2024-2025 Academic Catalog
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
Welcome to Virginia Tech! We are excited that you are here planning your time as a Hokie.
The International Studies Program offers five (5) majors, leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies (BAIS). The majors of the BAIS degree are:
Students pursuing these majors are prepared to continue their studies in graduate or law school or immediately apply their skills and knowledge in various professional settings because of the broad applicability of the range of intellectual perspectives and theoretical traditions they are trained in, the global cultural learning to which they are exposed, the competencies they develop in research, writing, and analytical thinking, and the proficiencies they gain in critical foreign languages. Rooted in a strong liberal arts curriculum, the International Studies Program prepares students to enter careers in government service (Department of State, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, the intelligence community), Foreign Service, think tanks, teaching, journalism, international governmental and non-governmental organizations, and global companies based in Virginia, nationally, and internationally.
Students may choose to pursue one of the five majors offered by the International Studies Program. In this case, no course can double count within or between International Studies-related majors with the exception of IS 1004 Nations and Nationalities,IS 1034 Introduction to International Studies and Political Science IS 2004 Research and Writing in International Studies, IS 2054 Introduction to World Politics, IS 2064 The Global Economy and World Politics, IS 2084 The Evolution of World Order, IS 3115 Selected World Problems, and IS 3116 Selected World Problems .
All students who wish to obtain a major offered by the International Studies Program must complete:
The International Studies (IS) major is the broadest and most interdisciplinary major of the BAIS degree that offers students the opportunity to learn about foreign cultures, religions, languages, economics, and history. The curriculum is highly interdisciplinary in orientation and is designed to introduce students to a wide range of perspectives in understanding international politics, foreign cultures, and global processes. Whether or not students pursue careers directly related to world affairs, the understandings gained in this major provide students with a broad perspective on the world and the United States' place in it. In addition to major requirements in international studies and political science, students pursuing this major complete a wide range of courses in economics, geography, foreign languages, history, religion and culture, sociology, and other disciplines.
The International Relations (IREL) major focuses on the analysis of the political, societal, cultural, ethical, and normative aspects of international relations, as well as offering students a rigorous international and comparative perspective on the contemporary global system. It emphasizes a solid grounding in the methods of analysis used in the social sciences and the field of international relations to help students think critically about international phenomena and analyze the choices and challenges that arise in this arena. It seeks to foster creative thinking about complex global problems and produce competitive graduates and enlightened citizens who possess the necessary knowledge and skills that allow them not only to successfully pursue careers in their chosen field but, most importantly, serve their communities and the nation.
The National Security and Foreign Affairs (NSFA) major offers students expertise and understanding of the broad range of threats to national and global security in the 21st century and equips them with the necessary knowledge and skills that allow them to successfully pursue careers in diplomacy and international organizations. The National Security and Foreign Affairs (NSFA) major analyzes the role of diplomacy in the management of world affairs and examines in-depth U.S. grand strategy and foreign policy; the current and future global geopolitical environment that affect the U.S. and its interests; the ends, ways, and means that impact the use of military force; the role and impact of economic power on world affairs; the informational issues that contribute to the holistic implementation of strategy, and counterterrorism and homeland security. It is designed to connect theory and practice thereby providing a hands-on, practical approach to the field that equips students with the tools to analyze threats that challenge U.S. security both at home and abroad.
The Environment, Development, and Global Economy (EDGE) major is a successor to the former International Public Policy major. EDGE is designed to help students analyze the choices and challenges that arise in the global economic system and equip them with a better understanding of how states and societies can pursue their economic goals in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner. It emphasizes the role of international organizations in the global economy and in development, as well as help students think critically about globalization and its impact on both developed and developing countries, sustainable development, and the fight against global poverty. Its purpose is to relate theory to practice and provide students with a breadth of knowledge and training in the various facets of sustainable international development and the sub-fields of governance and political economy, environment and development, and international public health. It seeks to prepare students for a fast-growing number and variety of careers in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of development programs, working for governments, international organizations, NGOs, and private companies.
The European & Transatlantic Studies (EUTS) major has been designed in response to the growing need for a new generation of scholars and analysts to address issues pertaining to Europe and the relations between the European Union and the United States (transatlantic relations). The purpose of the European & Transatlantic Studies program is to provide its students with the knowledge, skills and competencies necessary to enable them to pursue successful careers both in the public and private sector. Students pursuing a major in European & Transatlantic Studies will examine the historical, political, security, geostrategic, economic (trade, finance, and business), and societal (ethnic, cultural, and religious) aspects of European and transatlantic affairs. They will also gain competence in at least one foreign language. The study of Europe includes the following sub-regions: Western, Central & Eastern Europe; Russia and Eurasia; the Balkans and the Mediterranean region (North Africa & the Middle East), and the broader transatlantic space (relations between Europe, Africa, North America, and Central & Latin America).
Please see http://liberalarts.vt.edu/academics/majors-and-minors/international-studies-major.html for more information.
The curriculum is designed to provide foundational and development courses, major-specific study, and a capstone experience. Students are introduced to concepts early in the undergraduate career, and the curriculum allows them to build knowledge and skills as they work on increasingly complex tasks. They also develop skills in written, spoken, and visual communication across their studies in the major. At the foundational level, students in every major are required to take the same introductory courses. Then students move into major-relevant specialized courses, and finally join together in the senior year to work on a capstone experience.
The International Studies Program offers eight (8) minors, open to all majors at Virginia Tech.
For the 18-hour minor, students enroll in three required courses and choose other three courses from the minor elective list. Please see http://liberalarts.vt.edu/academics/majors-and-minors/international-studies-major.html for details.
The minor in Global Engagement (GLBE) offers a "hands on" – "minds on" approach to the understanding of global affairs. Adopting an experiential learning approach, this minor seeks to encourage and reward Virginia Tech students who wish to explore and study the "international" through a variety of educational tools, such as study abroad, in-class simulations, participation in various international organizations models (e.s., Model UN, Model NATO, Model OAS), field studies, undergraduate research, internships and externships, and educational programs and engagement opportunities offered by U.S. national federal agencies and other organizations, such as the Department of State (e.s., Diplomacy Lab and Foreign Policy Classroom), the Council of Foreign Relations, and the U.S. Institute for Peace.
The minor in International Studies (IS) offers students an interdisciplinary approach to the study of global affairs. The purpose of the program is threefold: first, to supplement the knowledge and skills that students have acquired through their major field of study with knowledge about the global political and economic system and the global forces and processes that shape our daily lives; second, to further students' critical and analytical skills; and third, to create knowledgeable and enlightened citizens and global leaders.
The minor in International Relations (IREL) is designed to offer students a rigorous international and comparative perspective on the contemporary global system. It focuses on the changing political and cultural relations within the international system in the modern era, exploring how global, regional, and domestic factors influence relations between actors on the world stage. Students are equipped with both the foundational skills and specific knowledge necessary to analyze the choices and challenges that arise in this arena. The program seeks to provide a hands-on, practical approach to the field that would equip students with the analytic tools, language expertise, and cross-cultural understanding necessary to pursue successful careers in government, Foreign Service, and international organizations.
The minor in National Security and Foreign Affairs (NSFA) analyzes the role of diplomacy in the management of world affairs and provides a hands-on, practical approach to security analysis that would equip students with the tools to analyze threats that challenge US security both at home and abroad. The program seeks to supplement the knowledge and skills that students have acquired through their major field of study with expertise and understanding of the broad range of threats to national and global security in the 21st century, as well as to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills that would allow them to successfully pursue careers in diplomacy and international organizations.
The minor in Global Development and Political Economy (GDPE) is a unique interdisciplinary minor that exposes students to the study of the global political economy, global economic processes, and challenges of sustainable development. It is designed for students who wish to develop the analytical and leadership skills necessary to formulate and advocate policy on key international issues of social and environmental sustainability, the critical analysis of global processes, and issues of global equity and justice. It seeks to provide students with a detailed and systematic understanding of how political institutions, processes, and public policies operate in world affairs. The program brings together the academic study of international relations with theoretical description and analysis of global social and economic processes and formal methods of social and economic analysis. The program seeks to prepare students for a fast-growing number and variety of careers in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of development programs, employment with governments, international organizations, NGOs, and private companies.
The minor in European Studies (EUST) seeks to provide students with knowledge, skills and competencies pertaining to European affairs to enable them to pursue successful careers both in the public and private sectors. It focuses on the study of the historical, political, security, geostrategic, economic (trade, finance, and business), and societal (ethnic, cultural, and religious) aspects of European affairs. The study of Europe includes the following sub-regions: Western, Central & Eastern Europe; Russia and Eurasia; the Balkans and the Mediterranean region (North Africa & the Middle East). This minor also focuses on the study of the relations between the European Union and the various world regions, s well as its relations with major great powers (e.s., the United States, Russia, and China) and international organizations (e.s., the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the IMF/World Bank).
The experiential learning minor in European Engagement (EURE) offers a "hands on" – "minds on" approach to the understanding of European affairs. It seeks to encourage and reward Virginia Tech students who wish to explore and study European affairs through a variety of educational tools, such as study abroad, in-class simulations, participation in various European organizations models (e.s., Model NATO, Model European Council, etc.), field studies, undergraduate research, internships and externships, and educational programs and engagement opportunities offered by the European Union and its Diplomatic Delegation in Washington DC, as well as by NATO and the Atlantic Council of the United States.
The minor in Transatlantic Studies equips students with knowledge about the political, economic, security, religious, and cultural ties binding European states and the states in the Americas (especially North America) together. Whether individual European countries, individual EU Members States or the European Union as a whole are all seen as the United States’ strategic allies or competitors, it is important for students interested in pursuing careers in the Federal Government (especially at the Department of State, the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community), as well as in the private sector (banking, multinational companies, consulting firms, etc.) to learn about the issues that bound Europe and the United States together.
University policy requires that students demonstrate their progress toward the degree by meeting minimum requirements.
To proceed satisfactorily toward a degree, students who pursue the majors in Environment, Development, and Global Economy (EDGE – formerly the major in International Public Policy), International Relations (IREL), International Studies (IS), and National Security & Foreign Affairs (NSFA) must complete IS 1004 Nations and Nationalities, IS 1034 Introduction to International Studies and Political Science, IS 2004 Research and Writing in International Studies, IS 2054 Introduction to World Politics, IS 2064 The Global Economy and World Politics, IS 2084 The Evolution of World Order and Foreign language 2105 & 2106 by the end of the semester in which 60 hours have been attempted; must maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.0 and must maintain an in-major GPA of 2.0.
To proceed satisfactorily toward a degree, students who pursue the major in European & Transatlantic Studies (EUTS) must complete IS 1004 Nations and Nationalities, IS 1024 Comp Gov & Politics, IS 1034 Introduction to International Studies and Political Science, IS 1104 Introduction to European Studies, IS 2004 Research and Writing in International Studies, HIST 1026 Introduction to European History, IS 2084 The Evolution of World Order, HIST 2114 Topics and Critical Issues in European History and Foreign Language 2105 & 2106 by the end of the semester in which 60 hours have been attempted; must maintain an overall GPA of at least 2.0 and must maintain an in major GPA of 2.0.
Students who fall below the standard for either the overall GPA or the in-major GPA will have one semester to regain the required GPA standards. A student who fails to make satisfactory progress toward degree after that semester will be disallowed from continuing in the major.
Director of International Studies: Dr. Besnik Pula
First-year and incoming transfer student advisor: Jennifer Hanratty
Sophomore, junior, and senior student advisor: Phoebe Peterson
For a full list of faculty, please see the Department of Political Science.
Introduction to world and American ethnic and indigenous cultures and to social constructions of human and group identity, nationalism and extreme ethno-nationalism. History of the political, economic, and cultural transition from primordial communities to sovereign states. Introduction to the rise of racism, sexism, ethnicism, classism, nativism, xenophobia, etc. in modern societies and episodes of mass political violence including ethnic cleansing and genocide.
Government and politics of selected countries outside the United States; nature of politics and government, types of political systems, linkages of people and governments, and current political issues.
Introduces students to the fields of International Studies and Political Science and their respective subfields. Familiarizes students with the undergraduate programs in International Studies and Political Science and emphasizes student preparation for careers in the respective fields. Focuses on inquiry, problem-solving, integration of ideas and experiences with a focus on International Studies and Political Science. Familiarizes students with the basic principles of the research and writing process.
Multidisciplinary analysis of core issues and topics in European studies. Current affairs, politics, economics, culture, religions, society and history. Regional and individual country perspectives. Basic research techniques and evaluation of sources.
Multidisciplinary analysis of core issues and topics in transatlantic studies. Origins and evolution of transatlantic interactions. Historical, political, economic, cultural (including language and literature), civilizational, religious, and societal ties binding Europe and the Americas. Basic research techniques and evaluation of sources.
Examination of the impact of culture in world politics. Topics under examination include: culture and global diversity; culture, identity, and order in world politics; international conflict and intercultural relations. Extensive use of case studies. May be repeated twice with different content for a maximum of three (3) credits.
Introduces the research and writing process in the field of International Studies. Addresses topics such as selecting and planning a research project, conceptualizing a research design, gathering and analyzing data, interpreting the results and writing a report. Prioritizes research within a framework of rigorous, well-rounded and thorough practices of research ethics. Emphasizes intercultural and diverse research and practices.
Geographical dimensions of global conflicts, international management of conflicts, conflicts of differences, historical, ideological, failed states and resources will be examined. Background to conflicts, current status of conflicts, different points of view in conflict. Topics in the course will change as the geography of global conflict changes.
Explores the history of food production and processing relative to the commencement or continuation of conflict. Examines why and how wars have been fought over economic policies, food trade and control of food supplies. Examines efforts to protect food and water supplies from intentional contamination and acts of terrorism. Focus on food products and the preservation, processing and distribution technologies that arose from war and conflict.
An introduction to the prevalent methods and theories in the study of world politics. Topics include: historical context of contemporary world politics, global actors and power relations, conflict and conflict resolution, international law, and contemporary global issues.
Introduction to theories and methods in the study of global political economy. Topics include: historical origins, comparative advantage, the factor endowment trade theory, the gold standard, economic nationalism, the Great Depression, the Bretton Woods System, Keynesianism, the Nixon shocks, international organizations, monetary governance, the Great Recession, poverty and underdevelopment, and contemporary challenges of income inequality within and among economies.
A historical and comparative study of states systems (i.e, ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary states system). Emphasis on the globalization of the European states system, its various aspects (political, economic, cultural, religious, civilizational, and technological) and its implications for contemporary world order (i.e., the question of human equality and the impact of colonialism and post-colonialism on the question of social, political and economic justice).
Examination of the politics, economics, culture, society, population patterns, and history of individual European countries. Impact of individual European states’ domestic affairs on their respective European sub-regions and Europe as a whole. Analysis of intra-European regional developments. Examination of differing country perspectives on European integration.
Examination of transatlantic political, security and economic institutions, such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and the Organization for Security & Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Impact of domestic politics and external policies on the operation of transatlantic institutions. US-European relations and their impact on transatlantic institutions and European security. Bilateral political links between European and North America States (i.e., the UK-US- Canada, and France-Canada) and their impact on transatlantic relations and European security.
Geographical dimensions of the global economy since World War II. Globalization and the emergence of a new international division of labor. The relative decline of the United States and the growth of Japan, East Asia and the European Union. Changing geographies of foreign direct investment location. Places and regions in geo-economic discourse. Population and resources issues in the early twenty-first century.
Europe: as an idea, as a place, as a space, and as a political entity. Basic knowledge of Europe’s historical physical environments, political geography, population distribution, varied cultures, and economic development. Cultural variations and their implications on settlement patterns, political divisions, and economic patterns and processes.
Investigation of the categories of religion and secularity as they apply to war and peace. Analysis of episodes from both past and present in which religion seems to have played a role. Introduction to research skills related to the study of religion and violence, building from theoretical and historical considerations.
Investigation of religion and politics as distinct categories in different times and places. Analysis of episodes from both past and present in which religion and politics have come together, or have been kept apart. Examination of the roles religion and politics play in the modern world and how they impact the lived experience of diverse populations both in the United States and throughout the world.
Designed to teach students how to synthesize skills and information learned in their Political Science and International Studies classes. Exploration of various career options, graduate school options, and proper procedures for seeking and applying for employment and graduate school. Introduction to professionalism in the workplace and professional development in the area of political science and international studies. Junior Standing.
Role of the discipline of geography in the origins, procedures, and history of CIA. Role of the CIA in providing national intelligence at both strategic and operational levels. Origins and changes to the CIA since WWII. Capabilities to support both policy-makers and national security entities. Case studies illustrating the CIAs operations in different regions of the world.
Introduces students to theoretical, technological, and policy debates in Internet governance. Topics include multistakeholder governance, cybersecurity and cybercrime, network investigative techniques, data protection, vulnerability disclosure, use of anonymity-granting technologies, network neutrality, virtual currencies, big data, algorithmic bias and decision-making, politics of the domain name system, privacy, free expression, cross-border dispute resolution, data ownership, and challenges to state authority.
Introduction to dual-use anonymity-granting technologies such as the Dark Web. Covers open source threat intelligence as a technique to assess trends and trajectories in anonymous online content. Substantive topics include the use of Dark Web technologies for political expression in repressive regimes, anonymity and privacy protection in an age of big data as well as the misuse of these tools for doxing, trolling, and the creation of illegal markets for drugs, guns, malicious software, human trafficking, and child abuse imagery. Junior Standing.
Focuses on how scholars, pundits, citizens, and policymakers think about food on local, national, and global scales. Explores various ways of producing, distributing, and consuming food and how they are implicated in specific organizations of power and possibility. Examines how food, and the discourses surrounding food, help structure understandings of a variety of issues, such as identity, property, labor, gender, race, responsibility, and death.
Introduces the various theoretical approaches to security. Examines key concepts in the field of Security Studies, such as uncertainty, polarity, war, coercion, terrorism, intelligence, genocide, crimes against humanity, ethnic conflict, and human security.
Explores various theoretical approaches to security and discusses traditional and non-traditional security issues. Focuses on global, international and regional security challenges and examines alternative strategic and tactical solutions for addressing them.
Selected world problems and how they affect various countries and regions. Each semester, a topic will be chosen. 3115: World problems in a global or regional context. 3116: World problems in a European context. 3115 and/or 3116 may be repeated for a combined maximum of 9 credit hours.
Selected world problems and how they affect various countries and regions. Each semester, a topic will be chosen. 3115: World problems in a global or regional context. 3116: World problems in a European context. 3115 and/or 3116 may be repeated for a combined maximum of 9 credit hours.
Introduces students to the field of Intelligence Studies. Focuses on the structure, role and capabilities of the U.S. intelligence community and investigates the relationship between intelligence and national security strategy. Addresses topics pertaining to data collection and intelligence analysis, covert operations and counterintelligence. 3125: Intelligence and National Security. 3126: The Intelligence Process.
Introduces students to the field of Intelligence Studies. Focuses on the structure, role and capabilities of the U.S. intelligence community and investigates the relationship between intelligence and national security strategy. Addresses topics pertaining to data collection and intelligence analysis, covert operations and counterintelligence. 3125: Intelligence and National Security. 3126: The Intelligence Process.
Focuses on the causes, legal and moral constraints, impacts, and consequences of conflict and war. Explores historical and contemporary cases of conflict and war and investigates the role of state and non-state actors in these conflicts. Examines the impact of technology, religion, culture and identity on the present and future of war.
3135: Analyzes the theory and practice of conventional warfare and investigates how strategic thought has influenced and shaped modern warfare. 3136: Examines the theory and practice of irregular warfare and focuses on the theory and practice of counterinsurgency and counterterrorism.
3135: Analyzes the theory and practice of conventional warfare and investigates how strategic thought has influenced and shaped modern warfare. 3136: Examines the theory and practice of irregular warfare and focuses on the theory and practice of counterinsurgency and counterterrorism.
Examines the norms, institutions, practices and processes developed by the international community to address global problems such as poverty, pandemics, global warming, displaced persons and transnational crime. Utilizes theories of decision- and policy-making and investigates the role of states, international governmental and non- governmental organizations, coalitions and corporations in global public policy-making.
Examines in depth selected global public policies pertaining to health, energy, environment, development, education, refugees or labor. May be repeated with different content for a maximum of nine (9) credits.
Focuses on the operations of global trading system and its structure, theories of trade in international political economy, world trading powers and international and regional trade international organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), the European Union (EU), the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMC), European Union (EU), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and their policies.
3165: International Trade - Focuses on the operations of global and regional international organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), the European Union (EU), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the United Nations Industrial Organization (UNIDO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and examines their policies and regulations. 3166: International Finance - Focuses on the operations of global and regional international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, the European Union (EU), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and examines their policies and regulations.
3165: International Trade - Focuses on the operations of global and regional international organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), the European Union (EU), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the United Nationa Industrial Organization (UNIDO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and examines their policies and regulations. 3166: International Finance - Focuses on the operations of global and regional international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, the European Union (EU), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and examines their policies and regulations.
Focuses on the evolution the operations of global and structure of regional international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, the global financial and monetary order. Theories of the global and monetary system in international political economy, the structure of world finance, international financial institutions, the rise of new financial powers in the world economy, central banking, monetary and financial regulation and financial crises and policy responses.
3175: The Politics of Development - Examines issues and politics of the developing world and investigates the forces that promote or cut off economic development in low-income countries. Discusses development issues in various world regions. 3176: Economic Development - Emphasizes economic development and focuses on domestic and international policies aiming at addressing poverty in the developing world.
3175: The Politics of Development - Examines issues and politics of the developing world and investigates the forces that promote or cut off economic development in low-income countries. Discusses development issues in various world regions. 3176: Economic Development - Emphasizes economic development and focuses on domestic and international policies aiming at addressing poverty in the developing world.
Introduces the field of human security and examines the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological issues surrounding it. Identifies the relevant human security actors, explores the tools of human security, and discusses the application of human security. Investigates the implications of human security and discusses its future.
Examines the fundamentals of nuclear strategy and investigates the politics associated with the acquisition and proliferation of nuclear weapons. Focuses on nuclear doctrines and policies and explores international efforts associated with nuclear arms control and disarmament. Analyzes the nuclear postures of various nuclear states.
Critical examination of major global environmental problems from a humanities perspective, including international community responses to global environmental problems such as global warming, atmospheric ozone depletion, acid rain, tropical deforestation, toxic waste. Actions by key actors in the international community to develop solutions. Relationship of justice, fairness, equality, and diversity to political questions of power or authority. Pre: 3 credits of Critical Issues in a Global Context.
Critical and humanistic perspectives of energy and its global problems. Politics and ethics of fuel extraction, distribution, and consumption across cultures and histories. Energy narratives, discourses, and aesthetics in the formation of political identities. Energy and the rise of modern democracy and global capitalism, with an emphasis on the energy dimensions of climate justice. Pre: Junior Standing.
Theories and politics of international migration. How policies in destination, transit, and origin countries influence migration. Why governments adopt the migration policies they do. Impacts of global, regional, and national politics and policies on migration among countries.
Theories of citizenship applied across levels of government. Comparative policies for political, social, and military inclusion. Explanations for variations in policies supporting citizenship and inclusion across countries. Explanations for differences among immigrants’ political inclusion across countries.
Introduction to the political systems of Latin American countries, including legislative-executive relations, interest groups, political parties, electoral systems, political violence, and socio-political development.
The government and politics of selected European states and of the European Union. 3515: normally includes the United Kingdom. 3516: normally includes Germany and Hungary.
The government and politics of selected European states and of the European Union. 3515: normally includes the United Kingdom. 3516: normally includes Germany and Hungary.
Institutions, party structures, political economy, elite politics, ethnic conflicts, leadership dynamics, and mass political behavior in Russia and other post-communist political systems.
Survey of major concepts and themes in the study of African politics and development: analyses of the state, political institutions, social forces, democratization, sustainable development, issues of contemporary African politics.
Economic policies and collective choice processes of pre-industrial, industrializing, and advanced industrial states; problems and crises of industrial development, economic distribution, and technological transfer in the transition from an agrarian to advanced industrial society.
Introduction to governmental institutions, patterns of political organization and behavior, and key policies of the Japanese political system.
Introduction to governmental institutions, political behavior, and social and economic policy approaches of China and other selected countries in the Asian region.
Government and politics of Middle Eastern states. Religion, culture and society in the Middle East. Nationalism and Middle East politics. Regional conflicts and regional security. International relations of the Middle East. Great powers and Middle East politics. May be repeated twice with different content for a maximum of nine (9) credits.
Structure and development of the modern international system, theories of international policies, international law; international organizations.
Structure and development of the modern international system; theories of international policies; international law; international organizations.
Focuses on actors, issues, and processes pertaining to foreign policy formulation and implementation. Examines theoretical and historical perspectives on foreign policy analysis. Investigates the national security, foreign policy, and diplomacy nexus. Discusses type of diplomacy and diplomatic methods.
3625: Formulation of American foreign policy; roles of the President; Congress; press; public; and bureaucracy; central themes, issues, and problems of American diplomacy; 3626: Development and operational practices of Russian foreign policy decision-making in the international environment; party and state political institutions; Marxist-Lenninist ideology.
3625: Formulation of American foreign policy; roles of the President, Congress, press, and bureaucracy; central themes, issues, and problems of American diplomacy; 3626: Development and operational practices of Russian foreign policy decision-making in the international environment; party and state political institutions; Marxist-Leninist ideology.
Identification, articulation and clarification of the relationship between human rights and other contemporary international phenomena, issues, events, and processes that affect human rights. Detailed consideration of the diverse traditions and cultural interpretations of human rights.
Critical issues in religion in the Middle East. Competing methods for analyzing religion in the Middle East. Key concepts relating to religion and inter-religious relations in the Middle East such as minority, majority, tolerance, citizenship, and family law. Critical thinking about the relationship between Islam and other religions with particular reference to Muslim-Jewish and Muslim-Christian relations.
Assessment of theoretical and conceptual foundations to understand the rise of far-right violence in the United States. Identification of causes of radicalization into the far-right. Comparison of case studies of historical and contemporary far-right violence. Evaluation of differences and similarities in historical and contemporary case studies. Appraisal of successful responses to far-right violence.
Focuses on the causes of war and the conditions of peace. Examines the logic, levels, and outcomes of strategy and investigates the impact of international law and politics on the use of force. Explores contemporary strategic theory and discusses current issues in grand strategy.
Post-1945 strategic problems, policies, and security commitments of major participants in international politics, especially the United States and Russia; effects of security policies on international and domestic political economies.
Evaluation of theories and concepts used to analyze terrorism and counterterrorism. Identification and analysis of origins, causes, and consequences of terrorism globally. Comparison of historical and contemporary terrorism and counterterrorism. Appraisal of how histories of colonialism and the growth of new media affect terrorism and responses to terrorism. Identification of successful counterterrorism methods, strategies and practices. Evaluation of ethics and human rights in global counterterrorism. 3795: histories, origins, and spread of terrorism; 3796: strategies and practices of counterterrorism.
Evaluation of theories and concepts used to analyze terrorism and counterterrorism. Identification and analysis of origins, causes, and consequences of terrorism globally. Comparison of historical and contemporary terrorism and counterterrorism. Appraisal of how histories of colonialism and the growth of new media affect terrorism and responses to terrorism. Identification of successful counterterrorism methods, strategies and practices. Evaluation of ethics and human rights in global counterterrorism. 3795: histories, origins, and spread of terrorism; 3796: strategies and practices of counterterrorism.
Analysis of the process of industrial, political, legal, economic, social and cultural integration of states in Europe as a whole or within a European sub-region. History and theories of European integration. Examination of various European organizations whose actions reflect different approaches to and different degrees of integration in Europe.
Evolution, organizational structure, political dynamics, and decision-making mechanisms of the European Union. Major internal and external EU policies such as foreign, security and defense policy, economics, Single Market, and monetary union.
The European Union (EU) as an actor in the foreign, security and defense policy fields. The external relations of the EU and its role in world affairs. The institutional arrangements of EU external relations and EU activity in policy areas including human rights, peacekeeping, environmental governance, trade, and economic development.
The global strategy and foreign policy objectives of the European Union and the evolving relations between the EU and the rest of the world. EU’s role in world affairs. 3825: EU’s global strategy and its relations with major world powers, such as the United States, Russia, and China. 3826: EU’s global strategy and its relations with countries in various world regions as well as global multilateral organizations, such as the United Nations (UN) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The global strategy and foreign policy objectives of the European Union and the evolving relations between the EU and the rest of the world. EU’s role in world affairs. 3825: EU’s global strategy and its relations with major world powers, such as the United States, Russia, and China. 3826: EU’s global strategy and its relations with countries in various world regions as well as global multilateral organizations, such as the United Nations (UN) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Structure and function of major European security organizations, such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union (EU), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). In-depth analysis of those organizations’ role in the European security architecture. Examination of inter-organizational cooperation in addressing European security issues and conflicts.
Impact of Geography on European politics and economics. Significance of territorial, identity, networking and environmental geopolitics. Theoretical debates in the fields of political and population geography. Current culture and demographic challenges and geopolitical disputes within Europe and particularly between the European Union (EU) and its neighboring world regions.
The European Union’s major institutions and policies relating to economic and monetary union and trade. Monetary integration, fiscal and economic policy cooperation, financial integration (including the banking union), the single market and the common commercial policy, the common agricultural policy and the EU’s regional policy. The internal structure and organization of the European political economy and the external dimension of Europe and its impact on global economics, ranging from the World Trade Organization to EU enlargement and the Developing World.
Political, legal, economic, socio-cultural, technological and environmental issues and policies affecting the operation and strategies of foreign companies in Europe. Business operations inside and outside the European Union. Impact of EU policies and the EU legal framework on business strategies and policies of non-EU companies. Business strategy for the European market, marketing and human resources management in Europe, and corporate governance and control in Europe. Pre: Junior Standing.
The impact of religion and culture in contemporary European politics and societies. Nationalism versus European cosmopolitanism. Religion, religious radicalism and religious tolerance in Europe. Culture and society in European urban and rural areas. Attitudes towards women and LGBTQ in Europe. Social foundations and cultural determinants of marginalization of social groups, migrants and refugees.
Analysis of the post- World War II transatlantic relations. Origins and historical context of the transatlantic partnership. Impact of the changing security context and domestic politics on the evolution of transatlantic relations. Causes of tensions and discord between the United States and its European allies and their impact on European security and world order.
Microeconomics, macroeconomics and economic policies of the European Union. EU economic law, institutions, decision-making, and budgeting. Historic and current influences on regional economic development. Monetary and fiscal policies. Economic research methods, analysis, and reporting.
Examination of historical, cultural, and civilizational approaches to the study of ties binding Europe and North America. Exploration of the role of identity and national interests in the analysis of transatlantic relations. Investigation of the causes of tensions between the United States and its European allies and the management of these tensions.
Origins and evolution of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Organizational structure, decision and policy-making, missions, and operations. NATO and the European Union's Common Foreign and Security policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP). Impact of domestic politics and external policies on the operation of NATO and European security.
Participation in an approved study abroad program without direct supervision of the Va Tech faculty but with required enrollment in an approved program of study in a foreign university.
Participation in an approved Study Abroad program without direct supervision of the Virginia Tech faculty but with required enrollment in an approved program of study in an international university. Course represents three billable hours and no academic credit.
Participation in an approved Study Abroad program without direct supervision of the Virginia Tech faculty but with required enrollment in an approved program of study in an international university. Course represents four billable hours and no academic credit.
Participation in an approved Study Abroad program without direct supervision of the Virginia Tech faculty but with required enrollment in an approved program of study in an international university. Course represents six billable hours and no academic credit.
Interdepartmental seminar to synthesize and articulate basic assumptions, theories, and methods of international studies. Senior standing in IS and instructor consent required.
Utilizes development, gender, and social theory to examine the impact of aid programs on communities in the Third World. Analyzes such issues as the impact of development projects in agriculture, natural resources, and employment on the local people, the impact of aid on women; and the policies and administrative structures that direct the world of international development.
In-depth analysis of selected topics in diplomacy, strategy, and national security including issues pertaining to international conflict and cooperation; dimensions of national power; objectives of national policy and implementation of national strategy; diplomatic negotiations; and conflict resolution. Senior Standing.
Examines the fundamentals of policy analysis and formulation and emphasizes research and writing on topics pertaining to diplomacy, security, and foreign policy. Focuses on policy analysis and evaluation and concentrates on policy design. Emphasizes preparation and presentation of policy reports. May be taken three times for credit with different policy topics. Pre: Junior Standing.
Comparative perspectives on global communication systems; problems with the flow of information; roles of international organizations; mass communication and national development; implications for conflict resolution; selected case studies. Senior standing required or instructor consent required.
Examines theoretical and historical approaches to global political economy and assesses their practical implications. Focuses on issue areas such as production, trade, money, finance and investment and analyzes their implications for the global economic and political order. Investigates issues pertaining to economies of development and in transition. Senior Standing.
Examines how economic and political forces interact in the developing world, discusses the history of these interactions from the pre-colonial period to the present and explores how colonialism shaped the developing worlds economic and political trajectories. Utilizes case studies, historical analysis and development economics to better understand the economic and political condition of countries in the developing world. Senior Standing.
Analyses the politics of cybercrime, cyberwar, and the challenges of producing effective cybersecurity. Topics include the economics of cybersecurity, the cross-border nature of global cybercrime, encryption and anonymity-granting technologies, targeting critical national infrastructure, network investigative techniques, cybersecurity measurement, politics of zero-day vulnerabilities, and the process of providing effective cybersecurity at the individual, organizational, subnational, and national levels.
Selected issues pertaining to European Studies, such as racism in Europe, European art and society, religion and society in Europe, gender politics, and demographic trends in Europe. May be repeated twice with different content for a maximum of nine (9) credits. Pre: Senior Standing.
Governmental and non-governmental actors in environmental policy, climate, energy, health, agricultural, education, industrial, social or similar policymaking. EU organizational structures and decision-making mechanisms. Public opinion. Analysis of policy results and effectiveness. May be repeated twice with different content for a maximum of nine (9) credits.
Research and analysis of selected issues pertaining to European integration. Democracy and European governance. Nationalism and European integration. Impact of fascism and racism on European integration. Integration of refugees and migrants in European societies. May be repeated twice with different content for a maximum of nine (9) credits.
Independent research project focusing on contemporary Europe. Identifying a topic of inquiry, formulating a research question, conducting a literature review, and preparing a research proposal. Collecting, evaluating and analyzing data, composing a research paper and presenting the research findings. Topics may originate from any discipline contributing to European studies. Pre: Senior Standing.
Research and analysis of selected post World War II political, diplomatic and security issues pertaining to transatlantic relations. Topics under examination include: US-EU relations and European security; the transatlantic partnership and world order; transatlantic politics and the global economic system; causes of the transatlantic divide; British foreign policy, transatlantic relations and European security. May be repeated twice with different content for a maximum of nine (9) credits.
Research and analysis of selected issues pertaining to transatlantic studies. Topics under examination include: religion and the transatlantic world; the political economy of the transatlantic slave trade; and the role of culture, language, and literature in cementing transatlantic ties. May be repeated twice with different content for a maximum of nine (9) credits.
Science, causes and impacts of climate change. Mitigation and adaptation measures to address the causes and impacts of climate change. International climate change policy, with attention to the policy making process, in particular the role of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and climate negotiations. Science and diplomacy in climate negotiations to achieve successful outcomes. The ethical and social implications of climate change policies.
Independent research project focusing on issues and topics pertaining to transatlantic studies. Identifying a topic of inquiry, formulating a research question, conducting a literature review, and preparing a research proposal. Collecting, evaluating and analyzing data, composing a research paper and presenting the research findings. Topics may originate from any discipline contributing to transatlantic studies. Pre: Senior Standing
Selected topics in international relations, including objectives of national policy; dimensions and components of national power; comparative diplomacy; international conflict and cooperation; instruments of conflict resolution. Topics vary from semester to semester as announced. Must have senior standing and any two of the prerequisites.
Theoretical, analytical, and methodological approaches used to assess government activities and public policy. Topics vary from semester to semester as announced. Must have senior standing.
Examines alternative perspectives on peace, security, and international intervention and their implications for policy. Focuses on the role of international organizations and other actors in conflict resolution and peace-building and explores issues pertaining to humanitarian intervention, human security, and state-building. Utilizes case studies in peacekeeping and peace building to highlight the link between theory and practice.
Simulation of diplomatic practice in major global and regional international organizations. Diplomatic strategies and tactics. Effects of decision-making and policy-making structures and processes on diplomatic outcomes. Crisis management and conflict resolutions mechanisms. Diplomatic negotiations and diplomatic resolutions. Extensive use of simulations. 4735: Multilateral diplomacy in global organizations: United Nations (UN) and World Trade Organization (WTO). May be repeated once with different content for a maximum of six (6) credits. 4736: Multilateral diplomacy in sub-global/regional organizations: European Union (EU), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and Organization for Security & Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). May be repeated once with different content for a maximum of six (6) credits. Pre: Junior Standing.
Simulation of diplomatic practice in major global and regional international organizations. Diplomatic strategies and tactics. Effects of decision-making and policy-making structures and processes on diplomatic outcomes. Crisis management and conflict resolutions mechanisms. Diplomatic negotiations and diplomatic resolutions. Extensive use of simulations. 4735: Multilateral diplomacy in global organizations: United Nations (UN) and World Trade Organization (WTO). May be repeated once with different content for a maximum of six (6) credits. 4736: Multilateral diplomacy in sub-global/regional organizations: European Union (EU), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and Organization for Security & Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). May be repeated once with different content for a maximum of six (6) credits. Pre: Junior Standing.
Examines the impact of historical experience and bureaucratic structures on intelligence analysis. Discusses the contents of the intelligence agenda and explores issues pertaining to intelligence analysis. Focuses on the intelligence process and offers a target-centric approach to intelligence analysis. Emphasizes and evaluates the use of structured analytic techniques in intelligence analysis.
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