CURRICULUM PROPOSAL FORM #2
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER
CHANGE IN A DEGREE, MAJOR, OR SUBMAJOR

 Check Exactly One:
 

Change in:   Degree
x 
 Major   Submajor
Deletion of:       Major   Submajor

Total Number of Credits in Program:
(if "change in" is checked - even if credits remain the same)
 

54 
 Before Change  
54 
 After Change
Program Title: 
 Political Science BSE (Social Studies – Broadfield Political Science II Emphasis)
   
Sponsor(s): 
 Susan Johnson
Department(s):
 Political Science
College(s):
 Letters and Sciences
   
Other Programs Affected:
 None
   
Effective Term:
 Fall 2000

Submit the following:

  1. Exact description of request


    2. Categorize American Political Parties and Elections (820-319) as an Area I (American Government) course within the Political Science Major. This is a new course that completed the curricular process during Fall 1999. It will become one of the 12 courses that students may complete to fulfill the American Government – Area I requirement for Political Science Majors.
     

  2. Relationship to mission and strategic plan of institution, and/or College/Department goals and objectives


    3. Relationship to Political Science Program Objective
    This course will provide for students the theoretical background that will allow them to analyze and interpret American political trends well beyond their time at UW-Whitewater and enhance their ability to think critically about American politics and the operations of government. The objectives of the course are (1) Students will develop a knowledge of the American political process and the major actors in that process; (2) Students will acquire analytical skills necessary for the analysis of the American political process, including how and why American political parties act as they do, the impact of elections on the governing process, and how groups like the media and interest groups affect the political process; (3) Students will have the ability to transfer the knowledge gained in the course to an analysis of political events that may occur at a later time.

    The Course Objectives meet the Political Science Program Objectives in several ways. Course Objectives 1 and 2 meet the Department Subject Objectives 1 ("All Majors will have an understanding of the American Political System including a knowledge of . . . the role of parties and groups") and 3b ("All Majors will have an understanding of the breadth of knowledge of the discipline of political science including" the area of "American Government and Politics"). Course Objective 2 also meets Department Cognitive Development Objective 1 ("All Majors will have acquired the analytical skills needed for the analysis of political phenomena"). The Department Cognitive Development Objective 1 is also met by Course Objective 3.
     

  3. Rationale


    4. This course on American Political Parties and Elections clearly fits in with the other courses in Area I – American Government and meets the Objectives of Area I.
     

  4. Cost implications


    5. There is no cost implication for making this course, which is already in existence, into an Area I course.