Watson Institute for International StudiesBrown University

Core Curriculum


POLS0400: Conflict and Cooperation in International Politics

This course analyzes sources and patterns of conflict and cooperation in world politics. It focuses on realist, liberal, constructivist, feminist, and Marxist interpretations. The course considers global security and international political economy during the Cold War and beyond, concluding with an evaluation of efforts to prevent ethnic and civil conflict in contemporary world politics and to strengthen international cooperation in resolving common global issues.

Note: This introductory course is recommended for students in their first or second year of study at Brown, before they take most of the other required courses for the concentration. All IR concentrators must take POLS0400.

ECON0110: Principles of Economics
or
ECON121o Intermediate Macroeconomics

All IR concentrators must take a course in macroeconomics. This requirement can be met by taking ECON0110 or ECON1210. ECON0110 offers an introduction to economic analysis and its application to current social problems. This course serves as a general background for other economics courses that may be relevant to the IR concentration. ECON0110 is given both semesters. This introductory course is recommended for students in their first or second year of study at Brown, before they take most of the other required courses for the concentration.

Students with A-level, IB, or AP credit for ECON0110 who receive a waiver for ECON0110 by the Economics Department must take ECON1210 to fulfill the IR concentration requirements. ECON1210 examines the economy as a whole, including the level and growth of national income, inflation, unemployment, and the role of government policy. ECON1110 (microeconomics) may not be substituted for ECON0110.

Note: While ECON0110 satisfies the IR concentration core, students interested in pursuing a graduate degree in international affairs or public policy are strongly encouraged to take at least one semester each of microeconomics, macroeconomics, and statistics.

HIST0020: Europe Since the French Revolution - or - a modern regional HIST course

This course surveys European history from the mid-eighteenth century to recent times. Themes include the transformation of a traditional society, industrialism, revolutionary movements, ideological changes, imperialism, fascism, communism, and the present state of European civilization. This course is offered every spring semester. This introductory course is recommended for students in their first or second year of study at Brown, before they take most of the other required courses for the concentration.

Students with a background in European or world history should take a modern regional course in the History Department to fulfill the history core requirement for IR.

Examples of modern history courses that fulfill this requirement are: 20th Century Britain, Germany 1914 to the Present, Modern Italy, 20th century Russia, History of the Modern Middle East, 20th century China, Modern Latin America.

Note: AP credit does not count toward this requirement.

ANTH/SOC Core Requirement

Students choose ONE of the 4 courses listed here:

ANTH 1232 War and Society:

Cross-cultural and historical perspectives on war and its larger social context

ANTH 1251 Violence and the Media:

The role of media in shaping perceptions of violent conflict. Analysis of constructions of the "violent other", "victims", and "suffering", the use of culture, ethnicity, and psychopathology as tropes for articulating the motivations of violent perpetrators.

SOC 0150 Economic Development and Social Change:

Emphasis on understanding the interrelations among economic, political, and cultural aspects of change in developing countries.

SOC 1620 Globalization and Social Conflict:

Examines the effect globalization is having on the economies and societies of the developed and developing world.