POL 101 American Government & Politics
Units: 3
Transferable: CSU (D and E); UC (4H)
FRC General Education: Area D
Required for: AA and AA-T in Political Science
Partially fulills requirements for:
- AA General Studies - Arts & Humanities
- BS Equine and Ranch Management ~ Lower Division
- Certificate of Achievement CSU GE Breadth
- AA Liberal Studies Elementary Teacher Preparation
- AA General Studies: Social and Behavioral Sciences Emphasis
- AA Liberal Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences
- AA-T Elementary Teacher Education
- AA-T Law, Public Policy, and Society
This course is an introduction to national and California state government and politics, including their constitutions, political institutions and processes, and political actors. Topics examined include the constitutional foundations, the institutions and structures of government, individual liberties and rights, and the politics in government including the role of interest groups, political parties, the function of campaigns and elections, and policy-making. Throughout the course, students will consider important issues facing democracy in the United States.
Offered on-campus. Fall, Spring
Offered Online Fall, Spring, Summer
- Explain the founding and development of the U.S. Constitution.
- Identify and evaluate institutions and political processes at the federal and state levels.
- Discuss and analyze contemporary political issues and operations (state and federal).
- Explain issues around civil liberties and civil rights, related to the U.S. Constitution and court decisions.
- Analyze the role of culture, diversity and ideology in shaping public opinion and public policy.
- Appraise the importance of citizen participation at the national, state, and local levels of government.
POL 110 Introduction to Political Theory & Thought
Units:3
FRC General Education: Area D
Required for: AA and AA-T in Political Science
Partially fulfills requirements for: AA and AA-T in Sociology
This course is an introduction to classical and contemporary political thought and theory. Students will use theoretical approaches to politics to examine basic political problems and proposed solutions. Students will learn to think and discuss critically, about both classic and modern issues in politics, such as debates over individual versus community rights, freedom, equality and distributional justice, environmental sustainability, the "rights" of nature and non-human life, power, sovereignty and the state, etc.
POL majors should contact kdesmond@frc.edu, and their academic advisor.
- Evaluate the study of political theory as a means for understanding important political phenomena.
- Analyze political theory and explain its relevance to contemporary issues.
- Assess the historical and social contexts of political theories.
- Compare and contrast defining elements of various political theories.
- Analyze the different assumptions and values about "human nature" and "reality" embedded in various political theories and examine the way these premises shape questions and conclusions.
- Evaluate the contribution of various political theories to our comprehensive understanding of political life and political institutions.
POL 120 Comparative Politics
Units:3
FRC General Education: Area D
Required for: AA and AA-T in Political Science
This course introduces students to comparative analyses used to examine different political systems in the world. This includes looking into the history, political institutions, processes and policies in developed and developing world contexts.
POL majors should contact kdesmond@frc.edu, and their academic advisor.
- Identify the role of the state.
- Describe the major theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of Comparative Politics and apply them to one or more political systems.
- Explain the impact of the regional, economic, historical and cultural factors on political institutions and behavior.
- Analyze political systems by using the comparative method.
- Distinguish among, compare, and evaluate different types of national political systems.
POL 130 Introduction to International Relations
Units:3
Transferable: CSU (D8); UC (4H)
FRC General Education: Area D
Required for the AA and AA-T in Political Science;
Partially fulfills requirements for:
- Certificate Program-Certificate of Achievement CSU GE Breadth
- AA General Studies: Social and Behavioral Sciences Emphasis
- AA Liberal Arts in Social and Behavioral Sciences
- AA-T History
- AA-T Law, Public Policy, and Society.
Students in this course will be introduced to theories of international relations and use these theories to examine the international political system and its actors. Students will look at debates surrounding the role of the nation-state in the 21st century, the power of non-state and sub-national actors in topics such as war, peace, diplomacy, human rights, environmental issues, international law, and the international political economy.
POL majors should contact kdesmond@frc.edu, and their academic advisor.
- Explain international relations theory.
- Identify international institutions.
- Describe the roles of national and international institutions, transnational, and non-state/sub-national actors.
- Analyze key topics and events in international relations by applying relevant theoretical lenses and concepts.
- Appraise the impact of national and international popular political movements on international relations.
POL 140 Introduction to Race & Ethnicity (corss listed as ETHN 140 and SOC 140)
Units: 3
Transferable: CSU (Area D and Area F), IGETC (Area 4)
FRC General Education: Area D
Required: AA and AA-T in Sociology
Partially fulfills requirements for:
- AA and AA-T in Sociology
- AA in General Studies, Arts & Humanities
- Certificate of Achievement CSU GE Breadth
- AA-T Social Justice Studies
- AA Education: Liberal Studies Elementary Teacher Preparation
- AA General Studies: Social and Behavioral Sciences Emphasis
- AA History
- AA Liberal Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences
- AA-T Law, Public Policy, and Society
This course is an introduction to sociological and political approaches to race, and ethnicity, and an examination of the cultural, political, and economic practices and institutions that support or challenge racism and inequality. This course explores the historical and contemporary interactions between various racial and ethnic groups, as well as struggles for rights, equality, and equity by using a range of various perspectives and theories. This examination and analysis of power includes using anti-racist approaches to understanding ongoing issues of discrimination and prejudice in order to create a more equitable society.
Offered on-campus. Fall, Spring
Online Spring, Summer
- Identify and analyze concepts such as race, ethnicity, “intersectionality,” discrimination, prejudice, racialization, white-supremacy segregation, assimilation, pluralism, self-determination, liberation, decolonization, sovereignty, imperialism, etc.
- Compare the historical experiences of racial and ethnic groups and their struggles for freedom, rights, citizenship, sovereignty, equality and equity.
- Identify and analyze racial and ethnic interaction through the perspectives of different groups.
- Critically analyze the intersection of race and racism as they relate to class, gender, sexuality, religion, spirituality, national origin, immigration status, ability, tribal citizenship, sovereignty, language, and/or age in various groups.
- Analyze the cultural and institutional factors involved in race and ethnic relations, making connections between local, national, international, and transnational politics.
- Analyze policies and social movements around racial and ethnic justice using the lens of anti-racism.
POL 150 Introduction to Political Science
Units: 3
Transferable: CSU (Area D); UC (Area 4)
FRC General Education: Area D
Required for: AA and AA-T in Political Science
Partially fulills requirements for:
- AA General Studies - Arts & Humanities
- Certificate of Achievement CSU GE Breadth
- AA General Studies: Associate of Arts in Social and Behavioral Sciences
- AA-T Law, Public Policy, and Society
This course is an introduction to political science that explores the development of political science as a field of study by looking at its subfields, theoretical foundations, and the basic political concepts and methods used to examine political systems, structures, institutions, political ideologies and political behavior.
POL majors should contact kdesmond@frc.edu, and their academic advisor.
- Explain the development of political science and its subfields.
- Identify the key concepts in political science.
- Evaluate and analyze normative and empirical approaches.
- Identify and analyze basic political systems and their differences
- Analyze political behavior in international affairs.
POL 160 Globalization (cross listed as SOC 160)
Units: 3
Transferable: CSU (Area D), IGETC (Area 4)
FRC General Education Area: D
Partially fullfills requirements for:
- AA and AA-T in Political Science
- AA and AA-T in Sociology
- Certificate of Achievement CSU GE Breadth
- AA General Studies: Associate of Arts in Social and Behavioral Sciences
- AA Liberal Arts: Associate of Arts in Social and Behavioral Sciences
- AA-T History
Students in this course learn about what makes the world so interconnected. This includes historical, political, economic, and cultural processes and structures. Understanding this fascinating web of global connections starts with history and how we arrived at today's global economy. In the 21st century globalization goes beyond the political economy and includes environmental issues, human rights, and approaches to development. Cross-listed with SOC160.
POL majors should contact kdesmond@frc.edu, and their academic advisor.
- Identify the historical and contemporary processes that characterize globalization.
- Explain development using various theoretical perspectives.
- Assess the role of various institutions and actors in globalization.
- Analyze the affects of globalization on the environment and vulnerable populations in various cultural contexts.
POL 180 Environmental Policy (cross listed with ENVR 180)
Units: 3
Transferable: CSU (Area D8)
FRC General Education: Area D
Partially fulills requirements for:
- BS Equine and Ranch Management ~ Lower Division
- AA General Studies - Arts & Humanities
- AA in Outdoor Recreation Leadership
- Certificate of Achievement CSU GE Breadth
- AA General Studies: Associate of Arts in Social and Behavioral Sciences
- AA Liberal Arts: Social and Behavioral Sciences
- AS Environmental Studies
- AA-T Law, Public Policy, and Society
A comprehensive analysis of the laws and policies that affect water, land, air, fire, wildlife, and vegetation in the American West. The class will examine the federal land management agencies (history, mission, policies), and issues specific to wilderness, wildlife, timber, grazing, water, and mining.
In person Spring
- Analyze the effects that each of the laws and policies studied may have upon individual private citizens, and enhance their abilities to be effective as participants in natural resource management.
- Describe the historical and contemporary context of natural resource management.
- Differentiate between the purposes, missions, types of lands, and responsibilities of the major government land management agencies.
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