COURSE UNIT TITLE

: US FOREIGN POLICY

Description of Individual Course Units

Course Unit Code Course Unit Title Type Of Course D U L ECTS
IRE 4103 US FOREIGN POLICY ELECTIVE 3 0 0 6

Offered By

International Relations (English)

Level of Course Unit

First Cycle Programmes (Bachelor's Degree)

Course Coordinator

PROFESSOR DOCTOR ZEHRA NILÜFER KARACASULU

Offered to

Political Science and International Relations (English)
International Relations (English)

Course Objective

The aim of the course is to enable learners to explain and evaluate major US foreign policy issues. After introducing US grand strategies in making foreign policy, main issues in US foreign policy during the Cold War and the post-Cold War will be studied.

Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit

1   To comprehend US grand strategies to understand how US foreign policy has been shaped.
2   To comprehend major US foreign policy issues during the Cold War and the post-Cold War in order to comprehend policy controversies.
3   Able to make case study analysis to relate US foreign policy approaches with distinct issues in world affairs.
4   To make research in order to develop academic writing and communication skills.
5   To work independently and with peers to design and run presentations.

Mode of Delivery

Face -to- Face

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

None

Recomended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Week Subject Description
1 Introduction of the topics and assessment methods
2 US grand strategies, main actors of US foreign policy
3 Brief History and Foreign Affairs during Truman period (1945-53)
4 Foreign Affairs during Eisenhower period (1953-61); Kennedy Johnson (1961-69)
5 Foreign Affairs during Nixon-Ford period (1969-77)
6 Foreign Affairs during Carter period (1977-81); Reagan period (1981-89)
7 Security strategies during the Cold War
8 Foreign Affairs during George H. W. Bush period (1989-93)
9 Foreign Affairs during Clinton period (1993-2001)
10 Foreign Affairs during George W. Bush period (2001-09)
11 Foreign Affairs under Obama (2009-2017)
12 Student presentations
13 Student presentations
14 Student presentations

Recomended or Required Reading

M. Cox & D. Stokes (editors), U.S. Foreign Policy, Oxford U. Press, 2008.
S. Ambrose & D. Brinkley, Rise To Globalism, Penguin Books, 2011.
The articles will be announced

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

Lectures
Presentation/Participation
Assignment

Assessment Methods

SORTING NUMBER SHORT CODE LONG CODE FORMULA
1 MT Midterm
2 QZ Quiz
3 TRP TermPaper
4 PRS Presentation
5 BNS BNS MT * 0.40 + QZ * 0.20 + TRP * 0.20 + PRS * 0.20


Further Notes About Assessment Methods

You must attend at least 70% of the course.
Quiz- no make-up
Term paper - no make-up
Presentation - no make-up

Assessment Criteria

There are two exams (total 60%): midterm and quiz. The learners will clearly explain history of US foreign policy, US foreign policy grand strategies, major American foreign policy issues, and how US foreign policy has changed over time.

The learners will demonstrate well-prepared oral presentation skills. For the oral presentation, the following criteria must be adhered to:
Content of presentation: slides clear and understandable, clear purpose of the subject/introduction, supports ideas, making points in order, make connections, draws conclusion, bibliography is given (50 points).
If all of the criteria is applied perfectly - excellent (100%); it is developed in acceptable standard - good (70%); not well developed -fair (50%); is absent -poor (0%)
Communication: speaks fluently, attracts the attention of the classmates, uses direct eye contact, enthusiasm about the subject, clearly practiced before presentation, presents within time allocated (50 points).
If all of the criteria is applied perfectly -excellent (100%); it is developed in an acceptable standard -good (70%); not well developed -fair (50%); is absent- poor (0%).

To advance their research and writing skills, students will design and produce a short analytic paper exploring a contemporary issue in US foreign policy. Assignment/term paper project criteria:

Include an introduction: In the introduction, a thesis statement or definition of a problem should be given. (15 points)
The introduction is clear and precise- excellent (100%); thesis statement/ problem is developed in an acceptable standard- good (70%); thesis statement/ problem not well developed- fair (50%); this particular element is absent - poor (0%).

Include a body: Body of the paper should include enough information and ideas. Is there evidence of adequate reading and research It is expected that you to consult at least 4 sources; and at least 2 of these sources must be articles from academic journals! If your term paper is long, the body section can be subdivided using subheadings based on thematic topics. The subheadings should provide a smooth transition from one section to another. (45 points)
Information and ideas are given clearly in an organized way- excellent (100%). Information and ideas are developed in an acceptable standard- good (70%); information and ideas are not well developed- fair (50%); this particular element is absent - poor (0%)

Include a conclusion: You should restate your thesis statement or research problem using different words and conclude your paper. Conclusion that draws together the main points. (15 points)
Conclusion is logically tied to the given information and ideas and it is clearly presented. (100%); conclusion is developed in an acceptable standard- good (70%); conclusion is not well developed- fair (50%); this particular element is absent - poor (0%)

Referencing: Ensure you cite any sources you use in your term paper. Relevant bibliography should be given. (20 points)
All the sources used are cited and bibliography is clearly given- excellent (100%); citing/ references is developed in an acceptable standard- good (70%); citing/references are not well developed- fair (50%); this particular element is absent - poor (0%)

Please check the spelling, and grammar (5 points).
Spelling and grammar checked all through the paper (100%); spelling and grammar is an acceptable standard- good (70%); spelling and grammar are not well developed - fair (50%); this particular element is absent - poor (0%)

Language of Instruction

English

Course Policies and Rules

Learners should complete course readings before the class for which they are assigned.

Plagiarism of any type will result in disciplinary action.

Students are not allowed to use artificial intelligence or ChatGPT on any assignment for this course. Use of AI or ChatGPT will be treated as a form of academic dishonesty akin to plagiarism or cheating.

Contact Details for the Lecturer(s)

nilufer.karaca@deu.edu.tr

Office Hours

TBA

Work Placement(s)

None

Workload Calculation

Activities Number Time (hours) Total Work Load (hours)
Lectures 14 3 42
Preparations before/after weekly lectures 14 3 42
Preparation for midterm exam 1 10 10
Preparation for quiz etc. 1 10 10
Preparing presentations 1 40 40
Quiz etc. 1 1 1
Midterm 1 1,5 2
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours) 147

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

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