USC Schedule of Classes

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

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

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

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

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.

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 communism and post-communism in East-Central Europe, including economic transitions, nationalism, inter- and intra-state conflict, NATO and EU enlargement.

Exploration of international law and international politics, including sovereignty, war, international tribunals, the environment, and human rights.

A comparative examination of social relations of power and institutions with a special focus on intellectual traditions, the law, and social movements.

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.

The main economic development themes and strategies in Latin America over the past century. The interplay between domestic and international variables, and the resulting dynamic changes.

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)

Collaborative research projects under faculty supervision. Regular skills training and professionalization workshops.

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.

Examines displacement, politics and violent conflict in the international system. Students engage academic debates on forced migration and volunteer with an LA-based organization serving refugees.

Factors determining the feasibility, desirability and limits of economic globalization; the dynamics triggered by the Global Financial Crisis and the backlash against Globalization.

Interaction of politics and economics in the former Soviet Union and its component republics; the historical planned economy, the politics of reform and political economy of former Soviet foreign 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.

Preparation and oral defense of senior honors thesis before supervising faculty and fellow honors students. Senior status and acceptance to program required. Recommended preparation: IR 311.

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

The political, economic, regulatory and technological changes that are together creating a new world information economy. The politics of international telecommunications is emphasized.