Political Science (POLI) 357

Overview

Political Philosophy: Hobbes to Human Rights introduces early modern and modern political philosophy. The course provides a solid grounding in the content of Hobbes’ Leviathan, Locke's Second Treatise on Government, Rousseau's Social Contract, and Mill's On Liberty. Attention is also given to the political writings of Karl Marx and Mary Wollstonecraft.

Outline

Part 1: Early Modern Political Philosophy

• Unit 1: Re-Ordering Political Philosophy: The Individual
• Unit 2: Hobbes on Human Nature
• Unit 3: Hobbes on Civil Society
• Unit 4: Locke: An Overview
• Unit 5: Locke's Politics

Part 2: Modern Political Philosophy

• Unit 6: Rousseau
• Unit 7: The Rights of Woman: Wollstonecraft
• Unit 8: Harriet Taylor and John Stuart Mill
• Unit 9: Marx
• Unit 10: Human Rights
• Unit 11: Feminist Political Philosophy
• Unit 12: Conclusion: Re-visioning Continues

Evaluation

Your final grade is based on the grades you achieve in three assignments and a final examination. The three assignments are together worth 60 per cent of your final grade and the remaining 40 per cent of your final grade will derive from the final examination. Please note that the passing grade for the final examination is 60 percent. To receive credit for the course you must achieve at least 60 per cent on the final examination and an overall course grade of "D" (50 percent) or better.

The final examination for this course must be taken online with an AU-approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation centre. It is your responsibility to ensure your chosen invigilation centre can accommodate online exams. For a list of invigilators who can accommodate online exams, visit the Exam Invigilation Network.

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbooks

Other Materials

Other course materials include a study guide, student manual, and a reading file.

Challenge for Credit Course Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they 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 for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Policy
• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Procedures

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the POLI 357 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least “D” (50 percent) on the examination.

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form