Prof. Michael Marks
Office: Smullin 332
Office Tel. 503–370–6932
Administrative Assistant. Tel. 503–370–6060
E-mail: mmarks@willamette.edu
Home Page: http://www.willamette.edu/~mmarks
Office Hours: MWF: 8:00–9:00, 10:15–11:15, and by appointment.

Course Description

This course is designed to introduce students to the formation and implementation of the foreign policy of the United States. Through involved classroom discussions and writing assignments students will explore the political, economic, and security relations between the United States and the rest of the world. The purpose of the course is to help students make sense out of the changes demanded of American foreign policy in the post-Cold War era. We will do this by situating U.S. foreign policy in a historical and comparative context. Different theoretical explanations of the foundations of American international conduct will also be examined.

The course also incorporates active student learning through the “case method.” Classes during most weeks of the semester will revolve around a case study of American foreign policy. In this method of learning, students take the initiative in drawing out the lessons contained in a selection of instances of U.S. foreign policy that span a range of theoretical questions and policy issues.

Student Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this course students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of theory for describing and explaining American foreign policy.
2. Identify major historical trends in the evolution of American foreign policy.
3. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of competing arguments for the formulation, implementation, and outcomes of American foreign policy.
4. Compare the foreign policy making approaches of successive U.S. presidential administrations.
5. Write effectively and persuasively analyzing historical trends in American foreign policy.
6. Use factual evidence to analyze American foreign policy.

Time Commitment for This Course

Willamette’s Credit Hour Policy holds that for every hour of class time there is an expectation of 2–3 hours work outside of class. Thus, for a class meeting three hours a week such as this one you should anticipate spending 6–9 hours outside of class engaged in course-related activities. For this course you should allocate your time among the following three activities: Reading the assigned case studies (including making notes in response to the suggested questions handed out with each case study and preparing for classroom discussions), reading newspapers and/or online news resources on topics relevant to the class, writing the three essay assignments due over the course of the semester. Note: It is absolutely necessary that every student should read and prepare for each case before the week for which it is assigned.

Writing Assignments

There will be three take-home writing assignments. Questions will ask the students to analyze and evaluate some feature of the preceding weeks’ thematic discussions as covered in the case studies. No research is required for these take-home writing assignments aside from a thorough reading of the case studies.

Electronic Devices in the Classroom

Laptop computers can assist in note taking and wireless Internet access on campus can aid in organized classroom exercises. However, laptop computers can also be a classroom distraction. Laptop computers are permitted in class for note taking purposes. Additionally, there may be occasions when the class as a whole may want to use the campus wireless network to look things up online. However, please refrain from checking e-mail, online chatting, websurfing, game playing, etc. during class. If you are observed doing so during class time, you will asked to no longer bring your laptop to class. Additionally, cell phones should be turned off prior to class.

Accommodations

Students requiring accommodation should contact the Office of Accessible Education Services (Student Success Hub in Matthews Hall, Phone: 503–370–6737) for consultation and to make the necessary arrangements.

Commitment to Positive Sexual Ethics

Willamette is a community committed to fostering safe, productive learning environments which values ethical sexual behaviors and standards. Title IX and school policy prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, which regards sexual misconduct—including discrimination, harassment, domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. University community members understand that sexual violence can undermine students’ academic success. Students affected by sexual misconduct are encouraged to talk to someone about their experiences and get the support they need. Please be aware that all faculty members are mandatory reporters and therefore are required to report any instances disclosed to them by students to Willamette’s Title IX Coordinator.  If you would rather share information with a confidential employee who does not have this responsibility, please contact the university’s confidential advocate at confidential-advocate@willamette.edu. Confidential support also can be found with SARAs and at the GRAC (503–851–4245); and at WUTalk, a 24-hour telephone crisis counseling support line (503–375–5353). If you are in immediate danger, please call campus safety at 503–370–6911. For more resources, visit https://willamette.edu/notalone/index.html

Plagiarism and Cheating Policy

All writing assignments turned in must be your own written work. You may not copy, borrow, or appropriate other authors’ work, unless you are doing so in the form of a cited quotation. All references to other authors’ work must be fully documented in the form of citations and/or footnotes, and direct quotes must be indicated as such with quotation marks. Suspected cases of plagiarism will be pursued vigorously and appropriate penalties (including an “F” for the course) will be applied.

Willamette's Plagiarism and Cheating Policy

Readings

Case Studies

The core of this class consists of the case studies that will provide for the majority of classroom discussion. All of the cases are available online from the Georgetown University Institute for the Study of Diplomacy (GUISD).

Instructions for buying cases: To purchase each case, first go to the GUISD website at:

http://casestudies.isd.georgetown.edu/collections/frontpage

Grading

Evaluation Criteria

The composition of the final grade will calculated as follows: Each of three essays: 30%; In addition, because the case method requires active student involvement, 10% of the final grade will be comprised of class participation.

Course Schedule and Weekly Reading Assignments