International Relations
Program Director:
Symeon Giannakos, Ph.D.
(401) 341-3177
Ph.D. Associate Director:
Chad Raymond, Ph.D.
(401) 341-3294
M.A. Associate Director:
Yvan Ilunga, Ph.D.
(401) 341-3183
Classes are offered online.
The curriculum and content of the international relations programs reflect the University's mission regarding justice and the increasing need to envision international political behavior in the framework of justice. In its capacity and within the University's mission, the international relations program promotes international and world harmony by inculcating the concept of justice in international and world political analysis.
The program prepares graduates to be constructively critical of their immediate and broader political environment, whether in their place of work (government, education, the private sector, the media, or non-governmental organizations) or simply as citizens of their country and the world. The program's objective is to reinforce the vision of its graduates to regard fellow human beings not only as representatives of national and social compartments but also as overlapping circles in a world community. In practical terms, this translates into global solidarity and eliminating injustice everywhere. Graduates can produce creative and pragmatic solutions to our world's problems and dilemmas.
The program accomplishes its objective by exposing the candidates to the realities of the political environment in a systemic and comprehensive way through a core curriculum covering political thought, international relations, and comparative politics. Through rigorous analysis, the core courses familiarize students with the various layers of our political landscape and provide them with the skills to become critical thinkers. A series of topical and regional electives give the students the opportunity to practice and sharpen critical skills on various timely issues.
International Relations (M.A.) Student Learning Outcomes
At the completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Develop in-depth reading comprehension of advanced research in the field.
- Use empirical evidence to evaluate theoretical suppositions in international relations.
- Develop written communication skills through purposeful writing based on a systematic methodological thought process.
- Synthesize multiple perspectives on contemporary issues to promote a more just world order.
(Source: 2022 Assessment Report)
International Relations (Ph.D.) Student Learning Outcomes
At the completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Develop in-depth reading comprehension of advanced research in the field.
- Use empirical evidence to evaluate theoretical suppositions in international relations
- Develop written communication skills through purposeful writing based on a systematic methodological thought process.
- Synthesize multiple perspectives on contemporary issues to promote a more just world order
- Demonstrate an understanding of the historical, cultural, political, and economic processes that affect international relations in different regions of the world
- Independently design and execute complex research on a subject that is pertinent to international relations in a specific region of the world
(Source: 2022 Assessment Report)
INR-508: Writing Strategies for Academic Success (3 Credits)
The goal of this course is to teach students how to focus on the elements of the writing process at the graduate level. The course will progress from the preliminary stages of the pre-writing process through the preparation of a graduate level research paper. Students will learn how to structure an argument-driven paper by creating a strong thesis statement supported by scholarly evidence and analysis. This course will develop expertise in research and data analysis skills and will cover critical reading and organizational techniques, research methodologies and research ethics. The culminating project will be a 3500--4500-word research paper on an approved topic. The course format will be a combination of lecture, group discussion, guest lectures and peer review.
INR-511: Philosophical Foundations of Politics (3 Credits)
This course examines and evaluates the intellectual contributions to the foundations of political order and justice of the main political thinkers since Socrates. The course analyzes and evaluates the key questions and answers regarding human nature and its direct relation to the construction and maintenance of political systems. Its purpose is to lay the groundwork for the study of comparative and international politics.
INR-512: Justice and Order in International Relations (3 Credits)
This course examines in theoretical and practical terms the relationship between justice and order at different levels of human interaction, such as that between people as members of different state organizations and as part of the world community. Its objective is to find a balance not only in the way political order relates to justice, but also in the way that people can balance their state citizenship with world citizenship, i.e., national identity and human identity.
INR-513: Comparative Political Development (3 Credits)
This course analyzes and compares different roads to establishing political order, taking into consideration the specific circumstances prevailing in different parts of the world. In the context of the concept of justice, the course relates the establishment and maintenance of political order to economic development, and by extension, the way economic development relates to the maintenance of political order.
INR-516: Identity, Harmony, and Conflict (3 Credits)
This course examines the role that social and religious identity plays in the interaction of people within an established political order as well as between different political orders. For example, is religious and social identity a factor for harmonious relations between people or is it a source of conflict between individuals and groups?
INR-522: Integration and Globalization Politics (3 Credits)
Students examine the ways by which the international system is being transformed and the effects such a transformation has on established political and social orders as well as on the lives and identities of people.
INR-531: Just and Unjust Wars (3 Credits)
This course examines the concept of the just war theory from the point of view of different religions in regard to the declaration and conduct of conventional war. It also examines the ethical implications of contemplating nuclear, biological or chemical warfare.
INR-533: International Political Economy (3 Credits)
This course examines topics such as competing theoretical explanations of economic growth and development, the role of states and other actors in alleviating or exacerbating poverty, and how the international distribution of political power affects the allocation and consumption of resources.
INR-534: Environmental Justice (3 Credits)
Students examine the practice of natural resources utilization and its impact on environmental and human integrity. Is there a balance between derived benefits of resource utilization and the cost associated with it? Are the benefits and costs distributed equally between regions and states and between all users in a region or state? Does the use of resources by some entail only costs for others? Overall, is there a balance between considerations of economic order and environmental justice?
INR-542: Dispute and Conflict Resolution (3 Credits)
This course examines sources of conflict at different levels of human interaction and explores negotiation, mediation, and arbitration strategies to managing crises and resolving disputes between groups and individuals.
INR-562: International Organizations and Law (3 Credits)
Students examine the role international organizations and law play in promoting, maintaining, and enforcing the principles of the international community of states. Is the international community a reality or are international institutions convenient instruments of the interests and policies of the participant states? Are there any obligations that the citizens of the participant states have toward the institutions of the international community? If any, what are these obligations and how should they be carried out?
INR-571: International Human Rights (3 Credits)
This course examines the conceptual evolution of human rights and evaluates existing systems and instruments for the protection and promotion of human rights in the world. It also explores the fundamental relation between state and cultural sovereignty and the application of rights worldwide.
INR-572: Complex Humanitarian Emergencies: Prevention and Responses (3 Credits)
Focusing on complex humanitarian emergencies (CHEs), this course addresses the capacity to govern in the face of violence, turmoil, and conflict. The course will examine public policy challenges of developing and implementing the necessary systems to monitor, anticipate and react to critical response incidents and natural disasters. As such, the course will evaluate early warning methodologies and review the scientific research and competing approaches to preventing and mitigating complex humanitarian emergencies.
INR-590: Thesis (6 Credits)
Students may decide to write a six credit thesis under appropriate faculty direction and with the permission of the program director. Details are established prior to registration and in consultation with the thesis supervisor and the program director.
INR-591: Independent Study (3 Credits)
An independent study is a focused study on a subject outside the graduate catalog and provides opportunity for original and in-depth research on a specific topic or regional issue of the candidate's interest and professional focus. It is an important part of the curriculum and should be used to supplement existing coursework. A student selects a topic of research from a single field of learning or one which is interdisciplinary and prepares a research paper to be submitted at the end of the semester (recommended minimum of 20 pages). The quality of the research paper should be appropriate to graduate level research. A list of preliminary readings and/or assignments and a means of assessment/evaluation are clearly defined in advance of the study. A minimum GPA of 3.2 is required.
INR-592: Topical and Regional Issues in International Relations (3 Credits)
This course examines timely topical and regional issues in international affairs. Specific titles and course contents vary depending on events highlighting the major political issues and debates from time to time.
INR-593: Topical and Regional Issues in Comparative Politics (3 Credits)
This course examines timely topical and regional issues in comparative politics. Specific titles and course contents vary depending on events highlighting the major political issues and debates from time to time.
INR-598: Internship (3 Credits)
The internship is an individual work experience or project in an organization (normally off-campus) under the supervision of a practicing professional and structured by a Salve Regina University faculty member. Although the specific nature of the internship varies with the student's academic interest, there should be a close relationship between the program of study and the non-academic setting. The internship is a supervised learning experience for academic credit typically consisting of a minimum of 120 hours for three credits of on-the-job experience occurring within a semester.
INR-602: American Foreign Policy (3 Credits)
This course will examine the foreign policy of the United States since WWII. It will look at the fundamentals and traditions of American Foreign Policy in the context of the bipolar system, the unipolar system, and the emerging multipolar system as well as in the context of globalization.
INR-603: American Foreign Policy Decision Making (3 Credits)
This course will examine the philosophical and constitutional roots of executive decision making in relation to foreign policy. Will look at the rise and reform of contemporary foreign policy institutions such as the National Security Council, the State Department, and the Department of Defense. It will also evaluate the role Congress, the Senate, foreign lobbying groups, foreign nations, international organizations, interest groups and the American public play in the formulation of American foreign policy.
INR-612: Chinese Foreign Policy (3 Credits)
This course examines the sources, processes, and objectives of Chinese foreign policy. Of particular significance, the course will look at the formation of the Chinese state, Chinese nationalism, and economic development and their impact these have in determining China's role in the state system and the international community and institutions.
INR-613: The Korean Peninsula and Japan (3 Credits)
Japan, and the two Koreas have become a central concern for regional peace and security in East Asia. North Korea's nuclear and missile programs continue to grow and Japan and South Korea are important global economic players. This course will examine the politics and institutions of Japan, North Korea, and South Korea, the security challenges that complicate regional relations, and the role played by the United States and China.
INR-622: Russian Foreign Policy (3 Credits)
After a quarter century of peace following the collapse of the USSR, Russia and the West are again engaged in a Cold War. This course will examine what drives Russian foreign policy, and why this knowledge is important to Americans.
INR-623: Chinese Politics (3 Credits)
This course examines the intersection of political change, economic development, culture, and the environment in contemporary China. Topics include theoretical considerations about state power, legitimacy, and authoritarian resilience in the Chinese context; the structure of the Chinese communist party-state; mobilization and political participation in Chinese society; and prospects for China's democratization. Course assignments will emphasize the development of analytical thinking and written communication skills.
INR-633: Comparative Politics of Russia (3 Credits)
This is an upper-level survey of Russian society and politics. We will examine and evaluate the complex changes that are taking place in the vast region of Eurasia covered by Russia and its neighbors. As we shall see, coming to terms with the legacy of socialism involves more than merely modernizing the economy and writing a new constitution.
INR-643: The Middle East in World Affairs (3 Credits)
The course is designed to offer participants the opportunity to acquire an understanding of the comparative politics and international relations of the Middle East; gain an awareness of the relationship between politics, human welfare, and social justice in the region; and develop skills in analytical thinking and written communication. Topics that will be examined include the sociopolitical context of Islam, state formation and consolidation, economic development in the region, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Middle Eastern nation-states as part of the international political system, and democratization.
INR-652: South Asia in World Affairs (3 Credits)
This course explores the comparative politics and international relations of contemporary South Asia, the most densely populated region of the world. The course is organized to facilitate cross-national comparisons between South Asian states involving economic and political modernization, the political effects of cultural diversity, and governance. The course will also address regional issues such as environmental change, military security, and trade relations, as well as India's emergence as a global power. Special emphasis will be given to trends in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Course assignments will emphasize the development of analytical thinking and written communication skills.
INR-653: Latin America in World Affairs (3 Credits)
This course will examine the theoretical, legal and political foundations of Latin America's relationship with foreign nations with special emphasis on United States hegemony and various challenges to that hegemony. The first part of the course focuses on periods of the Monroe Doctrine, the Good Neighbor policy and the Cold War. The examination of the post-Cold War period will focus on the "Washington Consensus" and globalization, and their impact on democratization, economic development, human rights, transnational crime, and immigration.
INR-662: Europe in World Affairs (3 Credits)
This course will trace Europe's experience with the state system and her evolution towards integration and the attempt to form a common defense and security apparatus. Of specific focus, the course will examine the sources, and integration process of Europe and the impact this will have on European and international affairs.
INR-669: Theory of International and Comparative Politics (3 Credits)
This course analyzes dominant theories in international and comparative politics and is the curriculum's capstone. As part of the course, students settle on a dissertation topic, which will be developed in INR690.
Offering Term(s): Summer Only Every Year
INR-670: Comprehensive Exam (0 Credits)
The culmination of a Ph.D. coursework is the comprehensive examination designed to test the students' general knowledge in two areas of studies. Students are required to answer two out of three area studies questions for each of two areas of studying in the curriculum. The comprehensive exams are taken after all coursework has been completed and passing them denotes elevation to Ph.D. candidate status. Students must therefore complete all other coursework prior to registering for this course. Students must also complete INR-610 Language Proficiency prior to taking this course. Permission of the Graduate Program Director is required.
Course Fee: $300.00
INR-672: Africa in World Affairs (3 Credits)
Few areas of the world have been as misunderstood as Africa. Stereotypes, generalizations and incorrect assumptions regarding Africa's role in global affairs have run rampant since European explorers and merchants first came into the continent. This course will seek to provide a more accurate understanding of the two-way roles by which African entities have played in world affairs and world actors have played in influencing the course of African affairs.
INR-675: Quantitative Methods (3 Credits)
This course will look at advanced hypothesis testing and develop an understanding for appropriate test for problem solving. It will explain all the mathematical concepts and formulae so that underlying principles for test analysis become clear. This course will cover advanced population parameters, tests of difference, correlation, regression, and multivariate exploratory techniques.
INR-690: Dissertation Proposal and Research (3 Credits)
Pre-requisite(s): INR-670 is required.
This course will make students aware of the relationship between chosen research methodologies and theoretical frameworks and concepts; provide students with an in-depth understanding of philosophical engagement and behavioral assumptions of social science research; help students discriminate between different methodologies and evidence collection in testing alternative hypotheses and construct arguments; familiarize students with different research methods such as conducting surveys, interviews, constructing case studies, perform comparisons, and rely on primary sources; and provide assistance in the design of a dissertation proposal.
INR-695: Dissertation Research and Writing (3 Credits)
Ph.D. Candidates who are finished with classwork and start work on their dissertation enroll for a three-credit research course at a fixed fee. This course is offered in fall and spring terms and is repeated as long as necessary until approved to defend a dissertation.
Course Fee: $365.00
INR-698: Dissertation I (6 Credits)
Students prepare, write, and review the final dissertation with the Dissertation Committee in preparation for defense. Permission of Program Director is required.
INR-699: Dissertation II (6 Credits)
Pre-requisite(s): INR-698 is required and permission of Graduate Program Director.
Students finalize and defend their dissertation before the Dissertation Committee. Permission of Program Director is required.