Syllabus

ÖS0004 Political Science A, 30.0 Credits

Subjects

Education cycle

Modules

Advanced study in the main field

Grading scale

Language

Prior knowledge

Objectives

On completion of the A course in Political Science the students are expected to:

Be able to present and discuss:

• the central problems in political theory
• the political government, public administration and the main features of the political life in Sweden and other countries;
• variations in political participation;
• the political problems of the developing countries and new democracies;
• the development of international politics during the 20th and 21st centuries;
• the development of the European Union and the role of Sweden in the international arena.

Students are expected to participate actively and independently in seminar discussions and make short presentations in a seminar setting. They are also expected to produce written course papers that deal with defined research problems and in connection to that:

• practice the application of a scientific approach to sources and source material;
• understand the value of, and bases for, good argumentation;
• be able to distinguish between theoretical literature and empirical findings;
• be able to separate personal opinions from independent conclusions drawn from the source material;
• be familiar with the basics of source referencing.

The course is primarily based on textbooks and shorter scientific texts. The intention is to give the students an introduction to different fields of political science and to present some of the research methods used. Considerable weight is placed on making the students realize the meaning of independent and critical thinking, and equip them with the necessary tools to evaluate conclusions and arguments. Students will also practice skills as part of the course, chiefly through the writing of course papers. In the seminars the student will be given the opportunity to practice speaking and argumentative skills which are further developed within courses at more advanced levels.

Political Theory 7.0 credits

Learning Outcomes

The aim of the course is to make students acquainted with some elements of political thought and political theory. The student is to acquire the capacity to interpret and assess political ideas in an independent manner, in some cases through the reading of classic sources. On the one hand, the purpose is to try to understand what may appear strange (or insidiously familiar); on the other hand, we aim to judge the truth and fecundity of the texts and arguments that we encounter.

Swedish and Comparative Politics 9.0 credits

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course the students are expected to:

• Explain basic concepts, theories and methods regarding the state’s structure, division of power, democratization processes, political parties, political participation and political culture.
• Explain basic empirical facts regarding Swedish political history, the Swedish political system, the EU’s institutions, democratization processes, political parties, political participation and political culture.
• Apply central theories and concepts within the framework of the course’s themes to concrete empirical cases.
• Formulate relevant research questions based on central perspectives within the framework of the course’s themes.
• Produce short analytical texts with a self-chosen focus.
• Critically evaluate and review academic texts.
• Formulate constructive criticism of fellow students’ PMs. 

Public Administration 7.0 credits

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course the students are expected to:

• understand the role and function of the public administration;
• have an extended comprehension of central characteristics of the Swedish public administration, i.e. have acquired a thorough familiarity of the organisation of the public administration;
• understand the rise, organisation and significance of the Swedish Welfare state,
• be able to interpret and apply public administration concepts, ideas, and notions on political processes and developments;
• be able to problematise the relationship between power and responsibility within the public administration;
• have a basic understanding of how to apply a critical perspective on the study of politics and administration.

International Politics 7.0 credits

Upon completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• account for central classical and critical theoretical perspectives within international politics,
• describe central thematic areas and processes within international politics, such as international cooperation and security,
• account for EU's foreign policy and its role in the world.

Skills and Abilities

• apply central classical and critical theoretical perspectives in international politics on concrete cases,
• formulate relevant research problems using central theoretical perspectives in international politics.

Judgement and approach

• critically evaluate different theoretical perspectives in international politics by comparing and setting different theoretical perspectives against each other.

Content

The course consists of four sub-courses: Political Theory, Swedish and Comparative Politics, Public Administration, and International Politics.

Course implementation

The teaching consists of lectures, seminars and the writing of course papers. Questions to be discussed, should be prepared for the seminar meetings by the students. Active participation in seminars is required. Grading is based on the student's ability to reason about relevant problems from the course literature, the lectures and the discussions in the seminar.

Additional information regarding instruction and examination will be handed out before each sub-course.

Political Theory 7.0 credits

Subject content

The course is structured by a series of lectures on political thought from Antiquity to the modern age. During the lectures, the students will encounter important political and theoretical traditions and thinkers that have shaped our understanding of the things that are considered important in political theory. In this context, some fundamental political concepts are introduced, such as state, society, political obligation, virtue, constitutionalism, democracy, liberty, justice and dignity. The lectures are intended to serve as an invitation to the students to engage and address the classic ideas and texts of political theory. Some of these are given particular attention. It must also be emphasised that the lectures provide guidelines to how one is to read the literature and deal with the seminar assignments.

The most important element of the course is to be found in the seminars and in the writing of a short scholarly text, a memo. During the seminars, the students have the task to reflect on and evaluate ideas that are not their own. This implies that the history of political thought and the interpretation of this tradition on the one hand, and normative judgements about right and wrong in political and moral issues on the other hand, are considered to belong together. The students are supposed to transcend their own horizon by trying to understand and defend different political ideas that are developed in the required reading.

Instruction

The course consists of lectures, two lessons and seminars; the students prepare the lessons and the two first seminars by reading all of the required literature and reflecting on the questions that they are assigned. The students are expected to bring the literature to the seminars and to be able to look up the relevant passages that are under discussion. At a third seminar, the group discusses each student's memo.

Swedish and Comparative Politics 9.0 credits

Subject content

This course adopts a comparative perspective on politics and political systems. The course covers political institutions, both formal and informal, and how power is divided between different institutions, the state’s structure, political parties, political culture and political participation. Emphasis is placed on Swedish political history and the Swedish political system. Through lectures, orientation is given on basic concepts, theories, and methods, and through active participation in seminar discussions, the students are given the opportunity to develop their ability for self-analysis and reflection.

Instruction

Lectures and seminars support the student’s reading. The lectures cover the course’s central elements and put the selected course literature in its context. By writing a memo (PM), the students also get the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of one of the course’s elements. At the seminars, the students discuss issues related to the sub-course’s central themes.

Public Administration 7.0 credits

Subject content

Public administration policy is entails ideas and measures directed towards the organisation and working methods of the public sector. During the course some of these measures will be presented and discussed. The point of departure is that the success or failure of public administration policies has a decisive significance on the preparation and carrying out of other policy programs and reforms. Hence, the central focus is on classical problems within political science such as the organisation of government. Linked to this there will also be a discussion on the idea and organisation of the Swedish welfare state.The literature mainly deals with the Swedish case, but international contrasts will be made during the course.

Instruction

The teaching consists of lectures, seminars and the writing of a short paper. The lectures focus the central themes of the course, and contextualise selected elements of the course literature. An interactive response system is utilized in order to encourage student activity during the lectures which necessitates a tablet, smartphone or computer during the lectures. At the seminars the students are expected to have prepared answers to the questions to be discussed. For the third seminar meeting, a paper should be submitted and subsequently discussed during the seminar. Please note that in this course the papers for the third seminar should be written in pairs. Language of instruction is Swedish.

International Politics 7.0 credits

Subject content

See the course syllabus in Swedish.

Instruction

The instruction for this course consists of lectures and seminars. The lectures address the central themes and theories in the course, and insert the course literature in its context. At the seminars the students discuss issues related to the sub-course's main theme.

Course implementation

The teaching consists of lectures, seminars and the writing of course papers. Questions to be discussed, should be prepared for the seminar meetings by the students. Active participation in seminars is required. Grading is based on the student's ability to reason about relevant problems from the course literature, the lectures and the discussions in the seminar.

Additional information regarding instruction and examination will be handed out before each sub-course.

Grading form

Formats and requirements for examination

The students are assessed by means of written exams, participation at seminars and short papers. Grades are awarded according the scale Fail (U) - 3 - 4 - 5. If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Political Theory 7.0 credits

Assessment

The student needs to pass the written exam (4 hp), take part in the seminars in an active manner, and pass the group assignment for the lessons as well as the course paper written for the third seminar (3 hp). In order to pass the course paper, the student needs to make an argument about issues pertaining to principles and problems of interpretation based on the literature, the lectures and the seminars - in an independent manner, yet avoiding the pitfall of mere opinion.

Grades awarded for the examination: Fail (U) - 3 - 4 - 5.

Swedish and Comparative Politics 9.0 credits

Assessment

The course is assessed through active participation in seminars, co-writing of a course memo (PM) related to the course literature (4.5 credits) and a written exam (4.5 credits).

A two-grade scale is applied to grade the seminars and the PM assignment (Fail, Pass). For a pass, active participation in the seminars is required. For exam grading, a four-grade scale is applied: Fail (U) - 3 - 4 - 5.

Public Administration 7.0 credits

Assessment

The students are examined by means of a written exam (4 hp), participation at seminars and a short paper (3 hp) for the last seminar.

Grades awarded for the seminars (including the written paper): Fail (U) - Pass (G). Grades awarded for the written exam: Fail (U) - 3 - 4 - 5.

International Politics 7.0 credits

Assessment

Active participation in the seminars is required. The students are required to write a short paper (3 hp). Grades awarded for the seminars are Fail (U) and Pass (G). At the end of the course students sit a written examination.

Written examination (4 hp): The written examination serves as basis for grading and an opportunity for students to revise the content of the course. Grades awarded for the written examination: Fail (U) - 3 - 4 - 5.

• If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.

• The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.

• If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.

• For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Other information

• The right to participate in teaching and/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.

• If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.

Additional information

Responsible department

Department of Economics