Homepage

A large group of students poses in a classroom, smiling and holding up the USC “Fight On” hand sign.

International Relations

Become a Summer Trojan and earn college credit.

Program Overview

In this international relations summer program for high school students, you’ll learn to critically analyze international events through the lens of international relations theory.

There will be a number of conflict areas to explore and examine, from the causes of war to the challenge of environmental degradation. Students will use their newfound knowledge to develop techniques and plans to produce potentially lasting peace agreements.

This class will blend the theoretical with the practical, highlighting specific policy prescriptions and the challenges posed in ongoing conflicts.

Students sit in a small classroom group discussion, using laptops and notes as they collaborate on a project.

Key Information

Topics of Study

International relations theories
Peace and conflict resolution
Religion in politics
Global terrorism and the war on terror
Human rights, women’s rights and the rights of civilians in conflict zones
Genocide
Popular culture and politics

Learning Highlights

Critically analyze world events and apply broader theories to case studies
Engage in active learning with simulations, role-playing and negotiation exercises
Examine case studies that will help you make sense of news headlines and the history of conflicts internationally
Develop an individual case study with an eye toward practical steps in conflict resolution
Analyze popular culture and its role in either promoting conflict or peace
Research a project of your choosing

Requirements

Students must bring their own laptops
Students should pack at least one business casual outfit for field trips

Week	Focus	Key Topics	Assignments and Activities
1	Theoretical Approaches to International Relations and the Cultural Impacts of War and Atrocity	Main theories of international relations; cultural causes of conflict; how to critically analyze politics through multiple sources; causes of mass atrocities and genocide	Field trip to the Museum of Tolerance. Presentations on pop culture and politics. Worksheet on how to understand genocide.
2	The Role of International Organizations and Other International Actors on Conflicts, and International Cooperation to Address Global Concerns	How international actors address conflicts; role of the UN; addressing environmental degradation	UN Security Council simulation based on a real-world case. Game on environmental protection. Simulation on historical memory and truth commissions.
3	Promoting International Cooperation on Global Issues	Addressing pandemics; status of women in the world; addressing climate change	UN Security Council simulation based on a fictional account of a zombie outbreak. Simulation with the Global Health class on climate change.
4	Addressing Global Issues in a Cooperative Way and the Future of International Relations	Future of China-U.S. relations; imagining the rise of India; understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; addressing the existential challenge of nuclear weapons	Paper presentations and final exam. Simulation on the conflict in Kashmir. Simulations on nuclear weapons controls. Screening of a classic movie on international politics.

The most valuable aspect is the inclusion of various international cases that expands my knowledge base and brings new aspects for me to think [about].

— USC Summer Programs student participant