Advanced Research in International Security Policy
INTL 4425R
3 hours
Advanced Research in International Security Policy
Course Description
A research course required for students in the Center for International Trade and Security’s (CITS) Security Leadership Program (SLP). Each student will conduct individualized, independent research on national security, international security, or a human security issue under the supervision of a faculty mentor. Students will produce a significant written assignment as their final product of the course. The course is only available to students admitted to the SLP who have completed the Practicum--Methods and Issues in Security Studies course, the first-semester SLP practicum in security studies.
Athena Title
Adv Rsch Intl Security Policy
Prerequisite
INTL 4415 or permission of department
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course students will be able to synthesize details about the concepts in international affairs (e.g., the international system, actors in the international system, the principles of sovereignty and anarchy).
By the end of the course students will be able to evaluate how the characteristics of various political systems lead to different political outcomes.
By the end of the course students will be able to evaluate the major theoretical approaches and models used within international relations and comparative politics.
By the end of the course students will be able to evaluate theoretical foundations in the study of international relations and comparative politics when applying them to attempt to explain the causes and effects of historical and contemporary global events.
By the end of the course students will be able to collect and analyze original quality data relative to the causes and effects of historical and contemporary global events.
By the end of the course students will be able to create original, well-informed arguments about the causes and effects of historical and contemporary global events that is theoretically informed and includes quality data.
By the end of the course students will be able to write in a clear structured manner that provides an original theoretically informed argument presented to an intended audience that is supported with data and uses appropriate vocabulary, grammar, and syntax.
By the end of the course students will be able to create an original social science research project.
Topical Outline
1. Research Design: How to develop a research question
2. Research Design: The data collection process
3. Independent Research
a. Proposal and Annotated Bibliography
b. Updated Proposal and Detailed Outline
c. Draft of Research Paper and Peer Feedback
d. Presentation of Research Project
e. Final Product
