INR471 United States Foreign Policy

About this course

Difficulty: Intermediate
Study hours: 120 hours
Maths: None
Content: Theoretical, case study
Practical work: No

How it is assessed

Assignments
Tutor marked assessments
Final examination

What you'll read

The real module and unit structure of INR471, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.

Module 1 · DEFINITION OF FOREIGN POLICY

Module 2 · MAJOR US FOREIGN POLICY ORGANS

Module 3 · US CONGRESS AND FOREIGN POLICY

Module 4 · UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY OF CONTAINMENT AND COLLECTIVE SECURITY

Module 5 · UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY TOWARDS THE MIDDLE- EAST

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

INR471 · UNIT 1 US FOREIGN POLICY, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

CONCLUSION This is a theory course but you will get the best out of it if you cultivate the habit of relating it to political issues in domestic and international arenas.

Start reading Get the original PDF, if you want it

What you should be able to do

Understand the historical evolution of US foreign policy.
Analyze the theoretical frameworks used to understand US foreign policy.
Evaluate the role of different government organs in shaping US foreign policy.
Assess the impact of public opinion on US foreign policy decisions.
Examine the US foreign policy towards different regions and countries.

What it prepares you for

Careers

Diplomat
Policy Analyst
Intelligence Officer
International Relations Specialist
Political Scientist

Where it is applied

Government
International Organizations
Non-Governmental Organizations
Think Tanks
Consulting

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

Module 3: US Congress and Foreign Policy
Unit 1: US Foreign Policy Intervention
Understanding the historical context and implications of U.S. interventions requires critical analysis of complex geopolitical factors.
Module 4: United States Foreign Policy of Containment and Collective Security
Unit 2: United States foreign Policy of Detente and Human Rights
Grasping the nuances of detente and its impact on international relations requires understanding complex diplomatic strategies.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 66 hours in total. Yours will differ.

Week 1Module 1: Understanding American Foreign Policy
- Unit 1: US foreign Policy, goals and objectives · 4 hours
  Define foreign policy and its goals.. Identify the goals of US foreign policy.. Discuss the role of the U.S. Department of State..
- Unit 2: An overview of American History/Government · 3 hours
  Examine the early history of U.S. foreign policy.. Discuss George Washington's farewell address.. Identify key events shaping American foreign policy..
Week 2Module 1: Understanding American Foreign Policy
- Unit 3: Theoretical framework of the US foreign policy · 5 hours
  Compare and contrast realism and liberalism.. Discuss the role of domestic factors in foreign policy.. Examine the World System Theory..
Week 3Module 1: Understanding American Foreign Policy
- Unit 4: Evolution of US foreign policy (Doctrines) · 5 hours
  Explain the evolution of US foreign policy.. Discuss the Monroe, Truman, and Eisenhower Doctrines.. Analyze the Clinton and Bush Doctrines..
Week 4Module 2: Major US Foreign Policy Organs
- UNIT 1: The State Department and the Executive Branch in Foreign Policy Making · 4 hours
  Discuss the role of the State Department.. Explain the Executive Branch's role in foreign policy making.. Analyze the duties and responsibilities of the State Department..
Week 5Module 2: Major US Foreign Policy Organs
- UNIT 2: US Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Council · 5 hours
  Explain the role of the CIA in foreign intelligence.. Discuss the functions of the National Security Council.. Analyze the coordination between the CIA and NSC..
Week 6Module 2: Major US Foreign Policy Organs
- UNIT 3: US Congress in Foreign Policy · 5 hours
  Explain the role of Congress in foreign policy decision making.. Discuss the formulation and implementation of foreign policy by Congress.. Analyze the checks and balances between Congress and the Executive Branch..
Week 7Module 2: Major US Foreign Policy Organs
- UNIT 4: Public Opinion and Foreign Policy · 5 hours
  Examine the impact of public opinion on U.S. foreign policy.. Discuss the domestic environment's influence on foreign policy.. Analyze the role of interest groups and political parties..
Week 8Module 3: US Congress and Foreign Policy
- Unit 1: US Foreign Policy Intervention · 5 hours
  Define interventionism and its goals.. Discuss the arguments for and against U.S. foreign policy interventionism.. Analyze the role of democracy in intervention..
Week 9Module 3: US Congress and Foreign Policy
- Unit 2: US Foreign Policy during the World Wars I and II · 5 hours
  Examine the US foreign policy during World War I.. Examine the US foreign policy during World War II.. Analyze the shift from isolationism to interventionism..
Week 10Module 3: US Congress and Foreign Policy
- Unit 3: US Foreign Policy during and after the Cold War · 5 hours
  Discuss the US foreign policy during the Cold War.. Discuss the US foreign policy after the Cold War.. Analyze the shift from containment to engagement..
Week 11Module 3: US Congress and Foreign Policy
- Unit 4: US Foreign Policy towards Africa · 5 hours
  Examine the origin of U.S. foreign policy towards Africa.. Discuss contemporary U.S. foreign policy towards Africa.. Analyze U.S.-Africa policy under President Obama's administration..
Week 12Module 4: United States Foreign Policy of Containment and Collective Security
- Unit 1: United States foreign Policy of Containment and Collective Security · 5 hours
  Define containment and collective security.. Discuss the U.S. foreign policy of containment.. Analyze the U.S. foreign policy of collective security..
Week 13Module 4: United States Foreign Policy of Containment and Collective Security
- Unit 2: United States foreign Policy of Detente and Human Rights · 5 hours
  Define detente and human rights.. Discuss the U.S. foreign policy of detente.. Analyze the U.S. foreign policy of human rights..

Preparing for the exam

What to do

Review key concepts and definitions from each unit.
Create timelines of major events in US foreign policy history.
Compare and contrast different theoretical perspectives.
Analyze case studies of US foreign policy decisions.
Practice answering essay questions on major themes and topics.

Questions students ask about this course

What is INR471 about?

This course provides students of international relations with comprehensive knowledge of US Foreign Policy across international frontiers. It explores the historical overview, contending theories, and various policies, highlighting contemporary issues affecting the global community. Students will gain an understanding of the meaning, types, and evolution of US Foreign Policy and its effects on global events, including WWI, WWII, the Cold War, and relations with entities like the European Union and African countries.

How many units does INR471 have?

INR471, United States Foreign Policy, has 19 units across 5 modules, over 133 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is INR471?

INR471 carries 2 credit units, at 400 level in Social Sciences.

Is INR471 hard?

INR471 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.

How long does INR471 take to study?

About 120 hours of study, spread across its 19 units.

How is INR471 assessed?

INR471 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.

What can I do with INR471?

Diplomat, Policy Analyst, Intelligence Officer, International Relations Specialist and Political Scientist.

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