Descriptor Details

  • Descriptor Title
    Introduction to International Relations
  • C-ID Number
    140
  • Units
    3.0
  • Date of Last Revision
    6/7/2022 12:42:42 AM GMT+0000

General Description

An introduction to international relations theory with an examination of national, international, transnational, and sub-national actors and their institutions, interactions and processes as they relate to global issues.

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Advisories

None

Content

  1. International relations theory.
  2. International institutions.
  3. The roles of national, international, transnational, and sub-national actors
  4. Strategic interaction between domestic and international politics
  5. Key topics in the field of international relations such as climate change, globalization, conflict, cyber conflict, cooperation, diplomacy, international law, international environmental agreements, bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, human rights, and international political economy (financial, monetary, intellectual property).
  6. Contemporary issues in international relations.
  7. Application of theoretical concepts to events.

Lab Activities

N/A

Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

  1. Explain international relations theory.
  2. Identify international institutions.
  3. Describe the roles of national, international, transnational, and sub-national actors
  4. Analyze and evaluate key topics such as climate change, globalization, conflict, cyber conflict, cooperation, diplomacy, international law, international environmental agreements, bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, human rights, and international political economy (financial, monetary, intellectual property).
  5. Discuss contemporary issues in international relations.
  6. Apply relevant theoretical concepts to events.

Evaluation Methods

May include as appropriate:

In-class or take-home examinations
Research papers or projects
Written assignments
Analytical papers
Simulations
Oral presentations
Participation in class discussions and debates

Textbooks

Any college-level introduction to international relations textbook including, but not limited to

Frieden, Jeffry A., David A. Lake, and Kenneth A. Schultz. 2018. World Politics: Fourth Edition. W.W. Norton & Company.

Goldstein and Pevehouse. International Relations

Kaarbo and Ray. Global Politics.

Kegley and Blanton. World Politics: Trends and Transformation

Mingst.  Essentials of International Relations.

Nau. Perspectives on International Relations: Power, Institutions, and Ideas

Rourke and Boyer. International Politics on the World Stage

Shimko, International Relations: Perspectives, Controversies and Readings

Spiegel, Matthews, Taw, and Williams. World Politics in a New Era

Viotti and Kaupi. International Relations and World Politics

May also include supplementary materials such as, but not limited to, primary sources, readers, etc.

OER Canvas Course Shell for Introduction to International Relations – OPoliSci.com

Descriptor Administration

  • Public Review Needed
    No
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