Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
3POLS 201History of Political Thought3+0+03527.10.2026
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 To learn the origins of important concepts and ideas discussed in the disciplines of political science and international relations in the light of the ideas of important philosophers and thinkers who have a place in the history of political thought.
Course Content Within the scope of the course, the ideas of important philosophers who have a place in the history of political thought from Ancient Greece to the modern ages and their contributions to the disciplines of political science and international relations will be discussed.
Course Methods and Techniques
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Dr. Didem Dutlu Yazıcıol didem.dutlu@ankarabilim.edu.tr
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources Ebenstein, W.; Ebenstein, A. (2000) (6th ed.) Great Political Thinkers: Plato to the Present, US: Wadsworth.
Course Notes Klosko, George (2012). History of Political Theory: An Introduction Volume I: Ancient and Medieval
Cornford, F. M. (1958). Before and After Socrates. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2023

Course Category
Social Sciences %100

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 % 30
Assignment 5 % 20
Final examination 1 % 50
Total
7
% 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 4 56
Assignments 5 5 25
Mid-terms 1 10 10
Final examination 1 17 17
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 5 150

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 To have knowledge about political thoughts
2 To apprehend the historicity of political ideas
3 To understand the changes of political thoughts in the historical process
4 To learn the historical and philosophical origins of various concepts used in Political Science

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Introduction
2 Political Thought in Ancient Greece (Socrates, Plato and Aristotle)
3 Epicureanism and Stoicism
4 Roman Political Thought
5 Christian Political Thought: St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas
6 Machiavelli and Modern Political Philosophy
7 Political Thought in the Renaissance and Reformation Periods
8 Mid-Term Exam
9 Jean Bodin and Thomas Hobbes
10 Baruch Spinoza and John Locke
11 Age of Enlightenment: J.J. Rousseau, Montesquieu, Kant
12 Marx and Marxism
13 Political Philosophy and International Relations Theories: Idealism
14 Political Philosophy and International Relations Theories: Realism
15 Final Exam

 
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10
All 5 4 4 2 5 3 4 3 2 4
C1 5 4 5 3 5 3 4 3 3 4
C2 4 3 3 2 4 3 4 3 2 3
C3 4 4 4 2 4 3 4 3 2 4
C4 4 4 4 2 5 4 4 3 3 4

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