COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

DIPL 1002 Interdisciplinary Seminar in Diplomacy and International Relations
This course focuses on a few current international challenges or issues while applying several advanced international relations perspectives simultaneously. The course will expose students to a variety of tools and perspectives in the field of Diplomacy and International Relations, and help students to see the complementarity of the various theoretical perspectives. Team taught. 3 credits

DIPL 1101 Emergence of the Contemporary World
Surveys development of major cultures and societies, focusing on these traditions in the context of interaction among European, Asian and African peoples and the encounter of European and American peoples in the 15th century. 3 credits

DIPL 1711 International Relations
Analyzes the dynamics of the relations between and across the different countries of the world. Examines the role that countries, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, businesses, and individual people play in addressing pressing global problems such as peace, war, security, arms control, trade, development, human rights and the environment. 3 credits

DIPL 2101 Ethnopolitical Landscapes of the Contemporary World
Surveys political, economic, cultural and socio-demographic trends shaping the contemporary world and their impact on international, regional and global relations. Focuses on nationalism and ethnicity. Topics include: rise of nation-states; impact of nationalism; nation-building and empire building; Western imperialism in the Third World; ethnicity and nationalism; ethnic relations in the U.S. and other parts of the world; and post-Cold War development. 3 credits

DIPL 2103 History of Diplomacy
Surveys the evolution of diplomacy from ancient civilizations to the present. Examines the actors and processes associated with classic diplomacy, and considers the new challenges facing diplomats as a result of recent changes in international affairs. 3 credits

DIPL 2109 Institutions of Global Governance
Examines the process through which states, intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and multinational corporations seek to address pressing problems of global governance. The challenges associated with international cooperation are explored, including the changing nature of sovereignty issues and the difficulties with promoting compliance. A variety of transsovereign issues are covered and the course concludes with a diplomatic simulation of a global issues conference. 3 credits

DIPL 2110 Comparative Foreign Policy
Explores the different processes through which countries design their foreign policy. A variety of countries are examined encompassing various regions of the world, levels of development, and types of political regimes. Of special concern is the manner in which both domestic and international pressures influence the foreign policy making process. 3 credits

DIPL 2111 Practicum II: Area Studies International Trip
Focuses on learning the practice of diplomacy through simulation and fieldwork. Opportunity for students to learn theory and practice of intergroup and/or international negotiations. Structured as a seminar with an attached related field/area component. 3 credits

DIPL 2120 International Conflict and Security
Provides an overview of the classical issues in the study of war and peace, and examines the nature and functions of the use of force, macro- and micro-theories of conflict, arms races and control, nuclear proliferation, and deterrence. Recent developments in the management of weapons of mass destruction are also explored. 3 credits

DIPL 3101 Concepts in Leadership
Analyzes historical and contemporary concepts of leadership and explores traits, strategies and techniques that define leadership. 3 credits

DIPL 3104 Public International Law
Deals with nature, history and domains of international law. Through case studies, this course provides understanding of the international legal system with regard to such basic goals as curbing resort to war, peaceful settlement of disputes, fostering peaceful use of the oceans, Antarctica and outer space, enhancing respect for human rights, preserving the environment and strengthening the capability of the United Nations and the U.N. system as a primary instrument of world order. 3 credits

DIPL 3111 Practicum III: Internship
Offers an opportunity to learn and develop management and leadership skills in an internship under the guidance of a mentor. The instructor for the course serves as liaison with the mentors. 3 credits

DIPL 3150 New Dimensions of Human Security
This course transcends traditional interstate conflict by examining new security threats such as infectious diseases, environmental change, growth of human populations, energy security, and water and food scarcities. Special attention will be given to their effects on development, stability, and security. 3 credits

DIPL 3201 Sustainable Development
Explores the concept of sustainable development. Examines sustainability issues related to both industrial countries and developing countries, for example aging of populations, sustainable consumption, institutional adjustments, managing growth, and pressures of population change. 3 credits

DIPL 3800 Investigating International Relations
This course introduces the basic tools of scientific investigation. Students learn about the scientific method, data gathering, research design, quantitative and qualitative analyses, and computer applications for international relations research. The course aims to equip students with the facts, intuition, and experience necessary for conducting research projects in subsequent diplomacy courses. 3 credits

DIPL 4101 Research Project
Culminating research project of the international relations program. Enables students to apply qualitative and quantitative methodologies as needed, in the development of interdisciplinary research projects, related to their own area studies. Course runs as a research seminar. Students work with a faculty mentor to write their research thesis. Requires junior standing. 3 credits

DIPL 4106 Human Rights
Combines skill development in research, writing and oral communication with development of an understanding of the sources and nature of those rights of individuals and groups that are, or have been, identified as “Human Rights” under various international conventions, state constitutions and bills of rights, United Nations resolutions and other sources. Specific human rights violations in areas of health, nutrition, labor, the environment, educational systems, political torture/genocide are explored. Requires junior standing. 3 credits

DIPL 4108 International Political Economy
This course examines the interaction between politics and economics in the international system, i.e. how international economic activity is affected by the political decisions rendered by states and how states are in turn affected by the international financial and trading systems. 3 credits

DIPL 4111 Senior Leadership Internship
Provides students with hands on experience in the international environment. Students are placed in a selected unit of the United Nations system or a similar organization or international business under the guidance of a mentor and supervision of the instructor of this course. 3 credits

DIPL 4113 U.S. Foreign Service
This 1-credit course offers intensive preparation and individualized review for entry to the U.S. Foreign Service. 1 credit

DIPL 4114 International Financial Institutions Analyzes the dynamics of international trade and finance through the structure and work of the international financial institutions. Covers the basics of the international finance system and explores the potential for international cooperation in the field of development. 3 credits

DIPL 4115 Cross Cultural Negotiation and Conflict Management
The ability to negotiate and manage conflicts across cultures is no longer an optional skill set in the worlds of international business, diplomacy and advocacy. This course, built on cases, interactive exercises and theoretical frameworks, develops the skills and knowledge for managing the most challenging political, organizational and interpersonal relationships. 3 credits

DIPL 4116 Palestinian-Israeli Peace Process
This course delves into the significant history of attempts to transform the Palestinian-Israeli conflict into coexistence. The instructor builds on significant field research into the open and secret negotiations that have taken place between Israel and the PLO. Students simultaneously conduct actual negotiations joining one of four delegations and negotiating either interim or permanent issues. 3 credits

DIPL 4180 The Modern Middle East
Commences with an overview of the historical events of the Middle East that are crucial to understanding the emergence of the modern period in 1832, and concluding with current issues and opportunities. 3 credits

DIPL 4183 Art and Science of International Negotiation
States, NGOs and international organizations all negotiate with each other in the context of international conflicts. In this course, students practice and improve their negotiation skills in interactive exercises, learn theories and dynamics of conflict, and apply this knowledge to practical cases. 3 credits

DIPL 4185 Foreign Policy of Post-Soviet States
Detailed analysis of the global role of states within the former Soviet sphere, both among themselves and in relation to the European Union, China and the United States. 3 credits

DIPL 4187 Modern Middle East: U.S. Involvement
This course examines U.S. involvement in the Middle East in the 20th century, exploring how the U.S. has emerged as the principal foreign actor in the Middle East. 3 credits

DIPL 4193 Eastern European and Post-Soviet Politics
Comprehensive introduction to the politics of the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and post-Soviet Russia, including the development of the Soviet Union as a multi-national, planned economy empire and the causes of collapse, the challenges faced by the states that emerged, with special attention to the economics and political problems of these states’ transformations as affected by the different legacies of the Soviet period in each of the countries involved. 3 credits

DIPL 4197 U.N. Insiders’ View
Bridges the gap between students and practitioners by complementing an academic understanding of the United Nations with an appreciation of the day-to-day concerns and realities of the organization. Structured around a series of guest lectures offered by U.N. officials and representatives of governments, civil society, and the private sector on a broad range of issues of current concern to the United Nations. 3 credits

DIPL 4198 International Criminal Law
Explores the historical, political and diplomatic evolution of international criminal law in this century, including war crimes, crimes against humanity and the International Criminal Court. 3 credits

DIPL 4280 Politics of Terrorism in the Middle East
Investigates the use of terrorism for political purposes. Areas covered include the debate about who/what constitutes a terrorist movement or organization; the financing of terrorism; exploitation of/by the media; connections between fundamentalism, religion and terrorism; and the abilities of security services and intelligence organizations to effectively monitor and combat terrorism. 3 credits

DIPL 4555 Economic Aspects of International Relations
Reviews the current economic issues generated by globalization by emphasizing facts as well as theories. Introduces essential concepts required to understand the issues associated with globalization. 3 credits

DIPL 4556 Financial Aspects of International Relations
This course focuses on issues such as proposed changes in the international financial architecture, the single currency in Europe, the Asian financial crisis, and government intervention in the foreign exchange market. 3 credits