University Bulletin 2002-03: International Studies Program

University Bulletin 2002-03

An interdepartmental program
International Studies

Courses of Study:

Minor
Program website: http://www.brandeis.edu/programs/interdepartmental/Intlstudies/

The undergraduate International Studies Program (ISP) is designed to familiarize students with the basic characteristics of the international system and to permit them to explore particular aspects of that system in greater depth. ISP encompasses interactions among national governments, international institutions, and international private actors, as well as the effects of those interactions on the economy, populace, and society within nations. ISP therefore deals with the interactions (or "feedback effects") between the domestic and international environments, as well as the interdependence between states.

How to Become a Program Member (Minor)

Students are required to consult with the program director as to their course of study. Program offerings are divided into a required core group and a series of elective groupings. Students are required to complete the core group (International System) consisting of three courses. Students must also select and complete three courses within a second thematic grouping of courses (except for the International Economics grouping, which requires four courses). Three of the courses submitted to fulfill program requirements must be completed outside the student's major. Students are also required to complete a substantial research paper on some aspect of the international system.

Committee

Steven Burg, Director
(Politics)

Silvia Arrom
(History)

Robert Art
(Politics)

Eugene Black
(History)

Seyom Brown
(Politics)

F. Trenery Dolbear
(Economics)

Rachel McCulloch
(Economics)

Wellington Nyangoni
(African and Afro-American Studies)

Peter Petri
(Economics)

George Ross
(Politics / Sociology)

Mireya Solis
(Politics)

Eva Thorne
(Politics)

Requirements for the Minor

Participants in the minor will be expected to meet the following requirements:

A. Satisfactory completion of the International System grouping: POL 15a (Introduction to International Relations), LGLS 125b (International Law, Organizations, and Conflict Resolution) or POL 172b (Introduction to International Political Economy) and either POL 160b (World Politics since 1945), or HIST 137a (Evolution of the International System, 1815 to the Present).

B. Satisfactory completion of three additional courses within a second thematic grouping of courses, except for the International Economics grouping which requires completion of four courses. (Note: The list of groupings and courses given below is not comprehensive. Students may offer other relevant courses with permission of the program director.)

C. Three of the courses submitted to fulfill the requirements of the minor must be from outside the student's major.

D. No course offered in the fulfillment of ISP minor may be taken pass/fail.

E. Students must complete a substantial research paper, usually in connection with one of the elective courses completed as part of the program on a topic approved by the program chair. The paper must be read and approved by one member of the program faculty in addition to the course instructor. (The course instructor remains solely responsible for grading of the paper with respect to the course.) The research paper is to be undertaken only after completion of at least four program courses, usually in the junior or senior year. A senior honors thesis completed in a department may, if appropriate, be used to fulfill this requirement.

Courses of Instruction

International System

HIST 137a
Evolution of the International System, 1815 to the Present

LGLS 125b
International Law, Organizations, and Conflict Resolution

POL 15a
Introduction to International Relations

POL 160b
World Politics since 1945

Africa

AAAS 80a
Economy and Society in Africa

AAAS 85a
Survey of Southern African History

AAAS 163b
Africa in World Politics

AAAS 164a
Changing Institutions of Contemporary Africa

ANTH 133a
Tradition and the Contemporary Experience in Sub-Saharan Africa