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Modules

The IR Online curriculum aims at providing in-depth theoretical knowledge and seeks to equip students with the capacity to apply theoretical concepts to pressing issues in world politics. In a period of two years, thirteen modules are to be successfully completed in both individual and interactive settings. Credit points will be awarded for successful completion of each module.

IR Online invites you to study the following modules:

1. Introduction and International Relations (IR) Theory

2. Core Curriculum

3. Practical Training

Introduction and Tools
Instructed by: Dr. Ingo Peters

This module introduces students to the study of IR, as well as relevant working techniques and tools of the discipline. It also aims at achieving a common basis from which to proceed to further modules. In a second part, it provides an introduction in academic writing as well as methodological training. Students will learn how to design a research proposal and conduct substantial research in social sciences.

Classical Theories of International Relations
Instructed by: Prof. David Rousseau

This module will familiarize students with traditional and innovative strands of contemporary IR theory and allow students to assess their comparative strengths and weaknesses. For each of the theories, students will be able to identify meta-theoretical assumptions, levels of analysis, causal mechanisms,and logical, as well as empirical, critiques. Furthermore, this module will establish the connection between theoretical lenses and their application to genuine policy questions. Students will be able to assess political problems and make policy recommendations in regard to different theoretical understandings of a conflict situation.

New Approaches to Understanding Global Politics
Instructed by: N.N.

Traditional approaches and explanatory models of political and social sciences, including international relations, often cannot adequately capture contemporary problems and challenges in national and global politics any more. New Approaches to Understanding Global Politics is an innovative global politics theory module that, in a trans-disciplinary way, analyzes and explains the challenges for traditional politics. It incorporates available insights from the fields of sociology, neurosciences, (behavioral) economics as well as network-analysis, and joins them with political science. Experts in different fields have contributed to this module.

Globalization
Instructed by: Dr. Erin Wilson

This module gives students an introduction to the major transformations occurring in global economics, politics, culture, and ecology. It will introduce students to various tools assisting in the interpretation and assessment of these transformations. On the basis of this theoretical basis, this module provides students with real-world situations and tools to work on various forms of political conflicts. As students study this module, they are encouraged to consider what aspects of IR they would like to focus on throughout the course of the program – are you most interested in the political, economic, cultural, or ecological aspects?

European Politics
Instructed by: N.N.

This module introduces students to the institutional design of the European Union and familiarize them with the path of European integration. Students will learn how to analyze and assess EU-related issues and developments by applying different theoretical tools and by looking at issues through different theoretical lenses. Special emphasis is given to various fields of European policy-making and on foreign relations of the European Union.

International Law
Instructed by: Prof. Bill Burke-White

This module familiarizes students with basic principles of international law and covers relevant fields, such as subjects and sources of international law. In addition, it discusses important concepts of international relations in light of international law, and covers relevant fields subject to international law, such as states and statehood, sovereignty and intervention, and international trade. The module furthermore introduces tools of international law, such as means of dispute settlements, human rights law, or international criminal law. Finally, it discusses intersections of international relations and international law and locates mutual fields of interests between the two disciplines.

International Trade and Finance
Instructed by: Max Büge

International Trade and Finance is a comprehensive field of analysis at the point of intersection between political science and economics. It comprises a broad and elaborated theoretical foundation and a variety of sound methodological tools, often borrowed from micro- and macroeconomics. It offers a number of valuable instruments for analyzing dynamics in the international arena of today’s world, such as globalization, regional integration, changing patterns of production, and development. This module will introduce students to major theories of international macroeconomics and international relations that are relevant for IPE. Furthermore, students will be familiarized with the structure of international organizations, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In case studies, important aspects like the rise of multinational companies, the question of trade and human right standards, and new environmental challenges will be discussed.

International Security
Instructed by: N.N.

This module provides students with a background on the development of security and risk in fields of academic study, analyzing the often contested terminologies and policies that are used within this area. The theoretical section places the focus on four different conflict situations (war, civil war, terrorism, and ethnic conflict), which are explained in depth. The module concludes with a longer section on the different approaches to security. War, defense mechanisms, and peace-keeping efforts are among the subjects which are broached within this module.

Migration, Citizenship, and Identity
Instructed by: Dr. Silke Hans

This module focuses on the social, political, and economic causes and consequences of migration processes. In our globalizing world, both international and internal migration is on the rise. The module introduces students to theoretical approaches that attempt to explain the dynamics of migration movements and the motivation of people to move (or not to move). In addition, the module offers an opportunity to apply these theories to specific processes of migration in both historical and current settings. Furthermore, the module is dedicated to the study of the politics of migration and immigrant integration.

Conflict Management
Instructed by: Prof. Patricia Maulden

This module examines conflict dynamics, resolution approaches, as well as considerations and constraints to these factors. As potential conflict managers, students will learn useful tactics and strategies to enhance planning and policy-making. The module will introduce students to sources and legacies of conflicts, and ways to cope with them.

Megacities - New Sites of Governance (optional)
Instructed by: Prof. Patricia McCarney

This module develops an intellectual framework for thinking about and engaging in a deeper analysis of cities and their role in world affairs. Theoretical concepts are discussed in the context of terms such as globalization, localization, glocalization, and the global city. The module traces the question of how cities can be situated in a global context – theoretically, demographically, economically, politically, and culturally. In addition, major points of concern and challenges cities face will be outlined, and approaches to contemporary city governance discussed. This module is optional. It may be substituted with Media and International Relations.

Media and International Relations (optional)
Instructed by: Prof. Steven Livingston

Information and communication technologies – globalized media structures, the Internet and social media, satellite imagery and GIS applications – open up new ways of communication, interaction, and organization of collective action in global politics. This module looks into the socio-economic effects of these technologies and considers how processes of global governance may shift and empower new agents and non-state actors. This module is optional. It may be substituted with Megacities.

International Negotiation and Simulation
Instructed by: Simon Raiser and Björn Warkalla (Planpolitik e.V.)

During the simulation module, students are briefed about a conflict situation in international relations that needs to be managed within the international community. Students become a delegate of a foreign country, show their communicative and intercultural competence, and experience how international negotiations unfold. On a theoretical basis, students will be familiarized with theories and concepts of negotiations and bargaining.

Intercultural Studies (optional)
Instructed by: Dr. Heidi Denzel de Tirado

This module focuses on the concepts and consequences of cultural issues pertaining to international relations. Moreover, it presents new studies in cultural cognition and perception of the environment, including different views of the self, the community, and the concept of individual rights. Intercultural Studies conveys basic terminology and more specific knowledge about concepts of culture and value systems, enabling participants to assess and classify examples, thus imparting working methods and skills relevant to real-life situations. The module is optional; alternatively, students can choose the module Practical Training/ Internship.

Practical Training/Internship (optional)

The two-month practical training period allows students to gain insights into a different vocational field that students aspire to work in. The training will take the form of an internship; students will have the opportunity to work in a major field of interest and reflect about their experience and a potential career adjustment or change. The internship will be guided and supervised by the respective company or organization of the students' choice. It is possible to split the internship or do a longer, part-time training. The professional training is optional – students may substitute it with the module Intercultural Studies.