PSC 403J - Political Ethics and Political Corruptions

(3 units) CO12, CO13

Nature of morals and ethics and their role in government and policy, especially in the American republic.

Prerequisite(s): General Education courses (CO1-CO3) completed; at least 3 courses from CO4-CO8 completed; Junior or Senior standing.

Grading Basis: Graded
Units of Lecture: 3
Offered: Every Fall and Spring

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. discuss the various definitions of ethics and corruption and how and why those definitions vary across time and context; show insight (from previous coursework) or new knowledge in identifying the gaps in the previous literature with the definition of ethics and corruption.
2. articulate ethical principles through critical, written analysis and synthesis of corruption both in theoretical terms but also in practice. Students will articulate what makes a particular action ethical based upon the theoretical definition and their own ethical values.
3. synthesize and integrate modern day examples into theoretical constructs of ethics.
4. identify the multiple ethical interests at stake in the different regions of the world, including discussing how corruption manifests itself in a variety of regions: Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the U.S.; explain the different causes and consequences of corruption in these areas of the world by applying observational and experimental approaches.
5. analyze the issues that confront scholarly attempts to measure corruption; discuss why measurement is so critical and how our measures end up structuring the way we view the problem.
6. evaluate anticorruption reforms; discuss how such reforms are possible but why they are so difficult to achieve.
7. propose and critique government reforms and discuss how they change behavior by altering the incentives and disincentives for various types of corrupt behavior.

Click here for course scheduling information. | Check course textbook information