Using the comparative method, students working in this field examine such phenomena as behavioral patterns and systems, governmental institutions and structures, policy processes and outcomes, and political goals and strategies. These phenomena are considered both within and across national systems. Nation-states are taken as the primary, but not exclusive, units of analysis.

Students preparing for comprehensive examinations in this field should expect some general questions that deal with the comparative approach to politics: its evolution, its major practitioners, its leading conceptual frameworks or paradigms, its utility, its contributions, the difficulties or problems in its application, and ways of surmounting these problems. In addition, students will be required to answer questions from two subfields. The principal subfields are developed democratic systems, and developing systems.

In order to qualify for the field examination in Comparative Politics, students are required to take a core seminar: INTL 6300 (Comparative Analysis and Method). Additional courses will be selected in consultation with the student´s major professor and advisory committee.

Dr. Markus Crepaz, Dr. Sherry Lowrance, Dr. Darius Ornston, Dr. Han Park, Dr. Shane Singh, Dr. Howard J. Wiarda

International Relations

The field of International Relations focuses on the important agents and structures of international politics. These include nation-states, intergovernmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations. Studies in this field examine the preferences and strategies of these actors, as well as the nature of the economic, military, political, and social interactions among them.

In preparing for the comprehensive examination in International Relations, the student should seek to understand the major actors on the international scene, their policies, and the sources of cooperation and conflict. Comprehensive exam questions will test the student’s general knowledge of these matters, as well as proficiency in selected subfields.

A course in the theory of international relations (normally POLS 6200, Pre-Seminar in International Relations) is required of each student. In addition, at least one course is recommended from each of the following subfields: International Cooperation, International Conflict, International Political Economy, and Foreign Policy.

Dr. Jeffrey Berejikian, Dr. Loch Johnson, Dr. Andy Owsiak, Dr. Douglas Stinnett, Dr. Brock Tessman

How to Apply

Applications must be complete and ready for review in the Departmental Graduate Office by March 15 of the year for which you are applying. No late applications will be considered for admission.

Fall 2012 Deadlines
January 1: Application deadline for those wishing to be considered for graduate assistantships.
March 15: Application deadline for ALL Fall 2012 admissions.

Please read and follow these instructions carefully to avoid delay in our handling of your application.  Both the Graduate School and the Department handle each application, and it hinders rather than expedites the process to send incorrect or unnecessary documents to either address.


Part I: Submit to the UGA Graduate School
For detailed information, please see the Graduate School Admissions Requirements.

1. Online Graduate School Application and fee ($75 domestic / $100 international)
   
2. Two official transcripts (in sealed envelopes) from each institution of higher education attended, except the University of Georgia. University of Georgia transcripts are on file.

3. Official GRE general test score report
The UGA institutional code for ETS reporting is 5813.  No departmental code is required.

4. International Applicants please see additional requirements.

Send these materials to:
Office of Graduate Admissions
The University of Georgia Graduate School
320 E. Clayton Street
Suite 400
Athens, GA 30602-7402
Fax: (706) 425-3094

Part II: Submit to the Departmental Graduate Office

1. Personal objective form

2. Personal statement

3. Curriculum vita

4. Three academic letters of recommendation.
The most convenient way for recommenders to submit letters of recommendation is through the online application process. List the names and email addresses of your recommenders on page three of the online application. They will be sent a link to access a secure page where they can submit your recommendation online. If your recommender prefers to send the letter as a hard copy or an email, it should be sent directly to the Departmental Graduate Office.

5. Graduate assistantship application, if desired.

6. PhD and Fast Track PhD applicants only: Submit a copy of an original research paper as a writing sample.

Send these materials to:
Department of Political Science
Graduate Office
104 Baldwin Hall
The University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-1615
Fax: (706) 542-4421

All departmental application materials can be emailed to polgrad@uga.edu.

For further information about graduate programs or for answers to questions about your application, please email the Departmental Graduate Office at polgrad@uga.edu.

APPLY ONLINE

Summary Timetable for the M.A. Degree

Course Sequencing
This is a typical plan, but individual student programs may vary somewhat.

 * Previously POLS 7050

Summary Timetable for the Traditional Ph.D. Degree
(MA in Political Science and International Affairs from UGA)

Printable Ph.D. Timetable

The Ph.D. requires at least 30 semester hours beyond the M.A., including dissertation hours.

These 30 hours must be taken consecutively. Sixteen of those must be at the 8000/9000 coursework level, excluding 9000 (dissertation research) and 9300 (dissertation writing).

Minimum six major courses and four minor courses.

A full course load is 9 hours (12 for those on assistantship, including 3 hours of POLS 9005).

Ph.D. methods requirement beyond the M.A. sequence is 3 hours: POLS 8501*

Course Sequencing
This is a typical plan, but individual student programs may vary somewhat.

* Previously POLS 7050

Summary Timetable for the Transfer Ph.D. Degree
(MA from Another Institution)

The Ph.D. requires at least 30 semester hours beyond the M.A., including dissertation hours.

These 30 hours must be taken consecutively. Sixteen of those must be at the 8000/9000 coursework level, excluding POLS 9000 (dissertation research) and POLS 9300 (dissertation writing).

Minimum six major courses and four minor field courses.

A full course load is 9 hours (12 for those on assistantship, including 3 hours of POLS 9005).

Ph.D. methods requirement is 12 hours: POLS 7010, 7012, 7014, 8501*.  Students may waive one or more methods courses if they have taken an equivalent course in their M.A. program.

Course Sequencing
This is a typical plan, but individual student programs may vary somewhat.

 * Previously POLS 7050

¹  Transfer Ph.D.s may be required to take a number of courses or directed readings during the summer of their first year in order to complete the hours necessary to prepare for comprehensive exams. If a large number of methods courses must be taken (in other words, none are exempted), then comprehensive exams may be taken in the 3^rd year to be followed by the dissertation in year 4. For each transfer Ph.D. student, we will evaluate their prior coursework carefully and systematically plan out their program of study, which will act as a guideline for the student’s graduate work in our program

Summary Timetable for the Fast-Track Ph.D. Degree
(No prior graduate work)

The Fast-Track Ph.D. requires at least 45 semester hours, including dissertation hours.

These 45 hours must be taken consecutively. Twenty of those must be at the 8000/9000 coursework level, excluding 9000 (dissertation research) and 9300 (dissertation writing).

Minimum six major field courses and four minor field courses.

A full course load is 9 hours (12 for those on assistantship, including 3 hours of POLS 9005).

Fast-Track Ph.D. methods requirement is 12 hours: POLS 7010, 7012, 7014, 8501*.

Course Sequencing
This is a typical plan, but individual student programs may vary somewhat.

* Previously POLS 7050

Students who are ready to begin their dissertation project must form a dissertation committee at the beginning of the semester in which they take comprehensive exams as the prospectus defense should come at the end of the semester in which a student is taking comprehensive exams.  Students should consult often and regularly with their committee members about a proposed research topic and preparation of their dissertation prospectus. It is up to the individual student to interact with the chair and other committee members on a regular basis in order to move the prospectus forward.  Moreover, students are encouraged to begin thinking about the prospectus early in the course of their graduate training and fine-tune as their training goes on.

The purpose of the prospectus is

(1) to establish the program of scholarly research that the candidate proposes to follow in the preparation of the dissertation,
(2) to indicate the significance of the planned dissertation research for--and its relationship to -- the existing body of knowledge in political science and related areas of inquiry

The format of the prospectus and its contents should be worked out with the committee.  Moreover, the prospectus should be viewed as a proposal for research that may be altered in light of ongoing discussions with dissertation committee members and the actual initiation of the research itself. It is a document that represents at an early stage of candidacy the student’s “best shot” effort to address the following issues related to the dissertation project: 

• The purpose or objective of the planned dissertation. What puzzle, problem, or hypotheses does the research address? What are the limits or boundaries of the proposed dissertation?  (Make clear that the proposal is feasible and focused.)
   
• Significance of the proposed research: What important theoretical and/or empirical issue does the research address? In other words, why does it matter that this research be undertaken?
   
• The present state of knowledge related to the topic. What do we already know (or think we know) in the area of proposed research? Is there consensus or disagreement?  The bibliographical review included in the prospectus should not be an extensive literature review that lists references in a general domain but rather one that discusses the specific contribution or shortcomings contained in particular items relevant to the proposed research.  It should be organized conceptually rather than by author.  It should also be linked to your research question.  More importantly, it should lead the reader to your hypotheses.
  
   
• The research strategy to be employed. How will the problem be investigated?  Where appropriate, what analytical methods, types of evidence, data collection strategies, and sources will be employed? Show how key concepts will be defined and, if appropriate, measured. Discuss what type(s) of evidence will support your hypotheses and what evidence could demonstrate that they are incorrect.
  
   
• Enumeration of the specific and as yet unresolved problems the candidate perceives. The prospectus defense is a time for gaining help from the dissertation committee as a whole. It may be the first time that the student meets with the committee as a whole. Focus their attention on problems that require further consideration
   
• Outline of the chapters. The outline should be more than chapter headings.  It should reveal the student's approach as well as the boundaries and parameters.
  
   
•  Clarity of presentation.  The dissertation prospectus should provide the information on all points above in a clear and sufficiently detailed written form so that the candidate's dissertation committee can bring their judgment to bear in advising the student about the appropriateness and adequacy of his/her anticipated doctoral research program.
   
• Target length.  This may vary, but an average length would be 15 pages plus references and tables/charts, etc.
   
• Timeframe of the Prospectus:
  The prospectus should be completed at the end of the semester in which one is taking comprehensive exams.  By doing so, one advances the ability to get started on the dissertation.  Traditionally, a student is given one year in which to complete the dissertation and defend it.
  
  Please see the graduate bulletin for more specific information.
   
  The Role of the Prospectus for the Dissertation
   
• A student should regard the prospectus as presenting a research design for the dissertation. Bear in mind, though, that the prospectus should be regarded as a working document subject to alteration on the advice of committee members.  The better the plan, the higher the likelihood of a strong execution.
   
•  Traditionally, a dissertation was thought of as a strong first draft of a book manuscript.  For many young scholars, it still is.  You should also see the various parts of the dissertation as potential research papers to be presented at professional conferences.

When do you start working on your thesis?

Most master degree students begin working on their thesis ideas at the end of their first year of graduate school.  Usually, by this point, you have written several research designs and perhaps one full research paper on your own. You have been exposed to at least four substantive courses and two methods courses. 

During that first graduate school summer, students should begin thinking about a potential research question that they would like to pursue.  At this point, it would be helpful to talk to a professor in the area.  If your idea has merit, then the next step would be to identify a thesis chair. 

And remember, the best students go beyond their coursework, reading beyond their assignments and attending lectures outside of class.  This will help you as you begin focusing on your own research ideas.

What is the process of putting together a thesis committee?

The identification of the advisory committee (three faculty members with one serving as chair) usually takes place at the start of the second year. (See the Graduate manual for a detailed discussion of this process.)  Most of the time, your committee is determined by the nature of your research.  The chair’s expertise should be generally related to your subject matter.  Often students will ask additional committee members based on some other need – expertise in the methods you will be utilizing, grounding in theory, further expertise in the area, etc.

The person that you designate as your chair will help guide you in this matter as well.  Most of the time, but this can vary, your committee chair works to direct your thesis work without a great deal of input from the other members of the committee.  At times, other members may be involved during the research process, but most of the time, your additional members see your drafts only after they has been approved by your thesis committee chair.

Once you have identified the three members of your thesis committee, you must submit an Advisory Committee form to the Graduate School.  Information about this form and Graduate School deadlines for receiving this form will be sent out with plenty of advance notice. 


How is a thesis organized?

Helpful links to websites that discuss the thesis:
How to organize your thesis
How to write a thesis
Writing a proposal and the thesis

Are there any rules about format?

You are required to submit a draft of your thesis to the Graduate School for a format check.  The deadline for this submission is about 2/3 of the way through your defense semester, which means you submit your thesis for a format check likely before you defend.  You then submit a final version after you defend and make any changes your committee suggests.

Graduate School Format Check Information

The graduate program and the graduate school impose several deadlines.  For example, there is a deadline upon which a student must get their complete draft to their major professor.  The professor has two weeks to review and make suggestions for revision.  After that, if approved by the chair, the draft goes to the other members, and they are given two weeks to decide if the thesis will make it to the defense stage.  At this point, students work with the graduate office to schedule a defense time. 

Deadlines are important.  Consequences of not following deadlines usually mean some expense to you.  Remember that if you do not meet your deadlines, you will then need to carry over to the next semester.  That means paying additional tuition and fees.

At the defense, usually students will make a short presentation and then take questions from their committee.  Students may pass or fail at this juncture.  Usually, even upon passing, students may be asked to revise their thesis before being given official permission to submit to the Graduate School for final acceptance. 

The dissertation is the culminating event in one’s doctoral program. It is at this stage that all one’s preparation is put to the test. When a dissertation is completed successfully, it becomes the starting point of a productive career.

For this reason, it is important for students to have a complete understanding of the process and the procedures that are involved in writing and defending a dissertation. For a complete discussion of the process, students should utilize the graduate manual. Within its pages is a complete guide to the steps necessary to carry out the project. However, on this page, we will provide a short reference to the process.

Before beginning the dissertation and prior to taking comprehensive exams, a student must file an Advisory Committee form. This form is the first step in putting together the committee that will guide your work. Students then take their comprehensive exams, and when they are passed, the student is considered to have met the requirements for doctoral candidacy.

It may be that the composition of your Advisory Committee will change. If this is the case, the form can be filed again with the adjustments after comprehensive exams are complete.

The first stage of the dissertation is actually the prospectus, which is discussed on another page on this web cite. After the prospectus is defended, YOUR major professor files a form with the department telling the graduate program that you have defended your prospectus and you have a green light for your dissertation.

While you are working on the dissertation, your major professor, as designated on your Advisory form, will play the lead role in providing direction. When your major professor has deemed your research ready for distribution to the rest of the committee, it will be disseminated to them and comments provided prior to the defense.

During the defense, your committee may find additional areas that need work, thus there are modifications required prior to passing the dissertation as complete. Your major professor will have a form with him or her on the day of your defense, and your committee members will sign off on the appropriate outcome. This form will also, when signed by all the required individuals, be filed at the graduate office. It must make the deadlines that are set forth by the Graduate School if you are to graduate during the semester in which you defend. Those are important deadlines, and the student is required to be aware of these.

Printable Version

For more information on Graduate School forms and deadlines, please see your Master’s Thesis Defense

Checklist, Dissertation Prospectus Defense Checklist, or Doctoral Dissertation Defense Checklist. These

and your major professor has given final approval of these changes.

your major professor has given final approval of these changes.

All incoming graduate students should attend the UGA Graduate School’s Orientation and Information Fair, held on Wednesday, August 10 from 9-11:30am at the Athens Classic Center in downtown Athens. For more information, visit the Graduate School’s orientation page.

A joint School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) orientation for all incoming MA, PhD and MIP graduate students will be held on Tuesday, August 9 from 1-3pm in the Miller Learning Center (MLC), Room TBA. This is mandatory for all first year students.

All incoming students on graduate assistantships are required to attend the Center for Teaching and Learning’s TA Orientation, held on Thursday, August 11 from 8:45am-12:30pm in Room 101 of the Miller Learning Center (MLC). For more information, visit the Center for Teaching and Learning’s orientation page.

All incoming international students should attend the orientation hosted by International Student Life (ISL), held Monday-Friday, August 1-5. Check-in for students will begin at 10am on Monday, August 1 in Memorial Hall. The program fee for students is $10 for the week.

This program covers information not covered in other orientation sessions including: immigration regulations, Social Security Numbers, temporary and permanent housing support, banking in the U.S., driving in the U.S., health insurance, all campus libraries, tours of the Health Center and Ramsey Center, personal safety and legal matters in the U.S., and cross cultural adjustment. For more information, visit ISL’s website for new and incoming students.

Once you have been advised, you will register on OASIS (Online Access to Student Information Systems). You’ll need a UGA MyID to log into OASIS (more on this below in “Things to Do Before Arriving at UGA”).

Incoming students should register for classes no later than Friday, August 12 at 5pm. Classes will begin on Monday, August 15. A calendar of important academic dates is available on the Registrar’s Office website here.

All new and readmitted incoming students have an automatic registration flag placed on his/her account by the Office of the Registrar. The ONLY way to have the flag removed is for the student to submit documents to the Graduate School which verify legal presence in the U.S.. This applies to all new graduate students, domestic and international. For explicit instructions, see the website. Copies may be faxed to (706) 425-3095 or delivered to:

UGA offers graduate student housing at a very affordable rate. If you’re interested in living on campus, please see the UGA Family and Graduate Housing website.

If you’re interested in living off-campus, you can find local rental listings in several places. A few of these include: The Red and Black (student newspaper), Athens Banner Herald (local newspaper), Flagpole Magazine (local independent weekly), and Athens Craigslist.

Request a parking permit from Parking Services. You must register for a permit by JUNE 30TH to be guaranteed parking. You’ll need to have a UGA MyID to register for parking.

Download the parking map to help select a lot. You will have to choose specific parking lots and rank your preferences; be sure to note that cost varies by lot location. Most students in our program choose lots on North Campus (labeled with an "N" before the lot #) or West Campus north of Baxter Street (W01-W05).

UGA requires that all incoming students provide proof of certain immunizations. Download, fill out, and mail the form to the University Health Center. More information and instructions can be found here.

Although the University Health Center is an excellent facility that offers many services to the student population, it does not provide major medical services. Students are therefore encouraged to purchase health insurance. To learn more about UGA’s health insurance plans, see this website.

Get to the Tate Student Center as soon as possible after you register to get your UGA student ID card (UGACard). For hours and location, see the UGACard website. You’ll need your UGACard to ride the campus buses, check books out from campus libraries, and access the Ramsey Student Center.

Visit the Bursar’s Office website for information on paying tuition and fees before the deadline.  Missing the deadline may result in late fees and/or cancellation of your course load.

Bulldog Bucks is an online account-based debit card program offered to the campus community.  Bulldog Bucks (added to your UGACard) are accepted as payment at the UGA Bookstore, Food Services, and at several other on- and off-campus sites. In addition, Bulldog Bucks may be used to pay for copying, printing and vending. Accounts must be opened in person at the Bulldog Bucks office at the Tate Student Center, but students can make deposits and view account activity online.

Visitation Day
Application Deadline
MA or PHD?
Recommendations
Personal Statement
How decisions are made
When will you hear from us?
Financial Aid
What is the fast track or direct to Ph.D. track?


Q: What is a visitation day?

Visiting the Campus.  Those interested in visiting the campus should email us at polgrad@uga.edu and we will be happy to arrange a time for you to come and meet with faculty, current students, staff and see our facilities.

Q: When is the application deadline?

We admit applicants for Fall semester only. All of an applicant’s materials must be received by March 15th in order to be considered for admission.

Q: How do I know whether to apply for the M.A. or the Ph.D.?

Students who will have been awarded a master’s degree in political science or a related field by the Fall in which they plan to enroll can apply directly to the Ph.D. program. Those with only a bachelor’s degree completed must apply for the M.A. degree.

Those who will have completed professional degrees (J.D., M.B.A., M.Ed., etc) should apply to the Ph.D. If there is any concern about your qualifications given the nature of the professional degree, the Graduate Committee may require you to complete the M.A. at UGA before applying to the Ph.D. program.

Q: What is the fast track or direct to Ph.D. track?

This track is an option for highly qualified students who have or who will have obtained a bachelor’s degree and allows for direct entry into the Ph.D., bypassing the MA degree altogether. It is offered to a very limited number of strongly qualified individuals. They are expected to complete the Ph.D. program in four years and are eligible for a four-year assistantship that will fund their studies for the duration of their graduate career.

In order to qualify for the program, students must an entrance score of at least 4,500 based on the following formula: Undergraduate GPA x 1000 + GRE score (Verbal + Quantitative). For example, a student with a 3.0 GPA and a 1200 GRE would not be qualified for the fast track (score 4,200). An individual with a 3.5 and a 1300 GRE (score = 4,550) would be qualified. This is not the only qualification for the program. One’s entire file is examined and provides the basis from which the ultimate decision regarding admission to the fast track will be made.

Direct admission to the Ph.D. program is restricted to only the most competitive applicants. Not all applicants who meet the minimum score will be admitted. However, if students meet the criteria for the fast track and are not admitted, they will be automatically considered for the MA program. Upon completion of the MA, students can request admission to the Ph.D. program.

If you are interested in the direct to Ph.D. option, you should note this in your personal statement as well as your personal objective form.

Q: What kind of recommendations should I get?

Your references (at least three) should fill out the recommendation form required by the Graduate School and attach a letter to it. The references – not you – should mail these directly to our office.

We require letters from professors who have taught you. Their letters should describe your academic work in detail so that the Graduate Committee can be assured that you can complete a rigorous graduate program. If you have done significant independent research, such as a thesis, the committee normally expects a letter from the professor who supervised that work.

Letters from elected officials or “personal” references tend to be less valuable in determining your academic capability.  Letters from work supervisors are of little value unless your job entailed research.  In addition, letters from counselors, student affairs officers, and other non-faculty personnel on your campus generally provide little useful information for the committee.

For those applicants who have been out of the academic setting for some time, getting letters from prior instructors can be difficult, but should be pursued nonetheless.  In this instance, the committee will grant some flexibility, but once again, references must be able to address your academic and related abilities to some degree.

Q: What should I include in my personal statement?

We are most concerned with your academic background, intellectual interests and professional plans. Please do not include material that is not relevant to your academic background or interest.
 

Q: How are admissions decisions made?

The six-member Graduate Committee considers your entire application file:  previous academic record, GRE scores, personal statement, resume, and recommendations. There are no “automatic” acceptance factors – we have both accepted and rejected applicants whose Verbal and Quantitative GRE scores were 1400 or above.

The committee’s main concern is the likelihood that you will do well, not only in the graduate program you are applying for, but as a scholar and teacher once that degree is in hand. We also consider whether your interests are a good “fit” for the faculty, courses, and research centers available in the School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) and, to a lesser extent, elsewhere at UGA.

Q: When will I hear whether I’ve been accepted for admission?

The Graduate Committee meets occasionally during the Fall but almost every week during the Spring semester. Once your file is complete, it will be considered at the next committee meeting. The committee will discuss and vote on your application and then send its recommendation to the Graduate School, which makes the official decision on your application. The Graduate School normally contacts you one to two weeks after your recommendation.

If you are accepted, you must submit final transcripts from your previous college or university before you may enroll. You are also required to attend orientation the week before classes begin in August. Those receiving assistantships have other obligations that are detailed in their award letters.

Q: How are assistantships awarded?

You must apply for all assistantships through the Political Science and International Affairs Graduate Program office. Do not contact the Graduate School about financial support.  Students who receive support from the Graduate School must be nominated by their department and go through a competitive process.

The Graduate Committee assigns scores to all those who apply for financial support. Those whose files are complete by January 1 are guaranteed consideration for the first round of awards. Students not receiving support during the first round are still eligible for funding in subsequent rounds. Awards follow the following timetable:

We are also be able to nominate a limited number of applicants for a Regent’s Out-of-State Tuition Waiver (ROOST), which waives the out-of-state portion of a student’s tuition.  Out-of-state applicants are automatically considered for these waivers when they apply to the program.

Assistantship Application for Current Students

Assistantship Information Form

SPIA Assistantship Contract

Graduate Manual

Graduate Student Travel

Worksheet for MA Plan of Study

MA Thesis Defense Checklist

Worksheet for Ph.D. Plan of Study

Ph.D. Fast track worksheet

Dissertation Checklist

Dissertation Prospectus Checklist

POLS 9200 Independent Studies approval form

INTL 6010. Research Methods in International Policy. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: INTL POL METHODS.
An introduction to the application of research methods and techniques in order to understand and analyze international policy. The focus of the course is to familiarize the students with the proper way to ask and answer policy-oriented questions from a social science perspective. Qualitative and quantitative methods will be addressed.
 

INTL 6200. Pre-Seminar in International Relations. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: PRESEM INTERL REL.
Not open to students with credit in POLS 6200.
Realist, idealist, and institutionalist approaches to the study of International Relations. Special emphasis on applications to both historical and contemporary cases.
Not offered on a regular basis.
 

INTL 6300. Comparative Analysis and Method. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: PRESEM COMPAR ANAL.
Not open to students with credit in POLS 6350.
Comparative approaches to political science. The transition from feudalism to capitalism, state building, and the interaction between political institutions and cultures in various polities. Methods and approaches investigated include structuralism, functionalism, culturalist perspectives, rational choice, institutionalist frameworks, and the perennial issue of what constitutes the "state."
Not offered on a regular basis.
 

INTL 8200. Special Topics in International Relations. 3 hours. Repeatable for maximum 6 hours credit.
Oasis Title: SPECIAL TOPICS IR.
Not open to students with credit in POLS 8200.
The substance and method of selected topics in international relations with an emphasis on theory, analysis, and praxis. Topics selected by the instructor vary from semester to semester.
Not offered on a regular basis.
 

INTL 8205. Decision Making in International Relations. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: DECISION MAKNG IR.
Not open to students with credit in INTL 8410.
Prerequisite: INTL 6200 or permission of department.
Examines the role of decision making in the formation of foreign policy and international relations.
 

INTL 8210. International Organization. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: INTERNTL ORGANIZATN.
Not open to students with credit in POLS 6210.
The role of international institutions to overcome obstacles of international cooperation. International regimes, formal as well as informal, and their capacity to induce cooperation. International regimes are understood as political institutions designed to solve collective action problems and reduce transaction costs among states to such degrees that international cooperation becomes possible.
Not offered on a regular basis.
 

INTL 8220. International Law. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: INTERNATIONAL LAW.
Not open to students with credit in POLS 6220.
Functioning of the legal structures in the international system with special emphasis on the relation between law and politics.
Not offered on a regular basis.
 

INTL 8230. International Conflict. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: INTERNATL CONFLICT.
Not open to students with credit in POLS 6230.
Major theories of international conflict. The objective is to explore the logical and empirical foundations for the key hypotheses linking systemic, structural, coalitional, and individual factors to decisions regarding war and peace. Also, introduces the different types of methodologies currently used in the quantitative study of international relations.
Not offered on a regular basis.
 

INTL 8240. International Political Economy. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: INTL POLITICAL ECON.
Not open to students with credit in POLS 6240.
Various aspects of the international economy, both theoretical and practical, essential to an understanding of modern diplomacy and the conduct of foreign affairs.
Not offered on a regular basis.
 

INTL 8250. American Foreign Policy. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: AMER FOREIGN POLICY.
Not open to students with credit in POLS 6250.
History and content of American foreign policy as well as the foreign policy making process. Special emphasis on the role of individuals and nongovernment organizations in making foreign policy in a mature democracy.
Not offered on a regular basis.
 

INTL 8255. Comparative Foreign Policy. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: COMP FOR POL.
Prerequisite or corequisite: INTL 6200.
An assessment of the strategic, psychological, domestic and systemic incentives that guide the foreign policy behavior of states. Particular attention is given to the (different) decision making contexts faced by rising powers versus those faced by states in decline.
 

INTL 8260. Human Rights Policy. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY.
Not open to students with credit in POLS 8260.
Human rights issue as it affects the process of policy formulation and implementation, including both domestic and international policy areas.
Not offered on a regular basis.
 

INTL 8270. Politics of Trade and Security Policy. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: POL TRADE & SEC POL.
Not open to students with credit in POLS 8270.
Domestic and international politics of trade and security of selected countries, including the United States.
Not offered on a regular basis.
 

INTL 8275. Foundations of Security Studies. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: FNDS SECUR STUDIES.
Prerequisite: INTL 6200 or permission of department.
Exploration of the theories of international relations relevant to policymaking in security affairs. Students will evaluate theories of foreign policy behavior and conflict outcomes in light of the results of both quantitative and qualitative empirical research. They will also critically assess actual security policy from a theoretically-grounded perspective.
 

INTL 8280. Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: NATLISM ETHN CONFL.
Prerequisite: INTL 6200 or permission of department.
Examination of theoretical aspects of ethnicity, inter-ethnic conflict, conflict management policies, and examples of ethnic crises. Analyzes causes of and proposed solutions to inter-ethnic strife.
 

INTL 8290. Strategic Intelligence. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: STRATEGIC INTEL.
Prerequisite: INTL 6200 or permission of department.
Examines the use of intelligence agencies to gather, assess, and disseminate information to US foreign policymakers and explores the use of intelligence for covert action and for counterintelligence. Compares and contrasts US intelligence with practices in regimes throughout the world.
 

INTL 8300. Selected Topics in Comparative Politics. 3 hours. Repeatable for maximum 6 hours credit.
Oasis Title: TOPICS COMP POL.
Not open to students with credit in POLS 8300.
Research oriented seminar of both the substance and method of selected topics in comparative politics, with an emphasis on theory, analysis, and praxis. Topics selected by the instructor vary from semester to semester.
Not offered on a regular basis.
 

INTL 8305. Comparative Political Theories. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: COMP POL THEORIES.
Prerequisite: INTL 6300 or permission of department.
Examination of the tradition of grand theory in the social sciences. By grand theory we mean those large, overarching explanations of social and political behavior that give coherence to the discipline and provide the foundations for the study of comparative politics.
 

INTL 8310. Politics of Industrialized Democracies. 3 hours. Repeatable for maximum 6 hours credit.
Oasis Title: POL INDUST DEMOC.
Not open to students with credit in POLS 8310.
Political economy and institutions of the major capitalist countries in Europe, East Asia, and North America. Comparative analysis of both country-specific and function-specific criteria, such as state-society relations and formal and informal political institutions.
Not offered on a regular basis.
 

INTL 8315. Comparative Politics of the Middle East. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: COMP POL MIDDL EAST.
Prerequisite: INTL 6300 or permission of department.
Evaluates critically social science approaches to the study of the Middle East. Examines the assumptions from which mainstream study of the Middle East starts. Course covers basic contextual information as well as engaging major theoretical debates and specialized topics.
 

INTL 8320. Politics of the European Union. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: POLITICS OF EU.
Prerequisite: INTL 6300 or permission of department.
The history, organization, and policies of the European Union (EU). Emphasis on theoretical analysis, with attention to the main competing theories regarding the internal politics of the EU as well as the interaction between the EU and other states, including prospective members.
 

INTL 8325. Comparative Democracy, Democratization, and Civil Society. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: COMP DEMOCRACY.
Prerequisite: INTL 6300 or permission of department.
A comparative study of democracy and democratization focused on the political, cultural, and socioeconomic bases of democratization, its practice in the USA, Europe, Russia, Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America and the prospects for democracy spreading in presently non-democratic countries. Emphasis on the distinct meanings of democracy, its variety of forms, and the distinct priorities that different societies give to democracy.
 

INTL 8330. Politics of Post-Communist Political Systems. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: POL POST-COM POLSYS.
Not open to students with credit in POLS 8330.
Domestic and international politics of selected post-communist states.
Not offered on a regular basis.
 

INTL 8335. South Asian Political Systems. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: S ASIAN POL SYS.
Prerequisite: INTL 6300 or permission of department.
The social, cultural, economic, and political processes in South Asia systems, including such countries as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia.
 

INTL 8340. Seminar in Developing Political Systems. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: DEVELOPING POL SYS.
Not open to students with credit in POLS 8340.
Theory of creating integrated, viable, modernizing political systems in a world of economic inequalities. The focus is on the kinds of political institutions that can help manage the social stress of racial, ethnic, cultural, social, economic, technological, and ideological diversity.
Not offered on a regular basis.
 

INTL(AFST) 8345. Comparative Politics of Sub Saharan Africa. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: COM POL SUB SAH AFR.
Prerequisite: INTL 6300 or permission of department.
Comparative political issues and themes in Africa; colonialism and colonial legacy, political institutions, political systems, and political culture; transition to and consolidation of democracy.
 

INTL(GEOG) 8355. Labor, Class, and Politics. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: LABR CLASS POLITICS.
Prerequisite: INTL 6300 or GEOG 4620/6620 or GEOG 4650/6650 or permission of department.
Comparative and historical analysis of labor movements, social class, and politics in developed and developing countries. Emphasis on labor and globalization, changing structure of work, and democratic politics.
 

INTL 8360. Government and Business. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: GOVERNMENT AND BUS.
Not open to students with credit in POLS 7660.
Economic, social, and political bases for government intervention in market economies, comparative and/or American. Evolution of and justification for regulatory policies, the theoretical debate surrounding government regulations, case studies of specific regulatory programs, and alternatives to regulation.
Not offered on a regular basis.
 

INTL 8365. Comparative Political Violence. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: COM POL VIOL.
Prerequisite: INTL 6300 or permission of department.
The systematic, theoretical, and empirical study of violent political conflict. Examples include, but are not limited to, guerrilla warfare, terrorism, ethnic and religious conflict, nationalist-separatist movements, civil war, political protest, and state repression.
 

INTL 8370. Comparative Public Opinion and Participation. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: COMP OPIN PARTICIPA.
Prerequisite: INTL 6300 or permission of department.
Comparison of the formation of attitudes and beliefs in democratic societies, as well as the varieties of political participation and representation under different constitutional and institutional arrangements.
 

INTL 8375. Comparative Political Institutions. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: COMP POL INST.
Prerequisite: INTL 6300.
The historical, political, and cultural origins and consequences of political institutions, with emphasis on societal outcomes.
 

INTL 8380. Russian and East European Politics. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: RUSS EAST EUR POL.
Not open to students with credit in POLS 6380.
Domestic and international politics in Russia and selected East European states (e.g., Belarus and Ukraine).
Not offered on a regular basis.
 

INTL 8385. Comparative Identity Politics. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: COMP IDENT POL.
Prerequisite: INTL 6300 or permission of department.
Course begins with the social and political psychology of identity to explore the questions of what identity is and how it is used psychologically. It then places this into a social context with a comparative examination of ethnic, national, and religious identities in various parts of the world.
 

INTL 8390. East Asian Political Systems. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: E ASIAN POL SYS.
Social, cultural, and political processes in contrasting East Asian nations, including China, Japan, and Korea. Both domestic and international issues will be examined.
Not offered on a regular basis.
 

INTL 8420. Game Theory in International Affairs. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: INTL/GAME THY.
Introduction to the basic concepts of game theory, with emphasis on applications to international relations and comparative politics research. Core concepts like preferences and expected utility will be covered. Two-player, non- cooperative games and the basic solution concept for these games, the Nash equilibrium, will also be discussed. A series of more complex models and the refinements to the Nash equilibrium needed to solve them will be covered.
 

INTL 8500. Qualitative Research Methods in International Affairs. 3 hours.
Oasis Title: QUAL METHODS INTL.
Study of a wide variety of research methods and styles used by students of political phenomena, concentrating on those approaches that are essentially non-quantitative in orientation. A variety of approaches, some positivist in orientation, some non-positivist, but all involving an empirical emphasis will be covered.
 

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Dr. Jeff Berejikian
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706.542.6705

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Kathryn Johnson
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