POL-111 Introduction to Political Science introduces students to the foundational concepts, methods, and vocabulary of political science as an academic discipline, establishing the groundwork for SNHU's subsequent BA Political Science coursework including American Politics (POL-210) and US Government and Contemporary Issues (POL-327). The course requires no prerequisites and functions as the genuine entry point into the political science major.
Political science as a genuine academic discipline with its own methods
The course introduces political science's specific analytical methods and vocabulary, distinguishing the discipline's systematic study of political systems from casual political opinion or commentary.
A genuine foundation for the full BA sequence
POL-111 establishes the conceptual groundwork that the entire political science major sequence — American Politics, contemporary issues analysis, research methods, capstone — assumes students already possess.
Key topics in POL111
- Foundational political science concepts
- Political science methodology
- Political systems vocabulary
- Introduction to political analysis
- Foundations for the political science major
- Distinguishing political science from political commentary
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Worked example: systematic analysis versus casual opinion
- Casual political commentary: Forming opinions about a political event based on personal reaction alone
- POL-111's systematic approach: Analyzing that same event using political science's specific methods and vocabulary
- Lesson: POL-111 teaches that genuine political science analysis requires this systematic, disciplined approach, not casual political opinion
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Frequently asked questions
Political science as an academic discipline uses systematic analytical frameworks and specific terminology that differ genuinely from everyday political commentary or opinion, and students need this foundational vocabulary and methodology before they can engage credibly with more specialized coursework analyzing specific political systems or contemporary issues. POL-111 builds this foundation first because subsequent courses assume this shared analytical framework is already in place.
American Politics (POL-210) and subsequent courses assume students already understand political science's basic analytical concepts and methods, and starting directly with a more specialized course would leave students without this foundational framework needed to engage with more advanced political analysis. POL-111's position as the entry point ensures every political science major shares this common analytical foundation before moving into more specialized coursework.