PSC 314 G International Relations - Fall 2009

Sharon Murphy - Nazareth College of Rochester - <smurphy3@naz.edu> 


Course Description

Course Calendar 

Assignments

Model U.N. Assignment

Internet Sources 

Geography Quiz Study Sheet

Course Description

Instructor: Dr. Sharon Murphy
Telephone: 585-389-2659
Office: Golisano Academic Center, Room 457.

Fall 2009 Office Hours:
By appointment and
Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:10-5:10 p.m.
Wednesday 1:30-2:30
Fridays 12:00-1:00 p.m.

Course Description
This course is designed to introduce students to international relations, which is one of the principal subfields of political science. This semester we will take an issues oriented approach, the centerpiece being a Model United Nations in which each student will represent a particular country over the course of the semester.  Issues under study include war, nuclear proliferation, UN reform, human rights, and international law.  We will also review the history of international power struggles of the twentieth century, and theories of international relations will be studied throughout the semester. 

Goals of the Course

  1. To acquire a basic understanding of how the international state system has evolved.

  2. To learn about the new problems confronting the international community in the aftermath of the Cold War.

  3. To develop the ability to analyze events in the international arena from the perspectives of realism and idealism.

  4. To develop the ability to apply political theory to new situations.

  5. To understand that competing theories exist to explain international politics and to develop the ability to see the strengths and weaknesses in them; to foster respect for different points of view.

  6. To learn how to differentiate facts from opinion.

  7. To learn how to build and support an opinion.

  8. To evaluate the extent to which a people’s history and culture affect the foreign policy behavior of its government.

  9. To explore the role of moral values in international politics with regard both to the responsibilities of governments and of individuals.

Materials for the Course


Required:

  • Charles W. Kegley, Jr. with Shannon L. Branton, World Politics: Trend and Transformation, 12th edition.  Wadsworth/Cengage, 2010.  ISBN 13: 978-0-495-56569-7.  (The 11th edition is also okay.)
  • Daily reading, watching or listening to the international news from a reputable news source.  It is best if you access two sources, at least one of which is from outside the United States.

Recommended Text
Lester Faigley, The Brief Penguin Handbook, 3rd edition or later.  Pearson/Longman.  This book is required for all INS and PSC majors.  (Available at the campus bookstore.  Fifth edition is on reserve at the campus library.)

 

Recommended Text

Anthony C. Winkler and Jo Ray McCuen, Writing the Research Paper: A Handbook, 6th edition Boston: Thomson/Heinle, 2003. This book is required for all INS and PSC majors.  (Available at the campus bookstore.  Fifth edition is on reserve at the campus library.)

Course Requirements and Evaluation
  10% Class participation
  10% Geography Quizzes

 25%

 Model U.N. simulation: papers and participation:
  5% Country Profile from each student
  3% National Strategy Report (one from each team) 
  6% Three Position Papers from each team
  6% Three Draft Resolutions from each team
  5% Oral Participation

  15% Research paper
  20% Midterm Exam
  20% Final Exam
100%

General Academic Guidelines 

  • Students’ attendance and participation in class discussion earn credit.  Any absences will therefore be detrimental to one's final grade.
  • One-third of a letter grade will be dropped for every calendar day an assignment is late.
  • Students will not be excused from missing scheduled tests unless a letter from a physician or the Dean of  Students is  presented
  • No make-up quizzes will be given.  A student's quiz grade will be computed from the total number of quizzes taken.
  • Students who do not complete at least 65% of the course requirements (see list above) will fail the entire course.

  • 6.  Plagiarism 
    Basically, plagiarism is taking credit for someone else's work, be they words or ideas. Examples of plagiarism include turning in a paper written by someone else, or using parts of a book, article or website without acknowledging the source. (See the Brief Penguin Handbook, Part 5, Section 21C for details..)

The penalty for plagiarism is an automatic F on the test or assignment and, possibly, for the course. I will also bring you up on academic charges.
It is not difficult to avoid plagiarizing.

  • If you use a quote from someone, acknowledge it in a footnote.
  • If you paraphrase or summarize an argument, cite the source where you got the idea.
  • If you use facts and figures from some source and they are not common knowledge, note the source of your information. 

 

Students with Physical and/or Learning Disabilities 
In order to better assist you, I would appreciate hearing from anyone in this class who has a special educational need which results from a documented disability. Please see me after class or during my office hours as soon as possible.

Cell Phones must be turned off during class.