international relations
PLSC 300: Scientific Study of War
Professor Melin
TTh 11:30am / LSC
This class introduces students to the scientific study of war. We examine arguments about the factors that influence the initiation, conduct, and termination of interstate warfare. The class analyzes a wide range of arguments about variables that influence war and how war influences other political phenomena. The course exposes students to a variety of methodologies including statistics, mathematical modeling, and game theory. We read classic and current research on war. In particular, the class will focus on helping students make sense of sophisticated quantitative and mathematical arguments about the nature of war and its political effects.
PLSC 325: American Foreign Policy
Mr. O'Leary
TTh 1:00pm / LSC
American foreign policy is made by the President and executed by the State Department--or so says grammar school civics. In reality, policy is occasionally articulated by the President, but usually not. Numerous agencies have their own foreign and domestic agendas and Congressional mandates and compete to determine America’s outlook and actions. Members of Congress also want a hand in foreign policy, often in response to their constituents’ concerns. Special interest groups, NGOs, “public opinion”, the press, the availability of resources, foreign governments, and international entities also influence its formation and execution. In this course, we will attempt to sort out who does what to whom against the backdrop of the new President’s “honeymoon” with Congress, the press, and the public. Students will determine the foreign policy priorities and orientations of the new President and assess how those policies may fare as competing interests struggle to shape them to achieve their own goals. Current events will also be used to illustrate the policy-making process. The goal is to enable students to understand American foreign policy and its components; comprehend constraints on policy formation; and evaluate effectiveness of the policy itself, both at home and abroad.
PLSC 353: International Law
Professor Samar
W 7:00pm / LSC
This course examines the norms and principles of of International Law that help define and regulate relations among nation states, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations (or NGOs). The course considers what constitutes international law, how it is applied, what are its primary concerns, and what role there is for international criminal law. Since the international legal system is less hierarchical than domestic legal systems, one important question will be how norms in the international system arise and then get applied. This is a most fascinating area as the looseness of the international legal system is at once open ended while at the same time governed by conventions and internationally recognized norms.
PLSC 367: Model United Nations
Professor Endless
MWF 10:25am / LSC
This course is designed to provide an orientation to the activities of the United Nations, as well as providing an understanding of the modalities of international diplomacy. This course will include current events, pressing international issues, the basics of international law and some of the protocol and procedures of diplomacy. All of this will assist students in preparing for their role as a distinguished diplomat at the National Model United Nations conference in New York. Instructor permission is required.
PLSC 395: Honors Seminar--International Human Rights
Professor Grigorescu
MWF 1:40pm / LSC
PLSC 300: Scientific Study of War
Professor Melin
TTh 11:30am / LSC
This class introduces students to the scientific study of war. We examine arguments about the factors that influence the initiation, conduct, and termination of interstate warfare. The class analyzes a wide range of arguments about variables that influence war and how war influences other political phenomena. The course exposes students to a variety of methodologies including statistics, mathematical modeling, and game theory. We read classic and current research on war. In particular, the class will focus on helping students make sense of sophisticated quantitative and mathematical arguments about the nature of war and its political effects.
PLSC 325: American Foreign Policy
Mr. O'Leary
TTh 1:00pm / LSC
American foreign policy is made by the President and executed by the State Department--or so says grammar school civics. In reality, policy is occasionally articulated by the President, but usually not. Numerous agencies have their own foreign and domestic agendas and Congressional mandates and compete to determine America’s outlook and actions. Members of Congress also want a hand in foreign policy, often in response to their constituents’ concerns. Special interest groups, NGOs, “public opinion”, the press, the availability of resources, foreign governments, and international entities also influence its formation and execution. In this course, we will attempt to sort out who does what to whom against the backdrop of the new President’s “honeymoon” with Congress, the press, and the public. Students will determine the foreign policy priorities and orientations of the new President and assess how those policies may fare as competing interests struggle to shape them to achieve their own goals. Current events will also be used to illustrate the policy-making process. The goal is to enable students to understand American foreign policy and its components; comprehend constraints on policy formation; and evaluate effectiveness of the policy itself, both at home and abroad.
PLSC 353: International Law
Professor Samar
W 7:00pm / LSC
This course examines the norms and principles of of International Law that help define and regulate relations among nation states, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations (or NGOs). The course considers what constitutes international law, how it is applied, what are its primary concerns, and what role there is for international criminal law. Since the international legal system is less hierarchical than domestic legal systems, one important question will be how norms in the international system arise and then get applied. This is a most fascinating area as the looseness of the international legal system is at once open ended while at the same time governed by conventions and internationally recognized norms.
PLSC 367: Model United Nations
Professor Endless
MWF 10:25am / LSC
This course is designed to provide an orientation to the activities of the United Nations, as well as providing an understanding of the modalities of international diplomacy. This course will include current events, pressing international issues, the basics of international law and some of the protocol and procedures of diplomacy. All of this will assist students in preparing for their role as a distinguished diplomat at the National Model United Nations conference in New York. Instructor permission is required.
PLSC 395: Honors Seminar--International Human Rights
Professor Grigorescu
MWF 1:40pm / LSC