become equipped to work in the field of political science or the public policy realm for the glory of God. This course directly supports Aims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the Liberty University Statement of Purpose.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (6)

Discussions are weekly collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt for each Discussion. Each thread must be 200-300 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 100-200 words.

Political Science Paper Assignment

You will write a five-page essay (not including the title page and bibliography) that discusses, analyzes, and synthesizes the following:

1. The various functions, systems, theories, and functions necessary for students and professionals to effectively conduct a political science review. Student should research how the art of political science research has evolved over time – and how policy formulation has drastically changed since 1994. 
2. Students will assess how Christians should utilize the necessary research skills through political science to effectively assess Biblical Christian polices.
3. Thorough assessments will address the conflicts/contradictions between a Christian and secular analysis of political science policy research.
4. Students should remember that political science asks “why” or “how” questions. Furthermore, students will remember the foundational steps for writing in political science:  determine your research question, review existing and alternative literature, review and assess the data working into your hypothesis, test the hypothesis, use evidentiary based data to prove your thesis, and revise any grammatical/spelling or materialistic errors.

Institutions Case Study Assignment

Students will analyze two different democratic institutions:  the United States of America and the United Kingdom.  The paper will be, at minimum, five pages in length (not including the title page and bibliography).  Students will attempt to analyze and answer the following questions:  

1. How is each nation’s legislature structure? What was the premise on which these legislatures were founded and how have they changed over time?  How does each institution function?  Students offering sound research will over a thesis of “why” each legislature has or has not changed since its conception.
2. How is power divided within or between each legislature? What kinds of powers does each of the respective institutions’ chambers?
3. How are the members of each institution elected and/or appointed? How much influence does public opinion/vote have on each institution?
4. Students should remember that political science asks “why” or “how” questions. Furthermore, students will remember the foundational steps for writing in political science:  determine your research question, review existing and alternative literature, review and assess the data working into your hypothesis, test the hypothesis, use evidentiary based data to prove your thesis, and revise any grammatical/spelling or materialistic errors.

Quizzes (8)

Each quiz will cover the Learn material for the assigned Module: Week. Each quiz will be open-book/open-notes, contain 20 multiple-choice and true/false, and have a 45-minute time limit.