USC Schedule of Classes

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 role of leaders, diplomatic leadership and creativity in statecraft, providing a deep understanding of the theoretical and practical dimensions of diplomacy.

The role and evolution of espionage and intelligence as tools of statecraft are examined. Open, covert, clandestine, counterintelligence programs and oversight processes are considered.

Examines the strategies for managing global issues in the post Cold War period. Explores ways that international institutions, national governments and non-state actors work separately and together to provide order and control over complex international issues areas. Issues that will receive attention could include financial and monetary relations, trade and foreign investment, preservation of the environment, the spread of weapons of mass destruction, population and migration, terrori

The emergence of international organizations as a permanent feature in world politics; role of the United Nations Organization as well as regional international organizations.

Analysis of recent events, forces, and conditions in the international political system.

Globalization makes national borders and regulations increasingly obsolete. Analyzes the economic foundation of globalization, its consequences and efforts to manage it.

Introduction to global governance structure and institutions. Exploration of the appropriate role for states, international organizations, civil society and individuals within the global governance structure.

Exploration of critical scholarship on research design, including case selection, hypothesis testing, and field research techniques.

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.

An examination of the role women have played in world politics focusing on issues of war and peace, the environment and the global economy.

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.

Political implications of interactions between different types of multinational enterprises and all levels of U.S. government, other industrial nations, and less-developed countries.

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

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 fromeconomics, demography and technology. Guest lecturersilluminate possible conditions of the Global Economy in 2030.

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.

Examination of threats to global security, state sovereignty and population health posed by infectious diseases, natural disasters, war and civil conflict.

Presents critical perspectives to analyze U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, including the discourses surrounding energy security, military interventionism, globalization, democracy promotion, and terrorism.

Basic concepts and analytical approaches in the study of decision-making at the international level. This is a case-based class, requiring participation of students in interactive discussions of decision forcing and retrospective foreign policy cases.

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 United States' role in the developing world.

The evolution of the concept and practice of sovereignty in the Middle East, pre-modern to the present, focusing on reciprocal nature of power and authority.

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.

Examination of general economic development issues: population, agriculture, industrialization, trade, oil, etc. Several Mideast case study countries are then explored in depth.

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.

Introduction to historical, thematic perspectives of French foreign policy since 1945 including review of external and internal constraints influencing foreign policy. (Paris semester only).

European interstate conflict and cooperation since 1945; history of West European integration during the Cold War; the European Union in post-Cold War Europe.

Key concepts in international security studies; historical evolution of international warfare and diplomacy; contemporary international security issues.

Examination of terrorism and responses to terrorism, including how societies understand and deal with terrorism; focus on ethical and normative issues.

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

Causes of war; means of prevention and consequences of war.

Exploration of the global experience with democracy. Meaning of the term "democracy," explanations of the rise and fall of democracy, its current trends and future challenges.

Changing notions of citizenship in the context of history, and of economic, political and sociological theories of international migration; diaspora and migration case studies.

China's rise in the international political economy raises policy research questions, including an analysis of how this trend relates to U.S and Latin American relations. Recommended preparation: Micro and macro economics

Critical issues surrounding China's economic rise and the implications for international relations; the unique strengths and vulnerabilities of China's political-economic model; prospects for change. Recommended preparation: IR 210 and a course from IR, Political Science, or History with a strong China component.

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

Economic, political, territorial, and security issues; foreign policy decision-making; relations with major powers and neighboring states.

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.

Research-based analysis of dramatic development of international courts, exploring causes for their development, autonomy and political relations with states, compliance, effects on international relations.

Provides a critical introduction to scholarship on international political economy (IPR), the interaction of states and markets in a global context.

Research on the European Union's role in European international relations; internal EU developments since 1985 as an actor in the world economy.

Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit.

Local, national, and international internships. Not available for graduate credit.

Investigation of international relations through the lens of diplomatic theories, considering the limits and potential of diplomacy and how thinking about diplomacy has evolved.

Game theory and other methodologies applied to the study of international relations. Topics include global and regional public goods, collective action, externalities, treaty information, market failures.

Analyzes the role of memory on national identity formation and justification of foreign policy goals, particularly its impact on international propaganda and persuasion efforts.

Security politics of China, Japan, ASEAN states, and southwest pacific nations; their strategic relations with the superpowers; regional security initiatives: nuclear-free zone politics, ZOPEAN, and indigenous military capacities.

Seminar generates and tests theories of democratization. Readings will focus on Europe, Latin America , Soviet Eurasia emphasizing core theoretical and methodological aspects. Open only to Master and Doctoral Students.

Research leading to the Master's degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

Study of contemporary institutions in selected regions of the world. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department.

Practical principles for the long-term development of effective teaching within college disciplines. Intended for teaching assistants in Dornsife College.

Subjects specifically relevant to an international relations field; conducted for Ph.D. students, sometimes conducted as intensive short courses.