POLI 277 is the first half of AU’s introduction to politics course. It can be taken alone for students requiring 3 credits in political science, but not wishing to take both introductory courses. For students desiring a thorough introduction to political science, those intending to do other political science courses, both introductory courses are required and/or recommended. Together with POLI 278, POLI 277 introduces students to the basic concepts, ideas, processes, and institutions of politics. The course begins by defining such concepts as politics, conflict, and power, and then indicates how these concepts relate to the basic institutions of government.
Outline
Unit 1: Introduction
Unit 2: The Nation-State
Unit 3: Ideologies I—Political Philosophy, Liberalism, and the Democratic Ideal
Unit 4: Ideologies II—Conservatism; Radical Ideologies: Socialism, Anarchism, and Fascism; and Focal/Minor Ideologies
Unit 5: Constitutions and the Rule of Law
Unit 6: Different Forms of Governance
Unit 7: The Role of the Political Executive
Unit 8: Public Policy and Administration
Unit 9: Legislatures, Representation, and Political Parties
Unit 10: Judiciaries and Traditions of Law
Unit 11: Governance Beyond the Nation-State
Evaluation
To receive credit for POLI 277, you must complete the following assignments and achieve a course composite grade of at least D (50 percent) and a grade of 50 percent or better on the final examination. The weighting of the assignments is as follows:
Activity
Weight
Assignment 1
10%
Assignment 2
10%
Assignment 3
15%
Assignment 4
30%
Final Exam
35%
Total
100%
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Mintz, E., Close, D., & Croci, O. (2021). Politics, power, and the common good: An introduction to political science (6th ed.). Toronto, ON: Pearson Education Canada. (eText)
Brodie, J., Rein, S., & Smith, M. (Eds.). (2014). Critical concepts: An introduction to politics (5th ed.). Toronto, ON: Pearson Education Canada. (PDF)
All other learning resources will be available online.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the POLI 277 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) on the final examination
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.