Mission

The Minor in Political Science & International Affairs supports LAU’s core mission, vision and values by a commitment to education with a strong liberal arts foundation and a continuous improvement in the overall quality of teaching, research, writing and educational service. The intent of the program is thus to advance an academic understanding of contemporary political science/international affairs and address its complexities.

Program Objectives

The purpose of the Minor in Political Science & International Affairs is to:

1. Enhance the political and global knowledge of students who are not majoring in political science/international affairs.
2. Prepare the students for the job market by adding to their majors a minor in political science/international affairs.
3. Enhance students’ research and writing skills through active learning and the promotion of critical thinking.

Program Outcomes

At the completion of this program, students can:

1. Identify the nature of government processes, the function of political systems, the structures and roles of institutions and constitutions
2. Apply academic theories and concepts of international relations and relate them to contemporary global issues
3. Demonstrate ability to analyze ethical complexity and act ethically in professional and academic environments.
4. Describe the interrelationship among the historical, political, economic, cultural, and geographic dimensions in political science and international affairs

Admission Requirements

To enter the minor, students must meet the general university requirements.

Graduation Requirements

A total of 18 credits are required for the minor, based on:

Program Requirements

Minor Core Requirements (9 credits):

• POL201 / Introduction to Political Science
• POL222 / Comparative Political System
• POL240 / Concepts of World Politics

Minor Elective Requirements (9 credits):

• POL203 / Governments and Politics of Lebanon
• POL210 / Introduction to Political Thought
• POL252 / Fund. Of Conflict Resolution
• POL312 / Politics of the Developing Areas
• POL321 / American Government and Politics
• POL322 / Foreign Policy of the Major Powers
• POL323 / Middle East Governments and Politics
• POL331 / International Organization
• POL332 / Public International Law
• POL335 / Politics of Multiculturalism
• POL346 / Intl. Political Economy
• POL357 / Globalization and Political Change
• POL422 / The Middle East in World Affairs
• POL426 / Politics of the European Unions
• POL432 / Diplomatic and Consular Service
• POL437 / Topics in Political Science/Intl. Affairs

Extracurricular Activities

The program encourages students to get involved in a large variety of extracurricular activities. Students with a minor in political science / international affairs have the opportunity to participate in the Harvard World Model United Nations simulation held each year in a different country. Our students learn and practice political and diplomatic skills that will be invaluable in their future careers. Indeed, Harvard World MUN participants regularly say that their participation in this prestigious international activity was one of the most important in their whole undergraduate career. LAU delegations to the Harvard World MUN are regular award winners and were ranked among the top 10 of more than 110 participating universities from around the world.

Furthermore, students with a minor in political science / international affairs have the opportunity to participate in conferences, workshops, simulations and lectures organized by the school, department and affiliated institutes and centers, especially the Institute of Diplomacy and Conflict Transformation, the Institute for Migration Studies, and the Institute of Peace and Justice Education.

Career Opportunities

A minor in political science / international affairs prepares the students for the job market by giving them the opportunity to apply to professions like diplomacy, international business, international organizations, journalism, and politics.

Course Descriptions for the Minor in Political Science

POL201 / Introduction to Political Science [0-3, 3 cr.]

This course introduces students to the basic concepts of and approaches to the study of political science. The course focuses on social science methodology, political ideologies, the state and state society relations, political parties, electoral systems, democracy, culture, institutions and international relations (IR). A significant emphasis is placed on the ability to use these concepts toward the analysis of current political issues, disputes and trends.

POL203 / Government & Politics of Lebanon [0-3, 3 cr.]

This course offers a comprehensive survey of the political system in Lebanon from independence to the present. It includes a detailed coverage of Lebanese politics and institutions.

Prerequisites: POL201/ Introduction to Political Science

POL210 / Introduction to Political Thought [0-3, 3 cr.]

The course surveys key political ideas primarily from the Renaissance through the Enlightenment up to the beginning of the 20th century. Analysis and discussion of original texts and political ideas related to the general philosophy of each author’s historical and political background.

Prerequisites: POL201 / Introduction to Political Science.

POL222 / Comparative Political Systems [0-3, 3 cr.]

This course provides an overview of political systems in the world and compares the ways governments operate and people behave in political life. It examines why different countries in the world implement different forms of government and electoral systems. It compares the ways different governments interact with their respective citizens in both representation and policy making.

Prerequisite: POL201 / Introduction to Political Science

POL240 / Concepts of World Politics [0-3, 3 cr.]

This course offers an introduction to the study of International Relations through discussion and analysis of: the growing relationship between conflict, security and development; the sources of foreign policy and international conflict; political economy; national security; international organizations; global governance; and the gap between North and South, among other topics.

Prerequisite: POL201 / Introduction to Political Science

POL252 / Fundamentals of Conflict Resolution [0-3, 3 cr.]

This introductory course explores the nature of conflict and a variety of tools that can be used to analyze conflict at its different levels. Drawing from broad theoretical bases, the course examines the complex causes of conflict within the framework of human rights and needs. The course introduces students to models for analyzing conflict and practical ways for responding to conflict, including skills of interpersonal communication, negotiation and mediation.

POL312 / Politics of the Developing Areas [0-3, 3 cr.]

This course provides an introduction to the comparative politics of the developing world. It addresses many of the key themes, issues, and forces that have shaped socioeconomic and political developments in Africa, Asia and Latin America. These include the legacies of colonialism, the achievement of independence, challenges of state building and regime consolidation, economic policy choices, the politics of ethnicity and gender, revolution, and the role of the military, and democratization.

Prerequisites: POL201 / Introduction to Political Science

POL321 / American Government and Politics [0-3, 3 cr.]

This course studies the structure and processes of the American political system. Topics include the nature of American democracy; the constitutional framework; political attitudes; socialization and participation, political parties and elections; and the federal decision-making process.

Prerequisite: POL201 / Introduction to Political Science

POL322 / Foreign Policy of the Major Powers [0-3, 3 cr.]

A survey and analysis of the policies of the great powers in the post-cold war period. Changing patterns of ties between the great powers in light of the USSR’s disintegration and Russia’s revival; the continuing strength of the U.S.; the end of the cold war; Japan’s and Germany’s rise as economic giants; China’s economic growth; European integration and the U.N.’s revival. Domestic and international influences on great power decision-making, notably security and economic matters, are also included.

Prerequisite: POL201 / Introduction to Political Science

POL323 / Middle East Governments and Politics [0-3, 3 cr.]

This course surveys the major issues and problems that dominate the political scene in the Middle East, paying special attention to a number of themes including the process of post-colonial state formation; the rise of Arab nationalism and other forms of nationalism; variations in regime consolidation and state-society relations; the institutional structures of authoritarianism; the challenges of development; and the Islamist challenge, among others.

Prerequisite: POL201 / Introduction to Political Science

POL331 / International Organization [0-3, 3 cr.]

This course covers the concepts and the evolution of international organization, the structure and the evolution of the United Nations, with emphasis on collective security, pacific settlements of disputes, peacekeeping operations and economic and social developments.

Prerequisite: POL201 / Introduction to Political Science

POL332 / Public International Law [0-3, 3 cr.]

This course examines the nature of international law sources, international law and municipal law, the international systems legal organization, states (their territory and jurisdiction) as subjects of international law, international treaties and agreements, diplomatic and consular agents, laws of war, neutrality, belligerent occupation and war crimes.

Prerequisite: POL201 / Introduction to Political Science

POL335 / Politics of Multiculturalism [0-3, 3 cr.]

Multiculturalism is a timely topic in current political debates. This course explores various perspectives on multiculturalism, why multicultural policy has become important, what types of minorities need to be accommodated, and what kinds of policy contexts are important for multiculturalism in different countries. The course examines multicultural debates from both a sociological and a political theoretical perspective, and the political arguments for and against multiculturalism.

Prerequisites: POL201 / Introduction to Political Science

POL346 / International Political Economy [0-3, 3 cr.]

This course provides students an overview of International Political Economy (IPE). It introduces students to the making of the international political economy as well as the main themes and debates in IPE. Topics covered include the nature of the international political economy, theories of IPE, the role of international institutions, the politics of international trade, complex interdependence, and foreign direct investment.

Prerequisites: POL201 / Introduction to Political Science

POL357 / Globalization and Political Change [0-3, 3 cr.]

This course introduces the phenomenon of globalization. It examines its historical roots and the different views associated with its universal impacts. Is globalization helping the integration of world cultures, economies, and states or further fragmentation and differentiation? How is globalization helping the improvement of the quality of life and how is it not? How is globalization undermining war and at other times fuelling its causes? This course will address these questions from various points of view.

Prerequisites: POL201/ Introduction to Political Science

POL422 / The Middle East in World Affairs [0-3, 3 cr.]

This course examines inter-state conflict in the modern Middle East. It examines contending theories of Middle East state behavior, and applies them to the main crises or events that have shaped regional dynamics. Special focus is given to the Arab-Israeli conflict, regional rivalries, the policies of the main international and regional actors, and domestic factors in shaping systemic dynamics, among other topics. The course also evaluates the causes of the different conflicts from contending theoretical perspectives.

Prerequisite: POL201 / Introduction to Political Science

POL426 / Politics of the European Union [0-3, 3 cr.]

This course examines both the domestic politics and international relations of European Union states as well as considers the policies and roles of the European Union as a supranational actor in world politics.

Prerequisites: POL201 / Introduction to Political Science

POL432 / Diplomatic and Consular Services [0-3, 3 cr.]

The structure, functions and procedures of diplomatic and consular services; recruitment of diplomatic and consular personnel; diplomacy and diplomatic theory; diplomatic privileges and immunities.

Prerequisites: POL201 / Introduction to Political Science

POL437 / Topics in Political Science-International Affairs [0-3, 3 cr.]

Courses designed to cover topical areas based on visiting instructors and/or current events.

Prerequisites: POL201 / Introduction to Political Science