Eastern
College of Arts and
Sciences
NCSS/Social Studies
Education
XI. Matrix
Matrix Item 2.3
Disciplinary Standard: Civics and Government
Teachers who are
licensed to teach civics and/or government at all school levels should possess
the knowledge, capabilities, and dispositions to organize and provide
instruction at the appropriate school level for the study of civics and
government.
Indicators of
Capabilities for Teaching Civics and Government
Teachers of civics and government at all school levels should
provide developmentally appropriate experiences as they guide learners in their
study. They should:
* assist learners in
developing an understanding of civic life, politics, and government, so that
the learners can explore the origins of governmental authority, recognize the
need for government, identify the crucial functions of government, including
laws and rules;
* evaluate rules and
laws; differentiate between limited and unlimited government; and appreciate
the importance of limitations on governmental power;
* guide learners as
they explore American democracy, including the American idea of constitutional
government, the impact of the distinctive characteristics of American society
on our government, the nature of the American political culture, and the values
and principles that are basic to American life and government;
* help learners
understand how the government of the United States operates under the
constitution and the purposes, values, and principles of American democracy,
including the ideas of distributed, shared, and limited powers of government;
how the national, state, and local governments are organized; and the place of
law in the system;
* enable learners to
understand the relationship of the
* assist learners in
developing an understanding of citizenship, its rights and responsibilities,
and in developing their abilities and dispositions to participate effectively
in civic life;
* insure that learners
are made aware of the full range of opportunities to participate as citizens in
the American democracy and of their responsibilities for doing so.
2.3 Civics and
Government
The program prepares
Social Studies teachers of civics and government who possess the knowledge,
capabilities and dispositions to organize and provide instruction at the
appropriate school level for the study of civics and government.
2.3.1 Programmatic
Evidence
All Political Science majors for secondary education must take a
series of classes as part of their program. These include:
1. All students must take PLSC
112 as part of their EMU program. This class introduces students to the
concepts and ideals of
Objectives for this class include:
1). Students will be able to define and analyze political power,
democracy, and majority rule.
2). Students will be able to define, identify and analyze the
Declaration of Independence and other precursors to the American Constitutional
system.
3). Students will be able to define and analyze the U.S.
Constitution, checks and balances, and separation of powers.
4). Students will be able to identify contemporary constitutional
issues, and assess their political import.
5). Students will be able to define and analyze the concept of
Federalism.
6). Students will be able to identify and analyze the Bill of
Rights and assess its relationship to modern situations.
7). Students will be able to apply constitutional principles to a
modern legal case.
8). Students will be able to describe and analyze the electoral
system in the
9). Students will be able to assess the accuracy of opinion
polling.
10). Students will be able to describe and assess changes in the
presidency, the cabinet system, and federal agencies since 1787.
11). Students will be able to describe and assess changes in
legislative function since 1787.
12). Students will be able to assess the role of lobbying and
campaign contributions in the political process.
13). Students will be able to assess the political situation for
women and minorities in the
14). Students will be able to describe and assess the role of the
media in politics in the contemporary
15). Students will be able to describe and assess changes in the
role of the Supreme Court since 1787.
16). Students will be able to apply their knowledge of the above
to a simulation of the U.S. Federal government.
2. All political science majors must take one class in
methods of political research, PLSC 210
or PLSC 310.
3. All political science majors must take two classes out of the
following introductory classes: Comparative government, international politics
and political thought.
4. All political science majors must take seven upper-level classes,
one of which must be in the following categories: American politics, public
law, and administration; comparative politics and international relations; and
political theories and models.
5. All political science students must take HIST 481, which includes
instruction, models and resources for the teaching of government and civics.
2.3.2 Test Evidence
Class evidence:
The two students in the Winter 2003
cohort for political science scored as follows:
Required classes:
PLSC 112/3
|
PLSC 112/3 |
A, C |
||||
|
Upper level elective |
Student 1 |
Student 2 |
|||
|
PLSC 202 |
B+ |
A |
|||
|
PLSC 456 |
C |
|
|||
|
PLSC 412 |
C- |
|
|||
|
PLSC 374 |
B- |
|
|||
|
PLSC 385 |
C+ |
|
|||
|
PLSC 211 |
A |
A |
|||
|
PLSC 301 |
D |
A |
|||
|
PLSC 313 |
B+ |
|
|||
|
PLSC 382 |
B- |
|
|||
|
PLSC 312 |
B+ |
|
|||
|
PLSC 341 |
C |
|
|||
|
PLSC 358 |
|
B+ |
|||
|
PLSC 379 |
|
A, A- |
|||
|
PLSC 332 |
|
A |
|||
|
PLSC 422 |
|
B+ |
|||
|
PLSC 210 |
|
A |
|||
|
PLSC 213 |
|
B- |
|||
Political Science
Of the one 2002-3 graduate with a major of political science for
education, one student took the exam and scored 235. The passing score for the
MTTC is 220. This equals a pass rate of 65%.
MTTC Objectives for
each subject test are listed in the
Appendix.
2.3.3 Performance
Evidence
Political Science Majors scored as follows in
|
Score |
# of Students |
|
5 |
1 |
|
4 |
1 |
|
3 |
0 |
|
2 |
0 |
|
1 |
0 |
|
NA |
0 |