Politics and the Life Sciences/POLS 322/Section 1 Spring 2003
| CONTENT:
1. Instructor 2. Course Description 3. Required Texts 4. Course Requirements 5. Course Expectations 6. Assignments and Due Dates 7. Announcements |
Prof. James N.
Schubert
Office address
and phone: ZU 306/ 3-9675
Office hours:T,
TH 1-2 and by appointment
Last updated
by J. Schubert, Jan. 14, 2003
2. Course description/objectives:
This course introduces students to the emergent area and approach known as biopolitics. Biopolitics presents an interdisciplinary approach to socio-political problems that draws upon biological and political sciences in theory and methodology. Two principal areas of concern include the biological bases of political behavior and the biological content of public policies. Behavioral concerns include the role of factors such as sex and age in behavior, problems of leadership and hierarchy, origins of ethnocentrism and ethnic nationalism, and the role of emotion in political communication and campaign politics, among many other topics. Policy concerns range from the effects of public policy on public health and population biology ( e.g., the effectiveness of AIDS policies) to the ethical and social implications of advances in reproductive biotechnology and biomedical science (preimplantation diagnosis of embryos, cross- species organ transplants, etc.) and the public regulation of risks in agricultural biotechnology. The objectives of this course are to introduce students to both areas of concern in biopolitics.
3. Required Texts:
Four texts have been ordered for the course:
de Waal. 1998. Chimpanzee Politics: Power and
Sex Among Apes.
Blank, 1999 Brain Policy: How the New Neuroscience
Will Change Our Lives and Our Politics
Theodoulou. 1996. AIDS: The Politics and Policy
of Disease.
Levine (9th Ed), Taking Sides: Clashing
Views on Controversial Bioethical Issues
Additional readings will be placed on reserve at the library or provided to you in class and a supplemental reading list may be provided.
4. Grading & course requirements:
Grades will be based upon three essay examinations and a term paper due April 29. Class participation is expected and attendance is mandatory. Information will be given throughout the semester that will assist you in preparing the research paper. You will also be given an opportunity to hand in the paper early to be returned for corrections. Each of the tests will be worth 100 points and the paper will be worth 100 points.
5. COURSE EXPECTATIONS
Class attendance is required and is essential to successful completion of the course. You will be expected to come to class having read the assigned readings and prepared to ask any questions you may have. You are encouraged to always actively participate in class. Participation may be used in determining a final grade, at the discretion of the instructor, to raise a grade.
The term paper topic will be selected with my consent and the paper will be approximately 10-12 pages, word processed, spell checked, and double spaced.
Plagiarism Statement:"The attempt of any student to present as his or her own work that which he or she has not produced is regarded by the faculty and administration as a serious offense. Students are considered to have cheated if they copy the work of another during an examination or turn in a paper or an assignment written, in whole or in part, by someone else. Students are guilty of plagiarism, intentional or not, if they copy material from books, magazines, or other sources or if they paraphrase ideas from such sources without acknowledging them. Students guilty of, or assisting others in, either cheating or plagiarism on an assignment, quiz, or examination may receive a grade of F for the course involved and may be suspended or dismissed from the university." Northern Illinois University Undergraduate Catalog.
6. ASSIGNMENTS
AND DUE DATES
| Date: |
Reading Assignments
|
| 1/14-16 |
Introduction - (De Waal)
|
|
1/21-24
|
Ethology and Evolutionary Psychology
- (De Waal)
|
|
1/28-30
|
(Balch) |
|
|
|
|
2/4-6
|
Leadership and Social Dominance
- (Mcguire, Madsen)
|
|
2/11-13
|
Exam #1 (2/14), Paper topics
due - Blank, Chpt. 2,3
|
|
2/18-20
|
Emotion, Campaigns and Elections
- (McHugo)
|
|
2/25-27
|
Emotion, Campaigns and Elections
(cont'd) - (Masters)
|
|
3/4-6
|
Emotion, Campaigns and Elections
(cont'd) - (Schubert'98, Marcus)
|
|
|
Spring Break
|
|
3/18-20
|
Sex, age, and ethnicity in political
behavior - Schubert'88, Kathlene
|
|
3/25-27
|
AIDS and public policy -- Theodoulou,Part
I and II
|
|
4/1-3
|
AIDS and public policy -- Theodoulou,Part
III, IV
|
|
4/8
|
Exam 2
|
|
4/10
|
Brain Policy Issues -- Blank,
Chpt. 1,4,5
|
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4/15-17
|
Blank- Chpt. 6,7,8
|
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4/22-24
|
Issues in biomedical ethics --
tba
|
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4/29-5/1
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Issues in biomedical ethics --
tba
|
|
5/6 -- 2-4
|
Final Exam 12:00- 1:50
|