Spring 2025

Basic concepts of world affairs for non-majors. Development ofcompetency to understand and critically evaluate global relationsand international events, stressing empirical approaches. Not available for major credit.

Exploration of the major social, political, economic, religious, and philosophical disagreements that exist between scholars, leaders, and citizens concerning today's most serious environmental issues and problems. Not available for credit to environmental studies majors and minors.

Comprehensive introduction to contending theoretical and analytical approaches; development of critical, evaluative, cognitive, and analytical competencies regarding historical and contemporary issues.

Introduction to theoretically oriented research approaches and designs; emphasis on the logic of argumentation.

Introduction to historical research methods with an emphasis on historical texts and modes of discourse.

Economic and political concepts necessary to the understanding of the modern global economy. Topics include international trade, foreign investment and migration.

The focus is intelligence to improve the making of policy, with attention to collection; overt and covert, operations; domestic intelligence; and oversight in democracies.

Interdisciplinary study of the pursuit of peace, including causes of wars, arms races, conflict resolution, peace movements, nonviolent resistance, and peace with justice.

An introduction to debates about the intersection of religion and conflict in politics and international affairs; theoretical, classical, and contemporary issues.

Ethnic identity and nation formation in the global society of states; nation-states; conflict or political accommodation within multinational states; impact of dispersed nations on interstate relations.

Explore causes of human security, international responses to issues like violence, displacement and climate change; and the costs, benefits and effects of humanitarian intervention.

Impact of technological advances to global security and development. Focus on surveillance and cyber conflict; nuclear weaponry, aviation and UAVs missiles and BMD; submarines and ASW.

Examines the politics of managing the global environment. The nature of ecosystems, commons problems, population and resource utilization problems along with biodiversity and global governance are emphasized.

Analysis of inequality in relations between developed and developing states; contending views on the causes and legacies of imperialism; development strategies and aid.

The international financial and monetary regime, its evolution and the problems facing it today

Exploration of questions and concepts in international economics and politics, especially as they relate to flows of trade, capital, people, and problems across borders.

Examination of key ideas from economics, demography and technology. Guest lecturers illuminate possible conditions of the Global Economy in 2040.

Introduction to the relationship between economics, security, and U.S. foreign policy. Topics covered: U.S. grand strategy, Chinas rise, energy security, resource competition, and the resource curse.

Economic reform, the open door, and China's changing role in the international system. Relations with the United States, Japan, and other key powers in Asia. Tensions between the interests of American business and the human rights community over China policy.

Causes and effects of use and spread of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons; responses to WMD, including deterrence, preventive war, and non-proliferation policies and negotiations.

Analysis of U.S. foreign policy since 1945 as a basis for understanding significant new trends. Explanation of contemporary issues in U.S. relations with other nations.

Origin, concepts, realities and ideals of the non-aligned movement, focusing on the role of the United States in the developing world.

Critical perspectives on U.S. relations with the Middle East, including the discourses surrounding democracy and globalization.

Political, economic and security relations among the countries in East Asia and the Pacific with the emphasis on the role of the United States, China and Japan.

Introduction to problems and issues in the Middle East today: religio-ethnic rivalries, conflicting nationalisms and ideologies, the Arab-Israeli conflict, Middle East oil.

Examines Latin America's experience with democracy emphasizing events since the 1980s. Analyzes the roles of interest groups, ideology, domestic politics, bureaucratic processes, perceptions and analogical reasoning.

Analysis of Mexico and U.S.-Mexico relations, both historically and in the present day, to understand better the challenges in this key bilateral relationship.

General overview of main historical, political, and economic issues as they affect Africa, focusing on nationalism, development, and superpower competition in Africa.

Examination of diplomatic and moral relationships between sovereign states and transnational non-state actors, both benevolent (humanitarian groups and philanthropies) and malevolent (mercenaries, pirates and terrorists).

Modern and post-modern perspectives on changes in the inter-state system, relations among cultures and civilizations, the conditions of ecologically sustainable human development.

Focuses on the international politics of resolving crises. Application of theories of conflict and negotiation in a UN Security Council Simulation.

Intensive internship experience in international relations professional areas with academic research component (may be repeated for credit different semesters)

The domestic and international sources of Chinese foreign policy; political, military, and economic issues in China's relations with its neighbors.

Intermediate statistical computing and data visualization in R. Focus the on graphical presentation of complex statistical relationships. Students create publication-ready figures for actual faculty research projects.

Examines causes, consequences and how to combat corruption as an economic, political and social problem.

Should environmental issues be treated as threats to security? Survey of recent literature explores global environmental politics using a security framework. Recommended preparation: Environmental studies course work.

Introduction to important economic issue areas that are understood as security-related in the contemporary world: population, food, trade, debt, etc.

An interdisciplinary treatment of the tragic phenomenon of genocide. Subject matter includes historical cases and analysis of contemporary global efforts toward prevention.

Critical discussion of alternative approaches explaining the formulation and implementation of U.S. foreign policy: domestic politics, organizational processes, group dynamics, individual personality and perception.

Policies and programs aimed at stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Presentations by executive/legislative officials involved in formulation and implementation of non-proliferation. Junior or senior standing required.

Focus on current politics in Latin America. Address a range of themes: electoral democracy, citizenship, political inclusion, human rights, corruption, economic inequality.

Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit.

Selected topics in various special areas within international relations, which may vary from semester to semester or within semesters.

Explores cybersecurity, privacy, network neutrality and other critical issues in internet governance through the lenses of international political economy and media theories.