Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
1POLS 101Introduction to Political Science I3+0+03509.08.2026
Course Details
Language of Instruction English
Level of Course Unit Bachelor's Degree
Department / Program Political Science and Public Administration (English)
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Compulsory
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course The purpose of this course is to introduce the students with the major concepts, subjects, institutions and debates of the political science at an introductory level often with reference to its major subdisciplines. While the course is an introductory one, it is far from being so simple, contrary to what could be supposed by the freshmen, for it is designed to provide the students with a full coverage of the major subjects of concern in political science with a concise but still thick course content. Students who receive this course with its successful completion are expected to be fully prepared to continue with their more sophisticated disciplinary courses in their future semesters like comparative politics, political ideologies, party politics, national politics, international politics and so on and so forth with greater prospects of success. The course will also help students determine the route of their four years of educational journey with political science in a more academic and accurate way from their first year.
Course Content Introduction to Political Science course starts with the review of the attempts to define politics. It then moves to the subject of how to do research in political science regarding the methods used. The methodology lesson is followed by the analysis of various models suggested by some leading political scientists employed to give meaning to the political subject. This is followed by the exploration of major contemporary political ideologies like liberalism, conservatism, social democracy, nationalism and their varieties. The analysis of the institution of state is a major subject of this course discussed here with reference to its functions, faculties, types, powers and so on and so forth. Democracy as a political institution is another important subject of this course that will be examined with its specialties, types, virtues etc. that will be elaborated with the concept of political legitimacy at a later phase. The course will continue with the examination of the non-democratic type of regimes and it will end with the discussion of miscellaneous topics like globalization, political economy and political identity.
Course Methods and Techniques
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator Asist Prof.Dr. Hakan Köni
Name of Lecturers Asist Prof.Dr. Hakan Köni
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources NA
Course Notes
Heywood, Andrew. 2019. POLITICS. 5th Edition. Red Globe Press,
Documents NA
Assignments NA
Exams NA

Course Category
Mathematics and Basic Sciences %0
Engineering %0
Engineering Design %0
Social Sciences %100
Education %0
Science %0
Health %0
Field %0

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Mid-terms 1 % 40
Attendance 1 % 10
Final examination 1 % 50
Total
3
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 14 3 42
Hours for off-the-c.r.stud 14 5,5 77
Mid-terms 1 14 14
Final examination 1 18 18
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 5,03333333333333 151

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 The student knows the basic concepts, approaches and models in Political Science.
2 The student knows political dieologies like liberalism, conservatism, nationalism and social democracy.
3 The student knows such leading institutions of political life as the state, democracy, political regime with regard to their characteristics, functions and different types.

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Defining Politics Chapter 1, Heywood, Andrew. 2019. POLITICS. 5th Edition. Red Globe Press,
2 Approaches to the Study of Politics Chapter 1, Heywood, Andrew. 2019. POLITICS. 5th Edition. Red Globe Press,
3 Concepts, Models and Theories of Politics Chapter 1, Heywood, Andrew. 2019. POLITICS. 5th Edition. Red Globe Press,
4 Political Ideologies I Chapter 2, Heywood, Andrew. 2019. Politics. 5th ed. London, England: Red Globe Press.
5 Political Ideologies II Chapter 2 and Chapter 6, Heywood, Andrew. 2019. Politics. 5th ed. London, England: Red Globe Press.
6 State I Chapter 3, Heywood, Andrew. 2019. Politics. 5th ed. London, England: Red Globe Press.
7 State II Chapter 3, Heywood, Andrew. 2019. POLITICS. 5th Edition. Red Globe Press,
8 Midterm Exam Chapters 1-3 Heywood, Andrew. 2019. POLITICS. 5th Edition. Red Globe Press,
9 Democracy and Legitimacy I Chapter 4, Heywood, Andrew. 2019. POLITICS. 5th Edition. Red Globe Press,
10 Democracy and Legitimacy II Chapter 4, Heywood, Andrew. 2019. POLITICS. 5th Edition. Red Globe Press,
11 Political Regimes I Chapter 5, Heywood, Andrew. 2019. POLITICS. 5th Edition. Red Globe Press,
12 Political Regimes II Chapter 5, Heywood, Andrew. 2019. POLITICS. 5th Edition. Red Globe Press,
13 Political Economy and Globalization Chapter 7, Heywood, Andrew. 2019. POLITICS. 5th Edition. Red Globe Press,
14 Politics, Society and Identity Chapter 8, Heywood, Andrew. 2019. Politics. 5th ed. London, England: Red Globe Press.
15 Final Exam Chapters 4-8, Heywood, Andrew. 2019. Politics. 5th ed. London, England: Red Globe Press.

 
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10
All 5 3 5 3 5 3 5 4 4 4
C1 5 3 4 4 5 3 5 4 4 4
C2 5 3 5 3 5 3 5 4 4 4
C3 5 4 5 3 5 3 5 4 4 5

  Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant