International Relations

College of Liberal & Creative Arts

Dean: Dr. Ifeoma Kiddoe Nwankwo

Department of International Relations

Humanities Building, Room 282
Phone: (415) 338-2654
Email: ir@sfsu.edu
Website: http://internationalrelations.sfsu.edu/

Chair: Burcu Ellis
Graduate Coordinator: Amy Skonieczny

Program Scope and Student Learning Objectives

The Department of International Relations at San Francisco State University prepares students with the knowledge and critical skills to meet the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing world. The Department draws from multiple disciplines to study global issues and the interactions of governments, institutions, and societies worldwide.

A globalized world calls for academics and professionals trained to comprehend complex interactions and craft solutions to meet the challenges of today and the future. As the world is changing, so is the field of International Relations. The Department of International Relations offers a wide-range of courses that explore the interrelations of the world’s primary political institutions, nation-states, the growing role of non-state actors, and specific geographic regions and issue-areas. We train students in different theoretical approaches and empower them to make their own methodological choices. Our program provides a comprehensive and adaptable toolkit for advancing careers in academic, policy, and business fields.

To complement coursework, both undergraduate and graduate students have opportunities to undertake internships in the Bay Area and beyond.

Career Outlook

Employment possibilities for graduates in international relations exist in business, government, electronic and print journalism, teaching, and private international service (e.g., U.N. Association, Red Cross, etc.). Students completing a degree find it excellent preparation for entry into highly competitive programs of advanced study or work abroad in areas of special interest or knowledge.

Professor

Sanjoy Banerjee (1990), Professor in International Relations. Ph.D. Yale University.

Sophie Clavier (2003), Professor in International Relations, Dean of Graduate Studies. Ph.D. La Sorbonne, France.

Juanita Darling (2008), Professor in International Relations. Ph.D. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Burcu Akan Ellis (2004), Professor in International Relations. Ph.D. American University.

Kathleen McAfee (2006), Professor in International Relations. Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley.

Mahmood Monshipouri (2007), Professor in International Relations. Ph.D. University of Georgia.

Amy Skonieczny (2007), Professor in International Relations. Ph.D. University of Minnesota.

Andrei Tsygankov (2000), Professor in Political Science, Professor in International Relations. Ph.D. University of Southern California.

Lucia Volk (2003), Professor in International Relations. Ph.D. Harvard University.

Associate Professor

Anthony Pahnke (2017), Associate Professor in International Relations. Ph.D. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities.

Scott N. Siegel (2014), Associate Professor in International Relations. Ph.D. Cornell University.

Assistant Professor

See Won Byun (2018), Assistant Professor in International Relations. Ph.D. The George Washington University.

Lecturer

Christopher Fiene (2011), Lecturer in International Relations. M.A. San Francisco State University.

Jonathon Whooley (2014), Lecturer in International Relations. Ph.D. University of Florida.

I R 104 Introduction to International Relations: Politics, Economics, Environment, and People (Units: 3)

Description and analysis of ongoing global forces and events in the world. Focus on contemporary issues such as development, nationalism, revolution, war and peace, and climate change as they relate to overall patterns in international relations.

Course Attributes:

  • D1: Social Sciences
  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Global Perspectives
  • Social Justice

I R 112 Quantitative Reasoning for Civic Engagement (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: First-Year Math Advising Module.

Participation in civic society requires not only understanding principles of governance, but also problem-solving. Develop the mathematical concepts and skills relevant to the challenges and issues facing individuals and societies. Enables both quantitative understanding and decision-making about aspects of work, life, and civic participation. (Plus-minus ABC/NC, CR/NC allowed)
(Note: For this course to satisfy General Education, students must earn a grade of C- or CR or better.)
(This course is offered as LCA 112/PHIL 112/PLSI 112/HIST 112/I R 112. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • B4: Math/QR
  • Social Justice

I R 201 International Relations Through Cinema (Units: 3)

Exploration of how key issues and topics in international relations are depicted in international cinema. Introduction to basic concepts in international relations through a common and highly accessible medium, feature film.
(This course is offered as I R 201 and CINE 101 [formerly CINE 201]. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • D1: Social Sciences
  • Global Perspectives

I R 202 Asian Popular Culture in Global Perspective (Units: 4)

Introduction to Asian popular culture from comparative and international perspectives. Examine sources, drivers, and impact, focusing on historical, sectoral, and regional trends in the global influence of Asian culture. Cases include entertainment, media, and sports; Chinese, Japanese, and Korean popular culture; and implications for Asian, Western, and non-Western worlds.
(This course is offered as I R 202 and CINE 103 [formerly CINE 203]. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 207 Global Diplomacy and Multilateral Negotiations (Units: 4)

Introduction to the basics of diplomatic practice and real-world aspects of work in embassies, consulates, government agencies, international organizations, and global NGOs. Focus on creating skills for the next generation of future diplomats. Topics include negotiation, multilateral diplomacy, cyber diplomacy, and cross-cultural communication.

I R 208 Fundamentals of International Relations Theories, Issues, and Perspectives (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: I R 104*.

Introduction to the fundamentals of the field of International Relations including international political, economic, and cultural systems and regimes in world affairs. Theories, processes, problems, and prospects in the international arena. (ABC/NC grading only; CR grade not allowed) [Formerly I R 308]

I R 255 Religion and World Politics (Units: 3)

Examination of how religion and politics affect each other across the world. Focus on national identities, social movements, insurgencies and terrorism, migration, and wars. Writings by journalists and public intellectuals will receive attention.

I R 259 Children and Youth in International Relations (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: GE Area A2* or permission of the instructors.

Introduction to international relations from the perspectives of children and youth around the world to underscore the agency, creativity, and resilience in these young voices and appreciation of their growing activism and impact in world politics. Discussion of children's rights, social justice, child labor, unaccompanied refugee minors, politics of girlhood, environmental and political youth activism, and media. (Plus-minus letter grades only)

Course Attributes:

  • E: Lifelong Learning Develop
  • Global Perspectives
  • Social Justice

I R 260 History and Cultures of Iran (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: First-year composition or equivalent or permission of the instructor.

Exploration of the major themes and key historical moments in the development of cultures and civilizations of Iran from ancient times to present over the span of three millennia including historic, linguistic, ethnic, religious, artistic, and literary developments of the Greater Iranian nations. Significant shared terms such as Persia and Persian are critically explored and evaluated through an examination of the historical development of Iranian civilization through the late antique, medieval, and modern epochs.
(This course is offered as PRSN 260 and I R 260. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • C2: Humanities
  • Global Perspectives
  • Social Justice

I R 303 Post-Western World: Political, Economic, and Cultural Challenges (Unit: 1)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

Examine the social-political, cultural context in the international and global settings following the emergence of new political, economic, and cultural challenges. The latter include, but are not limited to the rise of non-Western powers, prominence of issues of race and cultural identity, technology, security, and climate change. (Credit/No Credit grading only)

I R 305 Hi-Tech and Foreign Policy (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: I R 104.

Impact of new telecommunications technologies on the transmission of images, international politics and foreign policy.

I R 306 Crisis in Central America: U.S. Policy and the Root Causes of Chaos (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

Explore the background and current crisis in Central America with a special focus on the political, social, and economic relations of the countries of Central America to the United States.
(This course is offered as I R 306 and C J 306. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
  • Global Perspectives
  • Social Justice

I R 307 Qualitative Methods in Political Science and International Relations (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Examination of qualitative research methods in theory and practice. Topics include interviewing, participant observation, ethnography, and the ethics of conducting research in the political and social sciences.
(This course is offered as PLSI 307 and I R 307. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 309GW International Relations Analysis and Application - GWAR (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: Upper-division International Relations majors; GE Area A2; I R 208*.

Analysis of international relations issues from a theoretically sophisticated perspective. Important contemporary, emerging, and enduring issues are debated. (ABC/NC grading only)

Course Attributes:

  • Graduation Writing Assessment

I R 310 U.S. Foreign Policy (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

The foreign policy process in American government. Analysis of the institutions in American society which determine our foreign policy.

Course Attributes:

  • UD-D: Social Sciences
  • Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
  • Global Perspectives

I R 312 Introduction to International Political Economy (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; I R 104.

Familiarizes various theories of International Political Economy (IPE) and examines how they explain past and present international relations. Emphasis on the actors, institutions, and issues important to IPE. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

I R 315 Introduction to Global Peace Studies (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better; one lower-division composition course; or permission of the instructor.

The field of peace studies and the integrative questions which must be answered to achieve a coherent perspective on world peace. National and international issues, the environment, philosophy, literature, arts, media, and education.
(This course is offered as GPS 315, I R 315, and PHIL 315. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Global Perspectives
  • Social Justice

I R 321 Development and Foreign Policy: Africa (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

A comparison of the foreign policies of various African nation-states; in particular, a consideration of those policies as expressions of national frameworks, ideological perspectives, etc. (Plus-minus letter grade only)
(This course is offered as I R 321 and PLSI 321. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 322 Policy Analysis: The Latin American Cases (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Examine the international relations and foreign policy-making systems of Latin American nations and analyze selected foreign policy problems facing Latin American decision-makers with oral and written reports.
(This course is offered as I R 322 and PLSI 322. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • UD-D: Social Sciences
  • Global Perspectives
  • Social Justice

I R 323 The Persian Gulf in International Relations (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

The recent history of the Persian Gulf/Arabian Peninsula region: Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia; security issues, economic development, modernization, and political reforms, Islamic revolution, trade, and globalization. (Plus-minus letter grade only.)

I R 324 Middle East and North Africa in International Relations (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Contemporary political and socio-economic development in the Middle East region. Historical review of the demise of the Ottoman Empire, the anti-colonial revolt, the emergence of Israel, secular nationalism, and the rise of Islamism. (Plus-minus letter grade only.)

Course Attributes:

  • UD-D: Social Sciences
  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Global Perspectives

I R 325 Chinese Foreign Policy (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division standing.

Examination of China's international relations and the actors involved in constructing it. Analysis of the factors influencing China's participation in international affairs. Assessment of the international realm's effect on Chinese foreign policy.
(This course is offered as I R 325 and PLSI 325. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 327 Europe: Forming a More Perfect Union (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

A broad description and analysis of European politics and society. Examine European politics in a comparative perspective, exploring how parliaments, electoral systems, and minority rights differ in Europe.
(This course is offered as I R 327 and PLSI 327. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • Global Perspectives

I R 330 World Law (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

The natural and positive schools of law; the role of law in the world community; the substantive areas of international laws on recognition, nationality, territory, jurisdiction, and conflict resolution; forces influencing the future role and development of world law.
(This course is offered as I R 330 and IBUS 332. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 331 Global Environmental Crisis (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

Describes the impact of a growing world economy and population on biological and physical earth systems, and the potential consequences of environmental destruction for human well-being. Explores the historical and economic reasons for the political divide between developed and less-developed countries with respect to environmental issues and negotiations.
(This course is offered as I R 331 and ENVS 331. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Global Perspectives
  • Social Justice

I R 334 International Organizations: New World Order (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

Analysis of the nature, role, history, and future of international organizations in the social, economic, and political development of world community. Examination of present patterns and problems of international political behavior as seen through and influenced by international organizations.
(This course is offered as I R 334 and IBUS 334. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 335 Muslim Societies in Transnational Perspective (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Introduction to the complexity and diversity of the Muslim world with the identification of transnational trends and linkages that characterize contemporary Muslim societies. Organized around seminal issues and themes, does not require prior knowledge of Islam.

Course Attributes:

  • UD-D: Social Sciences
  • Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
  • Global Perspectives

I R 336 Politics of Globalization (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better; I R 104*; or permission of the instructor.

Analysis of the nature of globalization and its impact. Examine the causes of globalization and its effect on the state, policy autonomy, national security, the developing world, and culture.

Course Attributes:

  • UD-D: Social Sciences
  • Global Perspectives

I R 337 Introduction to the European Union (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Introduction to the European Union, its rationale, foundations, operations, and current challenges. Exploration of the roles of the European Union's governing institutions, how they interact with different levels of governance among Member States, and main policies of the European Union.
(This course is offered as I R 337 and PLSI 432. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 341 Comparative Criminal Justice (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Ways in which institutions of criminal justice in one society compare with those in other societies. Attention is given to U.S., British, European, Asian, and African systems. Lecture, 3 units; activity, 1 unit.
(This course is offered as C J 340 and I R 341. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 342 Modern Conflict: Cyber Warfare, Food Security, and Crises in the International System (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

Multi-dimensional conflict in the modern era takes place on digital, conventional, and asymmetric battlefields. Explore issues of international politics that are directly related to security: environmental politics, cyber-conflict, terrorism, conventional war, and asymmetric conflict.
(This course is offered as I R 342 and PLSI 342. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 345 Conflict and Cooperation in Asia (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division standing.

Examine international conflict and cooperation in contemporary Asia through a range of analytical models. Organized around historical period, issue-area, and Asian subregion. Combines theoretical and policy analysis.
(This course is offered as I R 345 and MLL 345. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 346 Europe since 1914 (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better; GE Area E; or permission of the instructor.

Political, social, and cultural development of Europe since 1914 with a focus on the causes and consequences of the world wars, post-war recovery, imperial decline, and problems facing Europe today.
(This course is offered as HIST 346 and I R 346. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • UD-D: Social Sciences
  • Global Perspectives

I R 357 Fascism and Communism in Europe (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Examination of the intellectual and socio-political foundations of fascism and communism in 20th and 21st century Europe. Analysis of the ways in which these foundations reflect on contemporary politics. (Plus-minus ABC/NC, CR/NC)
(This course is offered as PLSI 396 [Formerly PLSI 405] and I R 357. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • UD-D: Social Sciences
  • Global Perspectives
  • Social Justice

I R 360 Intelligence and Intelligence Agencies (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

The role of modern intelligence agencies in international politics. Areas of study include cyber warfare, intelligence collection, hybrid war, and the comparative structures of different intelligence agencies around the world.
(This course is offered as I R 360 and C J 360. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 361 Terrorism and Covert Political Warfare (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Terrorism and covert political warfare as international instruments especially since World War II. The use of terror and covert political warfare and the responses to their use.
(This course is offered as C J 461 and I R 361. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 362 The Making of US Foreign Policy (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing; GE Area A2; C J 200 or I R 310 or PLSI 200; or permission of the instructor.

The role of domestic and transnational actors in making U.S. foreign policy. Examine American culture, media, interest groups, social movements, corporations, and lobbies on policy outcomes. Analyze domestic factors and constraints on U.S. foreign policy decision-making. Consider global constraints and influences on US foreign policy and the impact of international events on Americans.
(This course is offered as I R 362, PLSI 362, and C J 362. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • Global Perspectives

I R 363 Cultural Expression in Islam (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Classic works of Islamic holy/secular texts; art, architecture, novels, poetry, film. How great works characterize, symbolize, or are emblematic of specific intellectual environments, representing different times, places, and diverse populations in Islamic civilization, including non-Muslims.
(This course is offered as HUM 361 and I R 363. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
  • Global Perspectives

I R 372 Critical Political Theory (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

The critical tradition in political theory that responds to and differentiates itself from classical and modern canonical texts.
(This course is offered as PLSI 372, HUM 372, and I R 372. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 395 International History 1814-1918 (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Over the 19th century, the system of states faced challenges such as the turmoil from the Napoleonic Wars, industrialization, global integration, the rise of nationalism, and the spread of empires. Explore the choices made by the individuals and countries involved and how they affected strategy, personalities, popular interests, and contingency. Primary actors are states, empires, nations, and those that would become such. Focused not on one particular national history, but considering the system as a whole.
(This course is offered as HIST 395 [Formerly HIST 389]/I R 395. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • UD-D: Social Sciences
  • Global Perspectives

I R 404 Politics of China (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Contemporary government and politics of the People's Republic of China with modest concern for the way the past has shaped the present. The primary focus is on political institutions and political processes.
(This course is offered as PLSI 404 and I R 404. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • UD-D: Social Sciences
  • Global Perspectives

I R 407 Politics of Russia (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Contemporary government and politics of Russia, the way the past has shaped the present. Political institutions, political processes, and ideologies.
(This course is offered as PLSI 407 and I R 407. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • UD-D: Social Sciences
  • Global Perspectives

I R 409 Russia and World Order (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or consent of the instructor.

Introduction to theories of world order and Russia's role in it. Review of historical and contemporary foundations for understanding world order. Discussion of Russia's role in various regional and global settings. (Plus-minus letter grade only)
(This course is offered as I R 409 and PLSI 409. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • Global Perspectives

I R 411 East Asian Politics (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Government and politics of East Asia (China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan). Systematic comparison of nations utilizing common themes: political development, political institutions, political economy, political change.
(This course is offered as PLSI 411 and I R 411. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • UD-D: Social Sciences
  • Global Perspectives

I R 412 South Asian Politics (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

Political development in the South Asian states; political institutions and processes; parties and election; leadership; current policies and problems. (Plus-minus letter grade only)
(This course is offered as PLSI 412 and I R 412. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • Global Perspectives

I R 413 Media Chinese (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: CHIN 401 or consent of the instructor.

Mandarin as it is used in various genres on radio/television and in news reports and articles, editorials, interviews, and advertisements.
(This course is offered as CHIN 411, I R 413, and JOUR 411. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • Global Perspectives

I R 415 Iranian Media in English (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Development of critical thinking, reading, and writing skills for understanding Iranian socio-politics and culture through global media. Access, interpret, and develop a practical understanding of contemporary media, including social media. Understand the Iranian world in the future through techniques for media literacy.
(This course is offered as PRSN 411 and I R 415. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
  • Global Perspectives

I R 416 Ethnicity and Nationalism (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Issues and problems raised by the phenomena of ethnicity and nationalism, ethnic conflict, and efforts at conflict resolution in a comparative context.
(This course is offered as PLSI 416 and I R 416. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • UD-D: Social Sciences
  • Global Perspectives

I R 422 Law and Courts in Comparative Perspective (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Introduction to law and courts in comparative perspective in countries around the world. Examines concepts such as the rule of law, judicial review, judicial independence, accountability, and legal pluralism; compares and contrasts features of legal systems and the politics of the judiciary in both democratic and nondemocratic contexts.
(This course is offered as PLSI 422 and I R 422. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 424 Social Movements (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Examines social movements, mobilization, and collective action in comparative perspective. Analysis of movement origins, tactics, methods, and outcomes, as well as contexts in which movements may use violent and nonviolent repertoires.
(This course is offered as PLSI 424, SOC 424, and I R 424. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 425 Imagining Power in the Middle East (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Examine conceptions of power in countries of the Middle East and North Africa, through film, literature, memoir, and other forms of documentation and imagination. Topics may include political, military, ideological, economic power; colonialism, independence, equality, nation-building, social movements, revolution.
(This course is offered as PLSI 425 and I R 425. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • Global Perspectives

I R 428 International Political Economy of Food and Hunger (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Exploration of why hunger persists in a world of abundance; food aid, farm policy, and global food trade; whether production can match population growth without environmental harm; crop genetic engineering, international policies and movements for sustainability, and food sovereignty/security.
(This course is offered as I R 428 and GEOG 428. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 430 Israeli Democracy: Politics, Institutions, and Society (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Knowledge of Israel's political system, its origins, its formal structure, the way it functions, and its main attributes in comparison to other democratic political systems. Ideology, state and religion, and civil liberties.
(This course is offered as JS 430, I R 430, and PLSI 430. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • UD-D: Social Sciences
  • Global Perspectives

I R 435 Politics of Global Finance and Crisis (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

The development and role of late 20th- and early 21st-century financial technologies in modern market crises. Research and critical analysis of 21st-century finance capitalism. Political and financial interactions, including limits and possibilities for controlling financial behavior.
(This course is offered as PLSI 435, I R 435, and FIN 435. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 436 Human Rights in Global Perspective (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Law and philosophy of human rights; philosophical issues and controversies about rights, historical development, major problems in implementing rights, and the international human rights movement.
(This course is as PHIL 435 and I R 436. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
  • Global Perspectives
  • Social Justice

I R 445 Geopolitics and Globalization (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Physical and cultural geographic factors in and between political-territorial units. Effects of resource distribution, political motivations, and ideologies on establishing territorial sovereignty.
(This course is offered as GEOG 445 and I R 445. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • UD-D: Social Sciences

I R 446 The Multinational Corporation in World Affairs (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

Examination of nature of multinational corporations (MNCs) and sources of their internationalization. Review of major schools of thought about MNCs power (obsolescing bargain, dependencia, and bargaining model) vis-a-vis host and home governments, and international regimes.

I R 450 International Labor (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; LABR 250; or permission of the instructor.

Analysis of labor's role in the developed economies, East and West, and in developing areas. Theoretical perspectives on international labor. Migration and population as they relate to labor. Impact of trade treaties on labor markets.
(This course is offered as LABR 550 and I R 450. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 452 International Media Politics (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division standing.

Examination of how communication among states and non-state entities shapes international relations, from the perspective of various theoretical and epistemological approaches.
(This course is offered as I R 452, JOUR 452, and BECA 451. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • Social Justice

I R 453 Women and Media in International Relations (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

Explore how media, broadly defined, perceive and project women's role in international relations. Focus on some of "those non-state entities whose power to influence nation-state decisions is growing rapidly," as mentioned in the IR program description. Analyze the portrayal of women's role in international relations, stretching back to Aristophanes' comedy of Greek women ending the Peloponnesian War to current news and popular television series such as "Madame Secretary."

I R 459 Refugees in Global Perspective (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Examine the diversity of global refugee experiences. Review the international refugee regime, including the Refugee Convention, UNHCR, and state responsibilities. Study the global root causes of refugee flows and forced migration. Analyze life in refugee camps, refugee resettlement and integration, health and education challenges, and refugee returns. Particular emphasis on gender issues, unaccompanied minors, and the impact of rising native hostility on refugee reception and integration. Provides case studies of refugee populations.
(This course is offered as I R 459/PLSI 459. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • UD-C: Arts and/or Humanities
  • Am. Ethnic & Racial Minorities
  • Global Perspectives

I R 460 Rising Powers (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: Upper-division standing; I R 104; or permission of the instructor.

Exploration of the rise of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and others. The capacities for domestic power accumulation, national identities, military capabilities, Western and non-Western responses, and emerging global order.
(This course is offered as I R 460 and HIST 430. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 500 International Broadcasting (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

Broadcast systems of the world including developed and developing nations. Programming of many cultures, the role of satellites in promoting the exchange of programs, the relationship between governments, societies, and the media, and issues in international communication.
(This course is offered as BECA 500 and I R 500. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 514 Political Violence and Terrorism in German History, Film, and Visual Media (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing or permission of the instructor.

Examination of the history of political violence and terrorism - its history, its causes, aims, and forms in Germany. Multidisciplinary approach to develop the knowledge and skills needed to examine the particularities of political violence and terrorism in Germany in the 20th and 21st century as seen in political manifestos, history, films, modern technology, and caricatures. Taught in English. All materials are available in English.
(This course is offered as GER 514, HIST 514, I R 514, and PLSI 514. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 517 Legal Environment of World Business (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: IBUS 330 with a grade of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Examine the status of persons and property within a foreign country and international transactions with or by governments or instrumentalities. Includes aspects of legal systems including overlapping or conflicting interests, problems of nationalization, annulment of contracts, and concessions in foreign countries.
(This course is offered as IBUS 517 and I R 517. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 530 The Arab-Israeli Conflict (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Examine causes of the Arab-Israeli conflict; beginnings in the late nineteenth century; Jewish-Palestinian confrontation during the British Mandate (1917-1948); Arab-Israeli wars since 1948; Israeli-Palestinian confrontation since 1948; attempts to end the confrontation since 1967.
(This course is offered as JS 560 and I R 530. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • UD-D: Social Sciences
  • Global Perspectives

I R 540 Rich and Poor Nations: Legacies of Slavery and Colonialism (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

Analysis of the historical underpinnings of present day political, economic, and cultural hierarchies in the world system. Examination of how those hierarchies can be traced to slavery and colonialism, producing inequalities between and within states and among different groups of people.

I R 544 Women in the World (Units: 4)

Prerequisites: GE Areas A1*, A2*, A3*, and B4* all with grades of C- or better or permission of the instructor.

Analysis of women's roles in the political, social, and economic development of selected nations and international relations. The effect of the global movement for women's rights. Case studies of female leaders and their impact on world affairs.
(This course is offered as I R 544 and PLSI 544. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • UD-D: Social Sciences
  • Global Perspectives
  • Social Justice

I R 550 Senior Thesis in International Relations (Units: 6)

Prerequisites: Restricted to upper-division International Relations majors and minors; I R 208*, I R 309GW*, I R 310*, I R 312*; or permission of the instructor.

Intensive research leading to a senior thesis. Topic to be determined by student and faculty member. Extra fee required. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

I R 601 Lectures on Contemporary Global Issues (Unit: 1)

Prerequisite: Restricted to upper-division standing.

Survey of a major global event as it unfolds; analysis of news coverage and supplemental readings; and application of regional and theoretical knowledge from core IR classes. May be repeated for a total of 2 units.

I R 605 Get Ready for a Career in International Relations (Units: 2)

Prerequisite for I R 705: Graduate standing.
Prerequisites for I R 605: Restricted to upper-division standing; GPA of 3.0 or better; or permission of the instructor.

Preparation for obtaining positions consistent with career goals. Discussion of career planning, organized employment campaigns, job application methods and skills, interview preparation, and initial conduct on job. Includes engagement with career professionals and career services. May be repeated for a total of 4 units.
(I R 605/I R 705 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)

I R 609 Colloquium in International Relations (Unit: 1)

Prerequisite for I R 709: Graduate standing.
Prerequisite for I R 609: Restricted to upper-division standing; GPA of 3.0 or better; or permission of the instructor.

Discussion of current issues, research in international relations breaking news and global events by guest speakers including policy experts, career professionals, faculty and graduate students. May be repeated for a total of 3 units.
(I R 609/I R 709 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)

I R 635 Economics of Globalization (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: ECON 101 and ECON 102 or permission of the instructor.

Economic debate surrounding the process of globalization. Economic causes/consequences of market integration: domestic labor markets, international trade, and multinationalization production, and the integration of financial markets.
(This course is offered as ECON 635 and I R 635. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 640 Field Study in International Relations (Units: 1-5)

Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

Practical and academic experience in a non-classroom setting, requiring the utilization of research and communication skills in a topic relevant to the study of international relations. May be repeated for a total of 10 units.

I R 685 Teaching Observer Practicum in International Relations (Units: 1-4)

Prerequisites:International Relations majors; I R 104 and I R 208; minimum 3.3 GPA in instructional-related course; permission of the instructor.

Readings and observations in the teaching of international relations. Learn about how to teach international relations by observing an instructor. In addition to the hands-on experience of close classroom observation as a Teaching Observer (TO), students will also build a portfolio that may serve as a sample for future careers in teaching in their fields.
(Students may earn a maximum of 4 units toward the baccalaureate degree for any course(s) numbered 685 regardless of discipline.)

I R 699 Independent Study (Units: 1-4)

Prerequisite: Permission of the major adviser, supervising faculty member, and department chair. Enrollment by petition. Open only to students who have demonstrated the ability to do independent work.

Study is planned, developed, and completed under the direction of a member of the departmental faculty. May be repeated for a total of 8 units.

I R 705 Get Ready for a Career in International Relations (Units: 2)

Prerequisite for I R 705: Graduate standing.
Prerequisites for I R 605: Restricted to upper-division standing; GPA of 3.0 or better; or permission of the instructor.

Preparation for obtaining positions consistent with career goals. Discussion of career planning, organized employment campaigns, job application methods and skills, interview preparation, and initial conduct on job. Includes engagement with career professionals and career services. May be repeated for a total of 4 units.
(I R 605/I R 705 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)

I R 708 Teaching Observer Practicum in International Relations (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Graduate standing in International Relations; completion of instructionally related course with B+ or better; permission of the instructor.

Learn about the teaching in the major by observing an instructor of record. Examine different pedagogies and their applications for future instructional use outside of SF State. Scholarly readings and discussions regarding effective practices in international relations. Development of references on pedagogical principles and research in international relations. Creation of a teaching portfolio with materials related to the field of international relations. Reflections and evaluations of pedagogical choices. (Plus-minus AB/NC grading only)

I R 709 Colloquium in International Relations (Unit: 1)

Prerequisite for I R 709: Graduate standing.
Prerequisite for I R 609: Restricted to upper-division standing; GPA of 3.0 or better; or permission of the instructor.

Discussion of current issues, research in international relations breaking news and global events by guest speakers including policy experts, career professionals, faculty and graduate students. May be repeated for a total of 3 units.
(I R 609/I R 709 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)

I R 720 Theory and Approaches in International Relations (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Seminar in the theories and approaches to the study of international relations. Required of all graduate students in first semester of graduate study. (AB/NC grading only)

I R 725 The Analysis of Foreign Policy (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Foreign policy analysis, research, and oral and written briefing techniques. Required of all International Relations master's degree candidates. (AB/NC grading only)

I R 728 International Political Economy (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

In-depth consideration of alternative theories--globalization vs. nation-states, World Trade Organization and regional trading blocs, transnationals, International Monetary Fund and global finance, investment and inequality, environment, trade and development, future scenarios. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

I R 731 Politics of Multinational Corporations (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Interdisciplinary examination of one of the most salient actors in the international political economy, the multinational corporations (MNC). The power of MNCs, the effect of MNCs on host countries, and the governance of MNCs. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

I R 734 International Migration (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Analysis of global migration trends and their impact, including international migration theory, law and migration policies of sending and receiving states; gendered, generational and transnational dimensions of migration. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

I R 735 Seminar in Global Environmental Policy (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

International/global policy making process and responses to critical environmental problems confronting the world as well as underlying causes such as population explosion and energy consumption. Policy choices, negotiating strategies, and outcomes.
(This course is offered as I R 735 and GEOG 735. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

I R 736 International Development and Globalization (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Colonial legacies, economic strategies, contemporary challenges in the former Third World; contrasting theories of development and globalization; feminist and ecological critiques; roles of the World Bank, IMF, and WTO, transnational corporations, new global forums and social movements "from below". (Plus-minus letter grade only)

I R 738 Contemporary International Legal Issues (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Introduces fundamentals of international public law: sources, subjects, sovereignty, jurisdiction, immunity, and responsibility of states. Provides a thorough analysis of recent substantial and institutional development in the fields of the environment, trade, use of force, and universal crimes. (Plus-minus AB/NC grading only)

I R 739 International Security (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

The major theories, problems, and case studies of international security in the past cold war; concentrating on the security interests of the leading states; such as the U.S., Russia, China, Japan, and Europe as they face today's challenges.

I R 742 Seminar on American Foreign Policy (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Reading and research seminar dealing with varying approaches to U.S. diplomacy and culminating in a research paper on American policy toward some major problem, nation, or area.

I R 743 Seminar in Chinese Foreign Policy (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Configuration, causes, and consequences of Chinese foreign policy. Key actors and events, and the diverse instruments that China has used or is using to achieve its foreign policy objectives. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

I R 745 Latin America (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

The leitmotif of contemporary Latin American relations - the struggle for development. Within the context of specific case studies, examines how domestic and international forces affect national development efforts. (Plus-minus letter grade only)

I R 746 The Middle East (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Contemporary international relations among Arab countries, including Maghreb states, and between the region and outside countries and blocs. Case studies of continuing penetration of area by imperialism, competing changing faces, and different characters of such forces.

I R 749 Asia and the World System (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Principal Asia-Pacific states: economic, political, and military issues in the region. Readings on China, Japan, Taiwan, the Koreas, S.E. Asia, India, with Europe, the U.S., and Russia as factors.

I R 750 Methods and Thesis Selection in International Relations (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Graduate standing; I R 720; or permission of the instructor.

Seminar designed to introduce international relations graduate students to the range of methods of analysis in the field and to require students to select their thesis topics. (AB/NC grading only)

I R 751 Data Analysis and Evaluation Research in International Relations (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Restricted to graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Examines a variety of research methods that will enable students to test hypotheses and evaluate programs. Students will learn how to acquire and organize data in various formats to contribute to scholarship and evaluation research. The course will include quantitative methods.

I R 892 Sponsored Graduate Internship in International Relations (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Graduate standing; I R 720; permission of the instructor; and approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies.

On- or off-campus internship. Requires approved proposal, daily log, and major paper connecting experience to international relations theory. (CR/NC/RP grading only)

I R 898 Master's Thesis (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies.

Student conducts, under committee supervision, research and writing of thesis from topic within field of international relations. Defense of thesis by committee examination is required. Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration. (CR/NC grading only)

I R 899 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisite: Permission of the graduate major adviser, supervising faculty member, and department chair. Enrollment by petition.

Study is planned, developed, and completed under the direction of a member of the departmental faculty. Open only to graduate students who have demonstrated ability to do independent work.