6 ECTS credits
155 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 1020435AER for all students in the 1st semester at a (A) Bachelor - preliminary level.
Introduction to Political Science offers a general and systematic introduction into the field of political science. Students receive a broad overview of different approaches, theories and aspects of political decision-making. Firstly a range of key concepts will be considered, including the concept of ‘politics’ itself, the nation-state and democracy. It will be demonstrated that these key concepts stimulate considerable debate among political scientists and that different views are often rooted in different ideological stances. The second part of the course devotes attention to the most important political processes (political participation, elections, ...) and to the actors intervening in these processes (citizens, social movements, political parties, ...). The third part offers a more detailed treatment of central political structures and institutions, such as legislatures, governments and bureaucracies. The final part will direct the focus to multi-level politics.
In order to reach the course objectives, students will be asked to prepare course readings in advance. Students are also expected to follow the news.
At the end of the course, students will have acquired the following competences and skills:
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 examination in which factual knowledge and critical analysis skills will be tested. Students have to prove (1) that they understand the political science concepts, theories and approaches discussed in class, and (2) that they are able to use these concepts, theories and approaches actively and apply them to current affairs.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Psychology: Profile Profile Work and Organisational Psychology (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Psychology: Profile Profile Clinical psychology (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Social Sciences: Communication Studies
Bachelor of Social Sciences: Political Sciences
Bachelor of Social Sciences: Sociology
Bachelor of Social Sciences: Startplan