Political Science 101H - American Politics

This course offers an introduction to American politics and citizenship. We will examine the philosophical, ideological, and theoretical foundations of the American system of government, as well as the actual institutions that make up this system. We will also spend some time looking at the ways in which citizens (and other activists) who are not part of this institutional system of government influence outcomes through voting, and participation in political parties, the media, and social movements. In addition to the text book, we will focus on primary sources and scholarly articles to encourage an analytical approach to understanding how the American political system works and how scholars try to accumulate knowledge about politics. This course will offer the dedicated student a rich introduction to American politics and lifelong skills in analyzing politics. (Gen.Ed. SB)

Open to Commonwealth Honors College Students only.