SemesterSpring Semester, 2020
DepartmentMA Program of Political Science, First Year MA Program of Political Science, Second Year
Course NameGovernment & Politics in Africa
InstructorYEN CHEN-SHEN
Credit3.0
Course TypeElective
Prerequisite
Course Objective
Course Description
Course Schedule

Teaching Approach



 



This course will be taught in English.  A student is encouraged to use English in the classroom and required in taking the exams.  Even though lecturing will take up most of the course time, a student has to participate in classroom discussion, especially answering the questions provided in the end of each chapter.  Preparation for the assigned materials before each class is a prerequisite for meaningful participation. 



 


Teaching Methods
Teaching Assistant

To be announced later.


Requirement/Grading

Course Requirements



 



For undergraduate students, midterm and final exam each accounts for 35% of the total grade.  A country study project accounts for 15% of the grade.  Class participation accounts for the remaining 15% of the grade as students will have to answer questions in the class. 



 



For graduate students, midterm and final exam each accounts for 30% of the total grade.  The final report constitutes 20% and a country study project accounts for 10% of the grade.  Class participation accounts for the remaining 10% of the grade as students will have to answer questions in the class. 



 



There is also a map test that requires a student to identify/locate all African countries on the map.  A student has to pass the map test before receiving the final grade.  He/she can take this test as many times as needed.  Objective questions such as matching, true & false, multiple choices, as well as short and long essay questions will be included to accommodate individual student's particular strength in comprehension. 



 



The country study project requires each student to collect the following information of one African country (if possible, 2018, or the latest):





 


Textbook & Reference

Alex Thompson, An Introduction to African Politics, 4th Edition.  London and New York: Routledge, 2016.



 



Goran Hyden, African Politics in Comparative Perspective, 2nd edition. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2013.  (For graduate students only)


Urls about Course
www.africanews.com www.allafrica.com www.csmonitor.com www.economist.com www.news.bbc.co.uk
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