Catalog Description
Hours: 54 lecture
Description: Overview of American diplomatic history and the politics of foreign policy formation and implementation. Survey of contemporary international issues confronting the U.S. (CSU, UC)
Course Student Learning Outcomes
- CSLO #1: Discuss the relevance of American diplomatic history to contemporary U.S. foreign policy.
- CSLO #2: Assess the power of domestic governmental and social actors in crafting U.S. foreign policy.
- CSLO #3: Apply relevant theories and decision making models to specific examples of U.S. foreign policy.
- CSLO #4: Contrast various policy tools and methods of employment.
- CSLO #5: Summarize the interests pursued and policies employed by the United States abroad.
- CSLO #6: Critically evaluate U.S. foreign policy.
Effective Term
Fall 2024
Course Type
Credit - Degree-applicable
Contact Hours
54
Outside of Class Hours
108
Total Student Learning Hours
162
Course Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Discuss the concept of national interest in terms of security, material benefits and values;
2. Categorize events in American diplomatic history in terms of major themes such as isolationism, republicanism and expansionism;
3. Contrast U.S. policy during the Cold War to policy after 9/11;
4. Apply relevant theories and decision making models to specific examples of U.S. foreign policy;
5. Analyze the roles and interaction of key governmental bodies in forming and implementing policy;
6. Compare the foreign policies of contemporary Presidents;
7. Compose a policy statement that would protect and/or promote U.S. interests in a given crisis;
8. Evaluate the ability of actors in society to influence policy;
9. Differentiate the policy tools available to the U.S. in conducting relations with the world;
10. Describe the policies employed and interests pursued by the U.S. in the security realm (including war, alliances and terrorism);
11. Describe the policies employed and interests pursued by the U.S. in the economic realm (including trade and environment);
12. Describe the policies employed and interests pursued by the U.S. in the area of human rights and democracy;
13. Evaluate the merits of current U.S. policy.
General Education Information
- Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability
- AA/AS - Social Sciences
- CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval)
- CSUGE - D Social Sciences
- CSUGE - D8 Pol Sci/Govt/Lgl In
- Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval)
- IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval)
- IGETC - 4 Soc./Behav Sciences
- IGETC - 4H Pol Sci/Govt/Lgl In
Articulation Information
- CSU Transferable
- UC Transferable
Methods of Evaluation
- Classroom Discussions
- Example: Students will be required to post to instructor's questions on the discussion board, demonstrating command of the material. Example: Why are lame ducks foreign policy activists? Graded based on effective references to and applications of this concept.
- Essay Examinations
- Example: In-class, written exam consisting of IDs, short answers, paragraphs and essays. Example: define imperial presidency. Graded with rubric summarizing the chief executives accumulated powers and their significance to foreign policy.
- Objective Examinations
- Example: 30 multiple choice questions on foreign policy makers. Example: The role played by the judiciary in U.S. foreign policy is best described as: a) central; b) marginal; c) dependent on powers delegated to it by the president; or, d) similar to that of Congress. Correct answers indicate students can compare the significance of different political actors in the policy making process.
- Reports
- Example: Students are to research a topic in U.S. foreign policy using primary sources from which they distill a summary of the issue and current U.S. policy. Students will be expected to evaluate the merits of foreign policy by applying the relevant concepts brought up in the learning materials. Rubric Grading.
Repeatable
No
Methods of Instruction
- Lecture/Discussion
- Distance Learning
Lecture:
- Instructor will divide students into groups, assign them roles and move them through the many stages of a simulation of crisis decision making. Students will then be expected to write an essay reflecting the insights they gained.
Distance Learning
- Instructor will provide students with text and audio-visual learning materials (e.g. videos, PowerPoint, lecture notes) supported by textbook chapters on executive-legislative relations. Students will need to use this material to effectively participate in discussions that the instructor will monitor to provide clarification and correction when needed.
Typical Out of Class Assignments
Reading Assignments
1. Read chapter 4 on the Executive Branch and come to class prepared to discuss relevant actors. 2. Read opinion piece from newspaper about U.S. leadership and discuss merits in class.
Writing, Problem Solving or Performance
1. Write an essay describing U.S. interests to explain policy at a particular time in U.S. history. 2. Simulate the crisis decision-making process in class and present the president with the results.
Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.)
Required Materials
- American Foreign Policy: The Dynamics of Choice in the 21st Century
- Author: Bruce Jentleson
- Publisher: Norton
- Publication Date: 2014
- Text Edition: 5th
- Classic Textbook?:
- OER Link:
- OER:
- American Foreign Policy
- Author: Glenn Hastedt
- Publisher: Prentice Hall
- Publication Date: 2020
- Text Edition: 12th
- Classic Textbook?:
- OER Link:
- OER:
- Contemporary American Foreign Policy
- Author: Mansbach & Taylor
- Publisher: CQ Press
- Publication Date: 2016
- Text Edition: 1st
- Classic Textbook?:
- OER Link:
- OER:
- US Foreign Policy
- Author: Donald Snow
- Publisher: Rowman Littlefield
- Publication Date: 2017
- Text Edition: 5th
- Classic Textbook?:
- OER Link:
- OER:
- US Foreign Policy
- Author: Steven Hook
- Publisher: CQ Press
- Publication Date: 2019
- Text Edition: 6th
- Classic Textbook?:
- OER Link:
- OER:
