Political Science (POLI) 277

Overview

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 recommended. Together with POLI 278, POLI 277 introduces students to the basic concepts, ideas, 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 with a focus on liberal democracy.

Outline

• Unit 1: Introduction
• Unit 2: The Nation-State
• Unit 3: The Liberal Democratic Tradition
• Unit 4: The Discontents of Liberal Democracy
• Unit 5: The Liberal State and Capitalism
• Unit 6: Constitutions and the Rule of Law
• 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:

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

e-Textbooks

Registration in this course includes electronic textbooks. For more information on electronic textbooks, please refer to the eText Initiative site.

A print version of the Critical Concepts text can be purchased from the publisher through a direct to student link but the Mintz et al. text is no longer available in print form from the publisher. If a students wishes to have a print version, they will have to download the e-text and print out the relevant chapters assigned in this course.

Other Resources

All other learning resources will be available online.

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 277 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