COURSE UNIT TITLE

: SELECTED TOPICS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Description of Individual Course Units

Course Unit Code Course Unit Title Type Of Course D U L ECTS
UIR 4104 SELECTED TOPICS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ELECTIVE 3 0 0 5

Offered By

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (UOLP-SUNY ALBANY)

Level of Course Unit

First Cycle Programmes (Bachelor's Degree)

Course Coordinator

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR SEVILAY ZEHRA AKSOY

Offered to

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (UOLP-SUNY ALBANY)
Political Science and International Relations (UOLP-SUNY ALBANY)

Course Objective

The main purpose of this course is to engage the upper undergrade students in critical discussions on those topics that are currently on the international agenda.

Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit

1   Further improve their comprehension and familiarity with various issues on the agenda of international relations to develop multi-perspectival as well as global approach to IR studies.
2   Examine those issues from a critical and analytical point of view in order to grasp their complex and multi-causal nature.
3   Develop the skill to make critical and reasoned argument.
4   Improve the necessary skills to make presentations in the classroom.
5   Develop the skill to engage in discussions with the rest of co-learners as well as the lecturer
6   Develop the skill to use, find and evaluate the relevant sources, including academic and media material.

Mode of Delivery

Face -to- Face

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

None

Recomended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Week Subject Description
1 Introduction
2 Security issues on the international agenda I
3 Security issues on the international agenda II
4 Security issues on the international agenda III
5 Security issues on the international agenda IV
6 Security issues on the international agenda V
7 Human rights and humanitarian intervention I
8 Human rights and humanitarian intervention II
9 Global South I
10 Global South II
11 Global South and the West
12 Global environmental problems I
13 Global environmental problems II
14 Technological developments

Recomended or Required Reading



Various book chapters and articles (updated regularly).

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

Lecture
Presentation
Participation

Assessment Methods

SORTING NUMBER SHORT CODE LONG CODE FORMULA
1 PRS Presentation
2 PRT Participation
3 FCG FINAL COURSE GRADE PRS * 0.80 + PRT * 0.20


Further Notes About Assessment Methods

Lecture
Student presentations
Active participation

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Criteria for Presentation

Evidence of preparation for the presentation (power-point slides, notes, etc.) (25
points)
The work appeared to be done at the last minute; visual aids were either very insufficient or not used at all - Poor (%5)
The work showed some evidence of preparation, but slides include very long paragraphs
that distract attention - Fair (%50)
The work was well-prepared and designed; visual aids were clear, to the point and
helpful for the comprehension of the subject - Good (%75)
Exceptional effort was put into preparation and design; the additional visual aids
(such as tables, graphs, maps and short videos) significantly enriched the presentation
- Excellent (%100)

Organization of the presentation (Introduction, content and conclusion) (15 points)
The work was poorly organized, ideas were presented randomly - Poor (%5)
The presentation was generally organized but lacked logical clarity - Fair (%40)
The presentation had a clear introduction, body and conclusion - Good (%70)
The presentation, involving a unique blend of ideas in the sources, was exceptionally
logical and well-organized - Excellent (%100)

Understanding of the assigned material (40 points)
Serious lacking or mistakes in the presentation of ideas/information in the material -
Poor (%5)
At least half of the most important points in the material were presented - Fair (%60)
Most of the important points in the material were presented - Very good (%80)
The presentation reflects the breadth and depth of the presenter's review of the
material - Excellent (%100)

Verbal articulation (10 points)
The audience had difficulty in understanding the presenter - Poor (%5)
Ideas were stated but lacked clarity - Fair (%50)
Ideas were explained well - Very good (%75)
Excellent and clear articulation of major and minor points - Excellent (%100)

Keeping the audience engaged (10 points)
The presenting style was dull and monotonous; the presenter generally read the slides
in an often hurried manner - Poor (%10)
The presenter, while focusing on the slides, tried to make an occasional eye contact
with the audience and asked them at least one question - Fair (%50)
The presenter generally used the slides and notes as a reference, and mostly focused on
sharing his/her knowledge by communicating with the audience - Very
good (%80)
The presenter used his/her voice, body, selection of words, and pauses effectively to
engage each individual in the audience and to ensure that ideas were understood well -
Excellent (%100)

Language of Instruction

English

Course Policies and Rules


1. Attending at least 70% of lectures is mandatory
2. Plagiarism of any type will result in disciplinary action.
3. Participation in class discussions is required.

Contact Details for the Lecturer(s)

sevilayz.aksoy@deu.edu.tr
0232-3018205

Office Hours

to be announced later.

Work Placement(s)

None

Workload Calculation

Activities Number Time (hours) Total Work Load (hours)
Lectures 14 3 42
Preparing presentations 1 36 36
Preparations before/after weekly lectures 14 3 42
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours) 120

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

PO/LOPO.1PO.2PO.3PO.4PO.5PO.6PO.7PO.8PO.9PO.10PO.11PO.12PO.13
LO.14
LO.24
LO.35
LO.45
LO.55
LO.64