PSC 211: 01 11:30‐12:45 WRI C301 Syllabus PSC 211 001 12731 COMPARATIVE GOV/POLITICS 3 MW 11:30 AM-12:45 PM WRI C301 Pizor Instructor: Peter Pizor, Ph.D. Part‐Time Instructor WRI A216 (702) 895‐1498 [email protected] Office hours: Monday and Wednesday 9:45‐‐11:15 AM and by appointment Course Description Comparative politics is one of the broadest fields of political science. In this field, one addresses issues related to, for example, political institutions, political culture, political economy, and political development in countries across the world. Although some associate comparative politics with “the comparative method,” those conducting research in the area of comparative politics use a multitude of methodologies and pursue diverse topics. In this course, students will gain an understanding of some of the basic concepts and tools employed in comparative politics. Students will learn about some of the contemporary topics in comparative politics such as political institutions, political development and democratization. In addition, students will become familiar with the political systems and issues of specific countries. Course Requirements Required Texts and Reading: James N. Danziger. 2009. Understanding the Political World: A Comparative Introduction to Political Science. Ninth Edition. Pearson Longman. Handouts and supplemental readings will be posted on Web Campus. Grades This course will include 3 hourly examinations; they will be equally weighted. Attendance, Participation and General Expectations Attendance: Required. Missing 5 or more classes may result in a point reduction for the course. Participation in class discussions is strongly encouraged. Of course, participation should be constructive, and all comments should be relevant to the material being covered in class. Students must do all of the reading! Respect should be shown for all other class members at all times. Inappropriate and disruptive participation/behavior will result in a drop in the student’s grade and perhaps even expulsion from the class. If you are habitually late, the attendance portion of your course grade will be marked down substantially. Students are expected to attend class regularly, arrive promptly and have a collegial demeanor. Students are not allowed to sleep, read newspapers, listen to headphones, or talk to others during class. Arriving late, leaving early, or interrupting class with a cell phone or other electronic device will also result in a drop in the student’s grade. Engaging in these behaviors will result in a drop in the student’s grade and perhaps even expulsion from the class. You must turn off all cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices during class. Any exceptions must be cleared with me in advance. If you look at your cell phone during a quiz or exam, you will receive a zero for that quiz or exam. Students are not allowed to tape record, photograph, video tape or otherwise electronically record any of the class. I reserve the right to modify the course syllabus. Students will be responsible for knowing any changes made to the syllabus during class time whether they were in attendance or not. The instructor’s lecture notes are not available to students; it is the student’s responsibility to obtain class notes from a classmate, should class be missed. The Disability Resource Center (DRC) coordinates all academic accommodations for students with documented disabilities. The DRC is the official office to review and house disability documentation for students, and to provide them with an official Academic Accommodation Plan to present to the faculty if an accommodation is warranted. Faculty should not provide students accommodations without being in receipt of this plan. UNLV complies with the provisions set forth in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, offering reasonable accommodations to qualified students with documented disabilities. If you have a documented disability that may require accommodations, you will need to contact the DRC for the coordination of services. The DRC is located in the Student Services Complex (SSC), Room 137, and the contact numbers are: VOICE (702) 895‐0866, TTY (702) 895‐0652, FAX (702) 895‐0651. For additional information, please visit: <http://studentlife.unlv.edu/disability/>. Academic Honesty: Academic integrity is a legitimate concern for every member of the campus community; all share in upholding the fundamental values of honesty, trust, respect, fairness, responsibility and professionalism. By choosing to join the UNLV community, students accept the expectations of the Academic Misconduct Policy and are encouraged when faced with choices to always take the ethical path. Students enrolling in UNLV assume the obligation to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with UNLV’s function as an educational institution. An example of academic misconduct is plagiarism: “Using the words or ideas of another, from the internet or any source, without proper citation of the sources.” See the “Student Academic Misconduct Policy” (approved December 9, 2005, located at <http://studentlife.unlv.edu/judicial/misconductPolicy.html>). All breaches in academic honesty will be handled in accordance with the UNLV Student Conduct Code and Policies. The University requires all members of the University Community to familiarize themselves and to follow copyright and fair use requirements. YOU ARE INDIVIDUALLY AND SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR VIOLATIONS OF COPYRIGHT AND FAIR USE LAWS. THE UNIVERSITY WILL NEITHER PROTECT NOR DEFEND YOU NOR ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR EMPLOYEE OR STUDENT VIOLATIONS OF FAIR USE LAWS. Violations of copyright laws could subject you to federal and state civil penalties and criminal liability, as well as disciplinary action under University policies. To familiarize yourself with copyright and fair use policies, you are encouraged to visit the following website: <http://www.unlv.edu/committees/copyright/>. Why you should take this class? This class introduces the fundamental concepts underlying the international system, satisfies the foreign culture requirement, and serves as a foundation for advanced work in political science. It