SFB55022 International Relations (Spring 2025)

The course is connected to the following study programs

Mandatory course for Bachelor in International Communication with a specialisation in political communication.

Absolute requirements

Students must have passed an introductory course in international politics.

Lecture Semester

6th semester (spring)

The student's learning outcomes after completing the course

Knowledge

The student has

• a thorough understanding of the key assumptions, claims, and modes of reasoning that distinguish traditions of thought

• advanced knowledge of variety of theoretical traditions in IR to identify and discuss in detail key contemporary debates in IR

• advanced knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of individual approaches, this both theoretically as when applied to particular contexts in international politics

Skills

The student is able to

• Demonstrate a critical knowledge of major concepts, themes and questions relevant to the study of international politics

• Demonstrate an ability to use key concepts in particular circumstances and refine and/or critique them according to context

General competence

The student can

• Demonstrate an ability to write an appropriately presented and referenced piece of coursework.

• Demonstrate an ability to present a coherent argument in written form

Content

International Relations is a course that is centred on the most central theories, models and concepts to analyse and understand how states and organisations interact on the international level. The course provides knowledge and tools to understand and analyse how states and organisations interact from various perspectives. As such, the course seeks to provide the student with a holistic approach to relations between states and organisations.

Forms of teaching and learning

A combination of seminars, lectures, videos and online activities.

Workload

approx. 280 hours

Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam

One written assignment. Students shall choose a relevant international event and analyse it by using one theory of international relations. Coursework requirements must be accepted to qualify for the exam.

Examination

Individual home exam. 48 hours, 3000 words ±10%, title page, table of contents and bibliography not included. Students can choose to answer one of two presented tasks.

Assessment on the A - F grading scale. 

Examiners

One external and one internal examiner, or two internal examiners will be involved in the assessment.

Conditions for resit/rescheduled exams

A new and postponed exam is conducted simultaneously with the next regular exam. However, the department management may decide to arrange a postponed exam in the following semester for students with valid absence from the regular exam.

Course evaluation

This course is evaluated by a

• End-term evaluation (compulsory)

The responsible for the course compiles a report based on the feedback from the students and his/her own experience with the course. The report is discussed by the study quality committee at the Department of Computer Science and Communication.

Literature

•  Baylis, John, Steve Smith og Patricia Owens. (2016). (7.edition): The Globalization of World Politics: An introduction to international relations. Oxford.

• Wendt, Alexander. (1995).Constructing International Politics. International Security Vol. 20, No. 1 (Summer, 1995), pp. 71-81

• Drezner, Daniel. (2015). Theories of International Politics and Zombies. Princeton University Press