Comparative political themes in political science. The transition
from feudalism to capitalism, state building, democracy, and
interaction between political institutions and cultures in
various politics. Examples will be drawn from developed,
communist/post-communist and developing political systems.
Athena Title
Intro to Comparative Politics
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in INTL 3300E, INTL 3300H
Prerequisite
POLS 1101 or POLS 1101E or POLS 1101H or POLS 1101S or INTL 1100 or INTL 1100E or INTL 1100H
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to define key concepts in international affairs (e.g., the international system, actors in the international system, the principles of sovereignty and anarchy, etc.).
By the end of this course, students will be able to compare and contrast the characteristics of various political systems.
By the end of this course, students will be able to apply major and minor theoretical approaches and models used within comparative politics.
By the end of this course, students will be able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of theoretical foundations in the study of international relations and comparative politics when applying them to attempt to explain the causes and effects of historical and contemporary global events.
By the end of this course, students will be able to incorporate quality sources of data in making well-informed arguments about the causes and effects of historical and contemporary global events.
By the end of this course, students will be able to construct well-informed arguments about the causes and effects of historical and contemporary global events that is theoretically informed and includes quality data.
By the end of this course, students will be able to write in a clear, structured manner that provides a clear theoretically-informed argument presented to an intended audience that is supported with data and uses appropriate vocabulary, grammar, and syntax.
By the end of the course, students will be able to practice designing a social science research project.
Topical Outline
Foundations of Comparative Politics
Formation of States and Nations
Industrialization and Democratization
Revolutions and Political Transformation
Comparative Legal Systems
Domestic Institutions and Political Parties
Comparative Elections and Electoral Politics
Environmental Politics
Institutional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
