2011 General CataloG & announCement of Courses - Ventura College

POLS V03SL - INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE:
SERVICE LEARNING - .5 Unit
Corequisite: POLS V03
Hours: .5 lecture weekly
This course introduces students to the basic aims and processes
of service learning as they relate to political science. Topics
will include the importance of community participation, oral and
written communication skills, teamwork, leadership, and diversity
awareness. Emphasis is also placed on critical reflection of the role
of the student as an active citizen in his or her community.
Field trips will be required. Transfer credit: CSU.
POLS V04 - INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THEORY - 3 Units
Hours: 3 lecture weekly
This course traces the development of key concepts in political
theory, such as justice, democracy, liberty, equality, and order over
the course of Western history. Beginning with Plato and Aristotle, the
course traces the evolution of key political concepts through a series
of thinkers, including Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and
Madison. The course also introduces students to some contemporary
authors, including feminist and environmental thinkers.
Field trips may be required. Formerly PolSci 6. Transfer credit:
CSU; UC.
POLS V05 - INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS - 3 Units
Hours: 3 lecture weekly
This course presents an inquiry into the field of international
relations where nations interact officially and unofficially in a
condition of war, peace and change. Emphasis will be placed on the
universal competition for power, crisis management, war, peace,
arms control, disarmament, and the various endeavors intended to
bring about world peace and cooperation.
Formerly PolSci 5. Transfer credit: CSU; UC.
POLS V08 - PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION - 3 Units
Hours: 3 lecture weekly
This course introduces the student to the principles and trends in
public administration. It will cover the decision-making process in
public sector organizations. Several recent public policy decisions
will also be analyzed.
Field trips may be required. Formerly PolSci 8. Transfer credit:
CSU; UC.
POLS V09 - UNITED STATES - MEXICO RELATIONS - 3 Units
Hours: 3 lecture weekly
This course examines a series of bilateral issues relating to the
United States and Mexico, including economic integration (especially
NAFTA), immigration, naturalization, the environment, human rights,
crime, and drugs. Diverse approaches to solve these problems are
explored, including domestic policy changes in the two countries as
well as bilateral cooperation in resolving trade, environmental, labor,
and other issues. The implications of these issues for the political
systems of both countries will also be explored.
Field trips may be required. Transfer credit: CSU.
POLS V10 - THE UNITED NATIONS AND WORLD
AFFAIRS - 4 Units
Recommended preparation: POLS V01 or POLS V03
Hours: 3 lecture, 3 laboratory weekly
This course analyzes international organizations and their role in
world affairs. Focusing on the United Nations, the course examines
the history of attempts by international organizations to mediate
conflicts between nation-states. The role of the United Nations as
a standard-setter for international law, human rights, and collective
security is examined in detail. Theoretical models of international
relations, such as liberalism and realism, are examined as a way to
interpret how international organizations actually operate in world
affairs. Students will participate in Model United Nations conferences
as part of the laboratory section of this course.
Field trips will be required. Formerly POLS V06 & V07. Transfer
credit: CSU.
POLS V11 - GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS OF
MEXICO - 3 Units
Hours: 3 lecture weekly
This course examines contemporary Mexican politics within
a historical context. Different interpretations are contrasted to
explain Mexico’s historical and political development, especially the
Mexican revolution and its aftermath. The nature of Mexican political
institutions, economic policies, and current U.S.-Mexico relations
will be examined from different perspectives.
Transfer credit: CSU; UC.
POLS V12 - INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - 3 Units
Hours: 3 lecture weekly
This course examines American environmental policy and how
natural resources are managed. The historical, global, and ethical
dimensions of how our society relates to the environment are
analyzed from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Field trips may be required. Same as ESRM V03. Transfer credit:
CSU; UC; credit limitations - see counselor.
POLS V14 - GLOBAL STUDIES - 3 Units
Hours: 3 lecture weekly
This course will examine the contemporary political, economic,
social, and environmental conditions in the world from a global
perspective. The course will start by reviewing the present threats to
human posterity and/or prosperity resulting from nuclear, biological,
chemical, and conventional weapons as well as ecological, social,
and economic conditions, and ongoing changes. After discussing
and appraising the present systems of world order and globalization
of the economy, the course will explore possible approaches through
which such problems can be addressed. The course will conclude by
appraising the relevance of different levels of analysis for handling
these problems. This course will also promote the idea that the
student must try to become an active participant in the globalization
process.
Transfer credit: CSU; UC.
POLS V15 - REVOLUTION IN THE THIRD WORLD - 3 Units
Recommended preparation: POLS V05
Hours: 3 lecture weekly
This course will explore the special characteristics of the
Third World countries and assess why they are more prone to
revolutionary movements than other countries. Emphasis will be on
the most important theories of revolution and social movements,
and how they can be applied to analyze major revolutions of the
past. In addition, the course will explore the possibility of predicting
revolutions.
Formerly POLS V60A. Transfer credit: CSU; UC.
206 Credit Courses, Degrees, Certificates, and Awards Ventura College Catalog 2010 - 2011