COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
PIR 111	B	1	4	0	0	4	5

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	NA
Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	Salih Özcan , Thursday 10:00-12:30 hours
Second Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	NA
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	NA
Language:	English
Compulsory/Elective:	Compulsory
Classroom and Meeting Time:	E 312
Course Description:	Introduction political science is a core entry level course. It introduces the study of politics, its methodology and boundaries. Topics include core concepts of political science and how to study politics scientifically using various methods and theories. Some of these main concepts are: democracy, political systems, political culture, political participation, parties, and pressure groups, voting behavior, executives, legislative, judiciary etc. Theoretical explanations are based on and documented in political practice. Completing of this course should give students the ability of orientation in the political reality.
Course Objectives:	N/A

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Class introduction, syllabus and requirements (2 hrs); What is Politics? (2 hrs)
2	Political Ideas and Ideologies (2 hrs); Political Ideas and Ideologies (2 hrs)
3	Politics and the State (3 hrs); Democracy and Legitimacy (1 hr)
4	Democracy and Legitimacy (2 hrs); Nations and Nationalism (2 hrs)
5	Nations and Nationalism (1 hr); Debate on Democracy Chapter (1/2hr) Politics, Society and Identity (2½ hrs)
6	Political Culture and the Media (3 hrs); Representation, Elections and Voting (1 hr)
7	Representation, Elections and Voting (2 hrs); Parties and Party Systems (2 hrs)
8	Midterm exam
9	Parties and Party Systems (2 hrs); Groups, Interests and Movements (2 hrs)
10	Groups, Interests and Movements (1 hr); Governments, Systems and Regimes (3 hrs)
11	Political Executives and Leadership (3 hrs); Debate on Governments, Systems and Regimes (1/2 hr); Assemblies (1/2 hr)
12	Assemblies (2 hrs); Constitutions, Law and Judges (2 hrs)
13	Constitutions, Law and Judges (1 hr); Multilevel Politics (3 hrs)
14	A Crisis in Politics? (2 hrs); General review of the topics (2 hrs)

Prerequisite(s):	N/A
Textbook:	1-) Andrew Heywood, Politics, Fourth Edition, Palgrave Foundations, Basingstoke and New York, 2013. 2-) R. Garner, P. Ferdinand & S. Lawson, Introduction to Politics, Second Ed.OUP, Oxford, 2012
Other References:	1-) Douglas A. Van Belle and Kenneth M. Mash (2010) A Novel Approach to Politics, Washington DC: CQ Press 2-) B. Axford; G. Browing; R. Huggins, B. Rosamand; An introduction to Politics, 2nd Edition; Routledge; London and New York, 2002 3-) R.E. Goodin; H.D. Klingemonn; A New Handbook of Political Sciences; Oxford University Press;1998
Laboratory Work:	N/A
Computer Usage:	N/A
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	At the end of the course, students should be able to demonstrate understanding of key theories in political behavior and explain some of the determinants of political attitudes and the processes through which people form their opinions
2	To develop an understanding of national and international political behavior, including the various governmental and non-governmental actors involved in these processes.
3	To gain knowledge of the different sorts of research methods that can help to identify and analyze political beliefs and behavior

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES (Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)

No	Program Competencies	Cont.
Bachelor in Political Science and International Relations (3 years) Program
1	Having and using advanced knowledge and comprehension supported by textbooks including actual knowledge in political sciences and international relations literature, materials and the other scientific resources.	5
2	Analyzing data, ideas and concepts of current political issues and international relations, determining complex events and topics, making discussions and developing new suggestions in accordance with researches.	5
3	Having knowledge and thought about actual topics and problems together with their historical, social and cultural aspects.	5
4	Introducing those who are interested in politics and international events with the topics of Political Science and IR and teaching clearly the problems and the types of solutions.	4
5	Improving skills of working together with the main social science disciplines and other disciplines which are related to Political Science and International Relations.	4
6	Improving critical thinking and skills in making research independently.	4
7	Developing solutions about the problems and conflicts which are common in national and international arena.	5
8	Improving skills for leadership and research and analyze capacity of those who is responsible with national and international ones.	5
9	Knowing any foreign language enough to communicate with colleagues and understand actual researches and articles.	1
10	Gaining IT skills to use computer and technology) in order to reach actual knowledge.	1
11	Gaining skills to follow societal, scientific and ethic values during collecting, interpreting, conducting of data related to social and political developments.	3
12	Having consciousness about human rights and environment.	4
13	Gaining the skills to follow actual developments and pursue long-life learning.	4

COURSE EVALUATION METHOD

Method	Quantity	Percentage
Homework	1	5
Midterm Exam(s)	1	30
Presentation	1	5
Quiz	2	5
Final Exam	1	40
Attendance		10
	Total Percent:	100%

ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)

Activities	Quantity	Duration(Hours)	Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)	16	4	64
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	16	2	32
Mid-terms	1	10	10
Assignments	1	4	4
Final examination	1	15	15
Other			0
Total Work Load:			125
Total Work Load/25(h):			5
ECTS Credit of the Course:			5