POL-110 State and Local Government

An exploration of the organization, functions and processes of State and Local Government, highlighting the activities of governors, mayors, legislatures, bureaucrats and courts, the role of political parties and lobbies, the mechanics of campaigns and elections, public administration and finance, and important areas of public policy such as taxes, health, education, welfare, immigration, energy, housing, infrastructure, environmental conservation, crime and policing. This course carries SUNY General Education Social Sciences credit.

Credits

3

Lecture Contact Hours

3

Lab Contact Hours

0

Other Contact Hours

0

Department

• Social Science

Grading Scheme

• Letter

SUNY Gen Ed Credit

• Yes

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the methods political scientists use to explore political phenomena, including observation, hypothesis development, measurement and data collection, experimentation, evaluation of evidence, and the employment of mathematical and interpretive analysis
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the major concepts, models and issues of state and local government (including the organization, functions and processes of state and local government, the activities of governors, mayors, legislatures, bureaucrats and courts, the role of political parties and lobbies, the mechanics of campaigns and elections, public administration and finance, and important areas of public policy such as taxes, health, education, welfare, energy, housing, infrastructure, environmental conservation, crime and policing), so as to better equip themselves with the knowledge, skills and values necessary to be involved in their communities
3. Demonstrate the ability to comprehend, interpret, analyze and evaluate college-level primary and secondary source readings in the field of state and local government
4. Identify, analyze and evaluate arguments made by some of the major authors in the field of state and local government, and, in their own writing, will demonstrate well-reasoned arguments when interpreting political science-related subject matter
5. Demonstrate the ability to identify, locate, evaluate, use and share information from a range of published and electronic political science-related resources