Course Descriptions: POLITICAL SCIENCE

PLSC 103 CRITICAL THINKING ABOUT WORLD POLITICS

Units (Grade Option) 3; Class Hours: Minimum of 48 lecture hours/semester; Recommended: Eligibility for READ 836, and ENGL 836 or ESL 400; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: This introductory course is designed to improve the student's ability to think clearly about world political problems and their social, political, and economic implications. Reasoning skills are applied when evaluating and constructing convincing arguments about current world political controversies. Transfer: CSU: A3, UC.

PLSC 130 INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Units (Grade Option) 3; Class Hours: Minimum of 48 lecture/16 by arrangement lab hours/semester; Recommended: Eligibility for READ 836, and ENGL 836 or ESL 400; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: Introductory survey of world conflicts that have contributed to a global quilt work of international relations. The historical background, recent and ongoing developments in the international politics of the major countries and regions of the world are explored for their social, political and economic implications with foci on conflicts and their respective resolutions. Also included is the study of the nation-state system, military and economic challenges to world peace and attempts to resolve international conflicts through diplomacy. Transfer: CSU: DSI, UC. (IGETC: 4)

PLSC 150 INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THEORY

Units (Grade Option) 3; Class Hours: Minimum of 48 lecture/16 by arrangement lab hours/semester; Recommended: Eligibility for READ 836, and ENGL 836 or ESL 400; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: This class provides the foundation for the study of political science and the nature of government. Political Theory has a tradition aimed at clarifying the preconditions for a well-ordered society. Critically thinking about the elements of a social contract - leadership, religion, government, civic culture and class are the framework. Transfer: CSU: DSI, UC. (IGETC: 4)

PLSC 170 INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS

Units (Grade Option) 3; Class Hours: Minimum of 48 lecture/16 by arrangement lab hours/semester; Recommended: Eligibility for READ 836, and ENGL 836 or ESL 400; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: This course introduces students to the technique of comparing nation-states using different approaches to study multiple governments such as institutional, cultural and class. Political cultures are compared in order to critically analyze the viability of particular governments on a global scale. Topics include: civic culture, group politics, functionalism, dependency, legitimacy and leadership. Transfer: CSU.

PLSC 200 NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

Units (Grade Option) 5; Class Hours: Minimum of 80 lecture/16 by arrangement lab hours/semester; Recommended: Eligibility for READ 836, and ENGL 836 or ESL 400; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: This course provides the foundation to the development of American Democracy from state to national governments leading to the creation of a federal government based upon constitutional checks and balances. US and California Constitutions are emphasized as providing the framework for political institutions and processes of Federal, State and Local Governments. Not open to students who have taken PLSC 210 or 310 or a comparable course in American or state institutions. Transfer: CSU.

PLSC 210 AMERICAN POLITICS (CAN GOVT 2)

Units (Grade Option) 3; Class Hours: Minimum of 48 lecture/16 by arrangement lab hours/semester; Recommended: Eligibility for READ 836, and ENGL 836 or ESL 400; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: This course is a study of the U.S. and California Constitutions with foci on the political philosophies of its framers and the inter-related functions of the three branches of the federal government. Students closely examine the rights and obligations of all citizens as established by the U.S. and California Constitutions in conjunction with evolving Judeo-Christian democratic principles. Contemporary relationships between federal, state and local governments are consistently explored. Transfer: CSU: DUS-2, DUS-3 & DSI, UC. (IGETC: 4)

PLSC 310 CALIFORNIA STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Units (Grade Option) 3; Class Hours: Minimum of 48 lecture hours/semester; Recommended: Eligibility for READ 836, and ENGL 836 or ESL 400; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: California state and local government with special emphasis on the U.S. and California Constitutions as providing the basic framework for our political institutions and processes of Federal, State, and local government. Relationships between Federal, State, and local governments are explored also. Transfer: CSU: DUS-3 & DSI.

PLSC 415 RACE TO SAVE THE PLANET

Telecourse: Units 3; Recommended: Eligibility for READ 836, and ENGL 836 or ESL 400; Prerequisite(s): None. Description: Examines one of the most critical political issues of the 1990’s, the environment. The course is divided into three areas: the development of environmental problems, the current condition of politics, and the environmental and political solutions. Completion of at least one Social Science class is recommended. Transfer: CSU.