International Studies

This course introduces students to the economics of globalization. It explores reasons why classical economists thought comparative advantage (or differences between countries) was the basis for international trade, when in the past few decades the bulk of international trade has been between very similar countries. Students study the effects of the growing importance of international trade, with a focus on recent trade agreements and their projected consequences. During the second part of the course, students study the causes and effects of migration, and data and policy analysis is conducted to investigate the immigration regimes of some popular migrant destinations.

The International Internship course develops vital business skills employers are actively seeking in job candidates. This course is comprised of two parts: an internship, and a hybrid academic seminar. Students are placed in an internship within a sector related to their professional ambitions. The hybrid academic seminar, conducted both online and in-person, analyzes and evaluates the workplace culture and the daily working environment students experience. The course is divided into eight career readiness competency modules as set out by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), which guide the course’s learning objectives. During the academic seminar, students reflect weekly on their internship experience within the context of their host culture by comparing and contrasting their experiences with their global internship placement with that of their home culture. Students reflect on their experiences in their internship, the role they have played in the evolution of their experience in their internship placement, and the experiences of their peers in their internship placements. Students develop a greater awareness of their strengths relative to the career readiness competencies, the subtleties and complexities of integrating into a cross-cultural work environment, and how to build and maintain a career search portfolio.

Confronting the past and rendering justice are not an easy matter for any society. It is also true in international politics. Historian Charles Maier has lamented that “our current in capacity to entertain trans-formative political projects for the future and hence to invest our collective resources in contesting the past.” The main goal of this course is to think about this problem and propose possible solutions. This course has three components. The first component regards the key conceptual tools and theories needed to examine reconciliation and justice in international politics. The second component regards the situations on the ground. What are the main cases and issues? What are the general trends in international relations with regards to addressing and redressing justice and reconciliation? What kind of national and global efforts have been made in attempts to help solve them? The third component is drawing lessons and insights from specific cases in Asia, Europe and Africa. Why do some states promote particular historical narratives and policies? What are the domestic and international consequences of their particular policy choices? Can a country's success story be emulated by another country? Class is conducted mainly in a seminar format and complemented discussions on current issues.