INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE I

PSIR114

Course Code: PSIR114
Semester: Second Term (Spring)
Theory+Practice: 3 + 0
ECTS: 5

Course Type

Compulsory Course

Course Level

Bachelor's Degree

Year of Study

Semester

Second Term (Spring)

ECTS

Name of Lecturer(s)

Associate Professor Nazlı Şenses Özcan

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, the students;

Meet the basic concepts of political life such as politics, ideology, political action, political party, interest group, state, nation, constitution, public policy, human rights, citizenship, globalization etc.
See that all of these concepts can be defined in many different ways and can challenge these different approaches.
Be aware of the different answers to the question of whether political science is a science.
Understand that politics is not an action carried out by certain people under the roof of certain institutions, and that very ordinary and everyday issues are also political issues.
Acquire knowledge about the factors that play a role in the political socialization of individuals.

Mode of Delivery

Face to face

Prerequisites

Recommended Optional Programme Components

There is no recommended optional programme component for this course.

Course Description

This introductory course aims to develop students? understanding of politics as a field of academic study. The course is designed to introduce the basic concepts, themes, and theoretical orientations of political science. More specifically, the lectures will focus on conceptual and theoretical discussions of politics, ideology, government, the state, the nation, political regimes, and democracy. By the end of the course, students are expected to have developed a solid understanding of these core topics and to be able to engage in critical evaluation and scholarly discussion of the fundamental themes of political science. **OYS password: 1142026**

Course Contents

WEEK	TOPICS
1^st Week	Introduction to the course and an introduction and to the discipline of political science
2^nd Week	A conceptual discussion of politics and its related terms, including power, authority, legitimacy, and the public?private distinction.
3^rd Week	A conceptual discussion of politics and its related terms, including power, authority, legitimacy, and the public?private distinction.
4^th Week	Studying Politics: Competing Ontological and Methodological Approaches
5^th Week	Towards a conceptualization of the state
6^th Week	Towards a conceptualization of the state
7^th Week	Midterm Exam
8^th Week	A discussion on political regimes
9^th Week	Ideologies: An introduction to the concept and its historical context
10^th Week	A discussion on general ideas of Liberalism and Conservatism
11^th Week	A discussion on general ideas of Socialism with a specific focus on Marxism
12^th Week	Key political ideologies beyond classical traditions: Feminism, Ecologism, Anarchism, and Fascism
13^th Week	Key political ideologies beyond classical traditions: Feminism, Ecologism, Anarchism, and Fascism
14^th Week	Concluding remarks

Recommended or Required Reading

Heywood, Andrew, Politics (4th edition), New York: Palgrave, 2019 (5th Edition)
Shively, W. Philips, Power & Choice: An Introduction to Political Science, New York: Mc Graw Hill, 2019 (15th Edition)

Recommended Reading

Atılgan, Gokhan & Aytekin, E. Atilla (der.) Siyaset Bilimi: Kavramlar, Ideolojiler Disiplinler Arası Iliskiler, Istanbul: Yordam Kitap, 2012.
Genc?oglu, Funda, Siyaset Bilimine Giris?, Ankara: Nobel, 2019.
Goodin, R. E. The Oxford Handbooks of Political Science, Oxford University Press, 2006
Heywood, A., Political Ideologies: An Introduction, New York: Palgrave; 1998.
Koker, Levent. Iki Farklı Siyaset. Ankara: Dipnot yayınları, 2012.
Ors, H. Birsen (der.), 19. Yuzyıldan 20. Yuzyıla Modern Siyasal Ideolojiler, Istanbul Bilgi Universitesi Yayınları, 2009.
Senses, Fikret. I?ktisada (Farklı bir) Giris: Giris, Istanbul: Iletisim Yayınları, 2017.
oTaskın, Yuksel (der.) Siyaset: Kavramlar, Kurumlar, Surecler, Istanbul: Iletisim Yayınları, 2015.

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

Lecture
Questions/Answers
Discussion

Assessment Methods and Criteria

	Quantity	Percentage (%)
Mid-term	1	40
Total(%)		40
Contribution of In-term Studies to Overall Grade(%)		40
Contribution of Final Examination to Overall Grade(%)		60
Total(%)		100

ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload

Activities	Quantity	Duration (Hour)	Total Workload (Hour)
Midterm exam	1	1	1
Preparation for Quiz
Individual or group work	14	2	28
Preparation for Final exam	1	40	40
Course hours	14	3	42
Preparation for Midterm exam	1	40	40
Laboratory (including preparation)
Final exam	1	1.15	1.15
Homework
Total Work Load			152.15
Total Work Load / 30 (h)			5.07
ECTS Credit of the Course			5

Language of Instruction

English

Work Placement(s)

Programme Qualifications / Learning Outcomes

	LO1	LO2	LO3	LO4	LO5
K1
K2
K3
K4
K5	X	X		X
K6				X
K7
K8
K9
K10
K11			X	X
K12	X				X
K13