Associate of Science | 61 credits minimum
History, Anthropology and Political Science Division
Taylorsville Redwood Campus AAB 165
Associate Dean Marianne McKnight, AAB 165Q, 801-957-4547
Administrative Assistant Laura Rice, AAB 165, 801-957-4307
General Information 801-957-4073
Program Website
Academic and Career Advising
Program Faculty
Professors − Shari Sowards
Associate Professors − Joshua Gold
Program Description
Political Science prepares students to understand and participate in the processes whereby policies are made in local, state, national and international political systems. Students learn the factual and theoretical ways in which governmental and non-governmental actors interact. In the process, students develop analytical and communication skills.
Political Science courses are an essential part of a liberal arts education because many disciplines come together in political analysis. Moreover, political science courses are useful in a variety of majors such as history, sociology, pre-law, business, public administration, economics, education and international studies. Students who would like hands-on experience in the political realm may sign up for an internship administered by the Political Science Department. SLCC students have interned in Washington D.C. and Salt Lake City, volunteered on political campaigns, conducted exit polls, hosted a variety of national and local political figures and participated in nationwide foreign policy simulations.
Transfer/Articulation Information
Students should check with the department or academic advisor to determine which courses are transferable to other colleges within the Utah System of Higher Education. Admission into a major program at a transfer institution depends upon the receiving institution’s requirements for that major. Some major programs are restricted and require special application as well as a competitive GPA. See an academic advisor at both SLCC and the intended receiving institution for specific articulation information.
Estimated Cost for Students
Tuition and student fees: http://www.slcc.edu/student/financial/tuition-fees.aspx
Estimated Time to Completion
If students follow suggested sample schedule, completion time is four semesters.
| Program Student Learning Outcomes |
Related College-Wide Student Learning Outcomes |
| |
1 - Acquire substantive knowledge
2 - Communicate effectively
3 - Develop quantitative literacies
4 - Think critically & creatively
5 - Become a community engaged learner
6 - Work in professional & constructive manner
7 - Develop computer & information literacy |
| Demonstrate they have acquired basic knowledge regarding 1) the founding of the U.S government and the development of American political institutions; 2) the meaning and implications of participatory democracy; 3) two of the following three areas of specialization: International Relations, Comparative Politics, Political Ideologies/theory |
1, 2 |
| Speak and write effectively about U.S institutions and the American political process |
2 |
| Assess how political institutions emerge, how they operate, how they interact with their external environment, and how they shape individual and collective behavior |
1, 2, 4 |
| Identify the different approaches to the study of politics and be able to apply these to contemporary political problems and political behavior |
1, 2, 4 |
| Identify, formulate and construct logical arguments about political phenomena and evaluate these through empirical and theoretical methods |
1, 2, 4 |
| Analyze and contextualize primary source documents |
4 |
| Interpret and use information represented as data, graphs, and tables to analyze political behavior, public policy, the historical development of the U. S. political system or modern political ideologies, and/or other topics in Political Science |
3 |
| Demonstrate information literacy as they 1) sort and weigh the value of various perspectives to inform their own conclusions; 2) find and use credible sources in course work and provide appropriate attribution. |
7 |
