INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

OFFICE HOURS

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual/Workforce Education Course Manual/NCTC Catalog)

Focus: 

Students in this class will apply what they learn about Texas governmental structure, systems and political processes to current issues and controversies. By focusing on problems and policies relevant to Texas and providing analysis of the issues in question, we will discover the connections between governmental process, problems, policies and real-world outcomes. 

Requirements:

Course goals and learning outcomes support the Foundational Component Areas defined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Course goals are linked to the respective 6 Core Curriculum Competencies: Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, Empirical and Quantitative Skills, Teamwork, Social Responsibility, and Personal Responsibility. Specific competencies are identified in designated course goals and learning outcomes.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1. Explain the origin and development of the Texas constitution.

2. Describe state and local political systems and their relationship with the federal government.

3. Describe separation of powers and checks and balances in both theory and practice in Texas.

4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Texas government.

5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties in Texas.

6. Analyze the state and local election process.

7. Identify the rights and responsibilities of citizens.

8. Analyze issues, policies, and political culture of Texas.

 Class Expectations

• Class time will consist of lecture, student presentation, class activities and discussion sessions.  Students will be expected to come to class having read the material to be covered that day and prepared to discuss said material.  
• Any requests for extensions must be communicated via email before assignment is due.
• Assignments turned in after the due date are subject to a reduction in points.
• Absences may be excused by emailing notification before the class period begins.
• Phones and other electronic devices are not to be used during class, unless with the instructor’s explicit permission. 
• All communication with professor outside of class, including submission of assignments, must be via official NCTC email. 

Grading Criteria:

Midterm Exam -- (Federalism and Texas Constitutions) --100 points (16%)

Presentation/Final -- 100 points (16%)

Paper – 100 points (16%)

3 Research/Analysis assignments (50 points each) 150 points (25%)

4 Class Activities (25 points each) 200 points (33%)

540-600 = A

480-539 = B

420-479 = C

360-419 = D

359 or below is failing.

There will be no extra credit assignments.

Scholastic dishonesty is unacceptable and is not tolerated. Actions taken by individual instructors in response to a case of scholastic dishonesty by students may include (1) assigning a zero for the paper, project, exercise or test and/or (2) requiring the student to resubmit another paper, project, or exercise or to retake the test. If the student chooses to appeal the actions taken by the instructor, the appeal should follow the normal process of an academic chain of command (department chair, academic dean, Vice President Academic Affairs).

Schedule