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

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

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

Explore causes of human security threats, challenges to state sovereignty, and actions to address failed states, conflicts and protect people through 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Introduction to key security trends in the Asia-Pacific region, emphasizing strategic competition between U.S., Russia, and China; regional military capabilities; rise of neutrality politics.

In-depth analysis of foreign policy events and cases in Europe in the 20th century; focus on security issues.

(Paris Semester only) Historical overview of interactions between Muslims and Europeans. Islam: origins, history and circumstances that led to its revival. France's immigration policy.

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

Students will be paired with a non-governmental organization or movement in order to design and implement a research project that aims to promote social change.

Introduction to key environmental and political challenges facing the contemporary Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

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.

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.

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

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

Possible futures for nations, regions and issues and how to help frame U.S. foreign policy in relation to them.

Economic approaches and political processes are used to explain observed international trade policy choices. Topics covered include globalization, regionalism, labor standards, the environment and sanctions. Recommended preparation: Micro- and Macroeconomics.

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.

Survey of autocracy, the world's most common form of government: its political economy, the role of elections, parties, repression, propaganda and civil resistance.

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.