Apr 17, 2026  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Academic Catalog-June 
    
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2024-2025 Undergraduate Academic Catalog-June [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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PSC 2011 - American Government

3 lecture hours 0 lab hours 3 credits
Course Description
This course examines the American governmental system and its appropriateness at this time, including challenges to democratic government and questions regarding constitutional government, individual rights, popular representation, and responsible leadership. The course integrates political science, history, and law to produce a greater awareness and understanding of contemporary American government. Different political theoretical perspectives on central issues in the study of American government are introduced, and challenges inherent in technology’s expanding role in mediating people’s experience of American government are explored. 
Prereq: None
Note: None
This course meets the following Raider Core CLO Requirement: Exhibit Curiosity
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  • Describe, analyze, and evaluate the way local, state, and national levels of American government function
  • Identify the branches of government and evaluate their effectiveness
  • Explain the roles of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in relation to elections and governance
  • Apply knowledge of the U.S. Constitution in analyzing various political issues and in understanding the concepts of federalism, civil liberties, and criminal justice
  • Evaluate major areas of American public policy (e.g., education, economic, healthcare, foreign policy) and recognize the influence of those policy areas in lawmaking and regulation
  • Analyze the role of the news media in American civic life
  • Analyze and evaluate the responsibilities and benefits of digital citizenship and technology’s expanding role in mediating people’s experience of American government
Prerequisites by Topic
  • None
Course Topics
  • U.S. Constitution, especially focusing on federalism, civil liberties, and criminal procedure
  • Branches of government (legislative, executive, judicial)
  • Public opinion, interest groups, political parties, and elections
  • Public policy
  • The news media
  • Digital citizenship
Coordinator
Dr. Katherine Wikoff


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