POSC 352 - International Security

Units: 3 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-4
Comprehensive approach to studying international security: great power politics, nuclear proliferation, transnational terrorism and crime, cybersecurity, internal conflicts. Theories: realism, constructivism, securitization, Copenhagen School, critical security. Examines real-world cases and human consequences of security actions. Simulation of crisis situation.

Breadth Area(s) Satisfied: GE-UD-4 - Upper Division Social and Behavioral Sciences
Prerequisites: Completion of GE Areas 1A, 1B, 1C and GE-2 with grade C- (CR) or better (GE Areas A1, A2, A3 and B4 for students on the 2024-25 or earlier catalogs).
Strongly Recommended Preparation: Upper division status (greater than 60 earned semester units) and completion of lower division GE Area 4 requirements (Area D1-2 requirements for students on the 2024-25 or earlier catalogs).
Possible Instructional Methods: On-ground.
Grading: A-F or CR/NC (student choice).
Course Typically Offered: Variable Intermittently

Student Learning Outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

identify and differentiate among international security theories such as realism, neorealism, constructivism, securitization, and critical security;
reflect on, and criticize, dominant security discourses while learning about non-hegemonic security approaches which focus on human security and on the consequences of international security measures;
identify primary sources and use data for research projects which focus on the application of the theories in international security;
apply theoretical approaches to real-world problems by identifying key actors and institutions central to international security, deducing policy prescriptions from theories, and by role-playing crisis decision-making;
demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge through collaborative learning and teamwork in group discussions, and role-playing simulation of an international crisis situation; and,
become aware of possible careers in the field of international security.

GE-UD-4. Upper-division Social and Behavioral Sciences Learning Outcomes

analyze how power and social identity affect social outcomes for different cultural and economic groups using methods of social science inquiry and vocabulary appropriate to those methods;
demonstrate an understanding of and ability to apply accurately disciplinary concepts of the social or behavioral sciences; and
demonstrate an understanding of and ability to effectively plan or conduct research using an appropriate method of the social or behavioral sciences.