Mastery of Content

Students should develop a broad conception of the realm of the political. They should recognize and be able to explain how and why politics is broader than government and those "political" processes directly involved in the selection of office holders and the making of policy.

Students should develop a sophisticated conception of power. Students should be able to compare political phenomena and governmental institutions in different settings.

Students should develop a sophisticated conception of democracy and other forms of government. Students should be able to analyze the ways in which American political institutions and processes operate.

Students should develop an understanding of and appreciation for the ideas that have shaped and motivated political action.

Articulate Communication

Students should be able to articulate reasoned, well-organized, and coherent explanations of political issues and support them with evidence, in both speaking and writing.

Students should be able to produce a written product of independent research.

Development of a Service-oriented, Socially-Responsible Value and Ethical Framework

Students should develop a sophisticated and elaborated conception of justice. They should be able to identify and articulate alternative conceptions of justice, identify and describe situations in which justice concerns arise, and take a position about the meaning or demands of justice and justify that position.

Students should develop an individual awareness of normative issues including the centrality of values to political attitudes and behavior.

Critical and Creative Thinking

Students should be able to assess the evidence offered in support of a political statement. Students should be able to draw on a variety of theoretical perspectives to develop and evaluate alternative explanations for political phenomena.

Students should be able to collect and organize various forms of information to develop and assess statements or hypotheses about political questions.