| Course Title : Introduction to Political Sciences | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Course Type |
Regular Semester |
Lecture (hours/week) |
Seminar (hours/week) |
Lab (hours/week) |
Credits | ECTS | |
| PLS 101-3 | C | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3.00 | 5 | |
| Lecturer and Office Hours | ||||||||
| Teaching Assistant and Office Hours | ||||||||
| Language | Albanian | |||||||
| Course Level | ||||||||
| Description | In a world where the importance of politics is increasing, many questions arise that need to be answered. In this context why we will aim to study the most important questions related to politics and attempt to find relevant answers. This course is an introduction to politics in a globalised world, with a particular focus on how political science tries to understand and explain cross-country differences and cross-time differences between countries. | |||||||
| Objectives | The course aims to provide students with the basic concepts in politics; to inform students about government and non-governmental institutions; to introduce them to the main differences between democratic and non-democratic regimes, and between different models of democratic government; introduce students to how political preferences are formed, how voters behave, how parties compete, how interest groups are formed, and how electoral systems shape behavior. In addition during this course the students will learn how politics works nowadays. At the end of this course the students will be informed about the structure of politics and politicians in modern times. | |||||||
| Course Outline | ||||||||
| Week | Topics | |||||||
| 1 | Presentation of the syllabus. Explaining the idea of politics | |||||||
| 2 | What is political science? | |||||||
| 3 | Scientific Methods in Politics. (The range of political science: Historical developments) | |||||||
| 4 | Scientific Methods in Politics. (Thinking scientifically about politics) | |||||||
| 5 | Key Concepts in Political Science: Power | |||||||
| 6 | Key Concepts in Political Science: State | |||||||
| 7 | Political Theory: Examining the Ethical Foundations of Politics | |||||||
| 8 | Political Thinkers | |||||||
| 9 | Mid – Term Exam | |||||||
| 10 | Political Ideologies: Liberalism, Conservatorism, Socialism | |||||||
| 11 | Fascism and Nazism | |||||||
| 12 | Feminism, Environmentalism, and Postmodernism | |||||||
| 13 | Comparative Politics 1. Governmental Systems: Democracy and Non-democracy | |||||||
| 14 | Comparative Politics 2. Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections | |||||||
| 15 | Comparative Politics 2. Interest Groups, Political Parties, and Elections | |||||||
| 16 | Final Exam | |||||||
| Prerequisites | ||||||||
| Textbook | ||||||||
| Other References | ||||||||
| Laboratory Work | ||||||||
| Computer Usage | ||||||||
| Other | ||||||||
| Learning Outcomes and Competences | ||||||||
| 1 | Substantial Knowledge: Upon the successful completion of the PLS 101 students will: a. Understand the field of Political Science as an academic discipline b. Understand the institutions, processes and values that shape politics within and among states c) Understand the major concepts and methodologies used in the study of politics d. Compare and contrast different political and electoral systems | |||||||
| 2 | Critical Thinking: Upon the successful completion of the course students should be able to: a. Think critically for political concepts and political ideologies b. Examine issues in the area of Political Science c. Identify, analyze, and compare the major types of political regimes, party systems, and electoral systems d. Critical thinking and analysis of contemporary political issues and problems. | |||||||
| 3 | Engagement in Politics: Upon the successful completion of the course students should be able to: a. Understand that events around the world effect our everyday lives b. Understand the importance of political participation c. Apply Political science in everyday life d. Understand the importance of active participation in politics | |||||||
| Course Evaluation Methods | ||||||||
| In-term studies | Quantity | Percentage | ||||||
| Midterms | 1 | 30 | ||||||
| Quizzes | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| Projects | 1 | 15 | ||||||
| Term Projects | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| Laboratory | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| Attendance | 1 | 5 | ||||||
| Contribution of in-term studies to overall grade | 50 | |||||||
| Contribution of final examination to overall grade | 50 | |||||||
| Total | 100 | |||||||
| ECTS (Allocated Based on Student) Workload | ||||||||
| Activities | Quantity | Duration (hours) |
Total Workload (hours) |
|||||
| Course Duration (Including the exam week : 16 x Total course hours) | 16 | 3 | 48 | |||||
| Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice) | 14 | 4 | 56 | |||||
| Assignments | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Midterms | 1 | 10 | 10 | |||||
| Final examination | 1 | 11 | 11 | |||||
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Total Work Load | 125 | |||||||
| Total Work Load / 25 (hours) | 5 | |||||||
| ECTS | 5 | |||||||
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