An Introduction to Political Science

6 ECTS credits
158 h study time

Offer 2 with catalog number 1000216AER for all students in the 1st semester at a (A) Bachelor - preliminary level.

Semester

1st semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Possible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Taught in

Dutch

Partnership Agreement

Under agreement for exchange of courses

Faculty

Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool

Department

Political Science

Educational team

Silvia Erzeel (course titular)
Eline Severs

Activities and contact hours

39 contact hours Lecture
144 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

The introduction to political science starts with the clarification of a few central concepts of the discipline.

First we define politics and political science. Then we discuss the meaning of the state and of power.
After this conceptual introduction we present the functioning of political processes from ‘input’ to ‘output’. First we look at society and at the conflicts that require political solutions and that engender political debates. We discuss the major societal cleavages and the related political ideologies. Then we look at the actors that play a role in political mobilization and participation (pressure groups, political parties). We also discuss extensively election techniques and political representation.

Next we discuss the political institutions; parliament, government, public administration, judicial system. In the last three chapters we move beyond the national state and look at territorial arrangement between and within states (federations and confederations). We present the major ideas for the study of international relations and conclude with a detailed analysis of the European Union.

Course material

Handbook (Required) : Politiek, Een inleiding in de politieke wetenschappen, Hooghe, Marc, Kris Deschouwer, Silvia Erzeel & Eline Severs, 7de, Boom, Amsterdam, 978-94-6236-196-6, 2022
Digital course material (Required) : Slides, Canvas

Additional info

Not applicable.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

The students are familiar with the specific language and methods of the scientific analysis of politics. They can recognize that language and they can use it actively. The students can therefore distinguish between opinions and ideas that are or are not based on a scientific reflection. This gives the students the basis to follow more specialized political science courses in the second and third year of the bachelor degree. For the students not continuing in political science this course gives a good idea of how this scientific discipline functions.

This introduction thus contributes to the different exit qualifications of the bachelor in political science: knowledge, skills and attitudes. In terms of knowledge students know how political institutions function and they know how political science defines and analyzes them. By explicitly pointing at the scientific character of political science this course also contributes a bit to skills political scientist need to have: learning how scientific research is done.

This introduction wants to teach the students to reflect in a critical way about given ideas and opinions, and by doing so it also contributes to attitudes described in the exit qualifications of the bachelor in political science.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Written Exam with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

The final grade is based on a 100% written exam.

The written exam consists of knowledge questions and questions that probe students' insights regarding the main political science concepts, theories, approaches and studies.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context