BA in International Relations & Diplomacy

Post Campus Courses

IRD 7 Political Aspects of Economics
This course is an examination of the political aspects of economic institutions and processes with particular attention to the relationship of governments and markets on the domestic and international levels.
Credits: 3

IRD 15 Research Methods International Relations
This course will provide students with a broad overview of IRD research. Topics to be covered include: general principles of theory, and concepts; research design, variables and hypotheses, citations and reference; international news sources and polling data; primary sources and repositories for diplomatic documents; a basic understanding of regression analysis; and the ability to create a research or policy paper as well as research reports.
Credits: 3

IRD 31 Espionage and Intelligence
This course surveys the history and activities of American espionage and intelligence communities. Topics to be covered include tools of the trade, cryptography, spies in literature and Hollywood, celebrated real-life spies, covert military operations, foreign intelligence agencies, the evolution of the CIA, intelligence reform and congressional oversight, homeland security, and high-tech sleuthing in the 21st century.
Credits: 3

IRD 34 US as a World Power
A Cold War history of U.S. Foreign Policy, examining the aftermath of World War II and America¿s new role as a global superpower. Topics to be studied include new institutional apparatus in diplomacy, containment theory and policy, Cold War crises under Truman, Eisenhower¿s ¿waging peace,¿ the Vietnam War, 1970s détente, Reagan¿s diplomacy with the Soviet Union, and the Cold War¿s conclusion.
Credits: 3

IRD 35 History of the US Presidency
A history of the presidency, from its creation to the early twentieth century, which will cover great presidents, failures, and those in-between. Topics will include domestic and foreign policies, wars, achievements, blunders, and scandals. We will also examine presidents¿ personalities, speaking styles, and health crises.
Credits: 3

IRD 41 International Economics
This course examines the economic aspects of globalization. Attention is paid to international trade in goods and services, international flows of capital (through international lending and borrowing), and migration. Topics include trade theory, tariffs, and other protectionist policies, trade agreements between nations, the World Trade Organization, balance of payments, exchange rates, and the European Monetary Union.
Credits: 3

IRD 45 US National Security
This course evaluates the area of U.S. national security with emphasis on military and strategic problems during the Cold War and Post-Cold War eras; defense policy-making; conventional and nuclear dimensions of defense issues; and strategic interests of the United States around the world.
Credits: 3

IRD 46 American Foreign Policy I
This course covers the continuity and change in American foreign policy goals, strategies, and tactics from the 18th century to World War II. Particular attention is devoted to constitutional issues and the decision-making process.
Credits: 3

IRD 50 International Organizations
A study of the origins, role, structure and function of international institutions essential to an understanding of the global system and its attempts at organization. Possible areas of study include the United Nations, the European Union, and World Trade Organizations.
Credits: 3

IRD 51 International Relations
This course considers the development and characteristics of relations among states, national policy, sources of strength and weaknesses in the policies of states, actual and potential importance of areas of the world in determining the course of world events. Must be taken by all Political Science majors. This course fulfills the Power, Institutions, and Structures thematic cluster requirement in the core curriculum.
Credits: 3

IRD 53 International Law I
This course is a study of the concepts of sovereignty and the international community and the development of international organizations from ancient times to the creation of the United Nations.
Credits: 3

IRD 56 World Affairs since 1945
This course studies the impact of World War II upon the state system, the cold war and the development of bipolar international politics, the United Nations as an instrument for international order and security, the decline of the colonial system and the emergence of new states, development of the People's Republic of China and Western Europe as new power centers.
Credits: 3

IRD 60 Engaged Citizenship: Applications of Democracy, Service, and the Pursuit of Happiness
This course focuses on the theory and practice of democracy, service, and the pursuit of happiness towards a fulfilling and flourishing life. Topics include democracy, citizenship, current events, critical thinking, self-awareness, communication, service-learning, and the science of happiness.
Credits: 3

IRD 61 Modern China: Political Doctrines and Society
The influence of political thought on societal change in modern China from the late Imperial Period to the present is examined.
Credits: 3

IRD 62 Research Seminar - International Relations
This course will provide students with a broad overview of IRD research and current international challenges, conflicts and historial solutions. Topics to be covered include: general principles of theory, and concepts; research design, variables and hypotheses, citations and reference; statistics and statistical analysis; international news sources and polling data; primary sources and repositories for diplomatic documents; a basic understanding of regression analysis; and the ability to create a research or policy paper as well as research reports.
Credits: 3

IRD 64 World Leaders and Foreign Policy
This course will provide students with a broad overview of IRD research. Topics to be covered include: general principles of theory, and concepts; research design, variables and hypotheses, citations and reference; statistics and statistical analysis; international news sources and polling data; primary sources and repositories for diplomatic documents; a basic understanding of regression analysis; aThis course will provide students with an overview of world leaders and foreign policy. Topics to be covered will be a historical overview of leadership, G-7 and G-20 summits, the relations between U.S. presidents and foreign allies/adversaries, diplomatic treaties and quarrels, the memoirs of foreign leaders, the role of personal diplomacy, and definitions of power, leadership and international relations policy.
Credits: 3

IRD 65 Politics of the European Union
This course covers the history, institutions and selected policies of the European Union.
Credits: 3

IRD 66 Politics of South and Southeast Asia
This course cover political developments in South and Southeast Asia in the 20th century such as: colonialism and the nationalist revolts, new governments their problems and politics, conflicts of interest of the great powers.
Credits: 3

IRD 67 Politics of East Asia
This course is an examination of the political institutions and processes of China, Japan, and Korea.
Credits: 3

IRD 68 Politics of Western Europe
This course covers internal government structures, principles and practices of leading Western European powers.
Credits: 3

IRD 69 Politics of Eastern Europe
This course covers internal government structures, principles and practices of leading Eastern European powers.
Credits: 3

IRD 70 Politics of the Middle East
This course covers internal government structures, principles and practices of selected countries in the Middle East.
Credits: 3

IRD 71 Politics of Russia
his course is an analysis of the institutions, processes and theoretical foundations of government and politics from the Imperial period to the present.
Credits: 3

IRD 72 Politics of Africa
This course covers the internal government structures, principles and practices of selected countries in Africa.
Credits: 3

IRD 73 Politics of Latin America
This course covers the internal structures, principles and practices of leading Latin American countries.
Credits: 3

IRD 91 Diplomacy and Negotiation
This course provides an introduction to the core concepts, processes, and techniques of diplomacy and negotiation. The course focuses on the role of diplomacy by individuals and governments (Track 1 diplomacy) and other types of diplomacy (Track II and III diplomacy).
Credits: 3

IRD 94 Advanced Internship
Placement with a public or private entity within the domestic or international environment provides direct experience in politics and/or law.
Credits: 3

Brooklyn Campus Curriculum

Brooklyn Campus Courses

IR 101 Great Power Politics
This course offers an overview of the dynamics of strategic interaction between great powers, including the causes of conflict, origins of alliances, logic of coercion, sources of order, and definition of national interests. In a broad historical narrative, the course will discuss how the balance of power and the nature of relations between great powers has shifted from the pre-World War II era to the Cold War (bi-polarity), the post-Cold War period (uni-polarity), and the contemporary world system (multi-polarity).
Credits: 3
Alternate Years

IR 111 Theories of International Relations
This course analyzes the role of international relations theory, from ideology to history and mythmaking, in the historical, contemporary, and future implementation of policy. Important theoretical approaches to international relations under discussion include Realism, Liberalism, Nationalism, Marxism, and Democratic Peace. A pre requisite of IR 101 is required.
Credits: 3
Alternate Years

IR 123 The Geopolitics of the Middle East
This course will focus on critical issues in the geopolitics of the Middle East region, broadly defined as extending from Libya to Iran. Students will be introduced to the forces structuring state relations in the post-Ottoman period, including pan-Arabism, Zionism, Baathism, nationalism, terrorism, democracy, and the Sunni-Shia divide. Critical junctures including Israeli independence, the Six Day War, the Iran-Iraq War, The Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Arab Spring, and the rise of ISIS will be discussed.
Credits: 3

IR 140 Global Language: Cross-Cultural Engagement
Understanding difference with a focus on nonverbal and highly differentiated cultural encounters, emphasizing self-awareness, awareness of customs, and a desire for understanding of the other.
Credits: 3

IR 201 Non-State Actors
The established model of geopolitics is predicated upon the existence of, and interactions between, states in the global system. This course will assess the impact of non-state actors ¿ such as religions, transnational corporations, human and environmental rights organizations, criminal networks, and terrorists ¿ on this model. Students will discuss whether the state system ever truly monopolized the terms of the debate in international relations, and the extent to which the contemporary state system has been compromised by the rise of increasingly salient non-state actors. Students will focus on what actions can be defined as ¿terrorist,¿ who uses them, why, and under what circumstances, as well as the determinants of their effectiveness.
Credits: 3

IR 210 International Political Economy
IPE seeks to advance knowledge of how political institutions, processes, and actors influence economic interactions, and conversely, how economic institutions, processes, and actors affect political interactions. Students will investigate the role of domestic drivers in shaping global politics as well as the influence of global drivers on domestic politics. Institutions this course will focus on include: international and regional regimes, private authority structures, welfare policies, social and environmental policies, monetary and exchange rate policies, global integration, international trade, international development and equity, international finance, multinational corporations, NGOs, and corporate social responsibility. A pre requisite of IR 101 is required.
Credits: 3

IR 234 The Geopolitics of South Central, and East Asia
This course will focus on critical issues in the geopolitics of East Asia in the post-World War II era, with particular attention paid to the evolution of China during this period, from civil war through Maoist ideology to modern superpower. Other case studies under consideration will include the Korean divide, the India-Pakistan confrontation, and the fate of Afghanistan. A pre requisite of IR 101 is required.
Credits: 3

IR 301 Race, Nationalism and Identity
This course will analyze the role of identity politics in international relations. Students will explore how the interplay between national and transnational cultural identities has driven foreign policy initiatives including support for imperialist, revanchist, and secessionist agendas. A pre requisite of IR 101 is required.
Credits: 3

IRD 50 International Organizations
A study of the origins, role, structure and function of international institutions essential to an understanding of the global system and its attempts at organization. Possible areas of study include the United Nations, the European Union, and World Trade Organizations.
Credits: 3

IR 321 Technology and International Relations
This course provides an overview of the role advances in technology have played in forcing changes to traditional assumptions about international relations. Students will focus on how breakthroughs in transportation technologies (e.g., the railroad, flight, space travel) and communications technologies (e.g., radio, TV, the Internet) have enhanced social and economic interactions globally, and how the rise of weapons of mass destruction (e.g., chemical, biological, nuclear) have altered the balance of power militarily. Students will learn about how these weapons work, why states (and increasingly, nonstate actors) seek to develop them, and attempts to prevent proliferation. A pre requisite of IR 101 is required.
Credits: 3

IR 345 The Geopolitics of Africa
This course will focus on critical issues in the geopolitics of sub-Saharan Africa in the post-World War II era, with particular attention paid to decolonization, development, national identity, sovereignty, and regional hegemony. Case studies under consideration will include the transition from Apartheid to democracy in South Africa, civil war in Liberia and Sierra Leone, the collapse of state authority in the Congo, and the persistence of anarchy in Somalia. A pre requisite of IR 101 is required.
Credits: 3