From entertaining foreign dignitaries at the White House to declaring war, how the United States’s interacts with other nations, peoples, and states is both diverse and critically important to achieving national objectives. This survey course in U.S. Foreign Policy making has three overarching objectives. First, students will develop a clear understanding of why the United States acts the way it does in the international community. Students will be exposed to a variety of conceptual approaches about how U.S. Foreign Policy is shaped, and studied. 

The second objective is to introduce students to major historical events in U.S. foreign relations. Students will learn not only how past decision makers have responded to these events, but also explore how these events continue to have an impact on the way that policymakers approach issues today. The third and final objective is to put ourselves in the shoes of policymakers. We will accomplish this goal in a number of ways, including mimicking policy maker discussions, writing policy briefs, and case study work.  

This is a fairly challenging upper level course designed primarily for POLS majors and minors with a strong interest in international politics. It is also strongly recommended that students complete the Introduction to International Relations Course before enrolling.

Syllabus