Information Package / Course Catalogue
POLS 201 History of Political Thought
MEF University
Degree Programs
Business Administration
General Information For Students
Diploma SupplementErasmus Policy Statement
Business Administration
Bachelor Length of the Programme: 4 Number of Credits: 240 TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF: Level 6

Ders Genel Tanıtım Bilgileri

School/Faculty/Institute Faculty of Econ., Admin. and Social Sciences
Course Code POLS 201
Course Title in English History of Political Thought
Course Title in Turkish History of Political Thought
Language of Instruction
Type of Course Flipped Classroom
Level of Course Introductory
Semester Fall
Contact Hours per Week
Lecture: 3 Recitation: Lab: Other:
Estimated Student Workload 136 hours per semester
Number of Credits 5 ECTS
Grading Mode Standard Letter Grade
Pre-requisites None
Expected Prior Knowledge None
Co-requisites None
Registration Restrictions Only Undergraduate Students
Overall Educational Objective To learn the basic analytical skills to understand history of political thought.
Course Description This course aims to introduce undergraduate students to the history of political thought through an examination of the selections from the seminal texts of ancient as well as modern political thinkers that shaped political life over the past century. The course will ask some of the fundamental questions about human nature and political society, such as, is human nature good or bad? Why do individuals live under government? What is a just or ideal society? Under what conditions is disobedience justified? The course will address these questions by covering the following topics: polis experience in ancient Greece, the sovereign state, constitutional government, the ideas of liberalism and social contact, democracy and utilitarianism.
Course Description in Turkish Bu dersin amacı geçtiğimiz yüzyılda siyasal hayatı şekillendiren antik ve modern çağa ait politik düşünürlerin eserlerinin incelenmesi yoluyla siyasal düşünceler tarihini lisans öğrencilerine tanıtmaktır. Ders insan doğası iyi mi yoksa kötü müdür, bireyler neden devlet çatısı altında yaşar, adil ya da ideal toplum nedir, hangi koşullar altında itaatsizlik haktır gibi insan doğası ve siyasal topluma ilişkin temel soruları soracaktır. Antik Yunan şehir devletleri, egemen devlet, anayasal hükümet, liberalizm ve toplumsal sözleşme, demokrasi ve faydacılık ele alınacak konular arasındadır.

Course Learning Outcomes and Competences

Upon successful completion of the course, the learner is expected to be able to:
1) identify the major theoretical traditions and debates in Western political thought
2) describe the basic concepts that shapes political theory, such sovereignty, state, freedom, equality and rights;
3) exhibit critical skills necessary to use theoretical arguments to analyze contemporary politic
4) read and analyse theoretical and historical texts in political theory
5) analyze the basic concepts, ideas and problems relevant to the study of politics.
Program Learning Outcomes/Course Learning Outcomes 1 2 3 4 5
1) Has a broad foundation and intellectual awareness with exposure to mathematics, history, economics, and social sciences
2) Demonstrates knowledge and skills in different functional areas of business (accounting, finance, operations, marketing, strategy, and organization) and an understanding of their interactions within various industry sectors
3) Applies theoretical knowledge as well as creative, analytical, and critical thinking to manage complex technical or professional activities or projects
4) Exhibits an understanding of global, environmental, economic, legal, and regulatory contexts for business sustainability
5) Demonstrates individual and professional ethical behavior and social responsibility
6) Demonstrates responsiveness to ethnic, cultural, and gender diversity values and issues
7) Uses written and spoken English effectively (at least CEFR B2 level) to communicate information, ideas, problems, and solutions
8) Demonstrates skills in data and information acquisition, analysis, interpretation, and reporting
9) Displays computer proficiency to support problem solving and decision-making
10) Demonstrates teamwork, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills
11) Displays learning skills necessary for further study with a high degree of autonomy

Relation to Program Outcomes and Competences

N None S Supportive H Highly Related
     
Program Outcomes and Competences Level Assessed by
1) Has a broad foundation and intellectual awareness with exposure to mathematics, history, economics, and social sciences N
2) Demonstrates knowledge and skills in different functional areas of business (accounting, finance, operations, marketing, strategy, and organization) and an understanding of their interactions within various industry sectors N
3) Applies theoretical knowledge as well as creative, analytical, and critical thinking to manage complex technical or professional activities or projects N
4) Exhibits an understanding of global, environmental, economic, legal, and regulatory contexts for business sustainability N
5) Demonstrates individual and professional ethical behavior and social responsibility N
6) Demonstrates responsiveness to ethnic, cultural, and gender diversity values and issues N
7) Uses written and spoken English effectively (at least CEFR B2 level) to communicate information, ideas, problems, and solutions N
8) Demonstrates skills in data and information acquisition, analysis, interpretation, and reporting N
9) Displays computer proficiency to support problem solving and decision-making N
10) Demonstrates teamwork, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills N
11) Displays learning skills necessary for further study with a high degree of autonomy N
Prepared by and Date EVRİM GÖRMÜŞ , December 2023
Course Coordinator EVRİM GÖRMÜŞ
Semester Fall
Name of Instructor Assoc. Prof. Dr. EVRİM GÖRMÜŞ

Course Contents

Week Subject
1) Introduction: The Study of Political Thought
2) Plato, The Republic
3) Aristotle, Politics
4) Medieval and Early Modern Political Thought: Augustine, Aquinas
5) Machiavelli, The Prince
6) Hobbes, Leviathan
7) Locke, Second Treatise of Government
8) Midterm
9) Montesquieu
10) Rousseau, Social Contract
11) Tocqueville, Democracy in America
12) Utilitarianism (Jeremy Bentham)
13) Utilitarianism (John Stuart Mill)
14) Class Review
Required/Recommended ReadingsDavid Boucher and Paul Kelly (2005) Political Thinkers: From Socrates to the Present. Oxford: Oxford University Press The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, https://plato.stanford.edu/contents.html
Teaching MethodsIt would be used interactive format, combining professor lecture presentations with intense student participation and dynamic multi-media sessions.
Homework and ProjectsEach student is required to complete weekly blackboard assignments on time.
Laboratory Work
Computer Use
Other Activities
Assessment Methods
Assessment Tools Count Weight
Attendance 14 % 10
Homework Assignments 12 % 20
Midterm(s) 1 % 30
Final Examination 1 % 40
TOTAL % 100
Course Administration gormuse@mef.edu.tr
02123953600
Attendance and active participation are required. There would be no late submission and make up exam unless medical report provided Plagiarism including “the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work” and multiple submissions (submitting the same paper for more than one course) would be accepted as violation of the honor code and will be reported to the dean. Academic dishonesty and plagiarism: YÖK Disciplinary Regulation

ECTS Student Workload Estimation

Activity No/Weeks Hours Calculation
No/Weeks per Semester Preparing for the Activity Spent in the Activity Itself Completing the Activity Requirements
Course Hours 14 2 3 1 84
Homework Assignments 12 1 1 24
Midterm(s) 1 8 2 10
Final Examination 1 16 2 18
Total Workload 136
Total Workload/25 5.4
ECTS 5