SJSC 3320 - Power, Policy, and Justice

Goals: Understanding the role of power in social and political identities, relationships and political institutions across time and space, with particular emphasis on the US context.

Content: Specific content will focus on the social causes and consequences associated with the exercise of power. The subjects of study range from the very micro (political psychology and the nature of political attitudes) to the very macro (the processes of globalization). Though students may have strong affinities with one or more political perspectives, we will not be adjudicating the claims associated with those perspectives or “deciding who is right.” Rather, we’ll be spending our time in the course characterizing the nature of power and politics in our social world. This course is a survey, and as such is not meant to be exhaustive. Several issues of interest may be beyond the scope of this course, but an effort will be made to incorporate topics of interest to the students as well as issues that may be timely and “in the news.”

Prerequisite: SJSC 1100 or SJSC 1110 with a grade of C- or better

Credits: 4