international relations
PLSC 325: American Foreign Policy
Professor O'Leary
MWF 1:40pm / LSC
W 4:15pm / 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 policy formation and execution. In this course, we will attempt to sort out who does what to whom against the backdrop of President Obama’s first 24 months in office. Students will determine the foreign policy priorities and orientations of the Administration 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 350: Politics of International Economic Relations
Professor Endless
TTh 10:00am / LSC
This course will focus on the close linkage between political and economic issues in international relations, both historically and in the contemporary world. We will utilize a theoretical basis to analyze practical examples of economic interactions between states, and to view those interactions as they affect corporate and consumer issues. Some of the questions that will be asked during this course include: Why is the developing world so much poorer than the industrialized world? Who is responsible for the flow of money in the world today? How is wealth generated on a global scale? How democratic are the world’s economic institutions, and is this important? What does it mean to be “exploited”?
PLSC 367: Model United Nations I
PLSC 300D: Model United Nations II
Professor Endless
TTh 2:30pm / 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.
PLSC 395: Global Empire--The United States and the World Order
Professor Sanchez
M 4:15pm / LSC
Since the end of the Cold War, an academic and policy debate has emerged over whether or not the United States should be considered an empire or global hegemon. Additionally, for those who see America as a hegemonic power, another debate centers on whether or not the US Empire is benign or selfish. This course will explore these debates and students will develop a research project with the hopes of answering one of these important questions. The key learning objective of this course is to learn how to think critically about our contemporary global system.
This course is required for students in the Political Science Honor’s Program; registration is by permission only. Only students in the Political Science Honor's Program or political science majors in the College Honor's Program may register.
PLSC 325: American Foreign Policy
Professor O'Leary
MWF 1:40pm / LSC
W 4:15pm / 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 policy formation and execution. In this course, we will attempt to sort out who does what to whom against the backdrop of President Obama’s first 24 months in office. Students will determine the foreign policy priorities and orientations of the Administration 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 350: Politics of International Economic Relations
Professor Endless
TTh 10:00am / LSC
This course will focus on the close linkage between political and economic issues in international relations, both historically and in the contemporary world. We will utilize a theoretical basis to analyze practical examples of economic interactions between states, and to view those interactions as they affect corporate and consumer issues. Some of the questions that will be asked during this course include: Why is the developing world so much poorer than the industrialized world? Who is responsible for the flow of money in the world today? How is wealth generated on a global scale? How democratic are the world’s economic institutions, and is this important? What does it mean to be “exploited”?
PLSC 367: Model United Nations I
PLSC 300D: Model United Nations II
Professor Endless
TTh 2:30pm / 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.
PLSC 395: Global Empire--The United States and the World Order
Professor Sanchez
M 4:15pm / LSC
Since the end of the Cold War, an academic and policy debate has emerged over whether or not the United States should be considered an empire or global hegemon. Additionally, for those who see America as a hegemonic power, another debate centers on whether or not the US Empire is benign or selfish. This course will explore these debates and students will develop a research project with the hopes of answering one of these important questions. The key learning objective of this course is to learn how to think critically about our contemporary global system.
This course is required for students in the Political Science Honor’s Program; registration is by permission only. Only students in the Political Science Honor's Program or political science majors in the College Honor's Program may register.