Course Descriptions

POSC 201 - American Government (Federal)

1. Explain how cultural, social and/or economic perspectives relate to being a citizen of the United States in the context of a global community.
2. Identify the persons representing their interests.
3. Interpret the policy process.
4. Apply the policy process to the branches of their government.
5. Evaluate their ability to effectuate change locally, nationally, and/or globally via their rights as a citizen.

POSC 201H - American Government (Federal) - Honors

3 CR
This course is designed to empower the student by offering an understanding of the federal system of their American government, how it works, and where students might inject themselves into the process to gain better control over their government. Heavy emphasis is placed upon the U.S. Constitution and the limits placed upon the government by it and the protections afforded to the citizens through this historic legal document.  In addition to the federal government, this course covers the form and functions of our state government and of counties, cities and villages and incorporates the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Practical applications to medicine, law and business will be made. POSC 201 satisfies Michigan Compiled Law (MCL) 388.372, Sec. 2, regarding the granting of baccalaureate degrees. Honors courses emphasize individual study, personal, and group projects with additional learning outcomes common to the Honors Program.

Additional Information: Students may enter the Honors course only as part of the Honors Program or with department approval.

1. Explain how cultural, social and/or economic perspectives relate to being a citizen of the United States in the context of a global community.
2. Identify the persons representing their interests.
3. Interpret the policy process.
4. Apply the policy process to the branches of their government.
5. Evaluate their ability to effectuate change locally, nationally, and/or globally via their rights as a citizen.

Honors Outcomes:

1. Collaborate in college, local, and global communities.
2. Demonstrate expertise and research skills in select areas of study.
3. Develop interdisciplinary perspective across the liberal arts and sciences.
4. Demonstrate intellectual independence through verbal and written work.
5. Demonstrate research skills, including analysis of information and perspectives from diverse sources.
6. Develop plans and skills to furthering both academic and professional careers.

POSC 202 - American Government (State and Local)

1. Explain how cultural, social and economic perspectives relate to being a citizen of a local community in the context of a federal system of government.
2. Identify the persons representing their interests at the local/state level.
3. Interpret the policy process at the local/state level.
4. Apply the policy process to the identified branches of government.
5. Evaluate their ability to effectuate change locally, nationally, and/or globally via their rights as a citizen.

POSC 210 - Introductory Comparative Politics

1. Explain comparative politics as a discipline of political science.
2. Analyze the universal interests shared by all political units.
3. Interpret the policy process as applied by varying foreign governments and the United States.
4. Identify the entities of the various governments studied that carry out the universal steps of the policy process.
5. Evaluate the effectiveness of the various governments studied in relation to the impact upon the lives of the body politic.

POSC 211 - International Relations

1. Assess international relations as a discipline of political science.
2. Analyze the universal interests shared by all political units.
3. Apply the knowledge of history and resource allocation to relationships of international communities
4. Identify one’s role in shaping positive and/or negative relationships between world governments.