Basic Information

Course Code:

POLS 147

Course Name:

Introduction to Political Science

Language of Instruction:

English

Course Type:

Class

Course Level:

Bachelor

ECTS:

7.00

Instructor:

Doç. Dr. DİDEM ÇAKMAKLI İŞLER

Course Objectives

To present students the basic principles and concepts in political science.  To enable students to better understand and evaluate historical and contemporary political systems, processes and events around the world.

Course Content

First, the course introduces political ideologies, issues of state and nationhood as well as political regimes at theoretical and conceptual levels. Second, the course explores political processes and actors through comparative analyses. This component focuses on issues such as political culture and behavior, electoral systems and voting, party systems and bureaucracies. Finally, the course explores the role of political economy and globalization in politics and the changing dynamics in these areas.

Prerequisites / Corequisites

NA

Course Books / Materials / Recommended Resources

All the reading indicated in the syllabus are required readings

Learning Outcomes

Code	Description
LO1	Define fundamental concepts and theories in the study of political science
LO2	Identify the main institutions in politics
LO3	Identify the main actors in politics
LO4	Classify different political systems, party systems and electoral systems
LO5	Compare political systems and political processes in different countries
LO6	Relate theories, concepts and cases studied to contemporary political events

Weekly Course Content

Week	Content
1	What is Politics
2	Political Ideas and Ideologies 1
3	Political Ideas and Ideologies 2
4	Politics and the State
5	Democracy and Legitimacy
6	Nations and Nationalism
7	Identity, Political Culture and the Media
8	Assemblies, Constitutions and Law
9	Representations, Elections, and Voting
10	Governments, Systems and Regimes
11	Political Executives and Leadership
12	Groups, Interests and Movements
13	Political Economy, Globalization and Global Governance

Workload Calculation

Activity	Count	Duration (Hours)	Total
Attendance	15	3.00	45.00
Pre-Class Individual Study	13	4.00	52.00
Midterm Exam/Preparation	1	25.00	25.00
Final Exam/Preparation	1	25.00	25.00
Quiz Preparation	2	10.00	20.00
Other	1	10.00	10.00
Total Workload (Hours)			177
ECTS Credit (Workload / 25)			6

Assessment

#	Assessment Type	Contribution (%)
1	Midterm Exam	%30
2	Homework	%10
3	Quiz	%20
4	Final Exam	%40
TOTAL		%100

PO - LO Matrix

PO \ LO	LO1	LO2	LO3	LO4	LO5	LO6
PO-1
PO-2
PO-3
PO-4
PO-5
PO-6
PO-7

1

Low Contribution

2

Medium Contribution

3

High Contribution

Teaching and Learning Methods

#	Method Name	Description	Tools
1	Lecture (expository teaching), interactive discussion	Listening and taking notes.	Standard classroom technologies, multimedia tools (projector, computer, digital presentations)
2	Brainstorming	The purpose of forming pairs is to ensure that they are open to innovation during the idea generation phase	Standard classroom technologies, multimedia tools, projector, computer, overhead projector

Academic Integrity and Artificial Intelligence

Violations of scholastic honesty include, but are not limited to cheating, plagiarizing, submitting exams and homework written by an AI tool, fabricating information or citations, facilitating acts of dishonesty by others, having unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with the academic work of other students. Any form of scholastic dishonesty is a serious academic violation and will result in a disciplinary action.

Sustainable Development Goals