POSC 305 - Public Opinion and American Politics

4 Hour(s) Credit
In a democracy, the views of citizens are expected to guide government activity and the creation of public policy. That makes public opinion a central concern in the study of democratic politics. Endeavor to answer a variety of questions related to U.S. public opinion: Where do political attitudes come from? How much do people really know about politics anyway? Attempt to answer these fascinating questions using the results of scientific studies and personal insights. Explore the landscape of opinion on a variety of political topics. Explore what the public thinks about these issues and, more importantly, why they think the way they do. Interrogate the notion of whether or not the government listens or pays attention to public opinion. Analyze the relationship between public opinion and voting behavior.
Three hours per week with enhancement
Meets General Education: Social Issues (SI)
Met General Education Prior to Fall 2024: IIIB
Prerequisites POSC 101, POSC 103, POSC 110, or permission of instructor