Content Outline and Competencies:

I. The Language of Political Science

A. Identify and define key concepts and terms important in the vocabulary of political science.

B. Apply, as appropriate, the vocabulary of political science to the subject matter of selected case studies.

II. The Fundamentals of Political Science

A. Distinguish among the major fields in political science:

1. Comparative Politics

2. International Relations

3. Political Theory

4. American Government and Politics

5. Public Policy

6. Additional subfields, such as political economy and political behavior

B. Evaluate the events under examination in selected case studies using appropriate concepts from the above fields of political science.

C. Discuss how political scientists examine the varieties of political systems and the roles of individuals and groups in the political system, including each of the following:

1. Decision-Making

2. Public Policy

3. Leadership

4. Conflict and Cooperation

III. The Craft of Political Science Research

A. Describe and explain the role of theory for understanding politics.

B. Evaluate the role of methodology by utilizing basic units of analysis.

C. Analyze and explain selected case studies utilizing the following analytical methods:

1. Thesis statement

2. Empirical analysis

3. Data collection

4. Hypothesis testing

D. Identify and discuss conclusions drawn from analyses.

IV. Political and Economic Systems

A. Describe the origin of the modern state.

B. Explain the development of the modern state.

1. The role of war in the development of the modern state

2. The role of ideology in the development of the modern state

C. Describe challenges to the state:

1. Challenges from above the state (such as globalization and terrorism)

2. Challenges from below (such as ethnic and nationalist movements)

3. How and why states are losing their ability to make economic policy

4. How and why globalization is affecting state policy

D. Discuss the relationship of culture to the modern state and its policies.

E. Identify the basic aspects of political economy.

1. Economic development

2. Distribution of economic resources and inequality

F. Compare and contrast, as appropriate, political and economic systems.

1. Capitalist

2. Socialist

3. Developing world

G. Describe the relationship between economic development and political systems.

V. The Role of Ideas and Enduring Questions for Political Science

A. Analyze and explain the motivators for political action (such as ideology, nationalism, religion) and apply representative examples of each category to case studies.

1. Political economic case

2. Political culture case

3. Conflict and cooperation case

4. Environmental and human rights case

B. Examine enduring questions of political science, such as:

1. Is politics essential for human beings?

2. Are matters resulting from family life justifiably political?

3. How is the public vs. private distinction best explained?

4. Can the private control of property produce order? Is the marketplace a legitimate political concern?

5. What ends should government serve? Are governments to be allowed to exceed ideas of right and wrong?

6. Are unjust governments still due obedience?

7. Are wars inevitable? Why and when do nation-states go to war?

8. Does the moral legitimacy of countries depend on their willingness and ability to protect human rights?

9. Who is responsible for the well-being of migrants and refugees?

10. Are the structures, rules and procedures of global society fundamentally just?

11. Who is responsible for protecting the environment, that is, the atmosphere, oceans and land shared by all?

VI. Active Learning Politics

A. Recognize and evaluate political assumptions and implications pertaining to government and politics.

B. Synthesize and apply information to given political situations and problems.

C. Compare and contrast the effectiveness of various methods of conflict resolution to provided examples.

D. Synthesize knowledge about politics, including networking and bargaining, and the political factors shaping contemporary politics.

E. Review the connections between the academic studies of politics and apply to real-world issues.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Foundations of American Government

A. Describe key concepts and theories, including federalism, separation of powers, checks and balances, representative government, and the social contract theory.

B. Examine the development of the American political system, including the impact of political thought and pre-constitutional history.

C. Explain the core underpinnings of the United States system of government, including the United States Constitution.

D. Discuss what it means to be a democratic republic, and the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of governing institutions, public officials, and the people in a democratic republic.

E. Explain power, the problems related to it, how it’s distributed, how it’s used, and ideas about how to control it.

F. Describe the fundamentals of American political culture, including liberty and equality.

II. Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

A. Describe civil liberties and civil rights, and the mechanisms by which people pursue them.

B. Discuss the dynamic between the protection of individual liberties and the desire to maintain societal order and security.

C. Assess the role of political institutions for the protection of civil liberties and civil rights.

D. Describe the process of selective incorporation, including the 14th Amendment and key court cases such as Mapp v Ohio.

E. Describe the right to privacy, including the zone of privacy and key court cases establishing the right to privacy.

F. Compare civil rights movements across multiple groups, such as African Americans, indigenous peoples, Hispanics, Latinos, Asians, Persons with Disabilities, LGBTQ individuals, and women.

III. Public Opinion, Elections, Political Parties, Organized Interests, the Media, and Campaigns

A. Describe the rights, roles, and responsibilities of the people.

B. Evaluate the impact of political culture, political ideology, value systems, media, and campaigns.

C. Appraise mechanisms for gathering and interpreting public opinion.

D. Compare differing election systems, and their role in representing the people.

E. Describe various forms of civic engagement.

F. Evaluate political campaigns and campaign finance laws, and their development over time.

G. Analyze mediating intuitions (political parties, interest groups, and the media), their role in representing the people, and their impact on policymaking.

H. Examine how different actors seek and acquire power.

IV. Political Institutions

A. Discuss the major institutions of American politics, government, and public policy and their functions.

B. Describe relationships between various political and policymaking institutions.

C. Examine the ways people are represented in political institutions.

D. Examine the development of institutions over time.

V. Public Policy

A. Explain key political and policymaking processes.

B. Explore how public policy decisions are made and the results of those policies.

C. Differentiate between the various value systems that impact politics and policymaking.

D. Describe domestic and foreign policy.

E. Appraise the impact of people on politics and policymaking.

VI. Primary and Secondary Sources

A. Analyze primary sources.

B. Examine secondary sources to determine arguments.

C. Create arguments using primary and secondary sources.

D. Assess the impact of economic, social, cultural institutions, and change over time using primary and secondary sources.

E. Compare the impact of people on government, politics, and public policy across time.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. The Constitutional Environment of State and Local Governments
   A. Discuss the problems with most state constitutions.
   B. Describe measures to reform state constitutions and the politics of constitutional reform.

II. The Intergovernmental Framework for State and Community Politics
   A. Explain the division of powers between the national and state governments.
   B. Describe the constitutional evolution from dual federalism through cooperative federalism to creative or New Federalism.

III. Financial Constraints on State and Local Government
   A. Identify the major purposes for which the state and local
governments spend your money.
   B. Describe the methods used by state and local governments to raise their revenue.

IV. Channels of Citizen Influence: Participation, Public Opinion, and Interest Groups
   A. Describe the major patterns of political participation and the attempts to increase participation of the poor and the racial minorities.
   B. Assess the influence of public opinion on government and public policy.

V. Channels of Citizen Influence: The Ballot Box, Parties, and Direct Action
   A. Assess the effectiveness of elections as instruments of accountability and as channels of citizen influence.
   B. Describe the organization and role of political parties in state and local government.

VI. The Institutions of Local Government
   A. Compare and contrast the different types of local governments and the functions they perform.
   B. Discuss machine-style politics and the reforms that emerged as a reaction.

VII. The Dynamics of Community Politics
   A. Compare and contrast the different theories for explaining who runs community politics.
   B. Discuss the changing role of urban mayors and the challenges they face.

VIII. State Legislatures and Public Policy
   A. Describe the three main functions performed by state legislatures.
   B. Assess the impact of legislative reform movements on state legislatures over the past two decades.

IX. Governors and the Challenge of Executive Leadership
   A. Describe the role of governors in policymaking.
   B. Discuss the major challenges to gubernatorial leadership and sources of strength for governors in coping with these challenges.

X. Administrators and the Implementation of Policy
   A. Explain the perennial tensions between administrators and executives.
   B. Assess administrative reorganization as an approach to state government reform.

XI. Courts, Crime, and Corrections in American States
   A. Explain how courts play important roles establishing and implementing public policy.
   B. Discuss how politics is inherently embedded in the judicial process in American states.

XII. Poverty and Social Welfare Policies
   A. Compare and contrast conservative, liberal and radical values in understanding and developing poverty policy.
   B. Describe the roles of federal, state and local governments in carrying out social welfare policy.

XIII. Education
   A. Discuss how state, local and federal governments work together in providing public education.
   B. Describe how state and local governments responded in the 1980s and 1990s to the demands for educational reform.

XIV. Infrastructure Policies: Transportation, Housing, and Community Development
   A. Discuss the major elements of transportation policy, including public transportation options.
   B. Describe the basic problems of housing and programs to make housing more readily available to the middle class and the poor.

XV. Regulating The Environment
   A. Describe the national environmental policy for managing water and air pollution.
   B. Discuss the reciprocal relationship between state and local governments and regulation on the one hand and the political economy of states on the other.

XVI. State and Community Economic Development Policies
   A. Discuss how changes in the national economy and foreign competition have affected states and communities.
   B. Describe the economic development strategies that states and communities follow to improve their economic situation.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Comparative Political Analysis
   A. Explain why we study comparative politics and the major methods used
in comparing different systems.
   B. Explain the importance of constitutions as both a source of and a
limitation on the power of the state.
   C. Discuss the interrelationship of political development and political
economy.
   D. Compare and contrast the different legislative structures, the
distribution of power within the legislature, and the relationship of the
legislature to other governmental institutions.
   E. Describe the role of the executive in presidential and parliamentary
systems of government.
   F. Compare and contrast the role of interest groups and political
parties in the formation of public policy and the distribution of
political power.
   G. Compare the different types of electoral systems and their effect on
political parties and democratic representation.
   H. Discuss the sources of political socialization and the development
of political attitudes.

II. Area Studies
   A. Compare and contrast the following for the governments of Great
Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Canada, Russia, Mexico and Nigeria:
      1. The political background and culture.
      2. The governmental structure and the distribution of power among
the major governmental branches.
      3. The role of political parties and electoral systems.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Studying World Politics
   A. Describe the major forces of continuity and changes in today’s
global system
   B. Discuss how perceptions influence images of reality.
   C. Compare and contrast the rival theoretical interpretations of world
politics.

II. The Actor and Their Relations
   A. Describe the international and internal determinants of states’
foreign policy behavior.
   B. Define the rational actor decision making model.
   C. Explain the constraints of foreign policy making and why the foreign
policy decision making process often deviates from the rational actor
model.
   D. Identify the major causes of misperceptions in foreign policy
decision making.
   E. Describe the principle explanations of the causes of World Wars I
and II and the Cold War.
   F. Discuss European Imperialism and its impact on the Global South.
   G. Compare and contrast the theories attempting to explain the lack of
development in much of the Global South.
   H. Discuss the most important international organizations and the major
factors limiting their effectiveness.
   I. Assess the impact of multinational corporations on global society

III. The Politics of Global Welfare
   A. Compare and contrast the theories of mercantilism and capitalism.
   B. Describe the role of an economic hegemon.
   C. Explain the effects of the globalization of finance, trade,
production and labor.
   D. Identify current global demographic population patterns and trends.
   E. Compare and contrast the optimistic and pessimistic demographic
outlook for the future.
   F. Explain the major threats to environmental security and the
preservation of the global commons.
   G. Discuss the concept of sustainable development and the measures
necessary for the global society to achieve that goal.

IV. Global Conflict and its Management
   A. Identify the continuities and changes in armed conflicts in the
world.
   B. Compare and contrast rival theories of the causes of armed
conflict.
   C. Discuss the causes of and the issues involved with reducing the
amount of armed conflict within states.
   D. Describe the changing nature of power in the international system.
   E. Identify the current trends in military spending and the economic
consequences of military preparations for war.
   F. Discuss the value of nuclear weapons as deterrence and defense.
   G. Assess the effectiveness of the major instruments of coercion.
   H. Describe alliances and their impact on national and global
security.
   I. Discuss the concept of collective security and the factors in the
global system precluding establishment of an effective collective security
institution.
   J. Compare and contrast principles and structures international law
with the principles and structures of national law.
   K. Describe the major elements of the United Nations and the impact of
the end of the Cold War on its effectiveness.
   L. Assess political integration as a potential path to peace.
   M. Discuss the theory of the democratic peace.

V. Toward the Twenty-first Century
   A. Summarize the major issues facing the global society in the coming
century and assess the prospects for peace, security and continued
development.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Sources of Policy and Law

A.Identify legal databases and online policy resources.

B. Engage in the use of legal databases and policy resources.

II. Policy and Legal Cases

A. Review and analyze policy and brief legal cases.

B.Identify and evaluate arguments raised in prepared case briefs and policy statements.

III. Legal Foundations

A. Describe the historical foundations of environmental policy and law.

B. Examine sources of policy, law and legal procedures.

IV. Procedural versus Substantive Law

A. List procedural aspects of key environmental policies and laws.

B. Identify detailed substantive provisions of selected environmental policies and laws.

V. Provisions of Key Environmental Policies and Laws

A. Outline major provisions of selected environmental policies and law.

B. Identify the key provisions of the Clean Water Act (CWA).

C. Identify the key provisions of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

D.List the elements of the Resource Recovery and Conservation Act (RRCA).

E.List the elements of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA).

F.Recognize the key provisions of the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

VI. Emerging Environmental Policies and Law

A. Provide examples of current local, state, and national environmental policies and laws.

B. Identify possible environmental law and policy solutions to emerging problems.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Concepts of Political Theory

A​. Compare and contrast key concepts of political theory such as “Authority,” “Justice,” and “Democracy.”

B. Identify the competing definitions of human nature.

II. Origins and Historical Developments of Thought

A. Assess the significance of Plato’s Ring of Gyges.

B. Assess the importance of political thought on the French and American Revolutions.

C. List the impact of political theory on the industrial revolution.

III. Common Core of Values and Principles

A. Recognize the common core of values and principles important to an ideology.

B. Examine the ideologies of liberalism, conservatism, socialism, nationalism, fascism and anarchism.​

IV. Political Theorists

A. Outline the key arguments developed in Plato.

B. Identify the theories of Niccolo Machiavelli, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and John Locke.

C. Identify the meaning of utilitarianism developed by John Stuart Mill.

D. Describe the different key arguments made by Karl Marx.

V. Substantive Questions

A. Articulate an answer to the question, "How did the Ancients, in particular Athenians in the time of Socrates, understand the relationship between citizens and government?"

B. List possible answers to the question, "What are competing visions of democracy and individual rights, and how were they contested during the American Revolution?"

C. Discuss the question, "What is the American understanding(s) of democratic politics, and how is that understanding challenged by ideas like radical democracy and Marxism?"

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. International Relations

A. Define International Relations.

1. The state

2. The state international system

3. International order

4. Foreign Policy

B. Explain the policy process.

1. International institutions

2. International actors

3. State policy

4. Foreign Policy

II. International Organizations and International Cooperation

A. Define International Organizations.

1. Intergovernmental Organization

2. Non-governmental Organization

3. International Law

4. International Justice

B. Explain International Cooperation.

1. Complex interdependence

2. Regime and global governance

3. Conflict resolution

4. Peacekeeping and international security

5. Economic and social problems

6. Human rights

7. Global environmental issues

8. Arms control, limitation, and disarmament

9. Development and sustainable development

III. Parliamentary Procedure in the United Nations

A. Describe Position Papers.

1. Research

2. Thesis statement

3. Concepts and terms

4. Supporting evidence

5. Potential solutions

6. Organization and grammar

B. Explain Model United Nations Resolutions.

1. Elements of a resolution

2. Preambulatory clauses

3. Paragraphs, numbering, and formatting

4. Procedures and processes of resolutions

C. Use Rules of Procedure.

1. Classroom simulations

2. Model United Nations conference simulation(s)

IV. Foreign Policy

A. Identify foreign policy issues.

B. Research policy positions.

C. Describe general policy background.

D. Explain member state positions.

E. Distinguish between proposed solutions.

F. Defend a country’s foreign policy and position on an issue.

V. Global Issues Addressed by the United Nations

A. Explain the range of issues attended to by the United Nations.

B. Differentiate between the committees that work on various global issues.

C. Evaluate approaches taken by the United Nations to address global issues.

VI. Leadership as a Mechanism for Positive Change

A. Demonstrate effective public speaking skills.

1. Facts, concepts, and ideas

2. Clarity, precision, and logical reasoning

3. Communication approaches and strategies

B. Design an opening speech.

C. Present opening speech.

D. Defend a country’s policy position.

E. Construct a Model United Nations conference simulation.

1. Instructions for high school participants in the Metro Kansas City Model United Nations (MKCMUN) conference simulation

2. Management of MKCMUN committees

3. Review of MKCMUN position papers and resolutions

4. Determination of quality of high school student participation at MKCMUN

F. Develop leadership skills.

1. Planning and organizing

2. Meeting management

3. Collaboration and team building

4. Facilitating events

5. Recruitment and selection of team members

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Introduction to the Public Policy

A. Define public policy.

1. Public policy

2. Public policymaking

B. Describe key political institutions in the policy process.

1. Congress

2. The presidency

3. The bureaucracy

4. The courts

5. State and local governments

C. Distinguish key actors in the policymaking process.

1. The public

2. Political parties

3. Organized interests

4. The media

5. Non-governmental organizations

6. International governmental organizations

7. Elected officials

8. Civil servants and other public officials

D. Describe the facets of the policymaking environment.

1. Social

2. Economic

3. Political

4. Structural

5. Cultural

E. Clarify the role of ethics in public policymaking.

II. The Policymaking Process

A. Describe the stages of the policymaking process.

1. Problem definition

2. Agenda-setting

3. Formulation

4. Adoption

5. Legitimation

6. Implementation

7. Evaluation and feedback

B. Examine the stages of the policy process for selected public policies.

III. Theories of the policymaking process

A. Explain key theories of the policymaking process.

1. Pluralism and group theory

2. Institutionalism and rational choice

3. Policy networks and subsystems

4. Innovation and diffusion

B. Examine how political institutions constrain and enhance the policymaking environment.

C. Examine the role and influence of key actors in the policymaking process.

D. Examine the role of other factors in the policymaking process.

1. Social

2. Economic

3. Cultural

E. Examine substantive policy areas using theories of the policymaking process.

IV. Policy Analysis and Evaluation

A. Define policy analysis and evaluation.

B. Clarify the role of policy analysis and evaluation throughout the policy process.

C. Explain different aspects of policy analysis and evaluation.

1. Goal specification and change

2. Measurements and targets

3. Efficiency and effectiveness

4. Ethics and values

5. Politics

D. Explain different approaches to policy analysis and evaluation.

1. Goal specification and achievement

2. Cost-benefit analysis

3. Ethical policymaking

E. Articulate appropriate approaches to policy analysis for selected public policies.

F. Evaluate the impact of selected public policies.

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Introduction to Public Administration

A. Define key terms such as:

1. Public administration

2. Public organization

3. Public servant

4. Public policy

5. The policy process

6. Apolitical

B. Describe key political institutions in the administration of policy.

1. Congress

2. The presidency

3. Executive agencies

4. The courts

5. State and local governments

C. Distinguish key actors in the administration of policy.

1. Civil servants

2. Appointed officials

3. Elected officials

4. The public

5. Contractors

6. Organized interests

7. Nonprofit and other non-governmental organizations

II. Administrative Processes

A. Describe the facets of performance and accountability.

1. Transparency

2. Accountability

3. Efficiency

4. Effectiveness

5. Ethics

6. Equity

7. Representativeness

8. Responsiveness  

B. Describe the stages of the policymaking process.

1. Problem definition

2. Agenda-setting

3. Formulation

4. Adoption

5. Legitimation

6. Implementation

7. Evaluation and feedback

C. Clarify the role of ethics in public administration.

III. Theories of public administration and organizations.

A. Compare key organizational models and theories.

1. Classical model

2. Bureaucratic model

3. Systems theory

4. Humanism

5. Pluralism

6. Culturalism

7. Principle-agent theory

8. Network analysis

9. Diffusion of innovation

B. Describe typical considerations in decision-making processes, such as information availability and value systems.

C. Compare approaches to decision-making in public organizations.

1. Rational decision-making

2. Cost-benefit analysis

3. Participative decision-making

4. Public choice theory

5. Bargaining

D. Examine how political institutions constrain and enhance the administration of policy.

E. Examine the role and influence of key actors in the administration of policy.

IV. Mechanisms for the administration of policy.

A. Describe frameworks of community input in decision-making processes.

1. Ladder of participation

2. Rulemaking procedures

3. Adjudication

B. Examine the administration of policy within the contexts of federalism and separation of powers.

C. Explain the role of evaluation in administrative organizations and processes.

D. Differentiate between evaluative criteria.

E. Explain the rationale for and approaches to administrative reform.

1. Downsizing

2. Reengineering

3. Continuous improvement

4. Privatization

F. Explain key aspects of regulatory frameworks.

1. Authority

2. Resources

3. Economic regulations

4. Social regulations

5. Environmental regulations

G. Assess various accountability systems.

1. Compliance

2. Standard setting

3. Monitoring

4. Sanctions

5. Congressional oversight

H. Explain the budgeting process. 

Content Outline and Competencies:

I. Apply skills acquired during the internship application experience
to future career-related employment, volunteer work or community service.
   A. Prepare to find an appropriate internship setting.
      1. Write a resume.
      2. Successfully complete a mock interview.
      3. Identify appropriate internship sites.
   B. Apply for and secure an internship site in an appropriate setting
confirmed by a letter of acceptance.
      1. Develop learning objectives, strategies, tasks, and strategies
appropriate to the internship in consultation with Internship Coordinator
and site supervisor.
      2. Complete a contract between JCCC & internship agency or
representative signed by the Political Science Internship Coordinator,
student and site supervisor.

II. Successfully perform internship tasks and functions under direct
supervision in a mature and professional manner.
   A. Identify responsibilities, tasks, and duties of the internship.
   B. Maintain a log of hours worked and major responsibilities
completed.
   C. Demonstrate ability to complete successfully the tasks assigned.
   D. Work systematically and logically through the various issues that
arise in the internship setting.
   E. Develop human relations skills needed for the position.
   F. Display sensitivity to the needs of the diversity of staff, clients
and/or constituents encountered in the internship setting.
   G. Adhere to policies and procedures of the internship site.
   H. Respect the confidentiality of privileged information regarding
staff, clients, and/or constituents.

III. Demonstrate successful integration of classroom study and daily
internship work in journal entries, written reports, and discussions or
seminars.
   A. Outline the relationship between the student’s individual
education objectives and strategies and the internship duties and
activities. 
   B. Analyze the relationship between classroom knowledge and internship
related tasks.

IV. Prepare documentation, both personally and professionally, for a
career choice or avocation.
   A. Construct a portfolio that documents the steps in a successful job
search and successful job performance.
   B. Complete a self-assessment of personal growth in the selection of a
career or avocation based on internship experiences.
   C. Complete a self-assessment of professional growth in the selection
of a career or avocation based on observations made and duties
performed.

Content Outline and Competencies:

Because of the nature of a Special Topics course, the course Content Outline and Competencies will vary, depending on the Special Topic being offered. The Special Topics course outlines must be designed in the standard format for all JCCC-approved courses and must include the standard course objectives for a Special Topics class. The course Content Outline and Competencies must be written in outcome-based language. In order to maintain course consistency, rigor and uniqueness, each section of this course first must be reviewed and approved by the Political Science faculty prior to its being offered. The Arts & Design, Humanities & Social Science Division Curriculum Committee and the Division Dean will review each Special Topics course to be offered and approve the course content. The ADHSS Division will also determine when and if the course may be taught based on the instructional needs of both the department and the division. Individual faculty members are responsible for the creation of Special Topics courses and for seeking approval to teach them. Any specific Special Topics topic may not be repeated within a standard four-semester sequence.