THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO
POL 1133Q TEXAS POLITICS AND SOCIETY
Instructor: Ward S. Albro, Ph.D.
Class Sections and Hours: Section 002, 8:30-9:45 MW in MH2.01.40 and Section 003, 10-11:15 MW in UC2.02.02
Office and Office Hours: MS4-03-18 at 7:30-8:15 and 11:15-Noon MW and other times by appointment
Email: via Blackboard Learn or ward.albro@utsa.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course involves the analysis of Texas government institutions, political behaviors, civic engagement, and their political and philosophical foundations. Topics may include discussions of the Texas and U.S. Constitutions; the role of the state and federal system; the diverse demographic, economic, and cultural bases of state politics; elections, interest groups, and elites; and legislative, executive, judicial, urban, and county politics. Considerable time is devoted to thinking about how those components fit together, and how they shape the nature and importance of citizenship and civic engagement in Texas.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this course students should be able to: 1. Explain the origin and development of constitutional democracy in Texas. 2. Demonstrate an understanding of our federal system and how it impacts Texas. 3. Describe separation of powers as well as checks and balances in both theory and practice. 4. Demonstrate knowledge of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of our state. 5. Evaluate the role of public opinion, interest groups, and political parties. 6. Analyze and understand the election process. 7. Describe the rights and responsibilities of citizens. 8. Analyze issues and policies in Texas politics and government.
TEXT BOOK & COURSE MATERIALS
Textbook: Practicing Texas Politics by Brown et al. UTSA custiom book
Online Material: Mindtap online learning tool (access with purchase of e-book)
How to purchase the book and materials ***you can find your course key in your Blackboard Learn***
Option 1. Students can go to the UTSA bookstore to purchase eBook and accompanying materials. The bookstore offers the following: eBook and material access code, or eBook and material access code with bundled hardcopy of book.
Option 2. Students can go to the book publishers website and purchase eBook and accompanying materials. The publishers website offers the following: eBook and material access code, or eBook and material access code with printed text book. Students can also request a free rental of the hardcopy book from this website with the purchase of the eBook and material access code; the student must return the book to the publisher at the end of the semester or pay for the hardcopy book.
Note: this is a custom e-book/Mindtap site designed for UTSA POL 1133 classes. The online material is mandatory and cannot be assessed unless students purchase the material using option 1 or 2.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
There will be three examinations and a final exam, which is not comprehensive. Schedule of exams and textbook assignments for each exam are included in the Daily Plan at the end of this syllabus. Exams are objective in nature and are valued at 15% for the first three exams and the final is valued at 20%
Mindtap assignments are valued 15% of the final grade. The assignments are as follows: Chapter 1-6 – due by October 13, 2014 Chapters 7-11 – due by December 1, 2014
Core paper assignment is valued at 10% of the final grade and is due on Blackboard SafeAssign by October 6, 2014
Q assignment is valued at 10% of the final grade is due on Balckboard SafeAssign by October 27, 2014
This course will not use a plus/minus grading system.
COURSE POLICIES
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): UTSA is committed to providing students, faculty, staff, and visitors access to all university programs, activities, and facilities in accordance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008. If you need an accommodation, contact Loraine Harrison at 458-4157. http://utsa.edu/disability/students.htm
Academic Integrity: Students who engage in academic misconduct are subject to disciplinary procedures. Forms of Academic Dishonesty: 1. Cheating: deception in which student misrepresents that he or she has mastered information on an academic exercise or exam that he or she has not mastered and/or giving or receiving aid unauthorized by the instructor on assignments or examinations. 2. Academic misconduct: tampering with grades or taking part in obtaining or distributing any part of a scheduled test. 3. Fabrication: use of invented information or falsified research. 4. Plagiarism: unacknowledged quotation and/or paraphrase of someone else’s words, ideas, or data as one’s own in work submitted for credit. Failure to identify information or essays from the internet and submitting them as one’s work also constitutes plagiarism.
Penalties for academic misconduct range from receiving a failing grade to expulsion. For additional information see the UTSA student handbook, http://www.utsa.edu/inforguide/appendices/b.html.
I encourage you to use the academic support services available to you through the Tomás Rivera Center (TRC) to assist you with building study skills and tutoring in course content. These services are available at no additional cost to you. The TRC has several locations at the Main Campus and is also located at the Downtown Campus. For more information, visit the web site at www.utsa.edu/trcss or call (210) 458-2838 ON THE Downtown Campus.
UTSA Roadrunner Creed
The University of Texas at San Antonio is a community of scholars, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration, and innovation are fostered. As a Roadrunner, I will:
Uphold the highest standards of academic and personal integrity by practicing and expecting fair and ethical conduct; Respect and accept individual differences, recognizing inherent dignity of each person; Contribute to campus life and the larger community thorough my active engagement; and Support the fearless exploration of dreams and ideas in the advancement of ingenuity, creativity, and discovery.
Guided by these principles now and forever, I am a Roadrunner!
The University of Texas at San Antonio Academic Honor Code A. Preamble: The University of Texas at San Antonio community of past, present and future students, faculty, staff, and administrators share a commitment to integrity and the ethical pursuit of knowledge. We honor the traditions of our university by conducting ourselves with a steadfast duty to honor, courage, and virtue in all matters both public and private. By choosing integrity and responsibility, we promote personal growth, success, and lifelong learning for the advancement of ourselves, our university, and our community. B. Honor Pledge: In support of the ideals of integrity, the students of the University of Texas at San Antonio pledge: “As a UTSA Roadrunner I live with honor and integrity.” C. Shared Responsibility: The University of Texas at San Antonio community shares the responsibility and commitment to integrity and the ethical pursuit of knowledge and adheres to the UTSA Honor Code.
DAILY PLAN AND IMPORTANT DATES
All readings based on Brown, et al, Practicing Texas Politics, 2013-2014 Edition. Other assignments on Blackboard Learn
August 27 – Introduction
September 1 – Labor Day Holiday
September 3 and 8 – Chapter One
September 10 and 15 – Chapter Two
September 17 and 22 – Chapter Three and Review
September 24 – Exam 1
September 29 and October 1 – Chapter Four
October 6 – Core Paper Due
October 6 and 8 – Chapter Five
October 13 – Mindtap Assignments – Chapters 1-6 Due
October 13 and 15 – Chapter Six
October 17 – Midterm Grades Due
October 20 – Review
October 22 – Exam 2
October 27 – Q Assignment Due
October 27 and 29 - Chapter Seven
November 3 and 5 – Chapter Eight
November 10 and 12 - Review
November 17 – Exam 3
November 19 and 24 – Chapter Nine
November 26 – Chapter Ten
November 27 and 28 – Thanksgiving Vacation
December 1 – Mindtap Assignments – Chapters 7-11 Due
December 1 – Chapter Ten
December 3 and 8 – Chapter Eleven
December 10 – Review
December 16 – Final for Section 002 from 7-9:30 a.m.
December 17 – Final for Section 003 from 7-9:30 a.m.
