Description
The course Introduction to Political Science provides a general but systematic overview of the theoretical approaches, research designs, and research methods used in political science to study politics. It serves as the first introductory course to the science behind political science. The course serves as the foundation for later first-year and second-year science-oriented courses such as research methods, statistics, qualitative methods, research design, and data analysis, cumulating in students’ ability to design and conduct independent research in the final phase of the political science bachelor.
Some important questions the course addresses are: what is political science? What do political scientists do? What is a theory and what is it good for? What are the various theoretical approaches (including normative, behaviouralist, institutionalist, rational choice, political psychology, constructivist, feminist, and Marxist approaches) used by political scientists? What are the strengths and weaknesses of these theoretical approaches? What are important considerations when it comes to the research designs and the selection of methods used for answering theoretically informed questions about politics? What is, or should be, the societal relevance of political science?
The course also includes academic skills working groups in which students learn to analyze, critically assess, develop, and present arguments both academic and non-academic arguments, with the aim of writing an argumentative piece based on an academic debate within political science.
Course objectives
- To provide a general but systematic overview of the most important theoretical approaches, research designs and research methods used in political science.
- To develop the ability to compare, and reflect on, the most important theoretical approaches, research designs and research methods in political science.
- To acquire the skill to analyze and evaluate arguments.
- To acquire the skill to develop a good argument themselves and to present arguments properly both orally and written.
Schedule
The timetables are available through MyTimetable (see the button in the upper right corner).
Teaching method
Lectures
Assessment method
Final exam (all open questions), worth 100% of the final course grade.
Resit, review & feedback
The time and location of inspection and debriefing of the final exam will be announced via Brightspace no later than the publication of the grades.
Reading list
Lowndes, V., March, D., & Stocker, G. (eds.). (2018). Theory and Methods in Political Science (fourth edition). Palgrave MacMillan. (also available for purchase as e-book).
A selection of journal articles and/or book chapters, available from the digital library of the University (listed in the syllabus which will be posted on Brightspace prior to the start of the course).
Registration
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website (https://www.student.universiteitleiden.nl/en/your-study-programme/courses-and-exams/enrolment/social-and-behavioural-sciences/international-relations-and-organisations-bsc?cd=international-relations-and-organisations-bsc&cf=social-and-behavioural-sciences#tab-1).
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer(s) (listed in the right information bar). For questions about enrolment, contact the Student Services Centre: ssc@leiden.edu.