This is a core course in the discipline and the second most widely taught.  There is great variation.  The senior institutions have reclassified this as a freshman course, as did we (from 275 to 175 in 2003) and some of the syllabi are included—class simulations, for example.  Do not expect students to have map-knowledge, or to know much about the rest of the world.  American History is taught in high school, but often only 1 semester of World History.  The gaps in their knowledge-base are extraordinary. 

 Do consider asking around the department for interactive exercises, and utilize Merlot to obtain other curriculum modules.  (http://taste.merlot.org/) and learning objects.

 Course Guidelines                                      Sample Syllabi

UW Colleges Course Guide for Transfer Equivalencies

 Course number:         _Pol 72175____________________________________

 Course title:       ___International Politics______________________

 Number of credits:   _________3___________________________________________

 Course prerequisites: _None_____________________________________

 I.                   Course description for catalog and timetable use: 

Global problems, issues  and debates since the end of the Cold War, including terrorism, cultural and religious conflict and changing power relations.  Impact of social, economic and technological change and evolution of the state system.  Cooperative problem-solving and peace-making.  SS    Pre-req:  none

 II.                Course outline, including the following:

 A.      Number of contact hours/week:  ______lecture ______discussion _____lab __x___other (please describe) 3 hrs lecture/discussion

 B.     Possible textbooks:

 a.      C. W. Kegley & E. R. Wittkopf, World Politics: Trend and Transformation, P-H, current edition

b.      W. Clemens, Jr. , Dynamics of International Relations: Conflict and Mutual Gain in an Era of Global Interdependence, Rowman & Littlefield, current ed.

c.      J. T. Rourke &  M. A. Boyer.  World Politics:  International Politics on the World Stage, McGraw-Hill, current ed. 

d.      J. Goldstein.  International Relations, Longman, current edition

e.      P. Viotti and M. Kauppi.  International Relations and World Politics: Security, Economy, Identity.  P-H, current edition

f.        W. R. Duncan, B. Jancar-Webster, B. Switky, World Politics in the 21^st century, Longman, current edi.  

  C.  Detailed list of topics to be covered over the course of the semester:

1.    Trends (post-Westphalian state system), Perceptions, Challenge of interpretation;  Globalization and Nationalism (inc. culture)

2.    Rival paradigms and theoretical interpretations (Realism/neoRealism, Idealism/neo Liberalism, Hegemonic; Mercantilist, Liberal, World Structural, Eco-optimist, Eco-pessimist, Feminist, etc) [applied through courses];

3.    Three levels of analysis (system, state, individual), with examples

4.    Actors:  states, MNCs, IGOs, NGOs, etc.

5.    Great Power rivalries and Relations, with case examples

6.    Foreign Policy Making (Allison;  Jervis), with case examples

7.    Power:  broad based (political, psychological, military, economic, etc.) plus methodology

8.    Armed conflict between and within states, also other actors

9.    Military power and national security; arms control

10.        Coercive Diplomacy, deterrence, economic sanctions, bargaining, alliances.

11.            Universal and Regional Actors; Non-Governmental Actors

12.            International law, ethics, International Regimes

13.            Trade and Monetary issues and Actors in Globalized Economy

14.            Globalization and communication, migration, disease, etc.

15.            Global South and Development Issues

16.            World demographic patterns, ecological security, global commons.

D.  Description of expectations of students including:

·         College-wide proficiencies assigned to the course

o        Analysis, synthesis, Application, Evaluation

·         Department specific proficiencies assigned to the course

·         Evaluate situations of social responsibility.

·          Make decisions based on an informed understanding of the moral and ethical issues involved.

·          Understand and conduct a discussion of alternative ethical views and priorities (verbally and in writing),

·         Do so with fairness and civility

·         Amount of writing, research, use of technology, etc. that will be required

o        Essay and short-answer mix in tests,

o        research paper(s) utilizing web as well as library sources

o        online simulation exercises with discussion in groups and 5-8 page papers

o        online searches for class discussion

 III.             Transfer recommendations:

 Based on catalog descriptions of similar courses at other UW institutions (available on the web sites for those institutions), indicate the department recommendation (equivalent course name and number) for the transfer of the course to other UW institutions.

 UW-Eau Claire Pol   122___              UW-Parkside __Pol 104______________

UW-Green Bay __Pol 100_____        UW-Platteville ___Pol 3030________

UW-La Crosse _Pol 202________    UW-River Falls ___Pol 260________

UW-Madison ____Pol 103______     UW-Stevens Point __Pol 180__________

UW-Milwaukee ___Pol 175____       UW-Stout __Pol 340_________________

UW-Oshkosh ___Pol 115_____         UW-Superior __Pol 175_____

                                                            UW-Whitewater __Pol 351_______

UWC-FDL  Wall 175 (2003; Rourke & Boyer text)

UWC-MTH Burger 175 (2003, Duncan, Jancar-Webster & Switky)

UWC -WAK Hankenson 175 (2003, Goldstein) 

UW-Madison Cronin IR 103 (Larnbom and Lepgold, plus 3 supplements)

UW-Mad Shellady IR 103 (Goldstein, plus 2 Nye supplements)

UW-Mil - Heo IR  (Goldstein plus 2 supplements)

UW-EC - Majstorovic 122 IR (Kegley & Wittkopf plus Annual Editions)

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