Politics of the European Union

Last Updated: Mon, 01/05/2026
Course prefix:
INTA
Course number:
2221
Semester:
Spring
Academic year:
2026
Course description:

The aim of this course is to provide an in-depth introduction and overview of the history and politics of the European Union from its inception to continuous development under the 2009 Treaty of Lisbon and the post-Brexit era. The course is organized into three main parts. Part one traces the evolution of European integration with a special focus on the fundamental debates about the nature and scope of European unification and its character as both a political and economic project.  Part two examines the EU’s institutions, decision-making processes and the scope and content of EU law and policy through the evolution of its treaties over the past seven decades of its history. After gaining deeper knowledge of the historical background of the EU and the nuts and bolts of what the EU is and how it works, Part three explores the extent to which the growing supranational and transnational nature of the EU challenges traditional concepts of domestic politics (citizenship, sovereignty, democracy) as well as foreign policy and international relations.  This part of the course will also draw on the concepts of globalization and Europeanization inviting students to think comparatively and critically as they consider French and European politics and society in global perspective and in contrast to their own cultural and national backgrounds. Additionally, the course examines contemporary debates and policy challenges within the European Union such as the rise of Euroscepticism, democratic backsliding and the consequences of “Brexit” and the war in Ukraine. Finally, the course compares the EU with the United States as a model of democracy and political economy as well as a global actor and a diplomatic force in world politics. Overall, the course offers a dynamic learning experience that provides both traditional lectures with discussion-oriented classes complemented by field trips, film screenings, and visits to museums and historical sites.

Course learning outcomes:
  • Build knowledge and understanding of the origins and current issues facing the European Union
  • Develop basic analytical skills to assess the impact of European integration on domestic and international politics.
  • Display an understanding of the functioning of European institutions and the policy making influence of the EU on regional and global governance
  • Demonstrate the ability to describe the social, political, and economic forces that influence Europe and the global system.
  • Increase awareness of the diversity of cultural, political and ethical systems across the EU.
Required course materials:

John McCormick (2021) Understanding the European Union

      Copies are available in the GTL library and most required readings are posted on Canvas

 

 

Useful Websites:

To enhance the quality of classroom discussions it will be helpful to follow current events and the news related to developments in the EU, French and European politics. The best sources for staying informed about current issues in the EU for English speakers are the BBC and EuroNews websites, France 24 (English) The Financial Times and The Economist. Many articles from the latter two publications will be made available for required supplemental reading throughout the semester. For French speakers, Le Monde and Le Figaro are leading national newspapers and France Info, France Culture and France Television (TF 1, FR 2, 3 and TV 5) are other useful sources of information. Der Spiegel is a German weekly news magazine that has an international version in English for news and analysis of German, European and International Affairs, Deutsche Welle (dw.com) is 24/7 on-line and available in English.

 

      For a wealth of information on the institutions, Member States and current policies of the European Union, consult the EU’s official website, Europa. The URL is: http://europa.eu.int

 

      Information from the European Union’s Delegation to the United States can be found at:

      www.eurunion.org

Grading policy:

Course Requirements and Grade Distribution:

      Attendance and participation are essential to doing well in the course. Participation comprises 10% of the total grade for the course and absences must be due to illness or other compelling reasons.  Readings should be completed prior to class meetings and you should be prepared for active and engaged discussion. All exams are short answer and essay /reflection pieces in format. Additionally, for 20 % of the total grade, each student will prepare a PowerPoint presentation on a Member State (or multiple countries depending on class size) of his or her choice that covers the key debates and issues surrounding that country’s accession and integration process, key policy concerns/contributions, and overall attitudes and support for the EU. More guidelines for this assignment are provided at the end of the syllabus. Finally, 10 % percent of the grade comes from quizzes drawn from the MS presentations.

First Exam: 20 %

Second Exam: 20 %

Final Essay: 20%

Member State Presentations:   20%

Participation and Quizzes:   20% 

                                                      

 

Grading Rubric for Essays (20 point scale) 

Grade

Points

Descriptors

A  or 20, 19, 18 points

Felicitous and highly original execution of the assignment; unique and distinctive voice is clear throughout the essay; excellent attention to detail and impressive analytical points of connection made between site visits, course content, readings and concepts. 

B or 17, 16, 15 points

Admirable performance and ability to meet the expectations of the assignment, interesting references made to subject matter and site visits; coherent and well-organized essay.

C or 14, 13, 12 points

Adequate performance demonstrating an acceptable understanding of the subject matter and a modest ability to handle the expectations of the essay prompt and assignment. 

D or 11, 10 , 9 points

Minimally acceptable performance demonstrating only partial familiarity with the subject matter and inadequate understanding of the goals of assignment.

F, 8 points or below

Failure to demonstrate familiarity with the subject matter or capacity to follow instructions.

General Grading Scale for the course

 A = 89.5-100; B = 79.5-89.4; C = 69.5-79.4; D = 59.5-69.5; F = below 59.5

A: Outstanding and original work; well-organized, coherent and consistent performance without significant error or omission.

B: Very fine work, reasonably executed, clearly organized, with only slight error or          omission; clearly well above the average.

C: Solid work of a satisfactory nature; clear evidence of engagement and    comprehension, but with some organizational, factual, or interpretive         errors/omissions.

D: Passing, but only marginally acceptable work with clear deficiencies of length, fact, organization, or interpretation; incomplete work.

F: Unacceptable work submitted with such significant deficiencies that no credit can be awarded.

 

Attendance policy:

Attendance and participation are essential to doing well in the course. Participation comprises 10% of the total grade for the course and absences must be due to illness or other compelling reasons.  

Academic honesty/integrity statement:

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.

Core IMPACTS statement(s) (if applicable):

This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Social Sciences area.

Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.

This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:

  • How do I understand human experiences and connections?

Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:

  • Students will effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior, and how historical, economic, political, social or geographic relationships develop, persist or change.

Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:

  • Intercultural Competence
  • Perspective-Taking
  • Persuasion
Instructor First Name:
Vicki
Instructor Last Name:
Birchfield
Section:
A
CRN (you may add up to five):
35066
View PDF
Department (you may add up to three):
International Affairs

Global Citizenship

Last Updated: Mon, 01/05/2026
Course prefix:
INTA
Course number:
3050
Semester:
Spring
Academic year:
2026
Course description:

This is a discussion based and active learning course designed for students from different disciplinary backgrounds from science and engineering fields to the social sciences and humanities. The intellectual and academic content of the course allows students to draw on their educational and professional experiences abroad or attained in different intercultural contexts as we explore concepts and practices related to identity, citizenship, globalism and intercultural competencies. The course explores the meaning of global citizenship as it has evolved conceptually in scholarly and public debates and how it is “practiced” by individuals and “institutionalized” by universities, corporations and other organizations that deploy the concept as a strategic goal or a set of value commitments. We will also consider the extent to which global citizenship is a contested idea and evaluate those oppositions in both normative and empirical terms. The course will be anchored by a survey of the relevant concepts, theories and analytical tools from the Social Sciences and Humanities, as well as from Intercultural Communication and Social Psychology to enable students to fulfill the following objectives:

  • Think critically and systematically about our subject matter, particularly as it is bound up with complex constructs such as national identity, globalization and the causes and consequences of human migration.
  • Perform an active investigation of perception, values, and problem-solving approaches, all of which differ in patterned ways across cultures, and exert tremendous influence on how we define global citizenship.
  • Acknowledge the necessity of shifting from ethno-centrism to ethno-relativism and away from “us versus them” thinking to successfully conceptualize global citizenship as an idea and a practice
Course learning outcomes:

“Prepare all Georgia Tech students to be cross-culturally competent, globally minded leaders” is one of Georgia Tech’s stated strategic goals. Students will transform the knowledge gained from our inquiry into the nature of global citizenship and how it is being enacted through practices both within the academy and beyond, into the following learning outcomes: 

  • Understand the interrelationships between the concepts of globalization and citizenship.
  • Exhibit cultural, contextual, and ethical awareness.  Students will become more aware of the diversity of cultural and ethical systems in the world.  Includes the ability to identify, critically analyze, and apply distinguishing traits/perspectives/ formulations/ institutions in comparative or international empirical cases or issue areas.
  • Differentiate communitarian and cosmopolitan perspectives on issues related to globalization, citizenship, immigration, and international affairs .
  • Explain the concept of identity in relation to politics and society.
  • Demonstrate familiarity with intercultural learning concepts and the developmental model of intercultural sensitivity .
  • Justify or reject critiques of global citizenship using normative and empirical evidence from concepts studied in class.
  • Develop effective communication and teamwork skills through group projects and oral presentations.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the goals, methods, and tools of the Social Sciences, Humanities, and Natural Sciences and what each academic approach may contribute to the investigation of the meaning and practices of global citizenship.
  • Define what global citizenship can and should mean to you as individuals in an increasingly globalized world and workplace as well as what it means as a member of the Georgia Tech community.
Required course materials:

There is no required textbook for this course. All readings are posted on the Canvas course site.

Grading policy:

Attendance and participation are essential to doing well in this class.  Participation comprises 20% of the total grade for the course, which is equal in weight to each of the other assessments. Absences are to be avoided except in the case of sickness or emergency situations. After three unexcused absences, points will be deducted from the participation grade.  Readings should be completed prior to class meetings, and you should be prepared for active and engaged discussion. Guidelines for the team presentations and research projects will be posted on Canvas.

Participation 20% 

Exam 20 %

Team Presentation    20%                           

Research Project 20%

Final Essay/Podcast 20%

 

Attendance policy:

Participation comprises 20% of the total grade for the course, which is equal in weight to each of the other assessments. Absences are to be avoided except in the case of sickness or emergency situations. After three unexcused absences, points will be deducted from the participation grade.  

Academic honesty/integrity statement:

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.

Core IMPACTS statement(s) (if applicable):

This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Social Sciences area.

Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.

This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:

  • How do I understand human experiences and connections?

 

Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:

  • Students will effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior, and how historical, economic, political, social or geographic relationships develop, persist or change.

 

Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:

  • Intercultural Competence
  • Perspective-Taking

Persuasion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructor First Name:
Vicki
Instructor Last Name:
Birchfield
Section:
A
CRN (you may add up to five):
31674
View PDF
Department (you may add up to three):
International Affairs

Intro to International Relations

Last Updated: Sat, 01/03/2026
Course prefix:
INTA
Course number:
1110
Semester:
Spring
Academic year:
2026
Course description:

This course will help students to understand the background and historical development of the current international system. Together, we will come to understand the various theoretical paradigms and explore how each is used to analyze international relations and inform policy.  In addition, the class will learn about the various structures of global governance including international institutions, international law, and human rights.    In order to do all this, the course will take advantage of readings, lectures, discussions, as well as various pieces of pop culture that reaffirm the importance of these concepts.  By the end of the semester, students will be proficient in the basic language of the field, be able to view international relations utilizing multiple theoretical lenses, apply these theories when analyzing current world events and will capable of explaining their analysis to others.  

Course learning outcomes:

• Understand the background and historical development of the current international system

• Gain a broad understanding of various theoretical paradigms and how they inform policy.

• Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of theories of international relations and apply them in analyzing events and outcomes in world affairs. 

• Understand the basic structure and operations of global governance as well as its key actors and institutions.

• Become competent in the basic language of our field as well as methodologies used to advance its research

Required course materials:

There is no required textbook for this course.  All readings are either posted to Canvas, on reserve in the library, or will be handed out in class. All readings are subject to change; however, students will be notified in advance. Unless otherwise noted, all readings, audio files, or videos are mandatory. In addition, if you feel you would like or need a textbook, one can be recommended to you as well the corresponding pages to what we will be covering.

Grading policy:

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

 Exams (E1-25%, E2-25%) - The exams will test your knowledge of the material covered in lecture, the text, as well as any supplemental readings.   I anticipate the exam format will consist of a combination of multiple choice, True/False, and short answer.  Please note that the final exam is not cumulative and only covers the second half of the course.   As such, it will be the same format as the first exam including the length of time you have to take the exam (75 minutes unless there are accommodations).   In addition, Canvas may be utilized for the exams.  If this is done, institute approved anti-cheating/plagiarism/anti-AI technology.  I will address this as we move closer to the exam dates.

Group assignment  (20%)  Each student will be assigned to a small group responsible for a presentation on one piece of pop culture and its use of international affairs.  Greater details and group assignments will come after Drop/Add.  A portion of this grade is determined by your peers. 

Reading assignments/quizzes (20%) These will either be short assignments based on either the readings, material from class, current events, or discussion and will be posted and submitted through Canvas. There is also the possibility of “unannounced” quizzes on the readings if we continue to have a lack of reading.   Quizzes will be multiple choice or True/False type questions and mostly done in class.  However, there may be the occasional one posted to Canvas. I will be dropping your lowest grade and please remember the AI and honor code policies of the class when doing these assignments.* 

Participation (10% total) – This will be based partially on attendance, discussions, and in class assignments and group activities.** 

* Generally, there are a combination of 6-9 homework assignments/quizzes a semester, but that number can vary.  

**You can have two missed classes before it will impact your grade. Typically, there are between 7-10 class participation measurements a semester.  

GRADING PROCEDURES

A = 100-90; B = 89-80; C = 79-70; D = 69-60; F = 59 and below. Mid-term grades or progress reports will be listed as S = Satisfactory, meaning 70 and above, or U = Unsatisfactory, indicating a grade below 70. If you are taking the class Pass/Fail, then the same mid-term grade standard will also be applied for a final grade of “S” = Satisfactory as well.

In addition, Canvas will be used only for posting grades and NOT GRADE CALCULATION.  Thus, students should not use any calculation made by the system as being representative of their actual grade in the class. 

Attendance policy:

First and foremost, you cannot participate if you are not in class. Thus, attendance is expected and if you miss a class you are responsible for getting the material from another student. Please before you leave class on the first day find a “note taking buddy” so that if either of you miss you are covered. Lecture slides will not be available online. It should be noted that the slides are primarily outlines and only represent a portion of the material. Thus, there is value to being in class. 

*Excused Absence policy – This course will follow the University’s policy for excused absences. Absences for medical or personal emergencies will be excused upon verification by the Office of Student Life. You can find an outline of the policy here https://catalog.gatech.edu/policies/student-absence-regulations/ This would apply to illness as well as personal emergencies. Please review this page if you are not familiar with it. In addition, all institute approved absences will honored, which would include university sanctioned function, athletics, etc. when accompanied by the appropriate documentation. Absences resulting from oversleeping, alarms not going off, computer crashes, drink or food specials, lost wallets, lost purses, or dogs eating papers, books, flash drives, etc. will not be considered approved absences. 

Academic honesty/integrity statement:

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.

By attending Georgia Tech you have all committed to upholding the ideals of honor and integrity as well as refusing to betray this trust that has been bestowed upon you as a member of our academic community (https://policylibrary.gatech.edu/student-life/academic-honor-code). Any student who is suspected of violations of this honor code including but not limited to cheating or plagiarizing on a quiz, exam, or assignment will be automatically reported to the Office of Student Integrity. This office will investigate the incident as well as recommend the penalties for the violations.

Core IMPACTS statement(s) (if applicable):

INTA 1110    Introduction to International Relations

This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Social Sciences area. 

Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help students master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.  

This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question: 

  • How do I understand human experiences and connections?  

Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome: 

  • Students will effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior, and how historical, economic, political, social, or geographic relationships develop, persist, or change.  

Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies: 

  • Intercultural Competence 
  • Perspective-Taking 
  • Persuasion  
Instructor First Name:
Jason
Instructor Last Name:
Rich
Section:
HP
CRN (you may add up to five):
35389
View PDF
Department (you may add up to three):
International Affairs

Intro to International Relations

Last Updated: Sat, 01/03/2026
Course prefix:
INTA
Course number:
1110
Semester:
Spring
Academic year:
2026
Course description:

This course will help students to understand the background and historical development of the current international system. Together, we will come to understand the various theoretical paradigms and explore how each is used to analyze international relations and inform policy.  In addition, the class will learn about the various structures of global governance including international institutions, international law, and human rights.    In order to do all this, the course will take advantage of readings, lectures, discussions, as well as various pieces of pop culture that reaffirm the importance of these concepts.  By the end of the semester, students will be proficient in the basic language of the field, be able to view international relations utilizing multiple theoretical lenses, apply these theories when analyzing current world events and will capable of explaining their analysis to others.  

Course learning outcomes:

• Understand the background and historical development of the current international system

• Gain a broad understanding of various theoretical paradigms and how they inform policy.

• Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of theories of international relations and apply them in analyzing events and outcomes in world affairs. 

• Understand the basic structure and operations of global governance as well as its key actors and institutions.

• Become competent in the basic language of our field as well as methodologies used to advance its research

Required course materials:

There is no required textbook for this course.  All readings are either posted to Canvas, on reserve in the library, or will be handed out in class. All readings are subject to change; however, students will be notified in advance. Unless otherwise noted, all readings, audio files, or videos are mandatory. In addition, if you feel you would like or need a textbook, one can be recommended to you as well the corresponding pages to what we will be covering.

Grading policy:

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

 Exams (E1-25%, E2-25%) - The exams will test your knowledge of the material covered in lecture, the text, as well as any supplemental readings.   I anticipate the exam format will consist of a combination of multiple choice, True/False, and short answer.  Please note that the final exam is not cumulative and only covers the second half of the course.   As such, it will be the same format as the first exam including the length of time you have to take the exam (75 minutes unless there are accommodations).   In addition, Canvas may be utilized for the exams.  If this is done, institute approved anti-cheating/plagiarism/anti-AI technology.  I will address this as we move closer to the exam dates.

Group assignment  (20%)  Each student will be assigned to a small group responsible for a presentation on one piece of pop culture and its use of international affairs.  Greater details and group assignments will come after Drop/Add.  A portion of this grade is determined by your peers. 

Reading assignments/quizzes (20%) These will either be short assignments based on either the readings, material from class, current events, or discussion and will be posted and submitted through Canvas. There is also the possibility of “unannounced” quizzes on the readings if we continue to have a lack of reading.   Quizzes will be multiple choice or True/False type questions and mostly done in class.  However, there may be the occasional one posted to Canvas. I will be dropping your lowest grade and please remember the AI and honor code policies of the class when doing these assignments.*

 Participation (10% total) – This will be based partially on attendance, discussions, and in class assignments and group activities.** 

* Generally, there are a combination of 6-9 homework assignments/quizzes a semester, but that number can vary.  

**You can have two missed classes before it will impact your grade. Typically, there are between 7-10 class participation measurements a semester.  

GRADING PROCEDURES

A = 100-90; B = 89-80; C = 79-70; D = 69-60; F = 59 and below. Mid-term grades or progress reports will be listed as S = Satisfactory, meaning 70 and above, or U = Unsatisfactory, indicating a grade below 70. If you are taking the class Pass/Fail, then the same mid-term grade standard will also be applied for a final grade of “S” = Satisfactory as well.

In addition, Canvas will be used only for posting grades and NOT GRADE CALCULATION.  Thus, students should not use any calculation made by the system as being representative of their actual grade in the class. 

 

Attendance policy:

First and foremost, you cannot participate if you are not in class. Thus, attendance is expected and if you miss a class you are responsible for getting the material from another student. Please before you leave class on the first day find a “note taking buddy” so that if either of you miss you are covered. Lecture slides will not be available online. It should be noted that the slides are primarily outlines and only represent a portion of the material. Thus, there is value to being in class. 

*Excused Absence policy – This course will follow the University’s policy for excused absences. Absences for medical or personal emergencies will be excused upon verification by the Office of Student Life. You can find an outline of the policy here https://catalog.gatech.edu/policies/student-absence-regulations/ This would apply to illness as well as personal emergencies. Please review this page if you are not familiar with it. In addition, all institute approved absences will honored, which would include university sanctioned function, athletics, etc. when accompanied by the appropriate documentation. Absences resulting from oversleeping, alarms not going off, computer crashes, drink or food specials, lost wallets, lost purses, or dogs eating papers, books, flash drives, etc. will not be considered approved absences. 

Academic honesty/integrity statement:

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.

By attending Georgia Tech you have all committed to upholding the ideals of honor and integrity as well as refusing to betray this trust that has been bestowed upon you as a member of our academic community (https://policylibrary.gatech.edu/student-life/academic-honor-code). Any student who is suspected of violations of this honor code including but not limited to cheating or plagiarizing on a quiz, exam, or assignment will be automatically reported to the Office of Student Integrity. This office will investigate the incident as well as recommend the penalties for the violations.

Core IMPACTS statement(s) (if applicable):

INTA 1110    Introduction to International Relations

This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Social Sciences area. 

Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help students master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.  

This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question: 

  • How do I understand human experiences and connections?  

Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome: 

  • Students will effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior, and how historical, economic, political, social, or geographic relationships develop, persist, or change.  

Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies: 

  • Intercultural Competence
  • Perspective-Taking
  • Persuasion  
Instructor First Name:
Jason
Instructor Last Name:
Rich
Section:
A
CRN (you may add up to five):
22275
View PDF
Department (you may add up to three):
International Affairs

Intro to Intl Security

Last Updated: Sat, 01/03/2026
Course prefix:
INTA
Course number:
2120
Semester:
Spring
Academic year:
2026
Course description:

Because security is a fundamental concern for individuals, societies, and states, this course provides a systematic introduction to how International Relations (IR) and Security Studies define, analyze, and debate “security.” War and conflict recur throughout human history for instance, but why do they occur, under what conditions do they escalate, and what patterns shape how actors anticipate, deter, or fight? Drawing on major theoretical traditions as well as historical and contemporary cases, the course introduces core concepts and terminology such as power, deterrence, the security dilemma, alliances, coercion, and escalation and shows how they are applied to real-world security problems. By the end of the course, students will be able to evaluate competing explanations of conflict and assess the policy trade-offs involved in managing threats in international politics. 

Course learning outcomes:

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Apply key concepts from IR and Security Studies to analyze security problems systematically.
  • Compare major theoretical approaches and evaluate their explanatory strengths and limits.
  • Use evidence from historical and contemporary cases to assess causes of conflict, escalation dynamics, and outcomes of security policies.
  • Identify and articulate causal arguments, including plausible mechanisms and alternative explanations, in written and oral formats.
  • Conduct analytical research using credible sources and communicate findings clearly through structured writing and public presentation.
Required course materials:

Most readings for this course are available online through the Georgia Tech Library or are open access. You can find all course materials on CANVAS. Students are not required to purchase any materials for this course. Reading must be completed before each class. Students are responsible for all assigned readings, even if the material is not explicitly discussed in class. 

Grading policy:

Assessment Plan

Your final grade will be assigned as a letter grade according to the following scale:

A         90-100%

B          80-89%

C         70-79%

D         60-69%

F          0-59%

*Grades Are Earned: Grades reflect the quality of work submitted; they are not based on a default 100-point system with deductions. For example, if you receive a 91, you earned 91 points, not “lost” 9. 

Attendance policy:

This course expects students to attend an in-person environment and interactions on time unless there is an excuse or emergency noticed to or approved by the instructor. The substantive late attendance will also be marked and not treated as full attendance. 

Academic honesty/integrity statement:

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.

Core IMPACTS statement(s) (if applicable):

This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Social Sciences area. 

Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help students master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.  

  

This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question: 

· How do I understand human experiences and connections?  

  

Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:

· Students will effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior, and how historical, economic, political, social, or geographic relationships develop, persist, or change.  

  

Course content, activities, and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies: 

· Intercultural Competence  

· Perspective-Taking  

· Persuasion  

Instructor First Name:
Sanghyun
Instructor Last Name:
Han
Section:
A
CRN (you may add up to five):
33173
View PDF
Department (you may add up to three):
International Affairs

U.S. Foreign Policy

Last Updated: Fri, 01/02/2026
Course prefix:
INTA
Course number:
3110
Semester:
Spring
Academic year:
2026
Course description:

This course will critically examine several key aspects of US foreign policy, including the theoretical issues that shape foreign policy making and the system in which foreign policy decisions are made. It will also explore the history and construction of the United States foreign policy since 1945 and the current foreign policy issues and problems facing United States. The course will consider the changing nature of international relations and the possible future role that the US will play in the world. The course is designed to encourage students to think critically about the United States’ role in foreign affairs and to become more informed on foreign policy.

Course learning outcomes:
  • Students will be able to describe the role of history and political, social, and economic system in shaping the United States foreign policy.
  • Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of principal contemporary global challenges in the field of international affairs
  • Students will be able to apply research skills to address problems in the field of international affairs.
  • Students will be able to use their knowledge of international affairs in a practical problem-solving way to address issues of immediate international concern.
  • Students will become more aware of the diversity of cultural and ethical systems in the world. 
  • Student will be able to think critically about the United States’ role in the global system.
Required course materials:

Jentleson, Bruce. (2014). American Foreign Policy: The Dynamics of Choice in the 21st Century (5th edition).

Grading policy:

Class participation 10% of course grade

Discussion Lead – 10% of course grade

Exams – 60% of course grade

Foreign Policy Analysis – 20% of course grade

Attendance policy:

Attendance required

Academic honesty/integrity statement:

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.

AI generated tools may be used for research but not be used for writing.

Core IMPACTS statement(s) (if applicable):

This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Social Sciences area.

Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.

This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:

  • How do I understand human experiences and connections?

 

Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:

  • Students will effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior, and how historical, economic, political, social or geographic relationships develop, persist or change.

 

Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:

  • Intercultural Competence
  • Perspective-Taking
  • Persuasion
Instructor First Name:
Eliza Maria
Instructor Last Name:
Markley
Section:
A
CRN (you may add up to five):
31889
View PDF
Department (you may add up to three):
International Affairs

Ethics in International Affairs

Last Updated: Fri, 01/02/2026
Course prefix:
INTA
Course number:
2030
Semester:
Spring
Academic year:
2026
Course description:

This course covers issues of moral values and ethical reasoning in international relations. It looks at the importance of international political morality in determining individual and collective conduct of foreign relations and examines the ethical nature of the rules, structures, and informal patterns of the international system. While the course emphasizes theoretical concepts and approaches, its main goal is to encourage ethical analysis by applying the concepts to specific global issues and problems. 

Course learning outcomes:

Students:

  1. should demonstrate the ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in real-world context
  2. should demonstrate the ability to assess actions or decisions based on established ethical principles and theories, or through deliberative processes.
  3. should demonstrate the ability to consider the implications of actions, both broadly (e.g. global, economic, environmental, or societal) and for individuals.
  4. should be able to analyze prominent ethical issues in international relations
  5. should become more aware of the diversity of cultural and ethical systems in the world.
Required course materials:

Amstutz, Mark, International Ethics (4th ed.).

Grading policy:

Course Requirements and Evaluation:

Quizzes  70% 0f course grade

Final Exam/Research Paper– 30% of course grade

Students have a choice to be evaluated according to one of the following two formats:

Format 1 (default)

  • Six closed-book quizzes                  70%
  • Final closed-book cumulative exam 30%

Format 2:

  • Six closed-book quizzes                  70% (10% each)
  • Research paper                                30%

Grading and Assessment

A = 89.5-100; B = 79.5-89.4; C = 69.5-79.4; D = 59.5-69.5; F = below 59.5

Late Paper Policy

Late submissions will receive 10 points deduction for each calendar day (this includes weekends) they are late. Please read carefully the deadlines included in the Syllabus, but most importantly, those stated in each week’s announcement (for potential adjustments).

Attendance policy:

Course is online asynchronous.

Academic honesty/integrity statement:

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.

AI Policy: AI tools are allowed ONLY for research but NOT for writing assistance. 

Core IMPACTS statement(s) (if applicable):

Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help students master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.   

This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question: 

·       How do I understand human experiences and connections?  

Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:

·       Students will effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior, and how historical, economic, political, social, or geographic relationships develop, persist, or change.  

Course content, activities, and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies: 

·       Intercultural Competence  

·       Perspective-Taking  

·       Persuasion  

Instructor First Name:
Eliza Maria
Instructor Last Name:
Markley
Section:
Online
CRN (you may add up to five):
31784
View PDF
Department (you may add up to three):
International Affairs

Pacific Security Issues

Last Updated: Fri, 01/02/2026
Course prefix:
INTA
Course number:
3131
Semester:
Spring
Academic year:
2026
Course description:

This course introduces students to primary security issues in the Western Pacific region and provides some tools to consider the subject. Topics to be covered include the international security structure in the Western Pacific, the cross-Taiwan Strait dispute, the North Korean nuclear issue, territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas, and security vulnerabilities from economic interdependence.

Course learning outcomes:
  • Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of theories of international relations and apply them in analyzing events and outcomes in world affairs.  
Required course materials:
  • Thomas J. Christensen, Worse than a Monolith: Alliance Politics and Problems of Coercive Diplomacy in Asia (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2011)
  • Shelly Rigger, Why Taiwan Matters: Small Island, Global Powerhouse (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011)
  • Victor Cha and David Kang, Nuclear North Korea: A Debate on Engagement Strategies (New York, NY: Columbia University Press, 2018)
Grading policy:

Grades will be determined as follows:

  • Intelligence briefings (10%, 5% each)
  • Response paper (10%)
  • Discussion handout (10%)
  • Class participation (35%)
  • Policy memo (35%)
Attendance policy:

This course is run primarily as seminars that require active and engaged participation. 

Academic honesty/integrity statement:

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.

Core IMPACTS statement(s) (if applicable):

INTA 3131/6131 Pacific Security Issues, Spring 2026

This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Social Sciences area.

Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help students master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals. 

This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question:

  • How do I understand human experiences and connections? 

 Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:

  • Students will effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior, and how historical, economic, political, social, or geographic relationships develop, persist, or change. 

 Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:

  • Intercultural Competence
  • Perspective-Taking
  • Persuasion 
Instructor First Name:
Kuen-Da
Instructor Last Name:
Lin
Section:
A
CRN (you may add up to five):
33369
View PDF
Department (you may add up to three):
International Affairs

US Foreign Policy

Last Updated: Sun, 12/28/2025
Course prefix:
INTA
Course number:
3110
Semester:
Spring
Academic year:
2026
Course description:

Analyzes the formulation and implementation of America's foreign policy from 1914 to the present, stressing economic, political, and strategic factors.

Course learning outcomes:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the history of U.S. foreign policy, the role of the constitution, the historical debates and competing perspectives inside U.S. foreign policy, and the policy making process.
  • Integrate theory and practice through examining current policy arenas and historical cases
  • Encourage critical thinking about contemporary policy debates, including the ability to analyze key issues in U.S. foreign policy and offer practical solutions
  • Improve professional skills including clear and effective oral presentation, written argumentation, and policy memo formulation
  • Apply research skills to address problems in the field of international affairs
  • Students will demonstrate career ready competencies in critical thinking, intercultural competence, and persuasion.
  • Students will effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior, and how historical, economics, political, social, or geographic relationships develop, persist, or change.
Required course materials:

A Concise History of U.S. Foreign Policy by Joyce P. Kaufman (5th Edition)

Please note the Georgia Tech Library has the 4th edition of Kaufman available electronically. An updated version is available for purchase. 

Grading policy:

This course uses a traditional grading scale: 100-90 A½89-80 B½79-70 C½69-60 D½59-0 F 

Course assignments will total 100 points. There are no make-up assignments.

 

Late Papers / Penalties 

The dates of the course activities and assignments are set. Unless you have an approved accommodation, assignments turned in after the deadline will be penalized 10% for each day or fraction thereof where it is late. This means that if you turn in the paper at 5:00 pm instead of 4:45 pm on the day that it is due, you will automatically lose 10% of the total possible points; if you turn it in at 9 am on the day after it was due, you will lose 20% and so on and so forth. 

 

Attendance policy:

Accommodations can be sought in advance of a valid conflict, including, but not limited to, illness such as Covid-19, family or religious obligation, or approved university business, including travel or athletic competition that constitutes “approved Institute activities.” Religious holidays and regular sporting competition are both already on the calendar, so these should be brought to me during the first two weeks of the semester. Subsequently, should an unforeseen, new conflict arise, please contact me immediately and provide the necessary documentation, as offered by the Office of Student Life or relevant healthcare professional. In short, please contact me as soon as possible regarding any conflicts or absences when assignments are due.

 

Academic honesty/integrity statement:

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.

According to the Georgia Tech Student Affairs Code of Conduct, plagiarism “[includes] submission of material that is wholly or substantially identical to that created or published by another person or persons, without adequate credit notations indicating the authorship.”[1] It is the act of appropriating the work of another, or parts of passages of his or her writings, or language or ideas of the same, and passing them off as a product of one’s own. It involves the deliberate or accidental use of any outside source without proper acknowledgment. Plagiarism is scholarly misconduct whether it occurs in any work, published or unpublished, or in any application for funding. There is a zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism and penalties will be doled out per university regulations. The GT Honor Code is available online (http://policylibrary.gatech.edu/student-affairs/academic-honor-code)

Students are prohibited from submitting written work generated by and written by artificial intelligence tools
such as ChatGPT or Grammarly. Asking ChatGPT to write a response for you is plagiarism for the simple
reason that you did not write the answer or the essay. Furthermore, ChatGPT generates a written response
using the writing of others without any credit or citations of the authors or websites. Student papers flagged as
having been AI generated will be reported to the Office of Student Integrity. If you use programs such as
Grammarly to check your grammar, please note this in your submission

[1] “Student Code of Conduct.” https://policylibrary.gatech.edu/student-life/student-code-conduct (Accessed January 5, 2022).

Core IMPACTS statement(s) (if applicable):

Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:

  • Students will effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior, and how historical, economic, political, social or geographic relationships develop, persist or change.

 

Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:

  • Intercultural Competence
  • Perspective-Taking
  • Persuasion

 

 

Instructor First Name:
Lawrence
Instructor Last Name:
Rubin
Section:
RDC
CRN (you may add up to five):
90040
View PDF
Department (you may add up to three):
International Affairs

US Foreign Policy

Last Updated: Mon, 12/29/2025
Course prefix:
INTA
Course number:
3110
Semester:
Spring
Academic year:
2026
Course description:

Analyzes the formulation and implementation of America's foreign policy from 1914 to the present, stressing economic, political, and strategic factors.

Course learning outcomes:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the history of U.S. foreign policy, the role of the constitution, the historical debates and competing perspectives inside U.S. foreign policy, and the policy making process.
  • Integrate theory and practice through examining current policy arenas and historical cases
  • Encourage critical thinking about contemporary policy debates, including the ability to analyze key issues in U.S. foreign policy and offer practical solutions
  • Improve professional skills including clear and effective oral presentation, written argumentation, and policy memo formulation
  • Apply research skills to address problems in the field of international affairs
  • Students will demonstrate career ready competencies in critical thinking, intercultural competence, and persuasion.
  • Students will effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior, and how historical, economics, political, social, or geographic relationships develop, persist, or change.
Required course materials:

A Concise History of U.S. Foreign Policy by Joyce P. Kaufman (5th Edition)

Please note the Georgia Tech Library has the 4th edition of Kaufman available electronically. An updated version is available for purchase. 

Grading policy:

This course uses a traditional grading scale: 100-90 A½89-80 B½79-70 C½69-60 D½59-0 F 

Course assignments will total 100 points. There are no make-up assignments.

 

Late Papers / Penalties 

The dates of the course activities and assignments are set. Unless you have an approved accommodation, assignments turned in after the deadline will be penalized 10% for each day or fraction thereof where it is late. This means that if you turn in the paper at 5:00 pm instead of 4:45 pm on the day that it is due, you will automatically lose 10% of the total possible points; if you turn it in at 9 am on the day after it was due, you will lose 20% and so on and so forth. 

 

Attendance policy:

Accommodations can be sought in advance of a valid conflict, including, but not limited to, illness such as Covid-19, family or religious obligation, or approved university business, including travel or athletic competition that constitutes “approved Institute activities.” Religious holidays and regular sporting competition are both already on the calendar, so these should be brought to me during the first two weeks of the semester. Subsequently, should an unforeseen, new conflict arise, please contact me immediately and provide the necessary documentation, as offered by the Office of Student Life or relevant healthcare professional. In short, please contact me as soon as possible regarding any conflicts or absences when assignments are due.

 

Academic honesty/integrity statement:

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. All work submitted must be original and properly cited. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in immediate consequences as outlined in the university's academic integrity policy.

According to the Georgia Tech Student Affairs Code of Conduct, plagiarism “[includes] submission of material that is wholly or substantially identical to that created or published by another person or persons, without adequate credit notations indicating the authorship.”[1] It is the act of appropriating the work of another, or parts of passages of his or her writings, or language or ideas of the same, and passing them off as a product of one’s own. It involves the deliberate or accidental use of any outside source without proper acknowledgment. Plagiarism is scholarly misconduct whether it occurs in any work, published or unpublished, or in any application for funding. There is a zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism and penalties will be doled out per university regulations. The GT Honor Code is available online (http://policylibrary.gatech.edu/student-affairs/academic-honor-code)

Students are prohibited from submitting written work generated by and written by artificial intelligence tools
such as ChatGPT or Grammarly. Asking ChatGPT to write a response for you is plagiarism for the simple
reason that you did not write the answer or the essay. Furthermore, ChatGPT generates a written response
using the writing of others without any credit or citations of the authors or websites. Student papers flagged as
having been AI generated will be reported to the Office of Student Integrity. If you use programs such as
Grammarly to check your grammar, please note this in your submission

[1] “Student Code of Conduct.” https://policylibrary.gatech.edu/student-life/student-code-conduct (Accessed January 5, 2022).

Core IMPACTS statement(s) (if applicable):

Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome:

  • Students will effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior, and how historical, economic, political, social or geographic relationships develop, persist or change.

 

Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies:

  • Intercultural Competence
  • Perspective-Taking
  • Persuasion

 

 

Instructor First Name:
Lawrence
Instructor Last Name:
Rubin
Section:
RDC
CRN (you may add up to five):
90040
View PDF
Department (you may add up to three):
International Affairs
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