MCCCD Program Description

International Relations

Course: POS120

First Term: 2024 Fall

Lecture 3.0 Credit(s) 3.0 Period(s) 3.0 Load
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S - Standard Load

Description: Introduction to the principles and issues relating to the study of international relations. Evaluation of the political, economic, national, and transnational rationale for international interactions.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Analyze the role of scientific inquiry in the field of international relations. (I-VI) 2. List the various analytical and theoretical positions used in the field of international relations to explain world politics. (II, IV, V) 3. Delineate the historical development of interstate relations and the place of the nation-state in that development. (III) 4. Distinguish between the three levels of analysis: individual, state, and international system. (IV) 5. Describe specific issues that have relevance to the study of inter-state relations: national security, war, economic integration, trade, etc. (IV, V) 6. Differentiate and make connections between economic and political issues and questions that affect world politics. (IV, V, VI) 7. Describe the issue of change in the international environment and those forces that may initiate their change. (IV, V, VI) 8. Explain the concept of super power and hegemonic control, decline, and ascension. (V) 9. Describe the differences between national and transnational actors in the international arena, both private and public. (VI) 10. List actors that may have an impact on world politics in the near future. (VI)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. State of the field of international relations and its relation to the analysis of world politics II. Distinction between political and economic analysis: tools and approaches to the study of international relations III. Historical overview of world politics classical period to present IV. The political aspects of international relations: war and conflict A. Theoretical exploration for aggression and war B. Levels of analysis as primary tool for the evaluation of international events V. The economic aspects of international relations: international political economy A. Philosophical foundation B. Historical overview: post WW II period C. International economic interaction D. Economic hegemony: rise, decline, and fall E. The integrated world economy VI. International actors A. Public B. Private C. Ethics/international law D. Archaic nationalism

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: February 27, 2024

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.