School of Design, Arts, and Humanities

2019-20

COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Number POL/HI 332-A	Course Title American Foreign Policy
Fall Semester X		Spring Semester	Summer Semester	Credit Hours 3
Name of Instructor William Milller
Meeting Day, Time, and Room Number Wednesdays, 3:30 to 6:15pm, Gailhac G101
Final Exam Day, Time, and Room Number Wednesday, December 11, 3:00 to 5:30pm, Gailhac G101
Office Hours, Location, Phone Wednesdays, 2:00 to 3:00pm, Rowley 1018, 703-284-1687. Always email me ahead of time!
E-mail and Web Site wmiller@marymount.edu Email is always the best way to reach me! Website: www.millerpolitics.com All announcements and assignments are posted on this website, never on Canvas.
Course Description A history of the policies of the United States toward other governments and analysis of the principal factors to be considered in formulating and executing American foreign policy. Prerequisites: a grade of C or better in POL 102 and POL 250 or any other WI course, or permission of instructor. (3)

1. BROAD PURPOSE OF COURSE

A history of the policies if the United States toward other governments and analysis of the principal factors to be considered in formulating and executing American foreign policy. The course surveys American foreign policy from the formation of the country in the 1770s to the present day and outlines several traditions that American policy has followed over its history. The course also introduces the students to several major approaches to or theories of foreign policy and uses these theories to evaluate American foreign policy at various points in American history. Finally, the course focuses on the principal issues of foreign policy today in light of the American traditions and the theories of foreign policy.

2. COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of this course students will be expected to:

1. be able demonstrate an understanding of the major contemporary theories of foreign policy;

     2. be able demonstrate an understanding of the distinctively American traditions of foreign policy, their origins, and examples of their influence in American history;

     3. be able to speculate reasonably, in light of the theories and the American traditions, on contemporary international issues facing the United States.

3. TEACHING METHOD

The course will be conducted in seminar fashion using class discussions and presentations on the common readings as the focal points. Lecturing will be kept to a minimum. In addition to written/oral presentations on the course readings, students will also present at least one review of an approved article.

4. GRADING POLICY

Tuesday, September 3, 2019, is the last day to withdraw from a class without academic record

Friday, November 1, 2019, is the last day to withdraw from a class with a grade of W

The final grade is based on components that include graded class assignments (which cover answering questions in class and participating in class discussions) and quizzes (if necessary), two short graded presentations, two essay exams, and a written book/article/chapter review, as follows:

20% = Two presentations on assigned chapters or readings, 10% each

20% = Written Review

20% = Mid-term exam

25% = Final exam

15% = Class assignments, quizzes, constructive contributions to class discussions.

The usual scale of 90-100%=A, 80-89%=B, 70-79%=C, 60-69%=D, and 59% and below=F will be used for all graded work.

No grade of "I" or "Incomplete" will be given. If possible, the presentations and the exam will be graded within two weeks. The first presentation may be postponed once for the same documented reasons needed for an excused absence; otherwise, the failure to give either presentation or the review on time will result in an F.

The usual scale of 90-100%=A, 80-89%=B, 70-79%=C, 60-69%=D, and 59% and below=F will be used for all graded work.

The exams and the written assignments are all based on the primary readings of the course: not on the class lectures, which are intended to help you understand the readings and not to substitute for the readings. No grade of "I" or "Incomplete" will be given. If possible, assignments and exams will be graded and returned within two weeks. Assignments handed in late will receive an F.

ATTENDANCE AND MAKE-UP EXAM POLICY

Attendance: This is not a distance learning class. Beginning with the second week of classes, students are allowed a total of four absences, excused and/or unexcused. Students who miss five or more classes for any reason whatever will receive an “F” in the course.  

Each unexcused absence beyond two—up to the absolute limit of nine—will result in a lowering of the final grade by three percentage points. To be excused, an absence must be documented, unless I indicate otherwise. Excused absences are typically medical-, legal-, or job-related excuses. Acceptable documentation typically consists of a statement or form on official stationery (1) signed by a third party (doctor, police, judge, supervisor—not a parent or family member!) that (2) refers specifically to the day of absence from class and (3) the reason for the absence. If there is an on-going medical, legal, or employment condition that may affect your attendance, let me know at the beginning of the semester, not after the fact.

A lot of students are commuters. Occasionally coming to class late—even really late once or twice—is not considered an absence. Coming to class without hard copies of the text for the day, leaving the classroom for most of the class-time, or leaving class early without the permission of the instructor, however, is always considered an unexcused absence.

Merely informing me ahead of time that you will be absent from class does not mean I excuse the absence, though I appreciate your courtesy. I will not excuse your absence because you are simply not feeling well or because you choose to do something worthwhile other than come to class even if you inform me ahead of time. If you are coughing and sneezing and coming down with a cold or the flu, and you don't want to spread your virus to your classmates, your fellow students and I salute you! Staying home may be the right thing to do, but it is not an excused absence. You all get three unexcused absences to use as you see fit, and it is your decision to use them to stay home when you don't feel well or want to attend some other event or need to prepare for another class instead of going to my class. Use them for good reasons: that's what they are for.

The limit of four total absences recognizes that too many excused absences may also be a problem. You should discuss such situations with me well before the last month of the semester. Any absence prevents you from participating in the class, but if your job or an illness keeps you away from class, it will significantly affect the class participation component of your grade and may be a good reason to drop the course and take it another time. All of us find ourselves in these situations from time to time and have to deal with them appropriately. You also have an obligation to report this to a University office (see the section titled “Attendance” in the University Catalogue).

When in doubt about any of these policies, please come and talk to me. They have been formulated with our substantial commuter and working student population in mind and are intended to be fair to everyone. You should also review the University's policies on absenteeism in the section titled “Attendance” in the University Catalogue.

Make-up Exams: The same basic rules about excused absences apply to taking mid-terms. My policy of giving makeup exams on the same day as the final does NOT mean that you may choose to take the mid-term exam on that day rather than on the regularly scheduled day: it is not an alternative test date. To be eligible for a makeup, you must qualify for an excused absence, and this you should do a reasonable time before the day of the mid-term, if that is at all possible. You may be excused from taking a mid-term if you are certifiably sick or your job prevents you from attending class or you have a legal or employment emergency on the day of the test. If one of these applies, and I am informed in a reasonable time before the exam, and you have written documentation to support your request, you may take the exam on the same day as the final exam. If none of these reasons apply, you may not take the exam at another time, and you will get a zero for the exam. Travel plans will never excuse an absence. Parental or family notes do not constitute proper documentation. If you are late for the exam because of events outside of your control, let me know immediately or as soon as possible that day, and I will let you take the exam that same day if possible.

A FEW FURTHER RULES

For the benefit of the class and your classmates, the following rules regarding electronic devices also apply to this course:

1. No open lap-top or other computers are allowed in class without my prior permission. Devices such as tablets, Ipads, Kindles, and Nooks that lie flat on the desk and on to which the readings can be loaded are permitted if approved by me, but hard copies of the readings are better. You can mark them up and take notes on them in class. Most assignments will be handed out in hard copies.

2. Turn your cell phones off during the class. If you are expecting an important call, put your phone on “Vibrate,” sit near the door, and, when the call comes, answer it outside the classroom.

3. It follows from the foregoing rule, but it must be separately stated: no talking and no texting on cell phones during class. If you do not follow this rule, I will publicly ask you to leave the room for the remainder of the class and will do my best to have you removed from the course for the rest of the semester.

4. Be sure to check your Marymount email address regularly! This is Marymount’s and my principal way of contacting you with important information. Perhaps you rely mostly on gmail, Yahoo, or some other provider, but check your @marymount.edu mail daily to make sure you do not miss school information.

These rules are necessary to foster a suitable learning environment in the classroom during class. There are enough distractions with lawnmowers, air conditioners, and other outside forces to combat during lectures and discussions.

5. CLASS SCHEDULE

As stated, this schedule is approximate and subject to revisions. Revised assignment deadlines and midterm exam dates may be announced from time to time in class and on the Weekly Assignments link, but I will try to stick to the dates below. In the Weekly Assignments section of the <millerpolitics.com> webpage, check the link to "American Foreign Policy (Fall 2019)" for the particular assignments for each class. You must have a hard copy of the designated McDougall text, the only required book for the course, by the second week of class.

Class One (8/28) Introduction to the course; basic concepts such as realism, the state system, globalization, levels of analysis

Tuesday, September 3, 2019, is the last day to withdraw from a class without academic record

Class Two (9/4) John Ikenberry, “Introduction” and Ole Holsti, “Models” handouts; outline due

Class Three (9/11) Historical Account of American Foreign Policy: Walter McDougall, Introduction and chapter 1

Class Four (9/18) McDougall, chapter 2 and readings (Washington’s Farewell Address)

Class Five (9/25) McDougall, chapter 3 and readings

Class Six (10/2) McDougall, chapter 4 and readings

Class Seven (10/9) MIDTERM EXAM

Class Eight (10/16) McDougall, chapter 5 and readings

Class Nine (10/23) McDougall, chapter 6 and readings

Class Ten (10/30) McDougall, chapter 7 and George Kennan readings—Long Telegram & Mr X article

Friday, November 1, 2019, is the last day to withdraw from a class with a grade of W

Class Eleven (11/6) McDougall, chapter 8 and readings

Class Twelve (11/13) Legal, constitutional, and international agreement issues

Class Thirteen (11/20) Cybersecurity

Class Fourteen (12/4) Current foreign policy cases

The final exam will be given only at the date and time prescribed by the University Final Exam Schedule: Wednesday, December 11, at 3:00pm in our classroom. All mid-term make-up exams will be given only on Tuesday and Wednesday of finals week. Make your travel plans accordingly!

6. REQUIRED TEXT

Walter A. McDougall. Promised Land, Crusader State. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1997.

7. UNIVERSITY STATEMENTS

CLASS REGISTRATION REQUIRED

Students not officially enrolled in a course offered by the university may not attend class according to university policy. Faculty are responsible for upholding this policy and may not add students to a class roster in Canvas.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

By accepting this syllabus, you pledge to uphold the principles of Academic Integrity expressed by the Marymount University community. You agree to observe these principles yourself and to defend them against abuse by others. Items submitted for this course may be submitted to TurnItIn.com for analysis.

STUDENT COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

For the benefit of current and future students, work in this course may be used for educational critique, demonstrations, samples, presentations, and verification. Outside of these uses, work shall not be sold, copied, broadcast, or distributed for profit without student consent. 

ACCOMMODATIONS AND ACCESSIBILITY CONCERNS
If you are seeking accommodations (class/course adjustments) for a disability, here are the steps to take:

1) Register as a student with a disability with Student Access Services (SAS) in the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL). This process takes time, so engage with SAS as early as possible.

2) Once registered with SAS, you may be approved for accommodations by SAS. Approved accommodations will be listed on a “Faculty Contact Sheet” (FCS), and you will receive a copy of this FCS from SAS.

3) Meet with each of your instructors as soon as possible to review your accommodations as per the FCS, and have them sign the FCS. This document will help you and your instructors develop a plan for providing the approved accommodations.

4) Let SAS know if you have any concerns about how your accommodations are being implemented in the classroom.

Please remember that:

1) The steps above are required in order to be granted reasonable accommodations for disabling conditions.

2) Accommodations cannot be implemented retroactively. That is, accommodations can only be applied to a course after they have been approved by SAS, and after you have discussed your accommodations with your instructor and the instructor has signed the FCS.

3) Appointments with SAS staff are scheduled through the Starfish "Success Network" tab (you can access Starfish through Canvas). For more information, check the SAS website, e-mail access@marymount.edu, or call 703-284-1538.

Temporary Challenges

Temporary challenges due to accident, illness, etc. that may result in missing class or navigating general campus access do not necessarily fall under the purview of SAS. If you experience something of this nature, please start by alerting your instructors. The Dean of Student Success may be involved in alerting instructors in extreme cases.

EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION POLICY

When students are absent due to a crisis situation or unexpected, serious illness and unable to contact their individual instructors directly, the Division of Student Affairs can send out an Emergency Notification. To initiate an Emergency Notification, students should contact the Division of Student Affairs 703-284-1615 or student.affairs@marymount.edu. Emergency Notifications are NOT appropriate for non-emergency situations (e.g. car problems, planned absences, minor illnesses, or a past absence); are NOT a request or mandate to excuse an absence, which is at the sole discretion of the instructor; and are NOT a requirement for student absences. If a student contacts instructors about an emergency situation directly, it is not necessary to involve the Division of Student Affairs as arrangements are made to resolve the absence.

For non-emergency absences, students should inform their instructors directly. 

ACCESS TO STUDENT WORK

Copies of your work in this course including copies of any submitted papers and your portfolios may be kept on file for institutional research, assessment and accreditation purposes. All work used for these purposes will be submitted confidentially. 

UNIVERSITY POLICY ON WEATHER AND EMERGENCY CLOSINGS

Weather and Emergency closings are announced on Marymount’s web site: www.marymount.edu, through MUAlerts, area radio stations, and TV stations. You may also call the Weather and Emergency Hotline at (703) 526-6888 for current status. Unless otherwise advised by local media or by official bulletins listed above, students are expected to report for class as near normal time as possible on days when weather conditions are adverse. Decisions as to inclement closing or delayed opening are not generally made before 6:00 AM and by 3:00 PM for evening classes of the working day. Emergency closing could occur at any time making MUAlerts the most timely announcement mechanism. Students are expected to attend class if the University is not officially closed. If the University is closed, course content and assignments will still be covered as directed by the course instructor. Please look for communication from course instructor (e.g., Canvas) for information on course work during periods in which the University is closed.