COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
PIR 131	B	1	3	0	0	3	5

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	NA
Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	Dr. Jubjana Vila jvila@epoka.edu.al , Tuesday, 10:30-12:30
Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	NA
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	NA
Language:	English
Compulsory/Elective:	Compulsory
Study program: (the study for which this course is offered)	Bachelor in Political Science and International Relations (3 years)
Classroom and Meeting Time:	Tuesday, 13:45-16:30, Conference Hall
Code of Ethics:	Code of Ethics of EPOKA University Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement:	Yes 60%
Course Description:	This is an introductory level course on the international relations’ study. It contains theoretical and practical approaches employed by scholars and international relations expertise to learn greater understanding of world politics. The course focuses on international politics since the First World War, because since then academics, political and bureaucratic experts have spent great amount time to learn and explain how international relations are interact between key agents of world politics. This is not a course about current events, but about cause and effect in world affairs.
Course Objectives:	This is an introductory level course on the study of international relations. This course is a core course in the International Relations and provides a general introduction to the discipline of International Relations. This course will explore the origins of the modern international relations and provide students with historical background on the international relations. The course will introduce students to different types of concepts and of actors that populate the international relations field. This course will offer students a range of different perspectives on the international relations. The course will be offered under four distinct sections: 1. History of the international relations; 2. International relations' key actors; 3 International relations' key concepts; and 4. International relations key issues . This course aims to introduce students to the international relations field and familiarize them with basic ideas about it. The course also aims to develop key academic writing skills and equip students with a range of important skills, including working independently and as part of a team; managing a varied workload; and preparing written reports and verbal presentations.

BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE

1	International relations
2	State
3	Security
4	War
5	Peace
6	Diplomacy
7	Power
8	Globalization
9	Sovereignty
10	Non-state actors

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Course introduction, overview of texts, and expectations. Explaining what is the course about, its objectives and outcomes, the literature used and a brief explanation of the evaluation criteria.
2	What is the international relations?
3	Origins of the international relations
4	Historical evolution of international Politics
5	Theories of international relations
6	Theories of international relations
7	States as actors in the international relations
8	Mid-term Exam
9	International and regional institutions
10	Non-state Actors
11	Security and Conflicts
12	Globalization and post-cold war order
13	Student's Presentations
14	Concluding review of the course

Prerequisite(s):	No
Textbook(s):	Baylis, J., Smith, S. 2017. The. Globalization of World Politics (7th edition). Oxford University Press, UK. - D’Anieri, P. 2012. International Politics: Power and Purpose in Global Affairs. Wadsworth, Cengage Learning: Boston. - Devetak, R., Burke, A., George, J. 2017. An Introduction to International Relations. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. (Available in the Library of the Epoka University).
Additional Literature:	- Kegley, C.W., Blanton, S.L. 2011. World Politics: Trend and Transformations. Wadsworth, Cengage Learning: Boston. (Available in the Library of the Epoka University). - Snow, D.M. 2012. Cases in International Relations. Longman: Boston. - Simulations on International Relations: http://www.statecraftsim.com. - Quizes: www.cengage.com/politicalscience/kegley/worldpolitics13e. Websites of major international newspapers and journals, such as Economist, New York Times, Le Monde Diplomatique (English version).
Laboratory Work:	No
Computer Usage:	No
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	To demonstrate a knowledge of major issues and concepts in the discipline of International Relations,
2	To demonstrate an ability to use these concepts in particular circumstances,
3	To demonstrate an ability to present an argument in both oral and written forms,
4	To demonstrate basic understanding of the major international and regional institutions in world politics as well as significant developments in world politics.

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES (Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)

No	Program Competencies	Cont.
Bachelor in Political Science and International Relations (3 years) Program
1	Having and using advanced knowledge and comprehension supported by textbooks including actual knowledge in political sciences and international relations literature, materials and the other scientific resources.	5
2	Analyzing data, ideas and concepts of current political issues and international relations, determining complex events and topics, making discussions and developing new suggestions in accordance with researches.	5
3	Having knowledge and thought about actual topics and problems together with their historical, social and cultural aspects.	4
4	Introducing those who are interested in politics and international events with the topics of Political Science and IR and teaching clearly the problems and the types of solutions.	5
5	Improving skills of working together with the main social science disciplines and other disciplines which are related to Political Science and International Relations.	3
6	Improving critical thinking and skills in making research independently.	5
7	Developing solutions about the problems and conflicts which are common in national and international arena.	5
8	Improving skills for leadership and research and analyze capacity of those who is responsible with national and international ones.	3
9	Knowing any foreign language enough to communicate with colleagues and understand actual researches and articles.	2
10	Gaining IT skills to use computer and technology) in order to reach actual knowledge.	2
11	Gaining skills to follow societal, scientific and ethic values during collecting, interpreting, conducting of data related to social and political developments.	4
12	Having consciousness about human rights and environment.	5
13	Gaining the skills to follow actual developments and pursue long-life learning.	5

COURSE EVALUATION METHOD

Method	Quantity	Percentage
Midterm Exam(s)	1	30
Presentation	1	10
Case Study	4	5
Final Exam	1	40
	Total Percent:	100%

ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)

Activities	Quantity	Duration(Hours)	Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)	16	3	48
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	16	2	32
Mid-terms	6	1	6
Assignments	6	1	6
Final examination	16	1	16
Other	17	1	17
Total Work Load:			125
Total Work Load/25(h):			5
ECTS Credit of the Course:			5

CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER

No