Course Syllabus
Course Materials
Readings
All readings will be posted on Canvas.
Simulation
Students will need to log on to https://www.statecraftsims.com and set up an account by doing the following:
- Click on LOGIN in the upper left-hand corner
- Select INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
- Select ‘Student Account’
- Select the ‘Not Registered?’ button
- Enter ‘IAS3043’ for the Simulation Code and click the ‘Sign Up’ button
- Complete the registration (personal) information and take the Foreign Policy Attitude Test
- Complete payment ($35)
Grades
Breakdown
| Attendance | Attendance in every class session is required and is the minimum requirement for successful participation in the course. | 10% |
| Participation | Students are expected to complete all the readings before class and actively participate in class discussion. | 20% |
| Simulation Presentations | Students will engage in an international security simulation and present on the outcomes. | 40% |
| Final | Take-Home Final Essay | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
Grades: 90-100 = A; 80 to 89 = B; 70 to 79 = C; 60 to 69 = D; Below 60 =F
Course Components
Attendance
Attendance in every class session is required and is the minimum requirement for successful participation in the course. Every student will get one unexcused absence. More than one unexcused absence will adversely affect your grade. If you have to miss a class for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness), please notify me before or, as soon as you can, after class and email me a doctor’s note. Avoid conflicts such as doctor’s appointments or job interviews.
Participation
Students are expected to complete all the readings before class and actively participate in class discussion. The participation grade is based on the quality, not just the quantity, of participation. As a general rule, you should be able to intelligently discuss the main arguments or claims of each author, assess the evidence (s)he uses to substantiate them identify meaningful linkages between authors/readings, and express your own critical opinions. You are encouraged to engage other students in constructive ways.
If you are not comfortable speaking in class, please be sure to let me know early in the semester so that I can help you find ways to enhance your participation.
Participation will also be tracked on our international security simulation.
Participation Grade: The base line grade for class participation is a D. Routine attendance with minimal participation will earn a C. Regular contributions to class discussion that are appropriate and draw on readings will earn a B. Students who are consistently well prepared to discuss the assigned readings in nearly every class and actively participate in discussions will receive an A for class participation.
Take-Home Final Essay (4-5 pages)
The analytical essay is designed to give you an opportunity to analyze the topics and concepts covered in the course. Your essay should be four to five double spaced pages long, excluding citations. Dates and details TBA.
Presentations
Students will engage in an international security simulation throughout the semester. Students will be assigned to a specific country and play roles as team members in the diplomatic and military processes. At the conclusion of the simulation, students will all participate in a class presentation. The final presentation is an opportunity for you and your team to reflect on the International Security experience and compare your plans and outcomes with others in the class. Prepare slides for the assignment and be ready to present them to the entire class. Be sure to include all team members in the presentation. The presentation should cover at least these points:
- The vision and goals for your country and the plan to achieve them.
- Your country’s performance objectives and actual performance.
- Key strategic moves that led to your success (or demise).
- How you left your country positioned for the future.
- Important takeaways from the simulation experience.
Course Policies
Incomplete Grades
A grade of I (for incomplete) will not be given under normal circumstances. Not performing well in class, not being able to complete a project in time or being out of town during a test are inadequate reasons for requesting or granting an incomplete. Only circumstances beyond your control—such as a serious illness—that will need to be documented, may warrant a grade of an “I”.
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
ACADEMIC POLICIES AND STUDENT SUPPORT
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalogue.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Academic Misconduct
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the definitions, policies, and procedures concerning academic misconduct. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
This site also defines misconduct, provides examples of prohibited conduct, and explains the sanctions available for those found guilty of misconduct.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The University of Oklahoma is committed to providing reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who require accommodations in this course should contact their professor as early in the semester as possible.
Students with disabilities must be registered with the Disability Resource Center prior to receiving accommodations in this course.
If you have a disability and you would like to make a request for reasonable accommodation, please see the Graduate Student Handbook or get in touch with the Disability Resource Center.
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact me as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no contact orders, scheduling adjustments, and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. Please contact the Sexual Misconduct Office 405-325-2215 (8-5, M-F) or OU Advocates 405-615-0013 (24/7) to learn more or to report an incident.
Religious Holidays
It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays without penalty. It is the responsibility of the student to make alternate arrangements with the instructor at least one week prior to the actual date of the religious holiday.
Copyright Policy
It is illegal to download, upload, reproduce, or distribute any copyrighted material, in any form and in any fashion, without permission from the copyright holder or his/her authorized agent. The University of Oklahoma expects all members of its community to comply fully with federal copyright laws. If such laws appear to have been violated by any user, the university reserves the right (1) to terminate that user’s access to some or all of the university’s computer systems and information resources and (2) to take additional disciplinary actions as deemed necessary or appropriate. Repeat offenders will be sanctioned and their privileges terminated.
Registration and Withdrawal
If you choose to withdraw from this course, you must complete the appropriate University form and turn the form in before the deadline. If you stop attending the course and doing the coursework without doing the required paperwork, your grade will be calculated with missed homework and examination grades entered as zero. This could result in receiving a grade of F in the course. Deadlines are shown in the Academic Calendar, which is available from the Office of the Registrar.
Student Grievances
In addition to any policies outlined related to submitting an informal or formal grievance by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook for more information about the process of submitting a formal grievance.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|