Foreign Policy of the United States

University of Glasgow

Course Description

  • Course Name

    Foreign Policy of the United States

  • Host University

    University of Glasgow

  • Location

    Glasgow, Scotland

  • Area of Study

    Political Science

  • Language Level

    Taught In English

  • Course Level Recommendations

    Upper

    ISA offers course level recommendations in an effort to facilitate the determination of course levels by credential evaluators.We advice each institution to have their own credentials evaluator make the final decision regrading course levels.

    Hours & Credits

  • Scotcat Credits

    20
  • Recommended U.S. Semester Credits
    5
  • Recommended U.S. Quarter Units
    7

  • Overview

    The aim of this course is to provide participants with the opportunity to develop their knowledge and understanding of the history, making of, and issues in US foreign policy, with a specific focus on the post-Cold War era. The course will also promote familiarity with the key theoretical explanations and engage students in contemporary academic and political debates regarding the global role of the United States. Covering political, economic and security issue-areas, we will explore how the US has dealt with the shifting distribution of international power. The course will also promote familiarity with the key theoretical and analytical explanations from International Relations (realism, liberalism, etc.) and Foreign Policy Analysis (decision-making analysis, institutionalist perspectives) to engage students in contemporary academic and political debates regarding the US? global role.
    By the end of this course students will be able to:
    • Demonstrate their conceptually sophisticated knowledge of US foreign policy, in terms of its creation, key characteristics and current developments, and global impact in the post-Cold War era.
    • Show knowledge and understanding of the work of world-leading scholars on US foreign policy ? including IR theoretical scholarship ? facilitating critical analysis of current political and academic debates on US foreign policyApply their transferrable academic and non-academic skills, specifically in terms of providing concise explanations of their arguments, utilising broad research skills and subject specific research techniques, as well as apply a range of methodologies to complex political problems.
    • Harness their critical capacity to assess both political and documentary evidence, and to make arguments in a coherent, structured and persuasive way, communicating their knowledge of US foreign policy orally and in writing, as well as engaging in debate with peers.
    • Conduct research for academic literature and primary sources via online databases and select appropriate materials to support their engagement in seminars, as well as their written work in the form of the assessed essay and examination.
    Assessment
    1. One essay of between 2,000-2,500 words (40% of final grade)
    2. One two-hour exam where students have to answer two questions (50% of final grade)
    3. Oral class participation in seminar discussions and debates; where applicable (e.g. power point presentations), written material will also be submitted (10% of final grade). Adjustments and/or alternative modes of assessment will be available for students with disabilities that hinder public speaking.

Course Disclaimer

Courses and course hours of instruction are subject to change.

Credits earned vary according to the policies of the students' home institutions. According to ISA policy and possible visa requirements, students must maintain full-time enrollment status, as determined by their home institutions, for the duration of the program.

ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits are converted to semester credits/quarter units differently among U.S. universities. Students should confirm the conversion scale used at their home university when determining credit transfer.

Please note that some courses with locals have recommended prerequisite courses. It is the student's responsibility to consult any recommended prerequisites prior to enrolling in their course.

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