International Studies

This course focuses on the historical and current government, politics, and economy of Ethiopia and the Horn from an international context. It covers the history of Ethiopia and provides context for how Ethiopia is situated in Africa and the wider world while also explaining its internal dynamics.

This course analyzes, from an interdisciplinary perspective, the social, political, legal, and economic problems within International Studies. Students select a research question that seeks to respond to a real legal, economic, social, or political problem and then develop a research project to present at the end of the term.

This course explores the most serious challenges facing democracies today including social inequalities, national security, climate change, and the rise of nationalism and populism and how each European Union member state might autonomously handle economic and institutional crises. It focuses on European Union countries and, in particular, Spain as a case-studies.

This course introduces principles and theories of international law. Topics include origin of international law from the past to the present; the relationship between domestic and international law; status of individuals under international law; rights and responsibilities of inter-state relations and state and private sector relations; origin and role of international organizations; international maritime law; and other issues regarding international law and politics.

This course is an advanced introduction to international criminal law as a discipline that lies at the intersection of public international law, criminal law, and human rights. It presents a broad-based critical perspective on international criminal justice, its deliverables and achievements, and its paradoxes and debates. It covers major topics such as the history and sources of international criminal law; the core crimes (genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression); individual criminal responsibility; jurisdiction and immunities; the nature and structure of international criminal proceedings; and the roles played by various actors, especially the victims of international crimes. The course focuses on the law and practice of modern international criminal tribunals such as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and the International Criminal Court. Apart from an in-depth study of the main concepts, the course provides an opportunity to critically read and analyze recent cases, participate in structured viewings of documentaries and court proceedings, and navigate the online databases of modern international criminal tribunals. Through this course, students are trained to orient themselves in the contemporary landscape of international criminal law and to analyze current developments in the field from a critical legal perspective.

The course is designed to equip students with experience, knowledge, and skills for succeeding in globally interdependent and culturally diverse workplaces. During the course, students are challenged to question, reflect upon, and respond thoughtfully to the issues they observe and encounter in the internship setting and local host environment. Professional and personal development skills as defined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), such as critical thinking, teamwork, and diversity are cultivated. Assignments focus on building a portfolio that highlights those competencies and their application to workplace skills. The hybrid nature of the course allows students to develop their skills in a self-paced environment with face-to-face meetings and check-ins to frame their intercultural internship experience. Students complete 45 hours of in-person and asynchronous online learning activities and 225-300 hours at the internship placement.